Back Seven Draft Overview
INSIDE LINEBACKER
By Grade
# 6.0 Or Above: 0
# 4.0 Or Above: 1
Avg Grade Top 4: 4.0
Avg Grade Top 9: 3.6
Best Players
Calvin Gaylor, North Texas (4.5) (25/53) Gaylor is your classic big and mean linebacker. At 274 lb, he packs a punch. He is one of the strongest inside linebackers in the draft, and also can get around with pretty good foot speed. He's very good diagnosing plays, he ranges far, and he hits hard. He gets lost in man defense, and he isn't agile at all. He also is never going to be the premier guy at doing anything, although he does justa bout everything at least competently. He has some significant rsik to him (91% Vol). Late second rounder.
Most Ready To Step In Gaylor
Biggest Project With Nice Upside Joe Martin, Grambling
Sleeper Pick Gilbert Parker, Washington
Bust Pick Jimmie Schalk, Oklahoma
Comments: You know it's a weak position when I only put up one "best player". This position just didn't deserve more. I guess the good news is that the talent is fairly consistent and doesn't fall fast. But with such a low beginning point, no one is going to be answering their inside linebacker problems from this draft.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
By Grade
# 6.0 Or Above: 1
# 4.0 Or Above: 6
Avg Grade Top 6: 4.4
Avg Grade Top 13: 3.9
Best Players
Glenn Levine, Hawaii (6.2) (31/71) Levine has the potential to do pretty much everything well. He can defend the pass, rush the passer, stick up to the run, knock ballcarriers down hard, and read plays. The curiosity is how he does it, since he isn't considered smart or agile at all. He has some speed and he is by far the strongest outside linebacker in the draft, so he has that going for him at least. Mid first-rounder.
Most Ready To Step In Levine
Biggest Project With Nice Upside Harvey Korzuk, Arkansas
Sleeper Pick Bernie Hammond, Mass-Lowell
Bust Pick Marty Ellison, Missouri
Comments: This is a virtual copy of the inside linebacker position, with the exception that Levine is rated as a very solid linebacker. He seems to be the only one int he entire draft. I am glad I don't need linebackers (at least not to start).
CORNERBACK
By Grade
# 6.0 Or Above: 1
# 4.0 Or Above: 9
Avg Grade Top 6: 5.3
Avg Grade Top 13: 4.5
Best Players
Rick Stone, Virginia Tech (7.1) (39/80) Stone might be the best player in this draft, with all due respect given to mammoth talents like Jennings at tackle and Bernhardt at wide receiver. He has all the qualities of a top shutdown corner, and then adds the strength and run defense of a linebacker, and the hitting power of a free-ranging safety. This guy has the ability to step right in, wherever he gets drafted. He is so agile, his performance int hat test blew away anyone else doing it at any position. He isn't without flaws, of course. He has 4.46 speed, which is very good, but it isn't anywhere near best in this draft or in the league. At just 5'11", he could struggle against some of the taller receivers that are in vogue right now. But that's about it. Top 5 pick.
Lorenzo Duff, Oregon State (5.2) (17/65) Duff is a bit of a project, but he could end up nearly as good as Stone in most ways. He doesn't grade out to well in bump and run defense, despite a safety-size (6'0", 206 lb) physique. In fact, he could use a bit more strength, but he is the fastest corner in the draft and also the smartest. He might not be able to step in right away, but after he develops, he could eb a very good one. He is also thought to be a very safe pick (5% Vol). Late first rounder.
Burt Foley, Georgia Tech (5.1) (25/59) Foley is sort of a poor man's Stone. He isn't nearly the physical specimen, but he is fairly strong for a corner, and he shares Stone's general level of average intellignece. Where he falters is he is a step slower and a good deal less agile. He looks to be nearly as good as a pass defender and in run support. But he isn't as good as picking the ball off, reading the ball or laying the lumber on ballcarriers. He ios thought to have great upside, but is also very much a risk (92% Vol). Late first rounder.
Geoff Guthrie, Georgia Tech (5.1) (23/61) Guthrie's best attributes are his nice size (6'1", 213 lb) and his technically efficient approach to the game. There is very little he isn't capable of doing at corner, from playing man and zone to stuffing the run to picking out the plays and the interceptions. He tends to tire quickly, though, and he is also not very smart, nor particularly physically gifted. His steady approach to the game should make him a solid safe pick, though (6% Vol). Late first rounder.
Most Ready To Step In Stone
Biggest Project With Nice Upside Duff
Sleeper Pick Joey Pounds, UC-Davis
Bust Pick Mack Janis, Akron
Comments: This position is one of the deeper ones in the draft, albeit it isn't very top heavy. Despite the seeming likelihood that at least four corners could go in the first round, Stone is the only true gamebreaker in the group. The talent drop after him is precipitous. Once it gets to that next level, though, there are a lot of solid corners to choose from.
SAFETY
By Grade
# 6.0 Or Above: 1
# 4.0 Or Above: 7
Avg Grade Top 6: 4.9
Avg Grade Top 13: 4.2
Best Players
Gabe Buchanan, Texas Tech (7.4) (48/78) Like Stone, Buchanan is a true standout here at safety. He is not only the fastest safety, he is the fastest player in this draft, and will contend for fastest man awards. He is also rated as the most agile at his position, and is stronger than all but one other safety. Skills-wise, he has close to top notch corner skills, particular in zone defense. He is also very good in run defense and can pick out the plays well. He forces turnovers and he hits like a wrecking ball. His run defense and man defense are the worst aspects about him, but that's like saying Randy Moss isn't as good as Marvin harrison--no one will complain about ratings that "low". Top 10 pick.
Christian Zimmerman, Michigan State (4.8) (27/55) Zimmerman is an interesting pick, if for anything than because his last name looks Jewish, but his first name is Christian.
Seriosuly, though, he is an even mix of goods and bads. Great speed--not up to Buchanan's level, but as fast as the fastest corner and he is the second fastest safety. But he isn't very smart or strong, and he is particularly stiff for his position. He is a fine defender, both in pass defense and in run support, but he hits like a wet paper towel and he more resembles rubber than glue when it comes to catching interceptions. He is very much a hit-or-miss talent (98% Vol). Mid second rounder.
Most Ready To Step In Buchanan
Biggest Project With Nice Upside Mo Stack, Alabama
Sleeper Pick Ellis Klingler, Towson State
Bust Pick Jorge Cerf, Tulane
Comments: It is eery how this models cornerback. In fact, inside and outside linebacker compared with each other similarly as well. Weird. Anyway, once again, we have a big time star, and a huge fall after that, followed by a very gentle decline. The difference here is that Buchanan is rated a little higher than Stone, at least purely on grade, and the second tier of safeties (which are actually more like third or fourth tier guys) are a step below the second tier of corners. There are guys to be had, but I would hate to need a safety and not be in range to get Buchanan.
CR