SB Nation - Scott McKillop

Wannstache Week: Mixed Signals

Akula Wolf — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:15:02 -0000

Why, yes, it is magnificent. Thank you for noticing. (AP Photo/Joe Giblin)

By the sound of it, Pittsburgh's front seven will be every bit as tough to deal with as South Carolina's, if not moreso. The Panthers return a pair of defensive ends that combined for 13 sacks and 26 TFLs in 2008. NC State, meanwhile, will be protecting Russell Wilson's blind side with a freshman left tackle. That's just a tad worrisome. They return one of their two starting interior linemen from a year ago and generally appear to have depth to burn across the DL. And despite losing linebacker and 2008 Big East Defensive POY Scott Mckillop, Pittsburgh looks pretty well stocked at that position. MLB Adam Gunn already has five sacks despite missing the Navy game on Saturday (he's expected to play against NC State).

None of Pittsburgh's opponents have been able to establish anything on the ground, and that includes those tricky Midshipmen, who were limited to 129 yards on 46 carries. They put Navy in a bunch of 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations, their talented defensive line was able to tee off, and the results for Navy were predictably disastrous.

But then there is the matter of Buffalo, the only decent passing team Pittsburgh has seen all season, which found all kinds of success through the air despite a similar inability to run the football. Pitt's secondary is experienced but nonetheless appears to be the weak link, and they're playing without their most talented safety, Andrew Taglianetti.

Given enough time, the opportunities should be there for Russell Wilson, with or without Owen Spencer. The difference between a Pittsburgh defense that looks vulnerable and a defense that looks impenetrable comes down to consistent pass protection. We're about to find out if two weeks' worth of warmups did the offensive line any good.

Projecting the rookies: WhatIfSports takes it on

Fooch — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:00:13 -0000

I'm curious how many folks have heard of whatifsports.com? It's a rather comprehensive site that does a combination of projections and fantasy sports. Doing a fantasy league with all-time players can be oh so addictive. I highly recommend it if you have some free time....or even if you don't.

Anyways, I noticed a post at Mike Sando's ESPN blog last night that mentioned something rather interesting and I wanted to get people's thoughts on it. The folks at WhatIfSports put together an annual NFL preview that includes stat projections for every single player. Not so surprisingly, the hardest projections are for rookies. As they put it:

To come up with statistical inputs for rookies, we run a very complex set of algorithms that factors collegiate performance, role in college, strength of collegiate competition, "measurables," likely NFL role, previous performance of a similar player in that NFL role for this coaching staff and trends of similar rookies in the past. This gives us the player's projected ratio stats (expected yards per carry, completion percentage, etc.), as well as his forecasted usage for the upcoming season. From there, we can compare all rookies based on who we think will make the biggest positive impact for his new NFL team in his first year.

The results? Well, they came up with a ranking of the top 100 rookies. For the 49ers, Scot McKillop finished #62, one spot ahead of offensive lineman Michael Oher. I'm not quite sure how much an impact McKillop will have as a rookie. He'll get a lot of special teams playing time, but I'm curious how much he'll be on the field the rest of the game. If Spikes stays healthy, who knows...

More importantly for now though, the #1 rookie in terms of positive impact was our very own Michael Crabtree (and yes it still sounds good saying that):

Unlike last season, when three players eclipsed the mark, there are no 1,000-yard rushers or receivers projected from this group of rookies. Crabtree is the closest thing and it really would not be a surprise to see him do it. He gets great marks across the board from college performance, to NFL opportunity, to "measurables" and even a successful player (Issac Bruce) in this role last season. The only concerns with this projection would be inconsistency at quarterback – Shaun Hill, Damon Huard, Alex Smith and Nate Davis are the options – and recent injuries to his feet and ankles.

The remaining top 10 were:

2. Matthew Stafford, QB
3. Mark Sanchez, QB
4. Percy Harvin, WR
5. Aaron Curry, LB
6. Jason Smith, OT
7. Andre Smith, OT
8. Kenny Britt, WR
9. Hakeem Nicks, WR
10. Louis Delmas, S

Thoughts on the rankings? In the case of Stafford, when a team goes 0-16 I'd imagine there really is nowhere to go but up. I remain skeptical about Mark Sanchez, but maybe WhatIfSports has a better idea of this than me. I was intrigued to see Jeremy Maclin ranked 24th overall and behind Heyward-Bey, Nicks, Britt and Harvin. So, any thoughts on whether some folks are over or under-rated?

San Francisco 49ers 2009 NFL Draft Grades: The national media's turn

Fooch — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:05:34 -0000

Early yesterday we rolled out grades for the 49ers draft overall and by player. Naturally these are very arbitrary given that they have yet to don pads for the 49ers. They could do nothing, they could be superstars. However, it's practically required for a team blog to grade it's draft results. I'm sorry, I don't make up the rules. I forgot earlier, but big thanks to wjackalope for a feeee-nomenal graphic for this.

Accordingly, I thought I'd also go through and find some of the various draft grades given to the 49ers. It's amusing how all over the place some of the grades can be. We're sticking with primarily national folks as a baseline. Due to length, most are after the jump. Thanks to Dre for the FanShot of the Yahoo grade average article as I made sure to include those grades. One reason to take these with a grain of salt (among many other reasons), is because of lazy comments like this from Clark Judge under "Biggest Losers":

The San Francisco coaching staff. Good luck with Crabtree, fellas. At least when Terrell Owens was a rookie, he was humble. Try telling Crabtree what to do.

Mel Kiper:

GRADE: B+
Obviously the 49ers hit the jackpot with wide receiver Michael Crabtree falling to them at No. 10. Running back Glen Coffee gives the 49ers a nice one-two punch with Frank Gore. Getting inside linebacker Scott McKillop in the fifth round was a steal. Bear Pascoe is one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft, and the two LSU kids (Curtis Taylor and Ricky Jean-Francois) were great pickups in the seventh round.

Todd McShay:

Best pick: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (first round, No. 10 overall)
Worst pick: ILB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh (fifth round, No. 146 overall)
Bottom line: While San Francisco would have liked to address needs on the offensive or defensive fronts with its first pick, it's impossible to fault the 49ers for taking in Crabtree, one of the top three players in this year's draft who fell to them at No. 10. Making it an even better decision is any concerns about Crabtree's character or how he interviewed leading up to the draft should be erased with Mike Singletary at coach. While the QB situation in San Francisco is less than ideal, Crabtree will allow the 49ers to see if they have the right QB in-house as he should only bring out the best in the existing signal-callers. As for Day 2, RB Glen Coffee is a good change-of-pace runner and McKillop is limited but solid versus the run and should contribute on special teams. Finally, there's nothing wrong with taking a chance on developing QB Nate Davis in Round 5.

Charles Robinson:

Positive: Landing Crabtree without moving up.
Negative: Going with a running back with their second pick.
Bottom line: B-.
It looks like a draft that might only produce one starter in the next year or two, but Crabtree could be a great one. Coffee was a head-scratcher in the third round, considering the plethora of needs in other areas for the 49ers. If Nate Davis’ learning disability can be overcome, he could be a steal in the fifth round.

USA Today:

GRADE: C-
WR Michael Crabtree fell to them and they grabbed him. They did not have much to work with after that, though, and they may not have done much with what they had. RB Glen Coffee shows few measureable NFL skills, does not approach what they have in Frank Gore. LB Scott McKillop is essentially Coffee's equal, though he excelled in combine workouts. Looks like a journeyman. QB Nate Davis joins a carousel, decent value in fifth round.

NBC Sports:

Grade: C

Details: Michael Crabtree was the No. 1 player overall on several teams’ value boards and a steal at 10th overall. But the Niners' draft fell swiftly from there. Glen Coffee was productive in 2008, but benefited from D-I's best offensive line and his legs are too skinny. LB Scott McKillop got run over at the Senior Bowl.

QB Nate Davis probably is only practice squad material at this point, and TE Bear Pascoe lacks the athleticism to be more than a blocking specialist. LSU safety Curtis Taylor was underrated after an injury-marred senior season, but DL Ricky Jean-Francois has always been overrated. One pick doesn't make a draft.

Fox Sports:

Everyone referred to Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree as a "diva," but on the field he was the best receiver in college the past two seasons with 41 TD receptions while averaging 120.3 yards per game. The 49ers are definitely not worried about his foot surgery for a stress fracture. GM Scot McCloughan made a solid decision in swapping his second-round pick for Carolina's first-round pick next year.

The 49ers took a flyer on Ball State quarterback Nate Davis, who has dyslexia, in the fifth round. Davis passed for 56 TDs vs. 12 INTs in his college career. Davis has an unusual grip on the football — he never holds it by the laces. Alabama running back Glen Coffee has a strong upper body, but he has to learn that he can't take on tacklers at the NFL level. Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop could be a steal in the fifth round. He has 211 solo tackles in 25 starts for the Panthers. Grade: B-

CBS Sports - Prisco:

Grade: C-

Best pick: I really like sixth-round pick Bear Pascoe. He is a blocking tight end who is a former quarterback.

Questionable move: Taking Michael Crabtree. That foot makes it a risk. So does his diva act.

Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick Scott McKillop is a feisty linebacker Mike Singletary will come to love. He will be a special-teams star.

I'm just not enamored with what they did.

CBS Sports - Rang:

Grade: A+
While everyone will rightfully focus on the selection of wideout Michael Crabtree with their first selection, the 49ers' ability to add a first-round pick in next year's draft (from Carolina), as well as fill holes at essentially every position, was the key to their draft. For a young team like this, depth is often the critical missing element toward turning a struggling team into a division winner. The 49ers added many of the pieces in 2009 to accomplish that goal with underrated talents at running back (Glen Coffee), linebacker (Scott McKillop), safety (Curtis Taylor) and defensive line (Ricky Jean-Francois). A young quarterback with legitimate talent in Nate Davis and a blocking specialist to pair with Vernon Davis in Bear Pascoe only made this draft that much more impressive.

Peter King:

For a team that hasn't picked a great receiver since Terrell Owens, Michael Crabtree's a welcome choice. He's 6-2, 215 pounds ("a faster Boldin,'' one personnel man told me last week) and he finally gives the 49ers some respect in the passing game ... Glen Coffee may play more than you think if Frank Gore can't hold up.

Clifton Brown:

Grade: D

They were fortunate to get Crabtree, who will make life easier for the quarterback. The rest of their draft did not bring much help. This is a rebuilding team with plenty of holes.

And there you have it. Waaaaaay too many draft grades.

San Francisco 49ers 2009 NFL Draft Grades

Fooch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:15 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

Browse more photos »

And so the 2009 NFL Draft is officially in our rear view mirror. Things got a bit heated at times (pretty much the entire time after the first round), but that's to be expected this time of year. Unless you're a Raiders fan, most teams' drafts leave some fans happy, some angry and some somewhere in between.

Naturally, the first thing we can do is grade the draft. I decided to wait a day so people could calm down and take a second look at the returns. Some of you will still be angry, but at least you've had a chance to sleep on it. Also, as you can see from the poll, we're including undrafted free agents in this group. While not part of the "draft class," they are a part of the San Francisco 49ers rookie class of 2009. Maybe they get lucky with some of them, maybe not. But we're including them anyways. On to the grades. A grade for the draft as a whole is at the end. And no pluses or minuses here. Just solid grades.

Michael Crabtree, WR - Grade: A
I realize the luck/Al Davis stupidity involved here. But sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. And in this case, the 49ers were exceptionally lucky. Crabtree was pretty close to #1 on my list of all players in the draft, and definitely #1 on the guys I wanted who I thought miiiiight slip to the 49ers. He's a gifted athlete who could be the 49ers #1 receiver before too long.

Obviously most any pick could be a bust, but there was simply no way the 49ers could pass up when Crabtree was dangled before them at #10. I think Michael Oher will end up having a very solid career in the NFL. Nonetheless, when it comes to what he brings to the table, he is no Michael Crabtree. Wide receiver was not a great need for the 49ers, but I won't even discount the grade because of that. He's the man and that's all there is too it.

Glen Coffee, RB - Grade: C
I'm not a big Coffee drinker but i actually like Glen Coffee. Based on what I've read and what some Alabama fans have told me (included in the above post), Coffee will be a very solid option for the 49ers as a backup running back. I like that he knows he can stand to put on about 8-10 lbs. That would put him at 6-0 and close to 220lbs. More importantly he loves to hit things and you know Singletary loves that.

The reason I discount this grade so much is that I'd imagine they could have had him a little later, or even gone with some other RB options late in the draft. Running back was a need for this team, in spite of what others might think. However, there were some serious players available here that left me a bit confused. In the end I can live with this pick because I do think the 49ers front office has some clue of what's going on (no snickers please). However, it was one that had me a little bit befuddled.

Scott McKillop, ILB - Grade: B
Barrows was pretty much on the money with this as he was pointing to McKillop and another ILB at this spot a few minutes before hand. People were screaming for Jamon Meredith as he was slip-sliding like crazy. The selection of McKillop resulted in a lot of Agggggghhhhhs. However, on reflection, people seem to be recognizing the value of the pick.

McKillop will start off as a special teams guy and a backup to Takeo Spikes. Jeff Ulbrich is running out of gas and is probably nearing the end of his 49ers tenure. Ulbrich could never snatch that Ted position, so now we've got another youngster who will get a crack at it. This is mostly about the future as McKillop is a sure tackler who probably has a good chance to eventually take over Spikes's position. Not a homerun pick but one that I view as very sound.

After the jump we wrap up the remaining four picks and undrafted free agents and give our overview.

Nate Davis, QB - Grade: A
The fifth round was all about looking to the future. The compensatory pick was used on a guy who might very well be a QB of the future. I was trying to decide between an A and a B and I just can't lower the grade. Nate Davis does have Alex Smith tendencies that we certainly don't want to see. The dyslexia is something that can be overcome in the NFL, but obviously is something to keep in mind.

And yet, I couldn't look past the wild productivity in college and the fact that he slipped into the end of the fifth round. Even if he doesn't end up as the long term answer, I like this pick no matter what. Over the last couple years Davis actually was considered a potential high NFL prospect. His draft stock slipped due to the dyslexia and probably the grip on the football. As a fifth round pick, this could end up being one of the steals of the draft.

Bear Pascoe, TE - Grade: C
I'm sure somewhere on Niners Nation I'm on record as being a fan of a tight end named Bear. He just sounds like a tight end and I fully expect him to ably fill the role of Billy Bajema, with maybe even a little receiving game thrown in. Sounds great for a late pick and I realize we can't complain too much about a sixth round choice. Maybe I'm being a bit too hard on the pick.

However, I kind of look at the sixth round as an opportunity to roll the dice on either character guys, or injury issue guys. In the end I'm perfectly fine with Bear Pascoe here because I am firmly convinced he'll contribute in the regular season. And yet, part of me wishes the team had been a bit more aggressive here. It's probably wanting to have my cake and eat it too, but such is life.

Curtis Taylor, S - Grade: B
I like this pick, in spite of the Mark Roman comparisons that were going on. Taylor seems like the type of guy you roll the dice on late in the draft. There are legitimate and obvious flaws in his game. However, when you know the flows, it can often be easier to fix them.

As a seventh round pick there is obviously no pressure on him to win a starting job. And yet, I think he'll give Dashon Goldson a fair amount of competition in training camp. What I found most interesting in his scouting report is that he's too aggressive, and yet he's not physical enough. I suppose I can see how that's possible, but it still sounds like an oxymoron somehow.

Ricky Jean-Francois - Grade: B
Where Bear Pascoe is a football name, Ricky Jean-Francois (RJF from here on out) is decidedly NOT a football name. I expect to see him smoking long cigarettes and insulting opponents with a thick French accent. Actually, he makes me think of Jean Girard from Talladega Nights.

However, RJF, like Taylor, seems like an upside guy that is worth gambling on in the 7th round. At 6-2, 295lbs he's probably a bit undersized for a nose tackle. However, I'd like to think he could pack a little weight on to his frame and possibly make some noise in that position. He's a bit taller than both Sopoaga and Franklin, but I don't know how his frame compares for adding such weight.

Undrafted Free Agents - Grade: A
I've included these as one group because I think the context of all the signings makes a little more sense. Thus far, they include Pannel Egboh (DE), Kory Sheets (RB), Alex Boone (OT), Jahi Word-Daniels (CB) and Carlos Thomas (CB). None of these guys is a home run hitter, or they would have gone in the draft. Question marks abound, but again, that's why they landed on the street.

It's waaaay too early to tell what will happen, but with a few extra pounds on his frame, I think Egboh could push Ray McDonald for a roster spot. McDonald has struggled in making his mark and with Kentwan Balmer and Demetric Evans getting their chances, the squeeze coud be on for Ray.

Kory Sheets was solid at Purdue, but he just doesn't seem to have the potential bulk that Coffee brings to the table. Sheets could find himself in a battle for Thomas Clayton's old practice squad spot. Meanwhile, you've got Alex Boone, who's had a few run-ins with the law. McShay projected him as a late fifth round pick, factoring in those character issues. So, just maybe, the 49ers might have a solid backup option. He'll be battling the likes of Joe Toledo and Jacob Bender for a roster spot, or maybe just a practice squad spot.

OVERALL - Grade: B
I'll bet good money a lot of folks disagree with me on this. I mentioned it in Since79's FanPost, but to reiterate, this was a very odd draft. It just had a weird feel to it, from top to bottom, even beyond the 49ers picks. Guys like Jamon Meredith were plummeting, and Al Davis was drafting guys not even in draft guides.

Beyond the Crabtree pick, the 49ers seemed to be drafting like a team just filling some depth needs, or more precisely, a playoff team with not a ton of concerns. That's certainly not the case and that is why many folks were getting furious. Personally, I wanted a Jamon Meredith or Duke Robinson. I would have liked a Shonn Greene.

However, when you factor in the undrafted free agents, this 49ers rookie class is very intriguing. I gave Coffee a C but that was more because it was a 3rd round pick, instead of a 4th or 5th round pick. You like to hit on those and it seemed like a bit of a gamble. However, I do like Coffee's upside as a backup RB. I don't think he's a guaranteed bust, like others.

People were surprised the team did not grab any offensive linemen or outside linebackers. While I don't know any more than any of you, I do think this indicates the team is obviously fairly happy with what they already have in place. Boone will get a chance to win a roster spot, but for now he's pretty far down the depth chart behind Smith, Snyder and Sims.

Finally, there's The Trade. I was amazed at the divide over this. Some love it, some hate it and very few are in between. I'm a fan of the deal. It cost some potential talent this year, but I like getting that extra first rounder next year. It's all a crapshoot in the end, so why not increase your odds of avoiding crapping out? If I didn't like this trade I would have definitely seen the point of giving the 49ers a C or a D given that it involved a 2nd and 4th round pick. However, I think the trade should prove beneficial in the long run, thus I maintain the B.

There is much much more to be said about this draft. Numerous questions are raised by the moves made this weekend. As long as this post is, I simply can't fit it all in. Over the course of this week and beyond, we'll have plenty of thoughts about what I think again many people would agree was a rather bizarre weekend.

Poll

What grade would you give the 49ers 2009 draft (including UDFA)?

A

636 votes

B

1072 votes

C

294 votes

D

44 votes

F

29 votes

2075 votes | Poll has closed

Golden Nuggets: Does Crabtree Make This A "Great" Draft?

Ninjames — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:30:16 -0000

Good morning! James here with your Nuggets for today. It occured to me that we more than likely will get a ton of new visitors tomorrow to see how the draft went and to all of you: welcome to the site, and I hope you end up registering and staying! That being said, holy links, Batman! I've got a little something for all of you, and that something is..a complete Nuggets article! Complete with me buying time and dragging on the intro to make it look even more complete! (See: the last sentence.) For real though, the draft is done with and I'm pretty excited, we had a good draft and we're being semi-agressive towards signing undrafted free agents... So here's some links, enjoy them while they last. Remember to check the comments for updates on more links throughout the day.

And so the draft is complete, and what better than to get Maiocco's take on it? (PressDemocrat.com)

Here's a nice pick-by-pick analysis for the draft, just click on a selection. (NFL.com)

ESPN provides analysis for just the NFC West. (ESPN.com)

They also take a look at what the NFC West didn't address. (ESPN.com)

Here's another recap, of the first day. (FoxSports.com)

And the guy from yesterday who doesn't know a thing about football's analysis. (CBSSports.com)

Meet our first round draft pick, WR Michael Crabtree. (SFGate.com)

McCloughan is very excited for what the team did on the second day. (SFGate.com)

What do you think? Is it a "bad" draft because we failed to address some needs? (SFGate.com)

Toughness is the theme in San Fran right now and the future. (SacBee.com)

I've got some grades of my own for our picks and our draft in general. Check it out. (NFLTouchdown.com)

Here's a transcript from the Crabtree press conference. (49ers.com)

Cris Carter says the 49ers have found a winner in Crabtree. (MercuryNews.com)

The 49ers signed some undrafted free agents, interesting picks in OT Alex Boone, RB Kory Sheets, and DE Pannel Egboh. (NinersNation.com)

And now some player videos in TE Bear Pascoe, QB Nate Davis, LB Scott McKillop and RB Kory Sheets. (NFL.com)

And yesterday's edition of Singletary's Notebook. (49ers.com)

To close (for now) here's conference calls with Nate Davis and Bear Pascoe. (49ers.com)

49ers draft pick conference call: 5th round pick Scott McKillop

Fooch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:14 -0000

The first pick of the fifth round for the 49ers was Scott McKillop, a linebacker out of Pittsburgh. I'd expect year 1 to be a special teams year as he learns to take over Takeo Spikes inside linebacker position.

RE: Did you expect that the 49ers had a lot of interest in you?

“Not really. The first time that I was able to meet with the 49ers was actually the last day I was at the combine when not Head Coach Singletary but his nephew I believe approached me. He had an opportunity to… He had previously coached at Buffalo and we had a little, quick time to talk for about 10 minutes and that was my first opportunity. I really wasn’t aware of this, but I’m more than happy right now.”

RE: Who did you speak just recently to when you heard the news?

“Head Coach Singletary.”

RE: Did he give you an indication about exactly what linebacker position he likes you as?

“Not really. He just talked about how he was happy to select me and I’m more than happy to play where they need me to, whether that’s special teams, depth or wherever - any linebacker. I’m just happy and looking forward to making the San Francisco 49ers [team].”

RE: Did you play much special teams at Pitt?

“Yes. Actually my first two years at the University of Pittsburgh I backed up H.B. Blades, who’s at the Washington Redskins now. So that was basically my niche in the team was playing kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return. Actually at Pitt, I’m our backup long-snapper.”

RE: What’s your reaction to now playing for a head coach that’s in the Hall of Fame as a linebacker?

“I don’t think there would be a better coach for me to play for than someone who has the reputation of being a great defender, not only as a great linebacker, to learn from as well.”

RE: How much do you know about him and his career?

“Not much. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh so I’ve followed the Steelers a great deal. I just know his reputation and he’s a great coach. I’m just looking forward to it.”

RE: Third-team All American. Big East Defensive Player of the Year this past season. What allowed you to take this quantum leap in your career here this past season?

“I’m just looking forward to getting the chance. I’m excited. And speechless. And just willing to do anything and everything that the 49ers ask me.”

RE: You did so well this past season. What allowed you to take the next step in your career development this past year?

“Just getting there, studying the defense, know what it’s all about and hopefully get on special teams and whatever. Just really excited and looking forward to getting out there and getting this all started.”

RE: Did you take some visits leading up to this and where did you go?

“My only visit was out to San Diego with the Chargers. The Broncos came out to Pittsburgh to work me out but the only place I traveled to was San Diego.”

RE: Have you had a chance to see Patrick Willis at all?

“Yes. I am very, very familiar with him. When he was a senior in college, he was just dominating. He’s one of the top linebackers in the NFL. I couldn’t be happier to learn from someone like him, and hopefully learn anything and be a sponge and soak up anything that I can to make myself a better player.”

RE: The other inside linebacker is Takeo Spikes. Are you familiar with is career?

“Yes. I’m very familiar with his career. He’s had a long, successful career. He’s a great player. Those are two of the main linebackers they have that are great players. Like I said, I’m just looking forward to getting out there and seeing where they need me at. Whether that’s initially at special teams, I’m happy and just want to do anything. I’m just looking forward to getting an opportunity to play. ”

RE: How much do you think your showing at the combine helped you? Do you think you really opened some eyes there?

“I think a lot of people [inaudible] that athletic, and I thought I wasn’t going to be able to perform well. They thought the combine was where I was going to not do as well. In the seven events, I was a top five performer in five of them. Hopefully, at the combine I opened some eyes that I am athletic and I can play. And it worked. I’m getting an opportunity now.”

RE: How do you think your wrestling background helps you at inside linebacker?

“I think wrestling has helped out my toughness. When I was younger, that was the first sport I played. I think you can translate that to the football game and just be able to make a tackle and not miss anything. That’s one of the things, as a football player, I try to do is, I don’t like missing tackles. Tackling, I love it. I think wrestling has helped me out tremendously with it.”

RE: I read a story that you were a linebacker that nobody wanted coming out of high school. Are you a self-made player? What did it take for you to make it to this level?

“I kind of play like I have a chip on my shoulder. Everyone is always doubting me. All it takes is one person to make one comment about me and I’m just going to work harder and try to prove people wrong. Coming out of a small high school in Western Pennsylvania, I only had one scholarship offer and that was Pitt. I made the best of it. All you need is one opportunity to show everybody what you can do.”

RE: One comment from a scouting publication said you didn’t have a great week at the Senior Bowl, but in the game that you really played well. Would you agree with that?

“Initially, the first day I was really rusty. I played a little bit too nervous, and as the week went on I could definitely tell I was settling down. At the game I felt I got in the zone and tried to make every play. I would kind of agree with that, but I think one of the things that I was hoping a lot of the teams would look at was how I progressed throughout the week and how well I peaked at the game. It was a month [inaudible] practice or anything. I thought I showed my best at the game, like you said.”

RE: Other scouts have mentioned that you’re always around the ball. Is that one of your greatest attributes: anticipation and savvy?

“One of the things that I really think that’s a great aspect of my game is my instincts, having a great feel for the game, having a great feel for who’s in front of me, having a great understanding of the game, knowing what the defensive line is doing, what the linebacker’s got to do, what the secondary – having an understanding of everyone’s assignments and not trying to have any mentals because all it takes is one person to break down and that’s a touchdown for the offense.”

RE: When you’re taking on blockers in the middle of the field are you somebody that goes around the blocker, do you attack the blocker? What’s your approach to that?

“I think that in certain situations each can apply. Obviously, the goal is to tackle the ball carrier so if you don’t have to engage and you can make the play that’s fine, but in certain situations, when it’s short yards, you’re going to need to engage with the offensive player and make the play. I think that I can use both of those but ultimately the goal is to make the play.”

RE: Were you [in] a 4-3 [defense] at Pitt?

“Yes.”

RE: This is obviously a 3-4 [defense]. What about the transition there? What do you expect?

“I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think that I’m a very smart player. I think that I can pick up well on new defenses and I’m looking forward to getting there as soon as possible, being a film rat and just trying to study and learn the defense and special teams as well. I’m really excited about that. That was the first thing that opened eyes here at the University of Pittsburgh was special teams: making plays and just trying to get my name recognized for helping out the team.”

RE: Where do you see yourself fitting in here as a rookie?

“I’m looking forward to making the team. Nothing is guaranteed. I’m looking forward to contributing on special teams. I know a lot of people say that they love special teams but I truly do love special teams. I didn’t play at all my first two years and all I was was special teams and that’s where I first made a name for myself. If they need some depth at any linebacker position, I’d be more than willing to help out. But there are a bunch of great linebackers that are already there. I’d just be willing to help them out [by] any means necessary.”

With the 146th pick of the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Scott McKillop, ILB, Pittsburgh

Fooch — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:36:31 -0000

Well, that certainly qualifies as a bit of a head scratcher, but I guess not surprising for a Mike Singletary team? With the 146th pick here in the 5th round, the San Francisco select Scott McKillop, inside linebacker from Pittsburgh. Here's a scouting report for the folks who (like me) don't know about Scott McKillop (from late January):

Strengths: An incredibly productive two-year starter who has the intelligence and savvy to make an NFL roster. Did well adjusting himself and teammates before the snap. Very intelligent football player who likes watching film and learning. Fundamentally sound player. By-the-book tackler. Good size. Was one of Pittsburgh’s team leaders. Does a nice job breaking up passes. Had 11 pass breakups over his final two seasons.

Weaknesses: McKillop will be overlooked because he’s not especially fast or athletic. Is too slow to get around the corner on a pass rush. Slow from time to time reacting to passes. Poor hands. Needs to get stronger in his lower body to handle bigger NFL running backs. Struggles at times shedding blockers.

Final word: What you see with McKillop is what you’ll get. He was a product middle linebacker for the Panthers who knows the fundamentals of the game. While he’s limited athletically, he makes up for it in determination and intelligence. Named a first-team all-conference member each of his two years starting.

After the jump I found a Pitt promo video on YouTube.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Karlos Dansby: Will this Battle Effect the Draft?

Hawkwind — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:22:51 -0000

At the end of last week we were slipped the hope that the Arizona Cardinals and franchised-linebacker Karlos Dansby were making progress towards a new deal, but just as Red warned up in Shawshank, hope isn't always a good thing:

"Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."

As the week as has unfolded, we've learned that Dansby fired his agent over the weekend and he has doubts that a long term deal will be negotiated. He's gone on to say that the two sides were never close to getting a deal done and has mentioned that he's looking forward to making a 'splash' in free agency next year:

"It's an uncapped year next year and I'm mentioned among the better linebackers in the league as far as the guys who are going to be up next year also," Dansby said. "So why not show what I've got? I'm up for the challenge. Make a splash, man."

So where does that leave the Cardinals and what options do they have?

As with most scenerios in this league there doesn't seem to be an easy answer. It's still possible that the two sides could reach a long term deal, although if I'm the Cardinals I wouldn't hold my breath on any 'hometown discounts.' Obviously Dansby will have to hire a new agent before the two sides can resume talks so it's probably fair to say that a deal won't be reached before the draft. It's also possible (notice I said possible and not probable or certainly not likely) that the Cardinals could trade Dansby. It's rare that 'franchised' players are tagged, Matt Cassel not with standing, but unless the Cardinals could secure another linebacker or a pick in which they could draft a backer who could start as a rookie in the trade, I highly doubt this is being considered among the Cardinals front office.

With all that being said, it's beginning to look like the Karlos Dansby will play the 2009 season under the tag for a second consecutive season and become a free agent next off season. Whether or not the NFL is uncapped or not in 2010, the Cardinals will be bidding for his services against every other team that is hungry for a very good linebacker. So does the uncertainty of Dansby's future change the Cardinals draft plans in 2009?

Since I'm sure someone is thinking, "wait, wait, wait....Can't we just tag him for a third consecutive season?"

And the answer is yes, the Cardinals can slap the franchise tag on Dansby next off season but instead of paying him the average of the top 5 paid linebackers, they'd pay him the average of top 5 players in the league (regardless of position). In that case we'd be talking about a figure north of $16 million and I don't think the Cardinals are wiling to go there.

So that leaves the Cardinals looking ahead at the 2010 season with the possibility of a gaping hole in the middle of their defense. Now they could always wait to cross that bridge when they get there or they could look at some of the middle linebackers who might be available in the middle rounds this season with the hope (there's that word again) that they'd be able to step into the starting lineup in 2010.

Darnell Ellerbe (6'1 236) - Georgia: Ellerbe's a tad undersized and often relies to much on his athletic ability, but is very aggressive and capable of a big hit. He's one of the better linebackers in the draft in coverage and an above average blitzer for an inside backers. He's played all three LB spots at Georgia so he's got some versatility but he's also got some injury concerns. Projected Round: 3rd
Scott McKillop (6'1 245) - Pittsburgh: McKillop's not the best athlete by any means but he still manages to get the job done (288 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks over the past two seasons). He's got great instincts and is a solid tackler with a non stop motor. He didn't wow anyone at the combine or pro day but that was expected. Projected Round. Projected Round: 4th
Jasper Brinkley (6'2 250) - South Carolina: Brinkley's got great size, bulk and athleticism for a man of his size but teams will have to decide if they're getting the 2006 version or the 2008 version. In 2006 he racked up 107 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks but he hurt his knee in 2007 and hasn't looked the same since. In 2008 he managed just 65, 5, 2.5, respectively. When fully healthy he's an athletic 'thumper' with punishing tackling skills and plus pass rush chops. Projected Round 4th - 5th
Frantz Joseph (6'2 243) - Florida Atlantic: Joseph is an productive as they come with 285 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in the past two seasons, but his upside is limited. Most scouts consider him a two down player as he's physical tackler who plays best when working down hill. He'll have to improve in coverage to become an every down backer. Projected Round: 5th
Jason Phillips (6'1 236) - TCU: Phillips biggest problem is that he tore a meniscus in his knee and will miss some, if not most, of the 2009 season, but that could play into the Cardinals plans. Phillips isn't a great athlete but he's extremely tough and has great instincts. He has a non stop motor and is a leader on the field. He's not as tall as some would prefer though and he needs to get better in pass coverage and blitzing. Projected Round: 5th - 6th

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That's just a taste of some of the guys who could fill a Dansby void in 2010 but we may be getting ahead of ourselves. Do you think Dansby will resign either this year or next year? Does the possibility of an uncapped season help or hurt the Cardinals chances?

ILB, Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh

Jeremy Bolander — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:24:38 -0000

ILB, Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh

At A Glance
Position 1: Inside Linebacker	Height: 6-1
Position 2:	Weight: 244
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 4th	40time: 4.72

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: 27	Vertical: 35.5
20yd Split: 2.73	Broad Jump: 9'11"
10yd Split: 1.59	20yd Shuttle: 4.39
3 Cone Drill: 7.00

Pros: Productive, instinctual player who sorts through the trash to get to the ballcarrier, seems to have an innate sense of how and when to slide through oncoming blockers

Cons: Only adequately developed in the upper and lower body. ... Does not have great speed to chase plays from behind, but generally makes up for it by taking good angles.

Styg's Broncos Fit: This tenacious and intelligent prospect has a lot about him to like, and reminds one of Denver's own Spencer Larsen. McKillop has tremendous production to go with his intangibles however, and still has upside, having only two very consistent years as a starter under his belt. By far McKillop is primarily an instinctual player, but he has great intelligence, and he shows patience and efficacy in executing MLB duties. Not a tremendously strong player, he tends to wear out opponents rather than overpower them, including being a drag-down type of tackler. But he doesn't shy away from making contact, and he has a rare knack for sniffing out the play. Protects his body well from trash, and keeps his feet in any situation. Where he really shines is situational awareness. When match-ups send him to the slot he knows to get his hands on the receiver early and often, disrupting the routes, and when he is protecting the first down he has a great awareness of the markers and doesn't let routes press to close. If he can show adequate strength at the combine his stock should rise, but any professional program should bring out the best in McKillop, in physicality and adding strength.

Around MHR:

From Ted's "ST&NO":

a. On the LB front, I liked Scott McKillop of Pitt as a 3rd-4th round ILB. He isn't the fastest guy, but he looked stout in the hole, as he did throughout his time at Pitt. He will be a solid starter in somebody's 3-4 in the NFL.

Around SBNation:

From Scouting Report at Mocking the Draft:

An incredibly productive two-year starter who has the intelligence and savvy to make an NFL roster. Did well adjusting himself and teammates before the snap. Very intelligent football player who likes watching film and learning. Fundamentally sound player. By-the-book tackler. Good size. Was one of Pittsburgh’s team leaders. Does a nice job breaking up passes. Had 11 pass breakups over his final two seasons.

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

McKillop is not the most physically imposing linebacker around, but he is a smart player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He is a blue collar type of player who will make up for any physical deficiencies with hard work and tenacity. That is not to say that McKillop is not a great athlete, but at 6-2 and 240 pounds, there are bigger and stronger middle linebackers. [see more...]
His brother Chris was a defensive lineman at Pitt from 2003-07...A two-year starter who backed up current Washington Redskin H.B. Blades early in his college career...Twice named first team All-Big East and was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2008...Was a tackling machine for the Panthers but just doesn't have the physical tools you look for at the next level...Not nearly the pro prospect that his press clippings would lead you to believe but he has a chance to make it in the NFL with the right team due to his top-notch intangibles. [see more...]
Although McKillop lacks the desired size for NFL linebacker, he plays much better than his size shows. He has a great motor and is a hard worker. McKillop is a tremendous playmaker that makes clutch plays that can turn a game around. He is a great leader on the field as well as off the field, and that will be something that NFL teams will fall in love with. [see more...]

Keeping up with Eagles private workout schedule

JasonB — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:00:09 -0000

Leading up to next month's NFL draft, the Eagles will be inviting their top prospects in for private workouts. Following those workouts could possibly give us a better idea of who they may pick in April.

Here's a short list, we'll try to update as more news comes in. If anyone knows of a player I'm missing, please let me know. The Eagles really don't release this info, so the info is culled from agents or players or sources or.... whatever.

Connecticut RB Donald Brown

Stillman College DT Sammie Lee Hill

Florida TE Cornelius Ingram

Western Michigan Safety Louis Delmas

Virginia OT Eugene Monroe

Mayland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

Tennessee CB DeAngelo Willingham

Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens

Portland St, CB Reggie Jones

Abilene Christian WR Johnny Knox

Liberty RB Rashad Jennings

The Eagles have sent LB coach Bill Shuey to check out Pitt LB Scott McKillop