DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2017 NFL Season 2017 NFL Draft LBer help.

I wanted to get away from the #1 pick discussion and
QB discussion, where everyone has their favorites.

So Where do we need help? MLB? Or do we stick with Davis there, he is still young? Does Kirksey move to the middle, or Collins, maybe? Do we draft a guy? If so, when? Who? Who do you like in the draft? What about Carder, Alexander, and Schobert? Where do they fit in?

I could see us starting Collins at strongside, Kirksey at weakside, with Davis at middle, then drafting some others to add depth. Schobert and Alexander provide depth.

Some guys I like in the draft are:
Josh Carraway OLB TCU 6-3 241
Marquel Lee ILB Wake Forest 6-3 230
Haason Reddick OLB Temple 6-1 237
Alex Anzalone ILB Florida 6-3 240

I really like Marquel Lee and Haason Reddick! Adding either one of those guys (or both) would be a huge plus.

Carraway is a pass rusher. He belongs on the line.

Not a huge fan of Anzalone.

I'm basing this one watching two highlight videos, so take it lightly as I'm not tuned into the college game outside the osu realm... But I like Reuben Foster.

This dude is a killer and a very physical linebacker. 6'1, 245 lbs is impressive as well.

I think this will be the case. I wouldn't be surprised, if he works out, to see Tyvis Powell involved in some hybrid LB capacity.

I don't believe we'll add a linebacker early in the draft and interested to see how Schobert fits.

We already have our two linebackers in Collins and Kirksey. Davis is probably fine to have playing 20% of the time on clear running downs.

Carraway did indeed play DE but is small at 6-3 241 and I've read he could test thru the roof a la Jamie Collins which is why I like him.

In the draft MLB
- Foster @ 12
- Anzalone @ 3 ?
- Watched film on Lee, not impressed.

On the team
- Davis, needs to be replaced as a starter.

FA
- Todd Davis, Denver, reasonable contract.
- AJ Kline, Car., Solid backup / excellent ST.

Jabrill Peppers

Issue is, I don't think we want to spend that high of a pick on an ILB. We've got our investments in Jamie Collins, and i think we'll resign Kirksey. I just don't think we'll want to go with a 1st round pick on a guy that won't see the field in Nickel.

We might draft a guy, but I don't think it'll be anyone too early. Just someone to compete with Davis and Carter (who never really has gotten a chance as a starter).

Yes, alot of college football nuts at work say he won't get passed up by the Saints at 11, if he's even still available at 11.

Im definitely not open to blowing any of our first rounders on a MLB. So basically, I wasted you tube time watching/studying him haha.

Then again, it was nice seeing him crush people like he did.

Peppers is the type of hybrid player that would do well in Williams' defense. I don't know if I would spend use the 12th pick on him.

Please No Peppers ...

Because. . .

That's the beauty. We can trade down for him.

He is not a MLB in a 43 imo. 34 ILB yes, but he is seen (regardless of what they list him) as an OLB by most scouting reports I have read.

Not a major need imo in 1st round.

I would rather we went in another direction at 12.Haason Reddick is a player I would highly consider in the 2nd round (if) avalible.

I'm a little surprised that no one has mentioned OSU's Raekwon McMillan as a possibility for LB help. He's 6-2, 240, 4.78 forty, and is ranked 2nd among ILB's behind Reuben Foster by Rob Rang and Dane Brugler. He is a tackling machine.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prosp...&school=All

I'm a huge OSU fan, as you probably know. I like Rackwon and I hope he has a bright future. I have a couple of concerns about him, though.

I think he struggles to get off blocks and it worries me that that issue might become more prominent in the NFL w/bigger offensive linemen. I think he reaches w/his arms a bit too much and guys will break those tackles in the NFL.

I do think he is a solid player and he has a good chance of making it. I just would not draft him real high.

I wanna clarify this..........I am not arguing this w/a lot of force. Just more of a feeling than absolute knowledge. And if someone wants to correct me, I'm all ears.

Here's what Rang and Brugler had to say about McMillan, although it should be noted that this report is from before the 2016 season, and also that it is referring to what they call his "strengths":

At a rock-solid 6-2, 240 pounds, McMillan possesses prototypical size for inside linebacker, including a stout core and thick lower half, which help him anchor against blockers. Unlike many of the undersized MIKE backers in today's college football who are reliant on avoiding would-be blockers, McMillan already shows NFL-caliber strength, taking on and shedding opponents efficiently with active, powerful hands, lateral agility and balance. He is a powerful tackler, often stopping ballcarriers dead in their tracks.

This is not to say that McMillan is simply an old-school battering ram. In fact, he shows impressive diagnosis skills to read the play, including the spatial awareness to "slip" blocks simply by taking efficient angles to the ball to beat blockers to the action. McMillan does not possess the same degree of athleticism as his former teammate, Lee (who was clocked at an eye-popping 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash at 232 pounds), but he is a coordinated athlete whose quick, choppy steps help him beat backs to the corner and make plays in coverage.


McMillan's dedication to his craft has impressed the Ohio State coaching staff, who already named the third-year junior a co-captain for this season.

***************************

In the spirit of full disclosure, here's what they call his weaknesses:

As his team-leading tackle numbers prove, McMillan was adept at "cleaning up" a year ago, but scouts are eager to see how he responds now that opposing blocking schemes will be focusing on him. McMillan lacks ideal flexibility, struggling to change directions quickly in tight quarters and occasionally allowing ballcarriers to slip by him. He shows a propensity to misread runs and keep his eyes glued in the backfield too long in coverage.


Further, McMillan is more efficient than explosive in pursuit, raising some questions about his pure speed and potential to remain on the field on passing downs against NFL competition.


Finally, while a generally reliable tackler, McMillan is often more reliant on the power he generates as a face-up hitter to knock down ballcarriers rather than reaching his arms out to catch runners in pursuit or to punch out the ball.


IN OUR VIEW: As a glass-eating, run-stuffing middle linebacker, McMillan is perfectly suited to traditional Big Ten football and may post the gaudy numbers this fall to actually win the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker (like he did in high school). If he is to continue Ohio State's legacy of first-round defenders, however, McMillan must convince scouts that he possesses the speed and playmaking ability to remain on the field on all three downs.

****************************

I have always felt that the Browns, for some reason, tend to avoid Buckeyes in the draft (unlike the Steelers and the Bengals), and that it would be good if they set that aside and took good football players, which I think McMillan most definitely is. I'd love him late 2nd round, or else with the 3rd round pick.

"Is good at a lot of things, but isn't really great at anything" is what was said about guys like Hines Ward.

HOF type guys.

Just saying.

Thanks for the info, Dave.

Not sure how being the best in the box safety in college football is not being great at something. Not to mention he has off the charts athleticism and instincts. He's extremely slept on.

With Williams being so close to Saban and Belichick, it's probably best to look at some of the ways they use players in their defense, as a way to see what Williams could be thinking. This is a good video of Saban talking about the S/OLB position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Ud3o60G00

Will you please expound on that off the charts instincts part? I get the athleticism. Maybe you can educate me on how his instincts are off the charts?

How do you suggest I prove that to you? Watch his games. Look at all the plays that he makes in the run game. Understand that Harbaugh trusted him enough to allow him to free lance on defense a ton.

Well, if you can't prove it.....how can it be charted? LOL

I did watch his games and noticed that his instincts in the passing game were poor. Sorry.

I just proved it to you. Unless you think you know Harbaugh's defense better than Harbaugh. I wouldn't be surprised. Even though it's clear you don't. Peppers wasn't asked too much to cover at Michigan, cuz why would you put your best defensive player in pass coverage in the Big 10? You'd have to be full of yourself and not understand the conference.

Always w/the insults when you are questioned.

Have a good one.

I didn't insult you. I just wanted you to understand you can't judge a player off the amount of ints he has when he plays 8 yards off the los.

Our CBs play 8 yards off all the time.

Especially on 3rd and 2.

The guy that advocates grabbing other player's junk?

EO advocates grabbing players junk?!?

I wonder how much that could improve our defense?

OOOOOOOHHHH! Better not say it cause it will likely get me suspended.

Might make us pretty Stiff.

Glad you understood I was only jerking your chain.

quote above by ThatGuy:

"Our CBs play 8 yards off all the time.

Especially on 3rd and 2."

lol (only if i really did)

j/c,

I like the sound of;

SLB Collins
MLB Haason Reddick
WLB Kirksey