NFL Draft Notes Vol. VII: Second Line Of Defense
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I feel like the Cowboys are working their way to being pretty set at linebacker with the addition of Keith Rivers, the return of Sean Lee, Anthony Hitchens and Kyle Wilber along with a few others. If they lose Rolando McClain, Justin Durant and Bruce Carter though, I feel like their athleticism at the position gets dented pretty legitimately.
There are a number of options for the Cowboys at the position, resign a couple of guys and keep the gang together, continue to add depth in cheap free agency via former busts that you just need to "coach up" or do what they did last year and hit a double to the fences like they did with Hitchens.
With the Valley Ranch visits and Dallas Day on the way, we should get a legit look at some of the guys the team might like to get later in the draft and if you see a fourth round linebacker oddly invited out of nowhere, that's a distinct possibility.
I'm going to look for the guys with the most flexibility to play any of the three linebacker positions in this defense. Big, fast and smart guys. I'm just picking a random group of guys though, no order:
Bernardrick McKinney, ILB - Mississippi State
Height: 6-4 Weight: 246
All the qualities I want physically in a middle linebacker. Length, good speed (4.66) and good tackler.
When I look at this guy he reminds me of Rolando McClain initially same size and physique. When you watch him play, he lacks the physicality that McClain plays with. When I watch McClain I think of a guy that runs down cattle and tackles them all day for training.
McKinney plays really tall, which can be beneficial when a ball is sailing in the middle of the field, but he doesn't shake defenders around his legs really easily. He wraps up well for the position and plays the run really well even in cutback lanes. When he drops into pass coverage, he looks a little lost. Roams, wastes steps and doesn't take the best angles, but recovers well with his athleticism and length.
If I'm looking to continue making my defensive unit imposing in size, speed and smarts I'd add this guy if he's there in the second round which he might not be, especially if I lose McClain.
Curtis Grant, ILB - Ohio State
Height: 6-3 Weight: 240
This guy is kind of a project idea for me. I like to look at middle linebackers from championship teams sometimes,(Rolando McClain) and with Ohio State owning Alabama this guy played a t the highest level.
I think there is a lot to build on with this guy, including his instincts, where he gets washed out of a play sometimes and his ability to change direction. Sometimes he looks like he just plants himself in a hole. The thing is, if he's in a gap somewhere you aren't getting by him.
He's got the speed and build to play the position, but when I look at Hitchens who the Cowboys drafted last year, I see really loose hips and an ability to change directions on a dime, which allows him to not have to have blazing speed, I don't see that with Grant. However, the dude is a monster physique. He was once ranked No. 2 high school prospect in the country behind only JaDaveon Clowney.
If I was going to take a look at a guy in the fifth or sixth round, I'd certainly be willing to give this guy a shot.
Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB –Louisville
Height: 6-4 Weight: 259
Looks like he's probably going to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. But, I'd love to see this guy plowing in off the edge as a combo defensive lineman/linebacker.
Doesn't really play the pass well, but instincts are great in both run and pass game. Very aware player looks like he studies hard in order to take advantage of physical abilities. In the run game and can change directions very quickly and has active hands.
Doesn't have great straight line speed to chase down speed backs, but has quickness to get the back before they get into open field. Intensity, strength and quickness. Athletic guy you'd like but probably doesn't fit Cowboys model.
Stephone Anthony, ILB - Clemson
Height: 6-3 Weight: 243
Athletically gifted. Top end LB speed, top end LB movement in drills during the combine.
I took a look at him simply because of his 40 time and cone drills, and I like what I see. When you watch his film, you see a guy that blasts through the line creates havoc everywhere on the field and can pretty much be anywhere he wants quickly. Has the physical build to be an imposing force and has really good striking ability.
I wonder sometimes if he doesn't run into a hole thinking somebody to be there instead of knowing somebody will be there. One thing you see is preparation makes a huge difference from college to pro and guys that relied on athletic ability alone frequently wash out without work ethic to study.
Covers tight ends pretty well and gets through traffic to strike a running back.
I'm not a scout or personnel by any means, I leave that to the greatness of guys like Will McClay and Bryan Broaddus. I do, however, want to exercise my scouting brain. I'll watch as many players as I can and use my basic understanding of football to tell you who I like after seeing the players with my own eyes. I feel like when I watch something, then I can truly give an opinion on a guy based on otherwise I'm going off speculation and what I read. I'd rather not just give you somebody else's opinion though. Also, reserve the right to readjust based on combine structure where you find out if a guy is actually as strong or fast as he looks on film.
Cory Mageors is Co-Host of the K&C Masterpiece 7-11 weeknights on 105.3 The Fan. Follow @inthemageors
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