NCAA Scouting Linebackers Combine Review by Paul Emery March 21st 2011
As we continue our review of the Combine, next up are the Linebackers with some notable names on show.
Outside Linebacker
On tape Von Miller (Texas A&M;) stands out as a fine talent and looks explosive he was able to convert this into his workout with some nice results and should see his stock steady in the top 10. He added some weight after the Senior Bowl coming in 9 lbs heavier in Indy but still carrying that weight well with one of the best 10 yard split and 10 yard dash times. He had the best cone and shuttle times to show he’s not a straight line type. The one negative of his performance was an average bench press performance only putting 225 lbs up 21 times. His style on tape is all about speed rather than power, so as such I don’t know much will changed in scouts opinion of him as a result.
Martez Wilson (Illinois) hasn’t been getting a great deal of press, but helped himself a bunch putting in the second best overall performance in this group. In the all important 10 yard split time his was the joint quickest of this group and I would imagine as a result 3-4 teams will be looking to him as a 3-4 OLB rather than the inside slot he played in College (although he did line up as a DE and rush the passer, so has some experience outside). Wilson’s shuttle wasn’t quite as good as Miller’s and was only just above average, so it does make him look more tight in the hips than Miller. But still, a fine workout and he should be moving up boards as a result as long as a neck injury which caused him to miss the 2009 season was cleared medically.
I’ve added 270 lb Justin Houston (Georgia) into this group just to see how he fares despite being 20+ lbs heavier than many of the other prospects. His 40 yard dash time was just above average as was his 10 yard split time but his fine explosion drills (vertical and broad) still mean he has a high overall number. Like Wilson, his shuttle time wasn’t as good as his 40 time so it paints a picture of a somewhat straight liner although not quite to the extent of the Illinois man. I think he shows enough that he can be seen as scheme diverse.
Dontay Moch (Nevada) weighed in 19 lbs heavier at 248 lbs which puts him back into the 3-4 OLB discussion, although it could still be at least 10 lbs too light for some. Speed is not the issue with Moch as even with the added weight he was still able to run the best 40 time of 4.4 and indeed he was faster than many WR’s and RB’s. Like Miller his bench wasn’t great putting up the same 21 reps as the Texas A&M; man but his game is mainly speed, although he can use his size (6’1) to his advantage by getting under blockers. His vertical and broad jumps were both the best of this group and it was only his average shuttle and cone times that pulled him numbers down. The average shuttle means that his lateral agility number (a calculated number 40 time shuttle time it’s something Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki believes in big time) is the lowest of the group, so change of direction is an issue with him.
Chris Carter (Fresno State) played DE in college and is a borderline 3-4 OLB weight wise matching Moch’s 248 lb weight. His 40 yard dash was a little odd a very good 10 yard split, but below average 20 yard split but overall the 40 time was above average! On tape he showed he can set the edge and looked to have some strength and this was confirmed in the bench with 27 reps. The rest of the drills were a mixed bag a nice vertical and cone, but broad and shuttle only average which don’t really correlate. Overall though, he helped himself and should be in the 3rd round discussion.
K.J. Wright (Mississippi State) stands out on tape with a very nice long frame and he had the longest arms of this group (just under 35). Unfortunately though, his 40 time was poor (4.7) although his 10 yard split time was just under the average, which could redeem things. His shuttle and cone times were both poor, which is not great for a LB who has to change directions quickly. A slightly below average overall workout and not quite what I expected from him. He’s going to be a borderline 3rd/4th round type who might go a little higher because of his frame.
I was very interested in Mark Herzlich’s performance on tape the Boston College man doesn’t look very fast in a straight line and I had projected him to 3-4 ILB as a result. This was confirmed with his 4.9 40 time the slowest in this group. The one thing that pushes his overall number up is his bench (29 reps) which was second best of the group. Overall a below average workout, which was expected after watching him quite a few times this season.
Akeem Ayers (UCLA) was the prospect who lost the most in this group he has good size at 254 lbs but despite showing some pass rush ability off the edge on tape his 10 yard split time was below average. His bench number was also a concern at only 18 reps which is often more of a work ethic red flag than the actual lack of strength. His above average broad and shuttle times rescued the situation (and thus his lateral agility number is high) but his overall number is near the bottom of this group and could drop him a few places on draft day.
Mason Foster (Washington) is another who had a poor day he’s got short arms (31) and his 40 time was below average, although his 10 yard split time was above average so he has some short area explosion (although this was not confirmed by the vertical and broad jumps which were both poor). His overall number was below 4, which is where I start getting concerned. I think he could be someone who falls to the third day as a result.
Outside of the big games, Scott Lutrus (Connecticut) had the best workout producing the same overall number as Houston. The main red flag with him is missing three games due to longer term problems after suffering a stinger so the medical will have been the biggest thing for him in Indy. Lutrus matched the best 10 yard split time and also had very good vertical and broad jumps. He didn’t bench press, which I assume is post injury. Change of direction was on show in excellent shuttle and cone times so as long as the medical checks out he will have helped himself.
There are a bunch of undersized LB’s around and some of them received Combine invites. The top performer by some distance was Brian Rolle (Ohio State) who looks quick on tape and confirmed that with a very good shuttle time. His 40 time was also very good and his 10 yard split was equal best. The others were all below average with Jeremiha Hunter (Iowa), Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut) and D.J. Smith (Appalachian State) all slipping below 4 and thus really not helping themselves.
Inside Linebacker
This group is always one of the smaller ones and wasn’t helped by Casey Matthews (Oregon) hurting his shoulder while performing the bench press. Elijah Peanut Joseph (Temple) and Derrell Smith (Syracuse) both didn’t workout, while four other prospects didn’t run the 40 yard dash, so there are some Pro Day gaps to be filled in.
The question with Colin McCarthy (Miami (Fl.)) was speed, but this was answered with the fastest time in this group (just shading under 4.6). The remainder of the workout was also very good, with the only blip being a below average bench (23 reps). He certainly helped himself and will have got rid of the better player than athlete tag.
Quan Sturdivant (North Carolina) had the second best overall number, but it’s based on a partial workout so his Pro Day will need to fill in the gaps before this can seriously be looked at. His shuttle time was the slowest though which is a concern.
Chris White (Mississippi State) was another who had a partial workout, but I have his Pro Day numbers so this number is from all drills although he will have run in different conditions to those who ran in Indy so this has to be taken into account. His overall number was about average, with his shuttle and cone times being good but his bench (17 reps) poor. It’s about the performance expected from him.
I expected Kelvin Sheppard (LSU) to put together a top workout as he plays fast but now his Pro Day numbers are in, it was an average type of workout. His 40 time was above average, although his 20 yard split time was slow, so he takes a while to really get going. His cone and broad jumps were poor, with his shuttle and vertical being above average but the type of drills didn’t correlate so there’s a mixed picture of him. Certainly not the workout expected and it will lower his stock somewhat.
Greg Jones (Michigan State) had the lowest number of the bigger names, his lack of ideal height (just over 6’0) won’t be appealing to some scouts and this workout will add to the doubts. Bench, vertical and cone were all poor with a good broad and above average shuttle nudging his overall number up to just about an acceptable number athletically. He’s clearly a better player than athlete it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
Of the lesser names Akeem Dent (Georgia) has a fine overall number but this was a partial workout and I will need to plug in the remaining drills after his Pro Day so hold fire on this for now.
Mike Mohamed (California) has been getting some mentions in terms of a possible mid round slot and his top shuttle and cone times pushed his overall number up to just below McCarthy’s. The remainder of the group were all fairly average with Orie Lemon (Oklahoma State) just below 4 and thus is likely not going to be drafted.
The question with Colin McCarthy (Miami (Fl.)) was speed, but this was answered with the fastest time in this group (just shading under 4.6). The remainder of the workout was also very good, with the only blip being a below average bench (23 reps). He certainly helped himself and will have got rid of the better player than athlete tag.
