SB Nation - Jasper Brinkley

Post-Spring Previews: Kentucky Wildcats

Gamecock Man — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:49:41 -0000

The Gamecocks dive into the meat of their SEC schedule when the Kentucky Wildcats come to Columbia. You have to think that the 'Cats really want this one, as we're currently enjoying a lengthy winning streak against them, with Coach Spurrier enjoying an even longer one. While we've undoubtedly been a bit better than Kentucky over the past decade, we haven't always been substantially better, so the losing streak miffs the 'Cats faithful to some degree.

Last year, Kentucky featured a great defense and a pitiful offense, perhaps the league's worst. This year, the defense should still be good, but it might be asking a bit much of it to play like it did last year, so the offense will need to improve. That's a big "if," though, as the 'Cats still have some significant question marks on offense. Let's take a look at how these guys stack up against us.

Offense

Quarterback

Last year's transition to life without Andre Woodson was largely a nightmare for the 'Cats. Offensive coordinator (and future head coach) Joker Phillips's pro-style offense thrives on a strong passing game, but last year the 'Cats sputtered to a 96-ranked passing offense. That's a big dip from the heady days when Woodson was under center. The coaching staff juggled Mike Hartline and multi-talented Randall Cobb throughout the season, with the two signal callers posting abysmal 104.7 and 95.1 QB ratings, respectively. Both, though, showed potential at times, and with more experience and a more experienced offensive line protecting them, the 'Cats could be poised to return to their old ways this year. At this point, Hartline appears to be the starter, with Cobb returning to his receiving and special teams duties. If Hartline doesn't play well, look for prize recruits Ryan Mossokowski or Morgan Newton to see the field. Cobb may also see time under center in special Wildcat packages, in much the same way that we plan to use Stephon Gilmore.

I'd say we have a slight to a strong advantage here; while Garcia hardly lit the world on fire last year, he was better than Hartline, and his ceiling is probably higher.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Running Backs

Senior Alfonso Smith, who has been a reliable part of the rotation throughout his career but has never had a chance to be the featured back, appears to be about to get his chance to lead the 'Cats rushing attack. The 'Cats need him to perform well, as the 'Cats need to improve on their 81-ranked rushing offense from a year ago. Smith is a speedster that can also catch passes out of the backfield, the latter a valuable skill in the Phillips offense. Derrick Locke is another option at tailback, although there are questions about Locke's health after he tore two ligaments in his knee last year against Arkansas. The coaches say Locke will be ready in the fall, but it's not easy to come back from the kind of injury that he suffered.

I would give us a slight advantage here; I like Smith quite a bit, but I think we have a bit more talent and a lot more depth. If Smith goes down, the 'Cats could really be in trouble here.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

After struggling at receiver last year, the 'Cats now appear to have a lot of talent here. The aforementioned Cobb will likely be the go-to guy; Cobb played only sporadically at the position last season, but he showed lots of potential. The 'Cats also bring in JUCO transfer Chris Matthews. Matthews was one of the very best JUCO receivers last year, when he caught 80 passes for over 1200 yards in nine games. (It's also worth noting that at 6'5, Matthews looks like a prototypical NFL prospect.) Buffering Cobb and Matthews will be a crew of talented players that have shown the ability to contribute.

I would call this a push. Both teams have lots of talent here but lack a proven guy that has shown he can carry the load all season. Both will need to figure who that guy will be in their early-season games.

Verdict: Push

Offensive Line

Although they graduate former star tackle Garry Williams, Kentucky returns seven players that have starting experience on the offensive line. Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips are hoping that all that experience amounts to a better performance than they got last season. Kentucky's line is a little smallish for the SEC, but they are athletic and appear capable.

I would call this a push. I'm tempted to give us a slight advantage here as I believe we have more overall talent and depth, Kentucky returns more experienced depth, which is hugely important on the line. At any rate, both teams appear ready to get better protection this year than last.

Let's take a look at the defenses after the jump.

Defense

Defensive Line

Kentucky had one of the conference's best defensive line a year ago. Unfortunately for them, Kentucky loses a lot here this year. The 'Cats expected to lose Myron Pryor and Ventrell Jenkins to graduation, but they also lost star end Jeremy Jarmon after Jarmon was declared ineligible after testing positive for a banned substance. Jarmon was one of the conference's best ends and losing him leaves Kentucky without the fierce pass rush they thrived off of last year. Kentucky does return talents Corey Peters and Ricky Lumpkin, but to say that they now have serious questions to answer on their defensive line would be an understatement.

Barring injury, defensive line will be a strong point for us this year. Big advantage here.

Verdict: Strong advantage South Carolina

Linebackers

The 'Cats return a talented all-conference candidate in senior ILB Micah Johnson. Johnson recorded 93 tackles last season despite missing a couple of games due to injury. The 'Cats hope Sam Maxwell and Danny Travathan can competently complement Johnson by shoring up the OLB positions.

I would call this a push. Like Kentucky, we return an all-conference candidate in Eric Norwood. However, we will have to hope that Rodney Paulk can effectively replace Jasper Brinkley.

Verdict: Push

Secondary

Perhaps the best thing that happened to Kentucky over the offseason was CB Trevard Lindley's choice to stay in school for his senior season. Lindley is one of the best defensive players in school history and is a legit All-American candidate. Lindley is probably the best cover corner in the SEC and will effectively shut down one side of the field. We'll have to attack the other side, where things are a bit more unclear for Kentucky; they'll likely rotate Randall Burden and Paul Warford. Talented safety Winston Guy shores up a very solid Kentucky secondary.

Kentucky has a strong advantage here. I would say our safeties are comparable to slightly better than the ones the 'Cats have, but we unfortunately don't have anyone that has proven he can compare to Lindley.

Verdict: Strong advantage Kentucky

Special Teams

Kentucky had good return units last year, especially when Derrick Locke was returning the ball, so getting a healthy Locke back on the field could be important here, as well. Past that, the 'Cats were pretty rough around the edges on special teams last year. They gave up lots of return yards, had lots of punts and field goal tries blocked, and missed lots of field goals when they weren't blocked. Improving protection and coverage has to be on the agenda; Kentucky probably would have beaten us last year if not for an atrocious special teams performance that included giving up long kickoff and blocked-field-goal returns to Captain Munnerlyn. While Kentucky returns their most experience placekicker in Lones Seiber, they're considering handing over kicking duties to punter Ryan Tydlacka after Sieber's dissappointing 2008. Tydlacka will also take over full-time punting duties from graduated stalwart Tim Masthay.

I would give us a slight advantage here; we have questions of our own to answer at special teams after losing Ryan Succop to the draft, but Kentucky was truly atrocious here last year and really needs to improve.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Head Coaches

While his overall record in Lexington isn't phenomenal, the job Rich Brooks has done at Kentucky has been remarkable. He inherited a program that had only seen intermittent success since the late 70s and that was at the time mired in probation. After some poor seasons early in his tenure, Brooks turned things around in 2006, leading the 'Cats to eight wins, including a bowl victory over heavily favored Clemson. He would follow with another eight wins in 2007 and seven this past year. Both included more bowl wins; the three straight is a Kentucky record. Indeed, these have been heady days for the Kentucky football faithful.

I would call this a push; both Brooks and Spurrier have proven themselves capable of doing pretty big things at schools that haven't always been very successful, but both have a little work to do to get to the next level in the competitive SEC East.

Overall

With a schedule that includes Miami (OH), Louisville, Lousiana-Monroe, Eastern Kentucky, and Mississippi State, Kentucky could very well make it back to the postseason if they can win those five and pick up an upset somewhere else, most likely against us, Auburn, Vanderbilt, or Tennessee. They could conceivably win seven or eight games if they can win multiple games against that quartet. However, on paper this looks like the weakest team in the SEC East. While the offense looks much better at receiver, quarterback is still a huge issue, and the defense will probably be significantly worse than last year's excellent unit. That could all change if Hartline or one of the freshmen step up at quarterback and they fix some of the holes on defense, but those are big "ifs" at this point. I'm predicting that our more complete lineup and home-field advantage will net us a 10-14 point victory here.

Prediction: 10-14 point Carolina victory

Poll

The Kentucky game will result in a...

Blowout Carolina victory

17 votes

Close Carolina victory

27 votes

Close Kentucky victory

40 votes

Blowout Kentucky victory

23 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

Wednesday News and Notes: Corey Robinson Commits, Jasper Signs with Vikes, Jackie Bradley Rakes 'Em In

Gamecock Man — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:00:34 -0000

North Carolina OL Corey Robinson has committed with the Gamecocks. Robinson wasn't yet receiving any offers, although he had garnered some interest from the North Carolina schools, including UNC. This might be cause for concern for those that pay close attention to recruiting rankings, but I would suggest withholding judgment just yet. Robinson appears to have phenomenal physical tools. He apparently had some great workouts, and may have been on the verge of becoming a hot commodity. If that's the case, we did well to get to him early. He'll have to work on his lower body strength and some technique issues (scouting reports say he has trouble playing low), but this looks to be a guy that can become a good SEC lineman. Welcome aboard.

A couple of other tidbits:

Post-Spring Preview: NC State, Cont.

Gamecock Man — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:11:42 -0000

This column continues my recent comparison of the two teams' offenses. I would say that our offenses look fairly similar--both have potential but have some questions to answer. On defense, though, I'd say we have a distinct advantage that should play to our favor in the game.

Defensive Line

State's defense was overall pretty regrettable last year, but they were OK against the run (although that's possibly because teams liked to throw against them) and had a solid pass rush. Part of the credit goes to a solid defensive line, most of which they return. The leader is sacks specialist Willie Young.

Carolina loses fifth-year senior and consummate party animal Jordin Lindsey but returns the rest of its line, which includes standouts Ladi Ajiboye, Nate Peppers, and Cliff Matthews. I would expect that Clifton Geathers, who received plenty of PT and made some big plays last year, will replace Lindsey in the starting lineup. It's worth nothing that Ajiboye will be suspended for at least one game due to his academic and legal troubles; whether Spurrier will opt to suspend him for this game or wait until we play a cupcake remains to be seen. All in all, this is a stellar unit in comparison to that of State. While it wasn't our forte last year, the defensive line was serviceable and could be great this year with more experience. Depth will be an issue as always, especialy considering the frequency with which defensive linemen get hurt. However, the same goes for State. Moreover, while our line wasn't our strength last year, it was still one of the better in the SEC, and while State's was their defense's strength, it was still one of the worst in the ACC. I'm going with Carolina on this one, although not by much.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina

Linebackers

This is where things begin to get a little more uncertain for State. The 'Pack do return a couple of linebackers with significant experience in Nate Irving and Rey Michel, but they often got crossed up and gave up significant yardage through the air, and reports are that that continued during spring practice. This should be a team that we can carve up in the short passing game if we can muster any semblance of an offense.

Carolina, of course, loses a star linebacker in Jasper Brinkley and a solid backup in Marvin Sapp. However, we return one of the nation's best linebackers in Eric Norwood. Flanking Norwood will probably be a rotating duo of Shaq Wilson and Rodney Paulk. Both have some experience in mop-up duty but will have to learn to be more serviceable quickly. If we end up playing more 4-3 fronts than we did last year, which the coachs have hinted is a possibility, you may see Josh Dickerson or Tony Straugher get some playing time as well. While we have some questions in the linebacking corp, the presence of Norwood as a leader and State's relatively mediocre unit give us a decided advantage here.

Verdict: Strong Advantage South Carolina

Secondary

State returns safety Justin Byers and corner back DeAndre Morgan. The secondary was another problem area for State last year, so losing a couple of guys probably won't hurt much. The returners along with the new guys will have to play better in coverage than they did last year for State to avoid giving up a lot of yards through the air.

Carolina also loses some key players in this area, among them Emanuel Cook, Captain Munnerlyn, Carlos Thomas, and Stoney Woodsen. We do return Darian Stewart and Chris Culliver as starting safeties. Although Carolina has some talented players that have shown potential at times, such as Addison Williams and Akeem Auguste, and some talented incoming freshman, particulalry uber-recruit Stephon Gilmore, looking to solidify starting roles this fall, the losses in the secondary make this area, usually one of our strengths, a question mark for the defense. I think we're better than State at this position in terms of sheer talent. However, I do worry that if we suffer any injuries that we're going to be in a tough spot in terms of depth.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina

Special Teams

State returns their placekicker, which gives them something to say on top of us. Josh Czajkowski was a very solid kicker for State last year, going 16/19. Although most of his kicks were from short range, 16/19 is not shabby. Given that reports out of spring practice are that we will miss Ryan Succop this year, State gets the advantage here.

In the return game, State returns a solid player in T. J. Graham, who was effective handling both punts and kickoffs, including one kickoff taken back for 100 yards. Carolina loses Captain Munnerlyn but brings back solid kickoff return man Chris Culliver, who I'm assuming will take over on punts this year as well. I'd say State has a slight advantage here as well, which overall gives them a fairly sizeable advantage in special teams. It's also worth noting that we lost a very good special teams coach in Ray Rychleski.

Verdict: Strong Advantage NC State

Head Coaches

NC State's Tom O'Brien has gone 11-13 in his two years at State. Before coming to Raleigh, he coached several moderately successful years at Boston College; while O'Brien never won more than nine in Boston, he won less than eight only three times in a decade. State fans hope that O'Brien can bring the consistency he produced at BC to Raleigh. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier is 28-22 after four years at South Carolina after a stint with the Washington Redskins and a long, successful tenure at Florida, his alma mater. Similarly to O'Brien's relationship to NC State, USC fans are still waiting for Spurrier to bring sustained success to Columbia. With their achievements at their current schools roughly equal, a slight advantage here goes to Spurrier due to his past achievements.

Verdict: Slight Advantage South Carolina

Final Verdict

NC State won't be easy this year, especially as we have to play them in Raleigh. However, our defense looks to be significantly better than theirs, so I think that we should be able to win this one unless the offense comes out completely flat and gives up lots of turnovers. I really don't want to think about what happens if we lose this game. The early stretch my be just as difficult as the late-season Orange Crush this year, and if we're going to have any chance at getting to the magical eight-win mark, we need to get out of the first four with at most one loss.

Prediction: Close game most of the way but Carolina pulls away at the ends and wins by 1-2 TDs

Monday News and Notes

Gamecock Man — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:39:15 -0000

Football

Sidney Rice's Website. Check out the blog section for Sidney's thoughts on Jasper Brinkley joining him in Minnesota and on having to compete with Percy Harvin for playing time.

Baseball

Gamecocks Sweep Vanderbilt. We're now sitting at 3rd in the SEC East and 7th overall, which means we're in decent shape for a spot in the SEC Tournament. This week brings a game against Wofford in Spartanburg and a trip to struggling Tennessee.

Other NCAA News

UGA Baseball Fading Fast. The Diamond Dawgs have spent most of the year hovering in various spots in the Top 10, but after a number of perplexing losses to midweek cupcakes and a series loss to the Gators in Gainesville, they're no longer looking so hot. We take on the Dawgs in Columbia in two weeks.

Playing the Numbers Game: New Vikings Get Their Numbers

Gonzo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:44:19 -0000

According to Access Vikings, the newest members of the team have all gotten their new numbers. Here they are. . .at least when I get that Harvin jersey in a few weeks, I'll know what number is on it.

Vikings' Draftees

Percy Harvin (WR, Florida) - #12

Phil Loadholt (OT, Oklahoma) - #71

Asher Allen (CB, Georgia) - #30

Jasper Brinkley (LB, South Carolina) - #54

Jamarca Sanford (S, Mississippi) - #33

Vikings' Undrafted Free Agents

Sean Glennon (QB, Virginia Tech) - #6

Nick Moore (WR, Toledo) - #14

Vinny Perretta (WR, Boise State) - #15

Kahlil Bell (RB, UCLA) - #36

Ian Johnson (RB, Boise State) - #42

Devon Hall (S, Utah State) - #44 (Chuck Foreman's number? Really?)

Robert Francois (LB, Boston College) - #57

Tremaine Johnson (DT, Louisiana State) - #67

Jon Cooper (C, Oklahoma) - #68

Bobby Lepori (OT, Fresno State) - #72

Andy Kemp (G, Wisconsin) - #78

Nick Walker (TE, Alabama) - #89

Antoine Holmes (DT, North Carolina State) - #97

Gamecocks in the NFL Draft: The Winners and the Losers

Gamecock Man — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:41:44 -0000

South Carolina had a quite a day in this year's draft with a total of seven players hearing their names called. Here are my thoughts about who today's big winners--and by that I mean guys that have reason to be happy about how things went down today--and losers--and by that I mean the guys that must be disappointed.

The Winners

Jasper Brinkley - Fifth Round to Minnesota

Before his knee injury in 2007, Brinkley was considered one of the country's top prospects at ILB, so it has to be kind of disappointing to Jasper to see his stock fall due to injury. However, he has to be feeling good about his successful rehabilitation. Plus, he's joining his old buddy Sidney Rice on the roster of a solid NFL franchise. Not too shabby.

Kenny McKinley - Fifth Round to Denver

While McKinley didn't go in the high rounds and walks into an uncertain situation in Denver, I can't help but think that this is a guy that has really overachieved to get drafted at all. He lacks the kind of size that NFL teams want in WRs these days, but his quickness, hands, and football smarts will help him. I'm not sure if he'll ever be a primary receiver, but he has a good future ahead of him as a slot receiver.

Stoney Woodson - Seventh Round to New York Giants

Most folks were unsure on whether Woodson would hear his name called, so he's gotta be happy that New York--one of the league's most successful franchises--chose him. He'll have to fight an uphill battle to make the roster, but NFL scouts apparently see more potential in him than his defensive-backfield buddy Emanuel Cook (see below). Good for him.

Ryan Succop - Seventh Round to Kansas City

Succop is this year's Mr. Irrelevant as the the very last selection of the draft, but for a guy that plays his position, that's good news. If I'm not mistaken, he was one of only two placekickers selected, which is quite an accomplishment. Although he needs to get his head screwed on a little straighter, I've always thought Succop--who has range that is well above average, even for an NFL kicker--could make it in the NFL. Kansas City's choice to use a pick on him suggests that NFL scouts see his potential.

The Losers

Jared Cook - Third Round to Tennessee

Cook was, unsurprisingly, the first Gamecock off the board, so I hesitate to call him a draft-day loser. He did, though, fall further than I thought he would. I thought Cook's unique combination of size, speed, hands, and route-running ability would make him a second-round selection. I probably underestimated, though, the extent to which NFL scouts would at his questionable blocking ability, lack of true TE size, and Spurrier's tendency to line him up wide. The NFL puts a (sometimes unreasonable, I would say) premium on guys that fit the mold of what they think a player at a certain position should look like, and, despite his obviously valuable abilities, Cook just isn't exactly what teams want in a TE. This all makes me wonder if he could have improved his stock by staying another year, putting on some weight, and working on his blocking abilities. You would have to think that if he did those things effectively, he might have a chance to cash in on a first-round paycheck next year. Still, I think Cook made an acceptable decision. He'll sign a nice contract and shouldn't have much trouble getting his hands on a roster spot. Cook didn't do as well as we had hoped today, but he did OK. He also gets the luxury of joining a pretty good team. Could be worse, right? He could have been drafted by the Lions.

Jamon Meredith - Fifth Round to Green Bay

I expected Meredith to go on the first day or early in the third round, but questions about his run blocking abilities apparently made scouts pretty uneasy. Jamon is a good kid and his athletic ability makes him a valuable prospect, but at the end of the day falling as far as he did can't sit well with him.

Captain Munnerlyn - Seventh Round to Carolina

After choosing for an early entry, Munnerlyn saw his stock--which was already questionable after a sub-par 2008 season--fall like a rock as teams expressed concern over his lack of elite size and his possible character issues. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think Munnerlyn made a grave mistake by leaving early. He didn't have the kind of year in 2008 that's made to impress NFL scouts, and if he had come back, worked hard, and had a good 2009, he could have gone much higher in next year's draft. His chioice not to is going to cost him a lot of money. Plus, as a seventh-round selection, his status with Carolina is hardly secure. He'll really have to fight just to make the roster. I wish him luck and thank him for the good things he at times did here, but I really wish he would have made a smarter decision on this. At least he'll get to be close to home if he makes the Panthers' roster.

Emanuel Cook - Undrafted

What do you call declaring early entry and not getting drafted at all? A boneheaded decision of epic proportions. Cook's stock plummeted during the week's leading up to the draft as questions about his athletic ability in the wake of poor workouts supplemented the existing concerns about his character and maturity. I still think Cook may have a place in the league--his success as a college player and physical style indicate that he has what it takes to do well in the NFL--but he's going to have to work for it harder than he decided to work on his classes late last fall. I wish Cook luck and hope he gets a spot as a free agent but can't say that I feel all that sorry for him.

Mike Davis - Undrafted

Not many folks expected Mike to hear his name called, so I hesitate to call him a loser, but in the end, he didn't hear his name called. Like Cook, I hope he gets his shot as a free agent. Mike doesn't have the kind of speed most teams would like, but he's a hard, tough runner, can catch the ball, and blocks well. Some teams could certainly use a guy like that.

Arizona Cardinals Potential Draft Picks: Inside Linebackers

Hawkwind — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:00:16 -0000

About the month ago it looked like the Arizona Cardinals were solid at inside linebacker with Karlos Dansby and Gerald Hayes as the starters and Victor Hobson and Ali Highsmith providing depth. At that time the biggest need on the inside might have been another developmental player for depth but nothing about the inside linebackers suggested that the position was a pressing need. That warm, fuzzy feeling quickly faded though when Dansby fired his agent and spoke publically about looking forward to making a splash in free agency next off season. While it's still possible for Dansby to agree to a long term extension, it certainly won't happen before this weekend and with that in mind the Cardinals must enter the 2009 draft with the possibility of needing a starter at ILB in 2010.

The Cardinals don't have to push inside linebacker to the top of their needs list but it has become a position that we can not afford to neglect. Since we've over looked the entire position until now in ROTB's draft preparation, here's a look at the crop of talent that should be avaliable in the middle to late rounds.

Darry Beckwith (6'0 234): Beckwith has been a productive linebacker during his time at LSU where he was a three year starter and two time 2nd team All-SEC linebacker. He's got experience inside and outside but most scouts project him on the inside at the pro level. He didn't disappointed some with 4.79 forty and 26.5 vertical jump but he improved on his forty (4.65) at LSU's pro day to ease some concerns about his athleticism. He's not a great athlete and injuries are big concern but when healthy, he's one of the better linebackers in the country. Questions abound about Beckwith's potential in the NFL but he sounds like a solid football player who didn't wow scouts in the 'pre-draft' workouts. Projected Round: Late 2nd to late 3rd

Compares to: Gary Brackett (Indy)

Pros - Beckwith has a good sized frame that could still be bulked up without a loss of quickness or agility. He's a decent athlete who makes plays from sideline to sideline and makes plays in pursuit. He's at his best when playing down hill against the run where he's aggressive and physical. He's a reliable tackler who's capable of getting off blockers, sifting through traffic and making plays. He flashes some explosiveness as a hitter and knows his limitations and roles within a defense.

Cons - Injuries are the biggest concern with Beckwith as he's missed time in each of the past three seasons with knee and shoulder injuries. He's also shorter than your typical linebacker and isn't overly strong or fast. Beckwith isn't a great pass rusher either and he's not totally comfortable in coverage.

Jasper Brinkley (6'1, 249): Brinkely burst on the scene in 2006 when he transferred to South Carolina from Georgia Military College and totaled 107 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. His 2007 season ended just four games in after a knee injury and his 2008 season he simply didn't look like the same player. Some scouts suggest that he played overweight while some speculate that he simply wasn't 100%. Two years removed from the surgery though Brinkley has been rising up the charts with some impressive workouts. His 4.72 forty at the combine was among the best at his position and his 35.5 inch vertical helped prove that the explosiveness is back in his game. If Brinkley can recapture the form that he displayed in 2006, he could be a steal in the middle of the draft provided that he stays healthy. Projected Round: 3rd

Compares to: Larry Foote (Pittsburgh)

Pros - With prototypical size and strength for the position, Brinkley brings a unique combination of size and athleticism to the table. He's a reliable tackler who is capable a delivering a monster blow. He's got solid short area quickness and has the ability to work through trash and find the ball carrier. He's very solid against the run and a good pass rusher with a solid burst to get to the quarterback.

Cons - Brinkley's abilities as a run defender and pass rusher do not extend to coverage where he looks stiff and uncomfortable in space. He doesn't play as physical as his size and strength would suggest and he needs to rely on his size advantage instead of trying to slip blocks. His instincts and awareness are still in the developmental stages and he can be fooled by misdirection or play action.

Gerald McRath (6'2 230): Few linebackers have put up the numbers of McRath over the past two seasons (276 tackles), but his lack of size projects his as a 4-3 outside linebacker. He's good athlete but looks like a strong safety instead of linebacker and his play is too soft for a 3-4 inside backer. Projected Round: 3rd to 4th

Compares to: Micheal Boley (formerly of Atlanta)

Jason Phillips (6'1, 239): Phillips isn't a 'wow' player but he gets the job done and is the only player in Mountain West Conference history to earn first or second team honors in all four seasons that he played. He surprised scouts when broke off a 4.69 forty at the combine but he also tore a meniscus in his left knee while at the combine. He's still on crutches but claims that he'll be ready for the start of training camp. Regardless of how quickly he's able to return to full strength Phillips should have a solid career based on his work ethic and dedication to the game. Projected Round: 4th

Compares to: Monty Beisel (formerly of.....well you know)

Pros - He's got a solid frame that's perfectly suited for an inside backer in the 3-4. He plays to contact and is able to shed blocks quickly and work through trash to find the ball. He combines great instincts, a solid football IQ and a non stop motor to make plays that other backers wouldn't and he's got the power to deliver big hits. He's at his best when playing downhill against the run but he can also hold his own on coverage. He's got decent ball skills and is able to read the eyes of opposing QB.

Cons - Phillips doesn't have great height and he's certainly not the best athlete. His lack of lateral quickness prevents him from making plays sideline to sideline and he doesn't have the athletic ability to overcome his own mistakes when he over pursues or is fooled. He can be an decent blitzer but his repertoire is limited to a powerful bull rush and when he gets too aggressive he'll whiff. Basically his lack of athleticism narrows his margin for error on the field.

Dannell Ellerbe (6'1 236): Ellerbe is a perplexing prospect because he's had one great season (2007) and three highly mediocre seasons. His breakout year in 2007 saw him move to the inside backer spot and flourish to the tune of 93 tackles, 12 for loss and 4.5 sacks. In his other three seasons combined he's managed just 55 tackles, nine for less and four sacks. His senior season in 2008 was hampered by a knee injury that completely knocked him out of three games and limited him in several others. He's played all three linebacker spots but his best play has come when on the inside. He also didn't do a full workout at the combine because of a torn chest muscle but he did break off an impressive 4.64 at his pro day. He also got into some off the field problems in 2006 but heading into this past season his stock was much, much higher than it is now. Projected Round: mid 4th to late 5th

Compares to: Bart Scott (formerly of the Ravens)

Pros - Ellerbe has a well built frame that should be able to add some bulk without effecting his athleticism. He's got above average straight line speed and solid quickness and acceleration. He's physical in the running game, showing the ability to take on and shed blocks while maintaining his aggressiveness. He's an explosive hitter when the meets the ball carrier and the quickness to beat blockers to the play. He's a good pass rusher and one of the better cover linebackers in the country. He gets deep into his drops, looks comfortable in space and has shown the ability to bait quarterbacks by reading their eyes.

Cons - He's a tad undersized, especially for a 3-4 backer, and he too often relies on his athleticism to make plays instead of playing within the system. He can miss some tackles when trying to go high for a big hit. Overall his lack of consistent productivity combined with an off the field incident in 2006 (DUI) have hurt his stock.

Scott McKillop (6'1 245): McKillop is another 'lunch pail' guy taken from the same mold as Jason Phillips. McKillop took over as the starter in 2007 and all he did was total 288 tackles, 27.5 for loss and seven sacks over the past two seasons en route to back to back first team All-Big East teams and the 2008 Big East Defensive Player of the year award. As expected, he didn't turn anyone's head working out in shorts and a t-shirt (4.79 forty) but his abilities are apparent when you watch tape on him. Teams will have to decide if his productive college career will translate to the speed of the NFL game. Projected Round: 5th round

Compares to: Zach Thomas (formerly of Dallas)

Pros - McKillop is an extremely hard worker with a ton of football intelligence. He's got great instincts on the field and is a solid tackler. He moves well in trash and always seems to find himself around the football. He has shown some ability to handle his own is shallow zones and can pick up a receiver or tight end coming across the middle. He was team leader at Pitt and extremely productive.

Cons - McKillop's game is limited because he does not have great athletic ability. He has trouble chasing down plays from behind and needs to get stronger to take on NFL lineman. He can really get into trouble when he gets too aggressive as he doesn't have the speed or quickness to compensate. He doesn't have very good ball skills and isn't doesn't offer much as a pass rusher.

Antonio Appleby (6'3 245): Appleby has been overshadowed by the likes of Chris Long and Clint Sintim but his size and physicality is a big reason why Virginia's 3-4 defense was successful. He's been a three year starter averaging 67 tackles, five for loss and just over a sack per season. Of all the linebackers in the draft, he's got the most experience in the 3-4 and some scouts even suggest he could contribute immediately despite his mid-to-late round draft grade. Projected Round: late 5th to early 7th

Compares to: Eric Barton (Cleveland)

Pros - Appleby has prototypical size and build for a 3-4 inside backer with above average athleticism for his size. He's a tough, physical player who's got the upper and lower body strength to handle even the biggest linemen. He's also has good lateral agility to avoid blockers and work his way to the ball where he's a solid tackler. He's a decent blitzer and can hold his own in coverage on a limited basis.

Cons - Despite his strength and power, Appleby can struggle to disengage from blocks once the defender latches on and his instincts and football IQ leave something to be desired. His motor can be inconsistent and some scouts project him as strictly a 'two-down' player.

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As you might expect there are some other guys on towards the bottom of the list that we didn't mention, such as Nick Reed (Oregon), Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic) and Josh Mauga (Nevada) but the present list paints a pretty solid picture. It's pretty clear that if the Cardinals want to target an ILB in the middle to late rounds, there are some interesting names out there especially considering nothing is expected from them in 2009. Who stands out to you and who's name did we miss?

NFL Draft 2009: It's a Big Man's Game

briandean — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:08:50 -0000

When trying to really get down to it and get in the mind of Scot McCloughan, there's one underlying phrase that continues to come up, "It's a big man's game." It might have been one of the first things I ever heard him say as personnel man of the 49ers. He brings it up again every offseason. McCloughan has continuously practiced what he preaches through both free agency and the draft.

"The one thing about the NFL that is not going to change is, it's a big man's game. Over a 16-game schedule, the bigger team, the more physical team is going to pan out most of the time, especially in the cold-weather games."

-Scot McCloughan, 2006

"The “big back” would be someone who, if Frank were to get hurt, could come in and carry the load for two, four or six weeks. I don’t see a smaller back being that type of guy. We’re going to be a good team this year because we’re able to establish the run and come downhill between the tackles. With a smaller back, that is tough to do, especially for a longer period of time. We always look for good football players and that’s what we’ll continue to do, but you have to understand that this is a big man’s game. The big backs are going to survive in this league."

-Scot McCloughan, 2009

It's not that McCloughan has completely avoided assets like speed, as we've seen with players such as Vernon Davis, Manny Lawson, Patrick Willis, Josh Morgan, and Nate Clements. Size, however, did acompany speed in those cases. On the other hand, Kentwan Balmer, Chilo Rachal, Reggie Smith, Michael Lewis, Justin Smith and Tully Banta-Cain were never considered among the best athletes at their positions. What the later group did posses is, you guessed it, size. When Scot McCloughan must spend resources on a player, you can bet he'll err on the side of the big man.

Off the top of my head it's hard to come up many names drafted during the McCloughan era who did not matchup closely with the positional size prototype. Frank Gore was short, but certainly not undersized with his powerful frame. Brandon Williams, a 3rd round wide reciever out of Wisconsin in 2006, was listed as 5-11, 183. And there's my list. Yet I spent hours last April wondering how the 49ers could pass on DeSean Jackson, not once, but twice in favor of big uglies. I won't make that mistake again.

So, that should narrow down the shopping list a bit. You can throw away that mock with Jeremy Maclin or Percy Harvin penciled in. Who does that leave us with?

Big Man Mock Draft:
1. BJ Raji, DT (6-1, 337) ... Andre Smith, OT (6-4, 332) or Brian Orakpo, OLB (6-3, 263)
2. Sean Smith, CB (6-4, 214) ... Ron Brace, DT (6-3, 330) or Phil Loadholt, OT (6-8, 332)
3. Ramses Barden, WR (6-6, 229) ... Andre Brown, RB (6-0, 224) or Rashad Jennings, RB (6-1, 231)
4. Fenuki Tupou, OT (6-6, 314) ... Jasper Brinkley, MLB (6-2, 252) or Sebastian Vollmer, OT (6-8, 312)
5. Matt Shaughnessy, OLB (6-5, 266) ... Patrick Turner, WR (6-5, 223) or Jason Watkins, OT (6-6, 318)
6. Arian Foster, RB (6-1, 226) ... Alex Boone, OT (6-7, 328) or Javarris Williams, RB (5-10, 223)
7. Jamarko Simmons, WR (6-2, 231) ... Gartrell Johnson, RB (5-10, 219) or Marko Mitchell, WR (6-4, 218)

And that doesn't even include the future 1st rounder traded away to get Kansas State QB Josh Freeman (6-6, 248).

Poll

What do you think of Scot McCloughan's "big man" strategy?

Love it. We must physically dominate the opposition.

43 votes

Enough already. We need explosive playmakers, regardless of size.

66 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed

The Valley Ranch Review: Dan Reeves Speaks and Other News from Big D

Aaron Novinger — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:00:13 -0000

Exactly, what did happen between the Cowboys and Dan Reeves? The former NFL head coach told the Star-Telegram that Jerry Jones is the one who suggested: "If I feel it's important and you feel it's something you can't live with, why don't we just part ways?"

The "it's" Reeves referred to are his and Jones' differences in opinion regarding the infamous logging-of-hours stipulation embedded within the proposed contract. Reeves, who was being brought in as a consultant, felt confused by Jones' desire to even have such language in the contract.

"Although I respected Jerry's decision, I didn't understand it, and it wasn't something that was even negotiable," Reeves recalled from his home in Atlanta.

"I just couldn't sign something that, in my opinion, would mean I'd be working day-to-day."

Reeves also discussed how his hours worked could be compared to that of other coaches.

"[F]or some reason, Jerry felt like he had to [have in writing] that I work as many, or more, hours as the head coach [Wade Phillips] and offensive coordinator [Jason Garrett]," Reeves explained.

"That meant, at any time, [Jones] could say, 'You didn't work as many hours as Wade did yesterday, therefore, you've voided your contract.' "

The Cowboys were bringing Reeves in, as a consultant, for several reasons.

Reeves was to lend his expertise in the passing game, help with the move to the new Arlington stadium, maybe even win back a few old Cowboys fans who lost interest after Landry was fired in 1989.

However, the contract ruined the former Dallas assistant coach and player's reunion with the Cowboys' organization.

"Coaches," Reeves said, "never punch a clock."

Over the weekend, Zach Thomas moved on to Kansas City to help the Chiefs install their 3-4 defense.

Hat tip to Nelson for the Fanshot.

One prospect Dallas may be interested in is Georgia's Corvey Irvin. The team conducted a formal interview with the 6'3", 301-pound defensive tackle at the combine.

South Carolina linebacker, Jasper Brinkley, is visiting Valley Ranch today.

Feel-good story about Cory Procter and a farmer from Iowa who was in a serious car crash and almost paralyzed for life. Easter Seals had flown him to a Cowboys game and he met Procter; now they're best buds.

"He inspires me more than anything. ... How doesn't he inspire everyone?" said the 6-4, 310-pound Procter, who earns his Cowboys keep in the trenches as a reserve center and guard. "Here is a guy who was paralyzed ... who they told would never walk, and he's getting around just fine."

Scouting report: Jasper Brinkley

Mocking Dan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:22:26 -0000

Jasper Brinkley

6'2, 262 pounds | South Carolina | Middle linebacker

Strengths: With the size of a defensive end, Brinkley has the makings of a good 3-4 running stuffing middle linebacker. He possesses great strength that allows him to stack and shed easily. Sound tackler. Aggressive. Good on the blitz.

Weaknesses: While Brinkley has timed really well this offseason, he doesn't play up to those numbers. He's stiff in the hips and really struggles changing direction. Poor in coverage. Doesn't react to the ball especially well. Weight fluctuated during his career. Had major knee surgery in 2007 and appeared a step slow in 2008 because of it.

Final word: The definition of a two-down linebacker, Brinkley is big and physical at the point of attack. However, if he's asked to do more than go straight ahead, he struggles. A non-factor in pass coverage.

Round projection: 4