After watching some quick film on both I think Miami might go towards Weatherspoon a bit more due to his great coverage skills, extremely physical and HARD HITTER (somethign this defense lacks, biggest hitter is Davis..a CB) and a good instinct/tackler. I think I am starting to lean towards that guy as being our ILB of the future more so than McClain even though the man is a beast (I doubt he gets past 11).
I haven't watched Weatherspoon yet. But, everything about him sounds like he would be a perfect fit for Miami. I wouldn't be against picking him at 12.
He's a good player. Not as good at play recognition before the play starts, and doesn't deal with traffic as well.
yea thats what I noticed, McClain sniffs out plays very quickly and haven't seen that since Willis coming out to be honest.
Weatherspoon is a chase player. He's a finess linebacker that would rather run around blocks than take them on. He really struggles at getting off blocks. IMO, he's a poor fit for the 3-4. I see him as a Tampa Two weakside linebacker.
really? hmm....hope not cuz I love how he brings a lot of things to the table...a lot more than Akin or CC do.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx-BxSaQVh4"]YouTube- LB Sean Weatherspoon Highlights/Lowlights 2009 Missouri[/ame] This is a good cut up of several games during this past season. It highlights his strengths as well as his weaknesses. It shows that he is very good in space, can go sideline to sideline, and will typically make the tackle if he doesn't have to take on blockers or navigate through traffic very much. He's also very good in coverage. It also shows that he can be completely engulfed by blockers, whether it is an offensive lineman, a fullback, and even a receiver on a couple of plays. Most of his tackles are down the field. A few were at or behind the line, but there weren't many of them. I've read where he's listed at 245 lbs, but I'd be surprised he if weighs in at more than 230 at the combine. His best fit is as a tampa two linebacker that can play in space.
I'm kind of curious if the Dolphins don't go for a guy like Weatherspoon. I agree with KB21 that he's more of a pure "chase" type linebacker, but I'd disagree pretty completely that he's not a fit for a 3-4. There's nothing about a Tampa-2 style Weakside OLB's positioning that affords him any more protection from blockers than a 3-4 ILB. If anything, it gives less... A 4-3 Weakside OLB is lined up over the outside shoulder of the 3-technique, with the weakside DE generally not covering a blocker. A 3-4 "Mike" is sitting over the outside left shoulder of the NT, and has a 300+ End shading the RT. The idea that your 3-4 ILB is going to have to get into a fight with Guards with regularity is a throwback to where pretty much everyone played a 2-gap 3-4, which is a rarity nowadays. You can get by with a smallish "Chase" type 3-4 ILB. There are plenty of quality 3-4 ILBs who have had the same things attached to them, like Nick Barnett, Jerod Mayo, D'Qwell Jackson, etc
It may not make sense that tampa two linebackers have more protection from blockers, but for whatever reason, tampa two linebackers more often than not have the freedom to flow to the ball. It's probably because the three technique guy in the tampa two is usually a guy that takes up a double team, leaving the weakside backer protected. If you look at the history of the people running things in Miami, it shows that they don't take those smallish, chase linebackers very often. The one that seems to go against the grain was Kevin Burnett, but even he was 6'3" and around 240 lbs. Bobby Carpenter was an outside guy at Ohio State that they converted to an inside guy in Dallas, and he goes about 255 to 260. I think Miami is much more likely to go with Rolando McClain or Brandon Spikes as their inside linebacker or go with a guy like AJ Edds from Iowa in the 2nd round or so than going with a chase linebacker like Sean Weatherspoon or a guy like Rennie Curran from Georgia.
What linebackers compliment Crowder, and which would Crowder compliment? I think this is a question that may answer what direction we take in going for ILBs. I know some are down on him, and hes not great, but he is a solid player. Every time he comes out our defense seems to get worse. On his own, he cant cover up a weaker player like Ayodele or Torbor, but paired with another solid or better player he can be a very good player for us. What kind of player is that?
Dansby alongside Crowder with A.J. Edds as the backup would be an ideal mix that could easily be one of the better ILB units in the league. Another balanced LB is what you need.
Dansby seems to come up big in big games as well. If he hits the market and we dont make at the least a serious play for him then I will lose some faith in the FO.
Strictly speaking, Sean Weatherspoon takes on and gets off blocks better than A.J. Edds. He deserves to be talked about in the conversation.
You can put me in the McClain camp. Although, admittedly I haven't seen much of Weatherspoon play. But, I was simply blown away by McClain in the BCS championship game last week. And, I don't know X's and O's, or break down players the way some of you guys do. But, I do have two eyes. And, all I know is that dude is a freakin' stud. If he declares, and is there at #12, I hope like hell we pull the trigger. Also, and from what I've seen so far, Weatherspoon looks to be a 2nd/3rd round prospect anyway (at this point in time).
I only saw the BCS game but what I saw was that Rolando McClain is a ball hawk. Wherever the ball goes there's McClain. He's very smart, sniffs out where the play is going and then goes and hits the playmaker. He's good. Very good. You can look at him and see the talent gap between him and Crowder or Ayodele. I think he'd make our defense much better.
Yeah, I heard the commentators saying how intelligent he was, and how he watches so much film. Can you imagine...it would be like having a black Zach that's bigger and faster?
Yeah it reminds me of how smart Zach was when I watched him. But this kid is really physically gifted. I see him and think that can be a team captain for the Dolphins. He's worth trading up 2 spots to get.
Although I think he said he's going back for his Senior season, what do you guys think of Quan Sturdivant from UNC?
A lot of mock drafts are picking denver to pick McClain just ahead of us. If he's there at 10 I'd really hope they consider trading up to get him.
Sturvidant's a good player, but had a downish year after changing positions. He made the right decision to stay at UNC.
If Miami does not get a chance at McClain, who are the other prospects you think Miami would consider? Do you think Jamar Chaney from Mississippi State could be one of them? I think he played in the 4-3 and had a broken leg in his first game of his Senior year, but was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week that week (ironic). I know there are guys out there with probably a better pedigree, but IMO, Miami needs someone with not only good tackling skills, but with the speed to cover TEs and RBs. I am tired of the big, lumbering backers who can't cover crap with flies. I think a decent-sized, speedy backer with good tackling and cover skills could be good for this D. Chaney, if good from his injury, I think fits that mold. I know, the injury is the big question.
I think we badly need a stud ILB and real SOLB. Maybe even 2 ILB's. We need to rebuild our LB corps and the longer we hesitate to do it to mmore it's going to cost us. In a 3-4 you can not cheap out on your LB's.
At ILB or outside? I'm a big fan of McClain with caveats. I like Joe Pawelek at Baylor but he's not an 'athlete'. Chaney might be under 6 foot but he's got some junk in his trunk. I think Daryl Sharpton's a bit better than he's given credit for and can get down the field, but he's 5'11 and 237. I wonder what Alex Wujciak of Maryland is going to do? Of course, I also think Weatherspoon can play inside and he's a good player. AJ Edds of Iowa of course.
our defense desperately needs a player that can chase with speed and accuracy, sideline to sideline...I kinda like the way he bobs and weaves thru traffic, has a wonderful first step, has speed, and packs a nice punch upon contact..obviously drops and reads coverage very well, which is also something we desperately lack within our unit... If we could somehow land Mcclain in the 1st and weatherspoon with our 2nd, i think they would compliment each other beautifully, and I would bathe in the man cream stuff that boomer refers to.
I would'nt say there as slim as one would think, what we have to wish for is 2 qb's going before us, claussen and bradford....We also dont need oakland doing anything smart and landing Mcclain....Sean is projected to go late first early 2nd...so maybe brother, I got my hopes up thats for sure. I do love the idea of doubling up on two linebackers with our first 2 picks, this is the draft to do it, to break boundries, and boldly go where no man has gone before...9 picks....4 linebackers {fresh meat..yummy}..1 tight end....1 position player/returner..1 guard...2 bpa. Mcclain/weatherspoon...I would be happy with Graham/weatherspoon as well.
ILB. I thought back when I was at Ole Miss that we should've drafted Willis (homer both ways). In saying that, I knew back then that, although Zach had a statistical good year, he had lost a BIG step and had missed more tackles than I remembered. I had a feeling in '06 that Channing was not the answer. Channing is a viable ILB, but very average at his field play. I think his defensive mind is outstanding, though. Chaney is listed at 6'1"/245 (I do not think he's under 6') and does have some very good cover and tackling skills. He's not a big hitter, but can lay the wood from time-to-time. I have also noticed he is an excellent blitzer when called upon. He played in a 4-3, but that was in the SEC against bigger, faster opponents. He should be able make that switch to a 3-4. Athletically, I think he would be a steal in the later rounds if he is good to go. ** On another note, he was invited to the East-West Shrine game on the 23rd. He's accepted. I will be watching that game to see how he's recovered from his injury. **
I don't think Wujciak declared. But I was wondering what you thought about him. Definitely big enough to play in this defense but what does the tape say?
McClain but again weatherspoon wouldn't upset me. He's probably my third choice at twelve with McClain being numero uno and bryant and weatherspoon following in the distance.