Georgia LB Justin Houston (Kevin Cox/Getty)
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PatriotsInsider.com
Posted Apr 26, 2011
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Akeem Ayers, Justin Houston, Brooks Reed, all have been connected to the Patriots as potential Draft picks. Scouting reports on the top outside linebackers in the 2011 NFL Draft.
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The 2011 outside linebacker class offers a variety of pass-rushing
threats that can bring pressure off the edge from a stand-up position.
Franchises employing the 3-4 alignment will have a good chance to add
a quality player on the outside. In fact, all of the top five
prospects in this group project best to the 3-4 scheme. On the other
hand, this crop is thin on 4-3 outside linebackers and teams utilizing
that scheme may be out of luck.
Simply put, Texas A&M’s Von Miller is far and away the best player
of the group and one of the elite overall prospects available in 2011.
The Butkus Award winner is a relentless pass-rushing threat with
amazing athletic ability and won’t wait very long to hear his name
called. No other prospect from this group is a first-round lock, but
several have a chance to go on day one.
UCLA’s Akeem Ayers is another stellar athlete that made plays
worthy of any highlight reel during his tenure in southern California.
He starred as a 4-3 outside linebacker for the Bruins, but saw plenty
of action rushing the quarterback with his hand on the ground and
projects better to the 3-4. Georgia’s Justin Houston also fits well in
the 3-4, but his transition has already begun. After playing his first
few seasons as a defensive end, Houston converted to outside
linebacker when the Bulldogs installed a 3-4 scheme prior to the 2010
campaign. Both players could be selected in the second half of the
first round.
The next tier features two college defensive ends that lack great
size and will more than likely convert to 3-4 outside linebacker.
Arizona’s Brooks Reed often earns comparisons to Clay Matthews. Aside
from the obvious similarities in hair, both play with great intensity
and their motors on high. However, Reed doesn’t own the same athletic
upside as Matthews and isn’t a sure thing in the first round. Texas’
Sam Acho is another high-energy player that is constantly hustling. He
lacks the size to play with his hand in the dirt at the next level,
but looks like a day-two prospect as a 3-4 linebacker.
The top two 4-3 prospects could go anywhere between the second and
fourth rounds. North Carolina’s Bruce Carter is a fantastic athlete
with first-round talent, but a major knee injury suffered late in his
senior season leaves his health as a major risk. Washington’s Mason
Foster is less of an athlete and more of a good fundamental football
player. The Husky defense was an atrocious unit, but Foster was a
tackling machine that was forced to make plays all over the field due
to a less-than-stellar supporting cast.
POSITION REPORT CARD: This group lacks depth in 4-3 outside
linebackers and a lot of the 3-4 prospects will be making the
transition from defensive end. It’s hard to put too much stock in
players changing positions and there is a dropoff in talent after the
first two days anyways. This group earns a C-plus grade.
Von Miller, Texas A&M
6:02.5-246-4.53
Good News: Outstanding athlete…Explosive burst off
the
ball…Fantastic speed off the edge…Exceptional flexibility to bend
around the corner and can dip under the tackle’s reach…Cat-like
quickness and agility to bring the rush back inside…Savvy pass rusher
who finds ways to get to the QB using counter-moves…Good overall
instincts and underrated against the run…Relentless motor.
Bad News: Limited experience dropping into
coverage,
although he does possess the athletic ability to be successful in this
aspect…Lacks elite size to anchor in the running game and can have
some trouble disengaging when tackles lock on.
2010 Statistics: Butkus Award winner…Registered 68
total
tackles with 17.5 tackles-for-loss and 10.5 sacks…Added six
quarterback hurries, six pass deflections, three forced fumbles, two
fumble recoveries and an interception.
Prediction: Miller is without a doubt one of the
elite
players in the draft and is probably the best senior prospect. He put
on a show at the Senior Bowl, showing NFL personnel he’s more than a
one-trick pony by dropping into coverage and breaking down in space
against the run. Miller won’t last long and it would be a surprise if
he escaped the top five picks.
Akeem Ayers, UCLA
6:02.4-254-4.88
Good News: Exceptional athletic ability…Good burst
off the
ball and naturally bends around the corner pretty well…Good all-around
instincts and above-average ball skills…Does a great job getting hands
up when in the quarterback’s face to bat down balls or even come up
with occasional interception…Excellent quickness and agility…Good
closing speed and acceleration to finish the quarterback…Capable in
coverage…Proven playmaker all over the field.
Bad News: Assignment discipline is lacking and is
susceptible to play fakes and misdirection…Too often crashes in and
fails to contain the outside lane…Must take better angles to the
ball…Must use his hands better to disengage against the run…Strength
is average.
2010 Statistics: Second-team Walter Camp
All-American and
first-team All-Pac-10…Registered 68 total tackles with 10
tackles-for-loss and four sacks…Added two interceptions, two forced
fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Prediction: Ayers is a terrific athlete who starred
as an
outside linebacker in UCLA’s 4-3 defense. His ability to generate a
pass rush also saw the Bruins line him up with his hand on the ground
on occasion. He’s the type of player who is much more effective coming
forward rather than playing back, and fits better as an outside
linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, in my opinion. Ayers could be selected
later in the first or early in the second.
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| Von Miller was once connected to the
Patriots, but he will be long gone by the time they pick.
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Justin Houston, Georgia
6:02.7-270-4.76
Good News: Excellent pass rusher off the
edge…Experienced
rushing with his hand on the ground and standing up…Good burst off the
snap and exceptional speed off the edge…Good flexibility…Can dip his
shoulder and turn the corner…Flashes a strong bull rush when he plays
with good leverage, as well as strong hands to shed a block.
Bad News: One-trick pony…Relies heavily on his
speed off
the edge and lacks an array of pass-rush moves…Needs to use his hands
better to disengage...Can be sealed off from the running lane by
single blocks when he plays too high…Very limited experience dropping
into coverage and looks a little stiff in space…Needs to play with
more of a consistent effort – admittedly takes plays off.
2010 Statistics: Second-team AP and Walter Camp
All-American…Registered 67 total tackles with 18.5 tackles-for-loss
and 10 sacks…Added 14 quarterback hurries, two pass deflections, one
interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered and returned
for a touchdown.
Prediction: After spending his first few seasons
pressuring
the passer as a defensive end, Houston converted to outside linebacker
when Georgia installed the 3-4 scheme in 2010. The experience puts him
a step ahead in the transition, but there are still major holes in his
game. Houston is a bit of a one-trick pony that relies primarily on
his speed and lacks a lot of technique. He’s going to need to refine
his game and give a more consistent effort, something he admits has
been an issue. "My top thing is going hard every play," he said. "I
feel like I take plays off at times. If I can go hard every play, I
know I'll make more plays." Houston’s ability to get to the
quarterback will still be a hot commodity and he should be off the
board late in the first round or early on day two.
Brooks Reed, Arizona
6:02.4-263-4.66
Good News: Good initial quickness…Plays with good
leverage
and flashes the ability to bull rush…Good use of hands and fights hard
to get to the quarterback…Decent set of pass-rush moves, primarily
spin and rip…Good awareness…Excellent effort and leaves it all out on
the field…Never stops coming and looks to counter-move.
Bad News: Doesn’t possess elite athletic ability or
burst…Lacks great flexibility when turning the corner to take hard
angles to the quarterback and can be ridden around the pocket…Not
overly strong but works hard to disengage against the run…Very limited
experience in coverage.
2010 Statistics: All-Pac-10 Conference first-team
selection…Registered 47 total tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss and 6.5
sacks…Added one forced fumble and two pass deflections.
Prediction: Some others don’t like the Clay Matthews
comparison because Reed lacks the same athletic upside. But the two
liken in that they play with a non-stop motor and leave it all on the
field. While Reed doesn’t necessarily own great physical tools, he
gets by just fine on his effort and energy. He played defensive end
for Arizona, but his size and skill set projects best as a 3-4 outside
linebacker. He should warrant late first-round consideration, but if
he gets by the first day expect him to go in the second round.
Sam Acho, Texas
6:01.5-262-4.76
Good News: Good upper body strength…Possesses
strong hands
and uses them well to combat blockers…Flashes a good initial
punch…Plays with good leverage and flashes the ability to bull
rush…Solid overall speed…Great effort and is constantly hustling…Great
intangibles – hard-working on the field and in the class room.
Bad News: Doesn’t show great burst off the ball and
will
have to work to take the edge at the next level…Sometimes appears to
lack lower-body strength and can get stalemated by stronger
blockers…Decent lateral agility to break down in space but will miss
tackles against quicker NFL runners…Limited experienced dropping into
coverage.
2010 Statistics: Winner of the William V. Campbell
Trophy
(top scholar-athlete)…Registered 58 total tackles with 15.5
tackles-for-loss and eight sacks…Added 12 quarterback hurries, five
forced fumbles and a pass deflection.
Prediction: Acho was a standout defensive end at
Texas, but
his size lends itself better to outside linebacker in a 3-4. Although
he lacks elite edge rushing ability, Acho gets by on outstanding
energy and hustle. He flashed the ability to play in space at the
Senior Bowl and should be gone at some point during day two.
Bruce Carter, North Carolina
6:01.4-241
Good News: Excellent athletic ability for the
position…Terrific straight-line speed…Takes very good angles to the
ball and displays outstanding closing burst…Reads and reacts well –
generally isn’t fooled by play-action or misdirection…Able to get good
depth in coverage and owns the athleticism to stick with running backs
and tight ends…Also a standout on special teams (blocked six kicks in
career).
Bad News: Significant durability concerns –
suffered a torn
ACL late in the 2010 season and underwent reconstructive surgery on
his left knee in December…Could use hands better to disengage and get
off blocks…Athleticism allows him to rush the passer but isn’t refined
in this aspect and doesn’t own a variety of moves.
2010 Statistics: All-ACC second-team selection
despite
missing the final two games of the season…Registered 57 total tackles
with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks…Added two quarterback hurries,
two pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble and a blocked
kick.
Prediction: Carter may very well have factored into
the
first round had he not suffered a late-season knee injury. He
underwent reconstructive surgery on a torn ACL in December and is
still only about halfway through the rehabilitation process. If he
checks out medically, Carter could be a steal in the second or third
round.
BEST OF THE REST
Mason Foster, Washington
6:01.2-245-4.79
Notes: Better fundamental football player than athlete and fits
well outside in a 4-3 or inside in a 3-4.
Projection: 3rd-4th round
Dontay Moch, Nevada
6:01.3-248-4.53
Notes: Former defensive end with blazing speed will make the
transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4, but struggles to hold up
against the run.
Projection: 3rd-4th round
Chris Carter, Fresno State
6:01.1-248-4.67
Notes: Another former defensive end with pass-rushing ability, but
lacks size and will need to convert to outside linebacker in a 3-4 or
4-3.
Projection: 3rd-4th round
K.J. Wright, Mississippi State
6:03.3-246-4.75
Notes: Intriguing size, length and skill set could see him develop
into an effective outside linebacker in either scheme.
Projection: 4th round
Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut
6:00.7-229-4.74
Notes: Athletic outside linebacker with great range, but lacks the
necessary size and strength to hold up against the run.
Projection: 4th round
Mark Herzlich, Boston College
6:04.0-244-5.02
Notes: Great story of a cancer survivor and could still be a great
player, but hasn’t shown the same form from previous years to this
point.
Projection: 4th-5th round
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