Here is an in depth look at the Middle Linebackers eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft.
| 1 | 55 | Rivers | Keith | USC | MB | 6022v | 241v | 4.59v | I |
| Has outstanding playing skills, runs extremely well, and has very good playing instincts. Has absolutely great intangibles. Good first step quickness and the ability find the ball on the inside. Doesn’t linger on blocks and closes to the ball extremely well. Will fail to secure at times, but overall was a solid tackler. Versatile; could play all three linebacker positions and never has to come off the field in sub packages. | |||||||||
| 2 | 7 | Mayo | Jerod | Tennessee U | MB | 6012v | 242v | 4.59v | I |
| Injured knee late in the 07 season. Young and has a ways to go in terms of strength and keeping his pads down (gets high). I loved his ability to both meet and defeat pressure inside. Smart player with very good instincts. Runs well and showed excellent playing range. Highly productive (Cal. / LSU) although needs more tackle strength. Very good zone drops and awareness (needs some work in man). Not near his full playing potential. 1st rd consideration. | |||||||||
| 3 | 40 | Lofton | Curtis | Oklahoma U | MB | 6000v | 246v | 4.71v | G |
| A very impressive football player who had a tremendous amount of plays. Impacts the game. Great instincts for the football. Liked the way he filled inside (slips blocks, but also showed some explosive hands and good leverage. Sideline to sideline player. Drive through tackler who finished. Don’t see him as a match up guy in pass coverage, but his zone drops were good. Going to play quickly and contribute to winning football games.. Round # 1 consideration. | |||||||||
| 4 | 2 | Bell | Beau | UNLV | MB | 6015v | 239v | 4.89v | I |
| Explosive hitter who plays hard and fast. Can leverage, play off and runs to the ball. Excellent speed and backside effort (motor runs on high all of the time. A big hitter (people go backwards on contact). Top teams potential at the professional level. Felt he was marginal in pass coverage (tends to play straight legged -limited reaction). Sustained an MCL injury in Senior Bowl. Late 2nd to top of 3rd draft potential. | |||||||||
| 5 | 56 | Butler | Ezra | Nevada U | MB | 6014v | 245v | 4.53v | I |
| Down guy early who can play and space. Like the way he met pressure, shed and got to the football. Was both explosive on contact and freaky strong. Real force coming off the edge in nickel. Injured for much of the 07 season and didn’t play to the same level as he did in 06. A tad tight in coverage (needs work in this area). Excellent teams potential. Possible late 2nd and solid 3rd round draft potential. | |||||||||
| 6 | 1 | Henderson | Erin | Maryland U | MB | 6026v | 244v | 4.79v | F |
| Has missed playing time due to injuries (knee reconstruction on 2005). Is not a take on guy (struggled to disengage from blocks inside – plays small). on the inside and I would have to question his overall playing instincts. Struggled some in pass coverage (breakdown in the open field). Was a productive in terms of total tackles who made plays outside the tackle box. Good range and tackling skills. Far from a complete player, but has some upside. Round 3 – 4. | |||||||||
| 7 | 7 | Highsmith | Ali | LSU | MB | 5115v | 230v | 5.01v | F |
| A highly productive college football player who was short in stature, did not run well and was slow to react at times. Not impressive from an athletic standpoint, but you have to give him his due (made big plays at critical times). Not a take on guy, but effectively slipped blocks and got to the ball inside. Secured well as a tackler. Coverage skills marginal (limited depth with questionable route recognition and reactions). Not athletic enough for “Will” backer. | |||||||||
| 8 | 51 | Larsen | Spencer | Arizona U | MB | 6016v | 238v | 4.90v | F |
| Productive player with good instincts and playing character. Somewhat disappointed in his take on skills but has a knack slipping blocks and getting to the football. In pass coverage I felt he was more then adequate settling and reacting in the under zones, but has limited man cover potential. Speed and overall range will limit him to the “Mike” backer position, but looks like a solid back up and special teams contributor. Has mid second day draft potential. Round 5 -6. | |||||||||
| 9 | 52 | McClain | Jameel | Syracuse U | LB | 6006v | 249v | 4.79v | G |
| Inside LB prospect who will also line up at rush end in nickel. Plays with a lot of energy) and was a productive. Runs well and projects as a special team player. Some initial indecision in his play but when he saw it came hard. Will take on with the wrong shoulder and play entry was inconsistent but effort was good. In coverage (zone) got depth, but again struggled with his COD. A versatile hard working, old school player. Mid to late round potential (5-6). | |||||||||
| 10 | 9 | Hall | Vince | Virginia Tech | LB | 5110v | 232v | 4.94v | G |
| A durable, experienced, highly productive football player who possesses just adequate athletic ability. Was not especially pretty in a uniform and doesn’t run well, but made a lot of plays. I really liked his playing smarts, but I was disappointed in his ability to take on and play off blocks (got bounced around inside). Struggles in pass coverage. Lacks range, movement although did read and react to things in the under zones. Good player but has real limitations | |||||||||
| 11 | 47 | Goff | Jonathon | Vanderbilt U | MB | 6020v | 245v | 4.71v | F |
| Appeared somewhat top heavy. Is an experienced hands with playing smarts and more then adequate range, but I was disappointed with his overall take on skills on the inside. Got walled off and had a tendency to hang on blocks. Inconsistent to wrap up inside, particularly in space. A far more effective player in pass coverage. Got depth in his zone drops and sorted it out quickly. Looks like a “Sam”, but lack of take on ability concerns me. Late draft consideration. | |||||||||
| 12 | 41 | Williams | Thomas | USC | MB | 6011v | 227v | 4.79v | G |
| Starting primarily as a result of injuries, but showed a solid skill level.. Liked his play instincts and football smarts. Unselfish player with a lot of heart and playing toughness. See him as a limited area player (not going to get to the boundary) and I don’t believe him to be as a true asset in pass coverage. Not a fast twitch athlete. Didn’t see top play speed or a closing burst. Late round consideration, but is more likely a priority free agent within the league. | |||||||||
| 13 | 47 | Leman | Jeremy | Illinois U | MB | 6016v | 245v | 4.95e | G |
| Make a lot of plays, but is as limited an athlete as there is in this year’s player draft. Tough and highly instinctive. Was non explosive on contact and just doesn’t run well. Very limited play range. Took intelligent angles and played very hard, but doessn’t have the speed or closing burst. Tight in his lower body (hips), which seriously limits his participation in coverage. That being said, has to much smarts and heart not to play, but just isn’t the answer. Rd. 7 or PFA | |||||||||
| 14 | 48 | Lansanah | Danny | Connecticut U | MB | 6003v | 248v | 4.74v | G |
| Has some athletic ability, but I felt he was somewhat of an underachiever. Good first step movement and playing instincts, but again was not explosive on contact (not sure if he’s the nasty thug team’s look for in the middle). Has the talent to play, but somebody need too light a fire under him (always looks to be costing – no urgency). If he mentally ready in camp has a real chance of factoring as a back up special teams performer. Late compensatory or PFA | |||||||||
| 15 | 42 | Floyd | Dante | New Mexico St | MB | 5110e | 235e | 4.75e | G |
| Unranked, undersized transfer (LaneyJC) inside linebacker who impressed me with his effort, tenacity and production. Good athletic ability. Playing in an unusuall 3-3-5 scheme where he led his team in tackles in 07. Played inside runs well when he was protected and allowed to run to the ball. Good range and a very good wrap-up tackler with some pop. Not a fit for every club, but project high as a special teams and contributing back up. Late round (7th) or PFA. | |||||||||
| 16 | 59 | Moffitt | Ben | South Florida U | MB | 6007v | 224v | 4.67v | F |
| Great young man who loves the game. Try hard guy but was very stiff and had a particularly tough time getting off blocks. Got bounced around pretty good on the inside (catcher) Very much a limited area player who wasn’t stout on the inside. Looked more comfortable in coverage. Got depth in his drops and sorted things out quickly. Can run with the TE or RB on flat and arrow routes. Has a outside chance of being drafted late, but was more likely a priority FA. | |||||||||
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