NFL Draft Info - NFL Draft Blog

NFL Draft Info - NFL Draft Blog

The Top Ten Linebackers in the 2011 NFL Draft

By Joe Goodberry

The 2011 linebacker class is very deep. You could see two players go in the top 10, and possibly 7 in the first round. With half of the NFL defenses playing a 3-4 defense,  linebacker has become a vital position in today's NFL. Not only are they considered the quarterbacks of the defense, today's linebackers are asked to play pass coverage, stop the run, while also having the ability to rush the passer. The best defenses in the league have some of the best LB corps. Look at Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Baltimore, Chicago, and the Jets. All have very good starting linebackers and depth to fill in. A good group of linebackers can help a defense become more versatile and more exotic with their coverages and blitzes. I have broken down the LB position into 4 groups to show the versatility of each player. You will see players listed multiple times, thatjust increases his value and likely makes him a target of more teams. This may be the most diverse and uniquely talented linebacker group of any draft since I've been following.

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"The island.”

It’s the loneliest place on the football field—a desolate area where cornerbacks live and die, bent on turning every receiver's visit into an inescapable, three-hour-long nightmare. A good cornerback can shut down an opposing team's receiver. A great cornerback can shut down the entire half of a field for an opposing team's offense. Which of these would you rather have?

The 2011 cornerback class is as deep and talented as it gets. Lofty praise, for sure, but even a quick glance at the game tape of LSU's Patrick Peterson, Nebraska's Prince Amukamara or Colorado's Jimmy Smith will confirm the insane amount of cornerback talent available this year. And the best part is you've only scratched the surface of this class with these three island standouts...

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Top 10 Defensive Line Prospects in the NFL Draft

Top 10 Defensive Ends

1)      DaQuan Bowers - 6’4” 275 lbs - Clemson

2)      Cameron Jordan - 6’4” 288 lbs - California

3)      Robert Quinn - 6’5” 270 lbs - UNC

4)      Aldon Smith - 6’5” 260 lbs - Mizzou

5)      J.J. Watt - 6’6” 290 lbs - Wisconsin

6)      Ryan Kerrigan - 6’4” 255 lbs - Purdue

7)      Cameron Heyward - 6’5” 285 lbs - Ohio St

8)      Adrian Clayborn - 6’4” 285 lbs - Iowa

9)      Allen Bailey - 6’4” 285 lbs - Miami

10)    Jabaal Sheard - 6’4” 260 lbs - Pittsburgh

I don't have DaQuan Bowers as high as most analysts, but I do recognize that he's the best defensive end in this years draft. Bowers separates himself from this deep DE class with a great closing burst. If the ball carrier or quarterback are within his reach, he's going to bring them down.

The player with the most upside is Robert Quinn. He looks like Demarcus Ware with his long body and burst off the line. Its very underrated, but his ability to turn the corner and shorten the arch to the QB is his best attribute. Add that to his great size and speed, and Quinn could develop into a premier pass rusher.

My favorite defensive end in this class is Aldon Smith. He's tall with long arms and surprising strength. Not only can he be an elite pass rusher form the outside, but if you line him up inside on passing downs, Smith can be dominate like he was in college. Smith was a red shirt sophomore, so his youth makes me think you can mold him into the player you want and develop him into any scheme.

Allen Bailey is an underachiever. He looks perfect physically, but on film, Bailey is late off the snap, doesn't have many moves, and doesn't play with high intensity. So why like him? Some coach will look at him and say I can get some good production from this guy. I see Bailey as a solid 2nd round pick.

Top 10 Defensive Tackles

1)      Nick Fairley - 6’5” 300 lbs - Auburn

2)      Marcell Dareus - 6’4” 305 lbs - Alabama

3)      Corey Liuget - 6’3” 300 lbs - Illinois

4)      Stephen Paea - 6’1” 311 lbs - Oregon St

5)      Muhammad Wilkerson - 6’5” 305 lbs - Temple

6)      Drake Nevis - 6’2” 290 lbs - LSU

7)      Marvin Austin - 6’3” 310 lbs - UNC

8)      Christian Ballard - 6’5” 297 lbs - Iowa

9)      Jurrell Casey - 6’1” 305 lbs - USC

10)    Phil Taylor - 6’4” 340 lbs - Baylor

Nick Fairley is the #1 DT on every board, but he comes with baggage. His play is viewed as dirty by people who don't like him, and nasty by people who love him. His potential is through the roof, but can he become the dominate player everyone would like him to be?

My next guy, who I don't think is very far behind the first two, is Corey Liuget. He just looks like a defensive tackle. Liuget has a thick base that allows him to anchor vs the run. Good enough pass rush moves to be a penetrating force from inside. Never takes plays off, and has a good tackle radius. My only knock on him is that he has limited agility which can take himself out of plays when cant change direction and recover.

Drake Nevis will probably last until the late 2nd round, but if he goes into the right situation, he can be special. His burst, quickness and ability to split double teams have me convinced that Nevis will be a good player in the NFL. If he was 6'4" 310 lbs, he would be a top 15 player. Instead, Nevis will come into the NFL as a situational player and 3rd down pass rusher. His best landing spot could be Indianapolis or Chicago in the late 2nd round.

Top 10 3-4 Defensive Lineman

1)      Cameron Jordan - DE - Cal - 6’4 288 lbs

2)      Marcell Dareus - DE - Alabama – 6’4” 305 lbs

3)      J.J. Watt - DE - Wisconsin – 6’6” 290 lbs

4)      Cameron Heyward - DE - Ohio St – 6’5” 288 lbs

5)      Muhammad Wilkerson - DL – Temple – 6’5” 305 lbs

6)      Phil Taylor - NT – Baylor – 6’4” 340 lbs

7)      Christian Ballard - DE – Iowa - 6’5” 297 lbs

8)      Allen Bailey - DE - Miami - 6’4” 285 lbs

9)      Jerrell Powe - NT - Ole Miss - 6’2” 340 lbs

10)    Pernell McPhee - DE - Miss St - 6'4" 285 lbs

I'm not as high on Marcell Dareus as most. He should be downright dominate. Instead I've seen him take a play off, then whip the guy in front of him on the next play. What are you getting with Dareus? He can be an extreme force as a DT or DE in a 3-4 defense.

Another of my personal favorites is Temple's Muhammad Wilkerson. His size, strength, and quickness make him a versatile player that could fit any scheme. In a 3-4 Defense, Wilkerson could fit any of the 3 DL spots. He's a little raw and could use some more upper body strength, but it looks like he has great instincts and a nose for the ball carrier. Look for Muhammad to come off the board in the late 1st to mid 2nd.

The best nose tackle this year is a Senior Bowl stand out. Phil Taylor is a load at 340 lbs. To make matters worse for opposing lineman, Taylor moves like he's 315 lbs. Taylor commands a double teams on running plays, where he can be a complete brick wall. Almost cant be moved. On passing downs, he gets off the snap quick enough. He lacks lateral agility, but that's to be expected. His straight line speed is fine when tracking QBs and ball carriers. Some team may reach for Taylor in the mid 1st round because of the huge need for a NT around the league.

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