Inside Linebacker

[nickers]

@ballpeen said:

Not sure I understand your comment on giving us time on Nick Harris?  I think we kept Pocic because Pocic is better.  I wouldn't be surprised if we drafted a true center in the mid/late rounds and move on from Harris.

You might be right on a LT prospect.  Wills has been up and down at the LT position.  A move to the right might be in order at some point as Conklin is getting older.  A LT might be the pick if a player is there who we think has promise.  Even if Wills plays well, it gives us options as we move forward.  

Having too many good players really isn't a problem.  You can find somewhere to play them or trade them.  Then you can trade for need.

Well its obvious The Browns/Andrew Berry likes him... It's "AB's" pick

[Flugel]

Here's more assessments/results for Campbell

Production Score

74

2023 Combine LB Rank: 5th

Athleticism Score *est

89

2023 Combine LB Rank: 1st

Total Score

82

2023 Combine LB Rank: 3rd

Combine Results

u-unofficial

 

40-Yard Dash

4.65

Seconds

10-Yard Split

1.59

Seconds

Vertical Jump

37.5’’

Broad Jump

10’ 8’’

3-Cone Drill

6.74

Seconds

20-Yd Shuttle

4.24

Seconds

Bench Press

--

Player Bio

[gumby73]

@flugel said:

Here's more assessments/results for Campbell

Production Score

74

2023 Combine LB Rank: 5th

Athleticism Score *est

89

2023 Combine LB Rank: 1st

Total Score

82

2023 Combine LB Rank: 3rd

Combine Results

u-unofficial

 

40-Yard Dash

4.65

Seconds

10-Yard Split

1.59

Seconds

Vertical Jump

37.5’’

Broad Jump

10’ 8’’

3-Cone Drill

6.74**

Seconds

20-Yd Shuttle

4.24**

Seconds

Captain Jack's explosion numbers must be freakish level considering he weighted in at 249lbs .. ?

Arkansas' LB Drew Sanders.. played Edge at Bama.. He showed in combine drills he's still got some bend coming off a corner..

Drew Sanders (Arkansas)

6'4

235

9 3/4"

32 1/8"

 maybe a little Clay Matthews in this kid's tape

[Orion]

@flugel said:

DJ Johnson (Oregon)   6'4   260   9"    33 1/4"    4.49/40

umm...gimme this guy please.  Big guy.  Runs fast.

[gumby73]

Combine.. RAS... Age... PFF Grade.. click on box to increase size

Linebackers 

[Flugel]

@orion said:

umm...gimme this guy please.  Big guy.  Runs fast.

This was an ILB thread but I'll happy to look him up for you (especially since it listed 40 times for all LBs).  Spent one year at Miami before transferring and redshirting and played DE in his first season with the Ducks. Converted to TE for 2020, rotated between positions in 2021, returned to defensive side of the ball in 2022.  He's listed as the 11th ranked OLB by Lindy's Mag with a grade with a 6.7.  They have him with a 4th round projection listed at 6'4" 270 lbs. Prior to the Indy Combines his best 40 time was a 4.59, which he bettered to 4.49 at a body weight of 260 pounds.  All that written may not match your enthusiasm; but the very next page honors him as their Sleeper to watch.  They basically say that if he was allowed to stay at his natural position of DE he would be a lot more technically polished.  It adds his outstanding athletic traits suggest he could outperform his draft slot.  That wouldn't suck to draft a guy that outperforms his draft slot would it?  Now let's get you some stuff you can see and hear.

Back in the day, Casey Kasem would have said from Oregon to Orion here's a wonderful football tribute from DJ Johnson to a Cleveland Browns fan that really knows what's he talking about.  You might want to mute the volume though...

NOW, this guy is very enthusiastic about OLB/DE DJ Johnson

Want more? Here's more...

[Orion]

@flugel said:

DE in his first season with the Ducks. Converted to TE for 2020, rotated between positions in 2021, returned to defensive side of the ball in 2022

Great.  He can play TE too.  Can he run block? 

[calfoxwc]

@flugel said:

Here's more assessments/results for Campbell

Jack Campbell reminds me very much of Zaven Collins, out of Tulsa, drafted by Arizona in the first round in 2021. Very, very similar. Collins has really been productive in the NFL with Arizona - probably a good look at how good Campbell can be.

Collins was 6'4", 260 lbs at the combine. 122" broad jump, and a 35" vertical jump. Ran 4.67 in the forty.

Campbell....6'5", 249  lbs, ..........................128" Broad jump, ........... 37" vertical. 4.65 in the forty.

for fun, I will say that Jack Lambert was 6'4", 223 I believe was his weight in college.

Watched him a lot in college. He was...eh....viciously dominant. lol. Nice guy though. Away from football.

Drew Sanders could be my Jack Lambert kind of pick if I was into doing a mock draft, which ...nah. Don't care.

I think my linebacker favorites in this draft would be Sanders and Campbell.

[Flugel]

@calfoxwc said:

Jack Campbell reminds me very much of Zaven Collins, out of Tulsa, drafted by Arizona in the first round in 2021. Very, very similar. Collins has really been productive in the NFL with Arizona - probably a good look at how good Campbell can be.

Collins was 6'4", 260 lbs at the combine. 122" broad jump, and a 35" vertical jump. Ran 4.67 in the forty.

Campbell....6'5", 249  lbs, ..........................128" Broad jump, ........... 37" vertical. 4.65 in the forty.

for fun, I will say that Jack Lambert was 6'4", 223 I believe was his weight in college.

Watched him a lot in college. He was...eh....viciously dominant. lol. Nice guy though. Away from football.

Drew Sanders could be my Jack Lambert kind of pick if I was into doing a mock draft, which ...nah. Don't care.

I think my linebacker favorites in this draft would be Sanders and Campbell.

I like Jack a lot.  I think he also had the best 3 cone time.  Tell you what though, scroll up and look at the Daiyan Henley highlights I shared in this thread,  Enjoy!

[calfoxwc]

@flugel said:

I like Jack a lot.  I think he also had the best 3 cone time.  Tell you what though, scroll up and look at the Daiyan Henley highlights I shared in this thread,  Enjoy!

Henley? Watching his highlights says "Owusu-Koramoah" to me. The highlights of both are eerily similar to a huge degree. Incredible intuitiveness. athleticism, explosion, strength, both excellent tacklers, etc etc. I'm old school, an athletic big buttkicker has always seemed like my preference. Having said that, lol, Dick Butkus was only 6'3", 245 lbs. The real key is finding those players who have the ability, have been productive, who LOVE THE GAME AGGRESSIVELY.

[Dutch Oven]

Anthony Walker is coming back, signs for a year with the Browns. 

[Orion]

@dutch-oven said:

Anthony Walker is coming back, signs for a year with the Browns. 

And that takes the final major need off of the critical list.  (saw that at work yesterday)

So, on paper, Berry has hit every critical need, with one week left in March.  DT, DE, MLB, S, WR, #2TE, ST gunner.  These guys have been in the league and can supposedly plug themselves right in and play.  But just because it's off the critical list doesn't mean it doesn't need attention.  Certainly MLB needs a future starter.  And all of those other positions are fair game if the BPA plays one of those spots.  But we don't go into the draft in critical condition anywhere.  Of course we stepped back from pick 42 to 74 in trading for our new 3rd year slot type WR...but it addresses a need.

(blow my own horn)  I'd been saying that this is an important year for keeping management jobs.  We had a lot of holes to fill and picks 42 & 98 (and later) to fill them all.  Second and third day draft picks were not going to play at a high enough level for management to keep their jobs.  They were going to HAVE TO use the FA tool.  And use it they have.  Now everyone can calmly see what the middle of the draft leaves on the table for them.

[ballpeen]

@orion said:

And that takes the final major need off of the critical list.  (saw that at work yesterday)

So, on paper, Berry has hit every critical need, with one week left in March.  DT, DE, MLB, S, WR, #2TE, ST gunner.  These guys have been in the league and can supposedly plug themselves right in and play.  But just because it's off the critical list doesn't mean it doesn't need attention.  Certainly MLB needs a future starter.  And all of those other positions are fair game if the BPA plays one of those spots.  But we don't go into the draft in critical condition anywhere.  Of course we stepped back from pick 42 to 74 in trading for our new 3rd year slot type WR...but it addresses a need.

(blow my own horn)  I'd been saying that this is an important year for keeping management jobs.  We had a lot of holes to fill and picks 42 & 98 (and later) to fill them all.  Second and third day draft picks were not going to play at a high enough level for management to keep their jobs.  They were going to HAVE TO use the FA tool.  And use it they have.  Now everyone can calmly see what the middle of the draft leaves on the table for them.

I agree.  Jobs are on the line.  I'd bet dollars to donuts Haslam has said as much behind closed doors. I think that was a reason we have looked for vet players.

Now with needs more or less addressed, as you said, we can enter the draft, be it at 74 with clear heads and just look for the best mid round players on the board and not be driven by trying to fill holes.  That is when you miss on those mid round guys who pan out.

Lucky for us, many feel a hole at backer still  exists, and the mid rounds is an ideal spot to find backers and a few other positions that aren't the sexy picks like QB and receiver.  Nobody gets very excited if the team selects a LB or guard in the first round.  Take one in the 3rd-4th round and it looks pretty good.

[SdBacker80]

I’d still like a Mike with one of our early picks.  

[gumby73]

@sdbacker80 said:

I’d still like a Mike with one of our early picks.  

Berry would need to raise his drafting age limits..The only Backer that fits it, is Ivan Pace from Natty.. Actually..

To'o To'o, Dorian Williams, Dalyan Henley,Owen Pappoe & Noah Sewell all have a better age scores than Jack Campbell, if he's still keeping score .. 

Berry needs to stick to keeping his GM job, over age limits..imho.. Schwartz has to see this ILB group as a hot mess past Anthony Walker, just like last season..

At least, ST ace Matthew Adams looks & plays like a LB'er..    does he see any ILB/Mike reps?

[Flugel]

@gumby73 said:

Berry would need to raise his drafting age limits..The only Backer that fits it, is Ivan Pace from Natty.. Actually..

To'o To'o, Dorian Williams, Dalyan Henley,Owen Pappoe & Noah Sewell all have a better age scores than Jack Campbell, if he's still keeping score .. 

Berry needs to stick to keeping his GM job, over age limits..imho.. Schwartz has to see this ILB group as a hot mess past Anthony Walker, just like last season..

At least, ST ace Matthew Adams looks & plays like a LB'er..    does he see any ILB/Mike reps?

You're right - that guy certainly looks like a LBer.     

Would love it if we had a chance to draft Henley.  If you get a chance watch that video of Henley I shared earlier in the thread.  From the very first play, count how many turnovers he forced and/or recovered/intercepted.  He has the same body type and frame as Mike Johnson had with a little better agility.  Similar instincts, vision and explosiveness.  Mike Johnson was an ILB when we had a 3 man front and a MLB when we had a 4 man front (excelled at both).  I really believe this guy can be an ideal ILB for us.  

[Unsympathetic]

Fields should be LB4 over Phillips -- We know who Jacob is, and it's not great.  JOK/Walker to start, Taki first backup at both spots, and Fields has performed better than JP in his opportunities to date.

Perhaps they'll go with only 4 LB's, but given last season's injuries I'd find that hard to believe. 

I'm not sure we can do better than JP at LB5 without using one of those day2 picks.  Perhaps a day3 flier and go with the rookie both looking to the future and cap savings over JP?

[SdBacker80]

I’d be surprised if Taki Walker and Phillips are on the roster in 2024.  And the trio can’t be counted on to stay healthy in 2023. 
 

A third round developmental guy isn’t really a luxury and probably a necessity.  We may find someone here that can plug and play well Day 1 too. 

[Unsympathetic]

Fields may very well be that long-term moderately-priced LB2.  He'll outplay JOK every 3rd week.

He already seems one of the draft-day-3 hits that we need to string together to be successful long-term. Fields, DPJ, AJGreen.. Here's hoping one of Woods / Thomas / Jerome Ford becomes useful.

[ballpeen]

@sdbacker80 said:

I’d be surprised if Taki Walker and Phillips are on the roster in 2024.  And the trio can’t be counted on to stay healthy in 2023. 
 

A third round developmental guy isn’t really a luxury and probably a necessity.  We may find someone here that can plug and play well Day 1 too. 

That could be.

One thought on backers.  I think it is safe to say that as things stand today, our D-line is better than last year.  At least the interior for sure.  Edge remains to be seen.  Clowny didn't get much love, but the guy was a very good run defender.

So, with the improvements mentioned, the backers as they stand today are going to be better. Unless your name is Ray Lewis, a backer is going to have a hard time if guards are consistently getting on them.  Especially given that backers in general have gotten smaller in size over the last 10 years.  This isn't just a Browns thing.  Now, a guy like Phillips might be better than simply an OK guy at the position at best and may become pretty darn good at the position....insert any other name you want.  The point remains the same.  Unless they are exceptional, backers need the D line creating some roadblocks.  Backers look better when they know what hole the back is going to have to take rather than sit in limbo to see what hole he is going to take.