2009 NFL Draft
Post-Workout Rankings
The Top Inside Linebacker Prospects
By
Pete Fiutak
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2009 NFL Combine Numbers
Quarterbacks
| Running Backs & Fullbacks
| Receivers
Tight
Ends | Centers & Guards
|
Off. Tackles
Def. Ends |
Def. Tackles
|
Inside LBs
|
Outside LBs
new Cornerbacks |
Safeties
-
new 2009 NFL Draft Post-Workout
Rankings
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Fullbacks |
Receivers |
Tight Ends
Centers |
Guards |
Off. Tackles |
Def. Ends |
Def. Tackles
Inside LBs |
Outside LBs |
Cornerbacks |
Safeties
Full Player Breakdowns & Analysis To Come In March
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2008 CFN Draft Central
2008 NFL Draft Breakdown and Analysis
1st Round
|
2nd Round
|
3rd Round
|
4th Round
|
5th Round
|
6th Rd
|
7th Rd
1. Rey Maualuga, USC 6-2, 249
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 1
Post-Combine Skinny:
It wasn't a good trip to Indianapolis, but it's not going to matter. An
injured hamstring reared its ugly head during the workout and is partly
being explained for the painfully slow 4,82 in the 40. the 23 reps in
the weight room were fine, but not special, and he wasn't able to show
off any quickness thanks to the injury. He'll still be the first inside
linebacker taken.
Positives: Devastating
hitter. An intimidating force who’ll blow up plays … All over the field.
Very quick, very aggressive … Has it all. He’s the type of linebacker
defenses are built around.
Negatives: Tries a bit too much to go for the kill shot … Speed.
Great when he gets going, but straight speed isn’t special … Not an
outside linebacker. Strictly for the inside.
2. Jasper Brinkley,
South Carolina
6-2, 252
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 5
Post-Combine Skinny: All
questions or his concerns about his injured knee were answered in a big
way as one of the quickest, most athletic linebackers in Indianapolis.
Combine his surprising movement with his toughness and big hitting
ability, and this was a good weekend for him. The biggest of the inside
linebackers, the 26 reps and the 4.72 40 helped, too.
Positives:
Very big leader who was the main man for the USC defense when healthy …
Quick for his size. Can be a pass rusher … Tough. Pure inside stuffer.
Negatives: Knee issues … Needs
to play up to his size more and beat up more blockers … Lacks the burst
he had before getting hurt.
3. Scott McKillop,
Pitt 6-1, 244
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 4
Post-Combine Skinny:
Considering the knock on his was his mediocre athleticism, he helped
himself in a huge way by blowing through the short drills with shocking
quickness. With the good jumps in the vertical (35.5") and the long jump
(9'11"), and the 27 reps on the bench, he made a big impact.
Positives: Extremely
productive. A tackling machine … Always around the ball. Always … Not
bad in pass coverage. Can stay with most tight ends and running backs in
short spaces … High character.
Negatives: Needs to get stronger … Won’t blow up ball-carriers. Not
a huge hitter … Doesn’t necessarily have the NFL skill set.
4. James Laurinaitis,
Ohio State 6-2, 244
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 2
Post-Combine Skinny:
A shocking, unmitigated disaster. If the 4.8 40 wasn't bad
enough, he was stunningly stiff in all the drills, showed no explosion,
and appeared to labor in almost all of his moves. The 23 reps were good,
but they hardly made up for being exposed athletically. This might have
been a bad enough workout to push him out of the first round after he
was originally considered a possible top ten pick.
Positives: An all-timer of a
producer … A leader. Doesn’t make mistakes and is always around the ball
… Fantastic toughness who doesn’t miss a tackle.
Negatives: Has to get a bit
bigger to play inside … Became quiet. The stats were there, but it
didn’t always seem like he was doing anything … Can get erased by big blockers.
5. Darry Beckwith, LSU 6-0,
242
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 3
Post-Combine Skinny:
Compared to most of the other top inside prospects, Beckwith came across
as more athletic and showed off surprising speed. The 4.77 wasn't great,
but he moved just well enough in the short drills to get by. He didn't
help himself, but he didn't hurt his stock.
Positives: Smart, tough
playmaker …. Good technique. Polished … Plays bigger and stronger than
his size.
Negatives: Not
huge. Good sized, but not a bulky, big defender … Not quite fast enough
to be an all-around disruptor at an NFL level … Tricky knee and he could
get beaten up. Has to prove he can hold up.
6. Gerald McRath, Southern Miss
6-3, 225
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 6
Post-Combine Skinny: His
future home will likely be on the outside, but the quickness and range
showed in the drills might keep him on the inside for some teams. The 19
reps in the weight room weren't a positive to overcome his safety size,
but the 4.61 40 and the 10-3 blast on the long jump made him a must-have
athlete.
Positives:
Ultra-productive … A baller. Wants to be better. Has a passion for the
game … Good enough speed to play outside if needed.
Negatives: Small. Too small …
Needs to get much stronger … Not a huge hitter. Might get pushed around
too much.
7. Dannell Ellerbe, Georgia
6-1, 236
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 7
Post-Combine Skinny: He
looked terrific. He was extremely quick, smooth, and appeared to be 100%
back from the knee injury that limited him throughout the year. While he
didn't run the 40 and didn't lift, but blew through the short drills.
Positives:
Extremely versatile … When 100%, he’s an elite athlete who can do it all
… Quick, big hitter.
Negatives:
Not quite prototype size for the inside … Hurt his knee last year
and struggled … Fire? He has to show that last year was a fluke and that
he can go full-tilt.
8. Jason Phillips, TCU
6-1, 239
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 9
Post-Combine Skinny: It
was a surprising performance from a defender pigeon-holed into the
inside. He was far, far more athletic than expected with a fantastic
4.32 time in the shuttle and an explosive 10-foot jump in the long jump.
He didn't always look smooth, but he helped himself in a big way by
showing he could be used in a variety of ways.
Positives:
A fighter. Fiesty leader … Good instincts. Knows where he’s supposed to
be … Tough. Will battle to get to the ball.
Negatives: Not a form tackler
… Decent quickness, but he might only be an inside linebacker … Will need to be
surrounded by athletes.
9. Worrell Williams, California
5-11, 240
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 8
Post-Combine Skinny:
Is he for the inside or the outside? He was athletic enough to play on
the outside, but he appears to be more of an inside presence even with a
pedestrian 23 reps. He had a good enough workout to help himself
overall, but it wasn't a special weekend.
Positives:
Can play anywhere in the linebacking corps … Makes huge plays. Huge
hitter … Fast enough. Always around the ball.
Negatives: Not all that tall.
Squatty … Needs to find one position he can master at an NFL level …
Goes for the big pop too often.
10. Stanley Arnoux, Wake
Forest 6-0, 232
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 13
Post-Combine Skinny: He couldn't have done better. The 19 reps
in the weight room wasn't strong, but he was flying around like a safety
in the short drills. He leapt 10'1" in the best broad jump of any of the
inside prospect, and he was the fastest of the group with a 4.61. He
still needs work, but he was every bit as athletic as hoped for.
Positives: Good strength,
toughness inside … Solid tackler. Big hitter … Very smart and well
respected. A leader.
Negatives:
Not lightning fast for his size. A half-step slow to be a star NFL MLB … Will
struggle in pass protection … Doesn’t always look natural.
11. Joshua Mauga, Nevada
6-2, 243
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 11
Post-Combine Skinny:
While he didn't work out, he showed up and showed long arms, a decent
look, and solid size. He'll have to run and show off a little
athleticism to make a little bit of noise.
Positives:
Major-league producer. Great tackler … Can play inside or out … Tough.
Will play through injuries.
Negatives: Not fast enough to play on the outside on a regular basis
… A bit too physical. Gets hurt … Decent athlete. Not great.
12.
Michael Tauiliili, Duke
5-11, 235
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 12
Post-Combine Skinny: Wasn't At The Combine
Positives:
Ultra-productive … Tackled everything and everyone that moved … Great
instincts. Always finds his way to the ball.
Negatives: Not all that big.
He’ll have to prove he can hold up … Only an inside linebacker. Not
athletic enough to play on the outside.
13. Antonio Appleby, Virginia
6-4, 250
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 10
Post-Combine Skinny: Wasn't At
The Combine
Positives:
Fast … Physical. Will hit everything … Could grow into a defensive end.
Negatives: Tall. Rangy … Not
necessarily built like an inside linebacker … Limited a bit by an ankle
injury. Still needs work.
14. Dave Philistin, Maryland
6-0, 230
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 14
Post-Combine Skinny: Wasn't At The Combine
Positives:
Great tackler … Excellent against the run … Can do a little of
everything well.
Negatives:
Way undersized … Not strong enough … Will get beaten up on the inside.
15. Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan
6-1, 250
Pre-Combine Position Rank: 15
Post-Combine Skinny: Wasn't At The Combine
Positives:
Veteran producer. Was a starter as a freshman … Good instincts against
the pass. Can drop into coverage seamlessly … Good hitter.
Negatives: Not all that
athletic … Will be a step off against NFL caliber speed … Can’t play the
outside at all.