Bretsky
01-18-2012, 08:35 PM
OK, so now that we are wanna be's again I'm thinking it's time to start looking for the next pass rusher that will shine in the NFL and perhaps outperfom where he is going to get drafted....aka...Clay Matthews....Brooks Reed....... so perhaps Eli Manning does not have time to eat a quarter pounder with cheese and scan for the filed for another ten seconds on third and fourteen.
Here is a nice list of the top OLB Pass Rushers. Anybody have any faves ?? Since football in Wisconsin is over it's time for me to start hunting again for Draft Talk
http://walterfootball.com/draft2012OLB3-4.php
2012 NFL Draft: 3-4 Rush Linebacker Rankings
Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Height: 6-2. Weight: 263.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2012): 1.
12/26/11: Upshaw was a disruptive force this year for Alabama. For the season, he has 44 tackles with 7.5 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, an interception and two forced fumbles. Upshaw has impacted the game more than his stats illustrate. He had big performances versus Florida, Arkansas and LSU. Against the Tigers, he was consistently pressuring the quarterback and defended the run well. Upshaw had one sack but had a number of near sacks with hits on the quarterback. He finished the evening with six tackles and a sack.
Upshaw is proving to be the top 3-4 outside linebacker in the 2012 draft. He is an excellent edge rusher. Upshaw has natural pad level with good strength to shed blocks and the athleticism to weave around tackles.
8/24/11: Courtney Upshaw offers the schematic flexibility that many 3-4 teams love to add in their front seven defenders. Last season, Upshaw led the Crimson Tide with seven sacks. He also contributed 52 tackles with 14.5 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles. He definitely is a good fit for NFL 3-4 defenses and projects as one of the top 3-4 edge rushing linebackers in the draft. At 6-foot-2, 265-pounds he has big size for the position.
Whitney Mercilus*, DE, Illinois
Height: 6-4. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2012): 1.
12/26/11: A typical game from Mercilus in 2011 featured a sack and a forced fumble. He leads the nation in sacks and forced fumbles. Thus far Mercilus has 52 tackles with 19.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles entering the Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA.
The junior has shown no mercy this season to offensive tackles and quarterbacks. All year long, Mercilus has been beating tackles with a combination of speed, strength and athleticism. He had a good game against Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams and Wisconsin's future NFL linemen. Mercilus is extremely fast and gets upfield in a hurry. His speed puts offensive tackles on their heels, and he has the athleticism to drop his hips and shoulder to turn towards the quarterback. Mercilus' strength can take linemen by surprise, and he has a powerful bull rush.
In run defense, Mercilus anchors and holds his ground well. He needs to work on shedding blocks in order to be able to make more tackles in the ground game. Mercilus has the athleticism and speed to be an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.
Brandon Jenkins*, DE/OLB, Florida State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2012): 1.
12/26/11: Jenkins started out the season quiet, but he heated up in the second half. Jenkins has drawn extra blocking attention, especially in the early games, but he still got pressure on the quarterback even when not recording sacks. The extra blockers sent towards Jenkins helped teammate Bjoern Werner break out in 2011. For the season, Jenkins has 39 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
The junior was relatively quiet versus Oklahoma with five tackles and did not put much pressure on the signal caller. Against Clemson, Jenkins had a better performance. He recorded three tackles with a sack against the Tigers, and got pressure on the quarterback on a number of other plays. Jenkins is an excellent athlete who could fit well in a 3-4 defense as an edge rusher. The biggest negative about him is that he could be more physical at times.
8/21/11: Brandon Jenkins had a breakout season last year. As a first-year starter at right end, he led FSU in sacks as the Seminoles led the nation in sacks in 2010. Jenkins notched 13.5 sacks with 21.5 tackles for a loss. He had five multi-sack games and was voted the team's MVP. Jenkins is a good athlete with speed and explosion around the edge. Jenkins has the potential to fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Nick Perry*, DE/OLB, USC
Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
12/26/11: Perry really improved his performance over 2010. He finished the season on on a tear with 5.5 sacks in four games. Perry battled well against Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin even though he didn't have a sack in the game. As the season wore on, Perry got better. He is lightning off the snap and his speed to turn the corner and cut back to the inside overwhelms offensive tackles. Perry has a good repertoire of moves, and the only thing lacking from his game is more bulk and strength. However, his current size along with his speed and athleticism make him a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
Perry totaled 54 tackles with 9.5 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and two passes batted this year. If he had decided to return for his senior season and continued to improve under Monte Kiffin before going pro, Perry could have been a high first-round pick in 2013.
8/21/11: Nick Perry broke out with eight sacks as a freshman. Last year, his numbers dipped to four sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss. At his current size and weight, he would probably be better served as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin flipped Perry from right to left defensive end last year. If he stays at end as a professional, he should add some more bulk. Perry needs to improve his production in 2011 to get his draft status going in the right direction.
Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall
Height: 6-5. Weight: 263.
Projected 40 Time: 4.66.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
12/26/11: In 2011, Curry has 72 tackles with 21 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, three blocked kicks and six forced fumbles. He had a three sack game against Southern Mississippi. Curry has added weight from the 2010 season, roughly 10 pounds, yet he still looks fast and explosive. Curry has had to battle consistent extra blocking this season. Right now, his consistency from 2010 to 2011 has his stock moving up. He looks like an ideal fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Curry has a good get off and gets upfield in a hurry. He is very athletic.
8/21/11: Vinny Curry is an explosive athlete who had a dominant junior season. He was one of the best pass rushers in college football last year with 12 sacks. Curry also had 18 tackles for a loss and 94 tackles. At his size and weight, he should translate well as an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. Curry is very fast with fabulous closing speed. He plays better in space.
However, Curry does not have the size and strength to hold up against offensive linemen when lining up with his hand in the ground as a base end. Some teams were able to run right at him. He typically uses his speed to run around offensive linemen, and that opens up his gap on run downs. Thus, Curry would be a much better fit for a 3-4 defense.
Ronnell Lewis*, OLB/DE, Oklahoma
Height: 6-2. Weight: 244.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
12/26/11: Lewis played very well this season and has excelled at defensive end. His ability to rush the passer off the edge, while playing the run well, illustrates that he could be a good 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. Lewis could fit as an inside linebacker in the 3-4 as well.
In 2011, the junior had 59 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, five passes batted, one forced fumble and one interception. Against Texas A&M, the team with the best pair of offensive tackles Lewis faced all season, he had a good game with eight tackles, two tackles for a loss, one interception, one pass batted away and some good pass pressure.
Academic issues have made Lewis ineligible for Oklahoma's bowl battle against Iowa. It appears both that he has bulked up from his listed weight, and that he will also declare for the draft.
8/23/11: The junior Ronnell Lewis looked poised for a breakout season after flashing as a sophomore. Lewis recorded 3.5 sacks with an interception, a fumble recovery, and 37 total tackles last season in only four starts. The muscular Lewis is extremely fast and is a violent hitter. Lewis was a definite candidate to have a big season and put himself in position to declare early for the 2011 NFL Draft, but Lewis is missing practice with a personal matter. Plus there have been rumors that he could be academically ineligible to play in 2011. Off-the-field issues are always a huge red flag to NFL teams, so Lewis needs to come back and utilize his fabulous skill set to rehab his draft stock.
Here is a nice list of the top OLB Pass Rushers. Anybody have any faves ?? Since football in Wisconsin is over it's time for me to start hunting again for Draft Talk
http://walterfootball.com/draft2012OLB3-4.php
2012 NFL Draft: 3-4 Rush Linebacker Rankings
Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Height: 6-2. Weight: 263.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2012): 1.
12/26/11: Upshaw was a disruptive force this year for Alabama. For the season, he has 44 tackles with 7.5 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, an interception and two forced fumbles. Upshaw has impacted the game more than his stats illustrate. He had big performances versus Florida, Arkansas and LSU. Against the Tigers, he was consistently pressuring the quarterback and defended the run well. Upshaw had one sack but had a number of near sacks with hits on the quarterback. He finished the evening with six tackles and a sack.
Upshaw is proving to be the top 3-4 outside linebacker in the 2012 draft. He is an excellent edge rusher. Upshaw has natural pad level with good strength to shed blocks and the athleticism to weave around tackles.
8/24/11: Courtney Upshaw offers the schematic flexibility that many 3-4 teams love to add in their front seven defenders. Last season, Upshaw led the Crimson Tide with seven sacks. He also contributed 52 tackles with 14.5 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles. He definitely is a good fit for NFL 3-4 defenses and projects as one of the top 3-4 edge rushing linebackers in the draft. At 6-foot-2, 265-pounds he has big size for the position.
Whitney Mercilus*, DE, Illinois
Height: 6-4. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2012): 1.
12/26/11: A typical game from Mercilus in 2011 featured a sack and a forced fumble. He leads the nation in sacks and forced fumbles. Thus far Mercilus has 52 tackles with 19.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles entering the Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA.
The junior has shown no mercy this season to offensive tackles and quarterbacks. All year long, Mercilus has been beating tackles with a combination of speed, strength and athleticism. He had a good game against Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams and Wisconsin's future NFL linemen. Mercilus is extremely fast and gets upfield in a hurry. His speed puts offensive tackles on their heels, and he has the athleticism to drop his hips and shoulder to turn towards the quarterback. Mercilus' strength can take linemen by surprise, and he has a powerful bull rush.
In run defense, Mercilus anchors and holds his ground well. He needs to work on shedding blocks in order to be able to make more tackles in the ground game. Mercilus has the athleticism and speed to be an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.
Brandon Jenkins*, DE/OLB, Florida State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2012): 1.
12/26/11: Jenkins started out the season quiet, but he heated up in the second half. Jenkins has drawn extra blocking attention, especially in the early games, but he still got pressure on the quarterback even when not recording sacks. The extra blockers sent towards Jenkins helped teammate Bjoern Werner break out in 2011. For the season, Jenkins has 39 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
The junior was relatively quiet versus Oklahoma with five tackles and did not put much pressure on the signal caller. Against Clemson, Jenkins had a better performance. He recorded three tackles with a sack against the Tigers, and got pressure on the quarterback on a number of other plays. Jenkins is an excellent athlete who could fit well in a 3-4 defense as an edge rusher. The biggest negative about him is that he could be more physical at times.
8/21/11: Brandon Jenkins had a breakout season last year. As a first-year starter at right end, he led FSU in sacks as the Seminoles led the nation in sacks in 2010. Jenkins notched 13.5 sacks with 21.5 tackles for a loss. He had five multi-sack games and was voted the team's MVP. Jenkins is a good athlete with speed and explosion around the edge. Jenkins has the potential to fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Nick Perry*, DE/OLB, USC
Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
12/26/11: Perry really improved his performance over 2010. He finished the season on on a tear with 5.5 sacks in four games. Perry battled well against Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin even though he didn't have a sack in the game. As the season wore on, Perry got better. He is lightning off the snap and his speed to turn the corner and cut back to the inside overwhelms offensive tackles. Perry has a good repertoire of moves, and the only thing lacking from his game is more bulk and strength. However, his current size along with his speed and athleticism make him a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
Perry totaled 54 tackles with 9.5 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and two passes batted this year. If he had decided to return for his senior season and continued to improve under Monte Kiffin before going pro, Perry could have been a high first-round pick in 2013.
8/21/11: Nick Perry broke out with eight sacks as a freshman. Last year, his numbers dipped to four sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss. At his current size and weight, he would probably be better served as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin flipped Perry from right to left defensive end last year. If he stays at end as a professional, he should add some more bulk. Perry needs to improve his production in 2011 to get his draft status going in the right direction.
Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall
Height: 6-5. Weight: 263.
Projected 40 Time: 4.66.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
12/26/11: In 2011, Curry has 72 tackles with 21 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, three blocked kicks and six forced fumbles. He had a three sack game against Southern Mississippi. Curry has added weight from the 2010 season, roughly 10 pounds, yet he still looks fast and explosive. Curry has had to battle consistent extra blocking this season. Right now, his consistency from 2010 to 2011 has his stock moving up. He looks like an ideal fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Curry has a good get off and gets upfield in a hurry. He is very athletic.
8/21/11: Vinny Curry is an explosive athlete who had a dominant junior season. He was one of the best pass rushers in college football last year with 12 sacks. Curry also had 18 tackles for a loss and 94 tackles. At his size and weight, he should translate well as an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. Curry is very fast with fabulous closing speed. He plays better in space.
However, Curry does not have the size and strength to hold up against offensive linemen when lining up with his hand in the ground as a base end. Some teams were able to run right at him. He typically uses his speed to run around offensive linemen, and that opens up his gap on run downs. Thus, Curry would be a much better fit for a 3-4 defense.
Ronnell Lewis*, OLB/DE, Oklahoma
Height: 6-2. Weight: 244.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
12/26/11: Lewis played very well this season and has excelled at defensive end. His ability to rush the passer off the edge, while playing the run well, illustrates that he could be a good 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. Lewis could fit as an inside linebacker in the 3-4 as well.
In 2011, the junior had 59 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, five passes batted, one forced fumble and one interception. Against Texas A&M, the team with the best pair of offensive tackles Lewis faced all season, he had a good game with eight tackles, two tackles for a loss, one interception, one pass batted away and some good pass pressure.
Academic issues have made Lewis ineligible for Oklahoma's bowl battle against Iowa. It appears both that he has bulked up from his listed weight, and that he will also declare for the draft.
8/23/11: The junior Ronnell Lewis looked poised for a breakout season after flashing as a sophomore. Lewis recorded 3.5 sacks with an interception, a fumble recovery, and 37 total tackles last season in only four starts. The muscular Lewis is extremely fast and is a violent hitter. Lewis was a definite candidate to have a big season and put himself in position to declare early for the 2011 NFL Draft, but Lewis is missing practice with a personal matter. Plus there have been rumors that he could be academically ineligible to play in 2011. Off-the-field issues are always a huge red flag to NFL teams, so Lewis needs to come back and utilize his fabulous skill set to rehab his draft stock.