Linebacker Preview
by Luke Paul Chandler
Luke Paul Chandler analyzes the 2008 class of linebackers.
By Luke Paul Chandler
Outside Linebackers
The class of 2008 at linebacker is weaker than previous seasons. There are no surefire, top 10 picks in this group, but rather some steady mid-first and second round picks. As big of an impact as rookie linebackers have had on the league in the past few seasons, that does not mean that these players will not be instant starters. Penn State’s Dan Connor and Southern California’s Keith Rivers are both instant starters, and have great versatility. The real gem may be Shawn Crable, who has the ability to play in a 4-3 or 3-4, and impact the game in many ways.
The one knock on this class as the lack of bulk. Most linebackers here are built for speed, and will have trouble playing a more physical game. This class features several linebackers under 230 pounds. While many teams look for smaller, quicker linebackers now, there are still several smaller linebackers that will need to bulk up to have an impact.
Top Ten (as of 3/7/08)
1. Dan Connor, OLB, Penn State, 6′3, 233
2. Keith Rivers, OLB, Southern California, 6′3, 235
3. Shawn Crable, OLB, Michigan, 6′5, 241
4. Xavier Adibi, OLB, Virginia Tech, 6′2, 221
5. Geno Hayes, OLB, Florida State, 6′2, 218
6. Ali Highsmith, OLB, Louisiana State, 6′1, 226
7. Phillip Wheeler, OLB, Georgia Tech, 6′2, 230
8. Beau Bell, OLB, UNLV, 6′3, 245
9. Jordon Dizon, OLB, Colorado, 6′0, 225
10. Ezra Butler, OLB, Nevada, 6′2, 248
Best by Trait
Inside Run - Keith Rivers (USC)
Outside Run - Dan Connor (Penn State)
Blitz - Shawn Crable (Michigan)
Diagnose - Beau Bell (Nevada)
Lateral Movement - Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky)
Tackling - Keith Rivers (USC)
Coverage - Jordon Dizon (Colorado)
Strength - Beau Bell (Nevada)
Stud - Keith Rivers (USC) - The versatile Rivers plays a steady game with few holes. He plays the run and pass equally well, and is a three-down defender. Rivers has had some problems over thinking plays, rather than reacting, but his ceiling is high. He best projects as a strong-side linebacker in a 4-3 defense, but he has the versatility to play all three linebacker spots.
Sleeper - Beau Bell (UNLV) - If teams are looking a throwback linebacker, this is their guy. Bell is an old school, physical linebacker who hits hard and plays aggressively. Bell will be a solid run defender from the second he comes to the NFL, but he has to work on his pass drops. Bell may need to move inside to cover up his lack of coverage skills, but he’s still a viable NFL talent.
Slipper - Geno Hayes (FSU) - While Florida State has a track record of developing NFL-ready linebackers, Hayes is just not ready for the NFL yet. He lacks overall bulk, and gets too tied up in traffic. His skill set is solid, and he has the speed and aggressiveness necessary to play in the NFL, just not the frame.
Grade - C+
Inside Linebacker
While the outside linebacker class doesn’t shine as bright as previous classes, the inside linebackers boost a high amount of talent. This year’s class features many inside linebackers with great range, and sideline to sideline speed. Curtis Lofton, Erin Henderson and Jerod Mayo all run and play very fast. As the league starts to shift its focus to keeping all three linebackers on the field at all times, rather than subbing out for nickel and dime formations, this is a class that could have several impact starters.
Top Ten (as of 3/7/08)
Lacking from this class are the physical run defenders, like David Harris in 2007. Ben Moffitt and Kaleb Thornhill are going to need to prove themselves on special teams and work on their pass drops. J Leman of Illinois has shown he is probably the top inside run defender in this class, but questions about his athleticism will cause him to drop on draft day.
1. Curtis Lofton, ILB, Oklahoma, 6′0, 235
2. Erin Henderson, ILB, Maryland, 6′3, 236
3. Jerod Mayo, ILB, Tennessee, 6′2, 230
4. Vince Hall, ILB, Virginia Tech, 6′0, 240
5. J Leman, ILB, Illinois, 6′2, 240
6. Jonathan Goff, ILB, Vanderbilt, 6′4, 235
7. Jolonn Dunbar, ILB, Boston College, 6′0, 233
8. Red Keith, ILB, Central Michigan, 5′11, 242
9. Ben Moffitt, ILB, South Florida, 6′2, 240
10. Mike Klinkenborg, ILB, Iowa, 6′2, 240
Best By Trait
Inside Run - J Leman (Illinois)
Outside Run - Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma)
Blitz - Vince Hall (Virginia Tech)
Diagnose - J Leman (Illinois)
Lateral Movement - Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma)
Tackling - Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt)
Coverage - Jolonn Dunbar (Boston College)
Strength - Vince Hall (Viriginia Tech)
Stud - Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma) - The quickest linebacker in this class is Lofton. Lofton shows great range, sideline to sideline speed and playmaking ability. Some question his size and his coverage ability, but Lofton has a high ceiling. His solid instincts and reaction time allow him to gamble.
Sleeper - Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) - Mayo’s versatility and speed will make him attractive to teams like the Colts who run an undersized defense. He gets good depth in his pass drops, and can cut quickly. He will be held back by lack of his size and physical play, but if protected from blockers, Mayo can be an impact linebacker.
Slipper - Erin Henderson (Maryland) - The question of his athleticism never comes into play, but teams may be scared by Henderson’s riddled medical reports. He has had major knee surgery, and several other nagging injuries throughout his career that has limited his effectiveness. At times he gets himself into bad positions, and teams will wonder whether it’s because of his physical limitations, or his mental diagnosis of the play.
Grade - B
3-4 Outside Linebacker
With more teams looking to grab versatile pass rushers who can play from both the two and three point stances, the more important the scouting of this position becomes. As a result, these players are also being scouted similarly by 4-3 zone-blitz teams. The outside linebackers in that scheme can play a similar role to that of a 3-4 linebacker.
While most 3-4 outside linebackers rush from the two-point, they have to be able to cover the flat, and to play the run. It is hardly the easy conversion of grabbing smaller defensive ends and standing them up. Players who played in zone blitz heavy schemes, like Vernon Gholston and Darrell Robertson, will be looked upon favorably by 3-4 teams. Both have played some linebacker in the past, and can drop into coverage. Bruce Davis of UCLA is in the same class, though his incredibly small frame will scare off some teams entirely.
The best pure linebacker of the group is Ezra Butler. Butler is not a pure rush linebacker, but he is very physical at the line, and can do many things. Butler will have the easiest transition to the NFL, and will play on the strong-side. Look for him to have a Clark Haggans-type impact a few years down the road. Not far behind him is Casper Brinkley, the top run stuffer of this group.
Top Ten (As of 3/7/08)
1. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State, 6′4, 264
2. Shawn Crable, OLB, Michigan, 6′5, 241
3. Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn, 6′4, 254
4. Bruce Davis, DE, UCLA, 6′3, 237
5. Darrell Robertson, DE, Georgia Tech, 6′5, 245
6. Ezra Butler, OLB, Nevada, 6′2, 248
7. Hilee Taylor, DE, North Carolina, 6′3, 241
8. Jeremy Geathers, DE, UNLV, 6′2, 248
9. Keith Saunders, DE, Alabama, 6′4, 251
10. Casper Brinkley, DE, South Carolina, 6′2, 257 Best By Trait
Inside Run - Shawn Crable (Michigan)
Outside Run -Ezra Butler (Nevada)
Blitz - Bruce Davis (UCLA)
Diagnose - Quentin Groves (Auburn)
Lateral Movement - Shawn Crable (Michigan)
Tackling - Casper Brinkely (South Carolina)
Coverage - Shawn Crable (Michigan)
Strength - Casper Brinkley (South Carolina)
Stud - Shawn Crable (Michigan) - While Gholston may have the most upside of the 3-4 linebackers, Crable has the most results. He is big, physical, and versatile. Crable is not the pure pass rusher that Gholston is, but he plays a very well rounded game. His instincts and play recognition can be faulty at times, but when allowed to be aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage, he’s at his best.
Sleeper - Darrell Robertson (Georgia Tech) - Robertson rarely gets mentioned as a high-impact pass rusher in this draft, but he could end up being the steal in the mid rounds. Robertson has a long, lean frame, great burst and the speed to attack tackles out of their stance quickly. He has limited experience playing in man coverage, so at first he will need to be brought along slowly and have his technique refined. His best chance is to follow a career path of Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips, who at first was just a nickel and dime rusher.
Slipper - Quentin Groves (Auburn) - The player who gets thrown into this group without question by many experts is Groves, but he has never shown he could rush the passer from a two-point stance effectively. Groves began playing more linebacker as the season wore on, and he looked unnatural and slow while standing up. Groves also looked lost in coverage, even covering the flat. He simply doesn’t have the instincts and play recognition skills to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. As a rush end, he plays much more effectively, and will be more productive on a 4-3 team.
Grade - B-