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I'm hearing a lot of positive things about Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State.
He says he runs about a 4.5 flat (incredibly fast for a LB.) I'm reading his coverage skills are excellent and he's a big hitter. Smart, hard working. . . . . Looking at the nfldraftscout bio, even his weaknesses come off as strengths. Size issues even though he plays big. . . Excellent at shedding blocks but that could lead to injuries even though he's never had any. I don't love that he hasn't forced fumbles. That's a bit of a playmaker red flag for me. Maybe they teach tackling over going after the ball. Who knows. But he looks explosive on tape, and the writeup on him is very positive.
If you plan on starting Nick Perry at OLB, it sure makes a lot of sense to have someone with speed, the ability to diagnose and sift through traffic, and coverage ability behind him. It looks like a good fit.
Strengths: Instinctive, physical defender who, other than his lack of ideal size, ranks among the surest prospects of the 2013 draft. Possesses excellent key and diagnosis skills. Often takes his initial step toward where the play is designed to go before the quarterback has finished taking the snap. Possesses explosive, active hands to quickly slip blocks and plays with excellent leverage, bending at the knees to consistently get under the pads of would-be blockers and pushing them aside to make the play in the hole. Very good balance to avoid cut blocks and when knocked to the ground; remarkably quick in popping back up. Very good sideline to sideline speed, which could allow him to remain at inside linebacker in the NFL. Drops back into coverage fluidly, demonstrating not only the athleticism but the awareness to handle this responsibility in the NFL. Times his blitz well with the snap, showing the flexibility to slip past blockers, flatten out and close on the quarterback.
Weaknesses: Obvious size concerns, though he plays much bigger than he looks. Tendency to take on blocks with alternating shoulders, putting him in excellent position to slip off and make tackles but also could be jeopardizing the long-term health of his body, especially considering his relative lack of size in the first place. Stands out on tape for his size, physicality and open-field tackling, but hasn't proven to be much of a playmaker over his career, posting "just" three interceptions and not a single forced fumble over his collegiate career. Struggles while at Miami open up concerns about how well he'll handle the jump to an NFL team further from home.
COMPARES TO: Curtis Lofton, ILB, New Orleans Saints -- Like Lofton, Brown plays bigger than he looks and will quickly prove himself to be a vacuum tackler in the NFL. To emerge as one of the elite at their position, however, each has to show a greater ability to cause turnovers.
He says he runs about a 4.5 flat (incredibly fast for a LB.) I'm reading his coverage skills are excellent and he's a big hitter. Smart, hard working. . . . . Looking at the nfldraftscout bio, even his weaknesses come off as strengths. Size issues even though he plays big. . . Excellent at shedding blocks but that could lead to injuries even though he's never had any. I don't love that he hasn't forced fumbles. That's a bit of a playmaker red flag for me. Maybe they teach tackling over going after the ball. Who knows. But he looks explosive on tape, and the writeup on him is very positive.
If you plan on starting Nick Perry at OLB, it sure makes a lot of sense to have someone with speed, the ability to diagnose and sift through traffic, and coverage ability behind him. It looks like a good fit.
Strengths: Instinctive, physical defender who, other than his lack of ideal size, ranks among the surest prospects of the 2013 draft. Possesses excellent key and diagnosis skills. Often takes his initial step toward where the play is designed to go before the quarterback has finished taking the snap. Possesses explosive, active hands to quickly slip blocks and plays with excellent leverage, bending at the knees to consistently get under the pads of would-be blockers and pushing them aside to make the play in the hole. Very good balance to avoid cut blocks and when knocked to the ground; remarkably quick in popping back up. Very good sideline to sideline speed, which could allow him to remain at inside linebacker in the NFL. Drops back into coverage fluidly, demonstrating not only the athleticism but the awareness to handle this responsibility in the NFL. Times his blitz well with the snap, showing the flexibility to slip past blockers, flatten out and close on the quarterback.
Weaknesses: Obvious size concerns, though he plays much bigger than he looks. Tendency to take on blocks with alternating shoulders, putting him in excellent position to slip off and make tackles but also could be jeopardizing the long-term health of his body, especially considering his relative lack of size in the first place. Stands out on tape for his size, physicality and open-field tackling, but hasn't proven to be much of a playmaker over his career, posting "just" three interceptions and not a single forced fumble over his collegiate career. Struggles while at Miami open up concerns about how well he'll handle the jump to an NFL team further from home.
COMPARES TO: Curtis Lofton, ILB, New Orleans Saints -- Like Lofton, Brown plays bigger than he looks and will quickly prove himself to be a vacuum tackler in the NFL. To emerge as one of the elite at their position, however, each has to show a greater ability to cause turnovers.
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