First of all, apparantly your secretary has accidentally blocked me from your email box, which is why I've got to get several freinds to foreward it to you. Considering how critical my advice is to you, you'd better get that straightened out.
Anyway, in my never-ending search of sleepers for you to draft in the last four rounds, I found a LOOLOO, boyee! This Chris Steuber guy on the Orange and Brown report had him on his all-defensive sleeper team. Of course, I investigated before passing anything along, since Steuber's expertise couldn't possibly approximate my own.
TREVOR SCOTT, DE, Buffalo (OLB here). This kid wasn't even invited to the combine, nor is he even listed--even for Buffalo--by Scout.com. The reasons are: Small college, only two years at position, size (FOR DE). Steuber projects him to go in the 4th or 5th round (and I get the feeling he isn't one of these guys who has 72 guys projected as first round picks.)
Scott was recruited as a tight end, and converted to DE in 2006. Obviously, this transition had to be tough, but he immediately got 45 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and 9 sacks. As you know, 45 tackles is more like an OLB number than a DE number.
Of course, you can't say much for his level of competition-big fish, little pond. Last season he got 46 tackles, 15 for loss, and 10 sacks, so we see patterns of consistancy and improvement. As you know, numbers will often decline for a prominant player on any team, as rival teams find ways to avoid or neutralize them. It's very likely that as a senior, Scott was being targetted and avoided, but he still wrought havoc.
Bonus: Scott looks like a movie star. Like that taller dad in "My Two Dads". Maybe he can sing, too!
But I digress. Despite getting dissed by the combine, he worked out at Buffalo's Pro Day (and I bet you were there in person!)
6'5", 256 lbs. Lanky, with room for growth. Won't matter a whole lot, because he benched 225 lbs. 32 times. Offensive linemen and DT's do those numbers, and this guy's arms are as long as theirs! How strong will he be at 265-270?
But wait, there's MORE! 4.57 40. 4.19 shirt shuttle. You're reading that right. 6.84 3-cone drill, and 33" vertical jump. No, there isn't a cornerback or safety with the same name--it was Scott who did all this.
Scott is projected as a DE only because he has such good height and room for growth into a 4-3 passrushing DE, but he'll be much BETTER as a 3-4 OLB. In a year or 2, he could easily weigh near 270 without losing speed or mobility. He obviously has the strength, quickness, and speed already.
Scott is intelligent and adaptable, as evidenced by his transition fron TE. He clearly has good natural instincts, as evidenced by the number of his tackles. And 25 negative plays in 12 games? Gimme a break!
Obviously, you can't expect to find an instant starter that low in the draft (although you might). Scott did play at a small school with crappy competition, and no doubt needs a lot of work on hand techniques and other stuff. By NFL standards, he's no doubt very raw and mistake-prone, so he might be one to three years away from making a full-time impact. Still, based on his potential alone, this is a worthy investment to insure continuity and depth.
However, think about this: Situational passrushing is not rocket science. He could be used in spots there fairly soon. Then, he was a tight end, and you saw his numbers, which show a very explosive, sudden player. He could man-up on most NFL TE's quickly, as well. This aint rocket science either. You just cover the guy, right? Raw talent. He's already there.
In fact...the more I think about it...I mean, if he can already man-cover, why couldn't he zone-cover? He IS pretty smart...if he got 46 tackles as a DE...can't he handle the run?
Maybe that's optimistic. But obviously, he could make an impact on any or all of the special teams units immediately.
Well, there's your 4th round pick, Phil! Well..of course there's some other guys from bigger schools you might lean towards if they're there, and I won't pick on you. But in terms of pure athleticism, none of these compares to Scott. He's quicker, faster, and stronger than all of them right now, and he has more upside as well.
Yeah...third and eight--put him in there and turn him loose. Let's see a tackle chase him around, or a 225 lb. RB play speedbump with him! 4.57/4.19 HA!!
Steuber also found Akron CB Brandon Carr, who it 6', 207, and clocked 4.34. He has all the tools, but was a gambler who both made and gave up big plays. He's projected in the 7th because of his small school and the fact that he only got 2 picks last season after 6 in 2006.
In the NFL he could play safety as well as CB. Maybe a nickel guy and special teamer as a rookie, here's another depth guy who in a year or three could emerge as one hell of a playa. Given your current CB situation, with Holly and McDonald so far competing for the second cornerback spot, you're thin behind these two, and for that matter could use more talent behind the safeties.
Given the prevalence of 3 and 4 WR sets in the NFL, Carr could immediately fit in well vs. the bigger recievers, situationally...
I like your safeties, including the third one which you got from Detroit. He's an old vet free safety best in coverage. Carr could learn from him, and is physicly much more a cover-2 safety who fits the scheme better.
I like Holly and McDonald, but who else have you got? Carr might well be better than anybody else you could have--might be of immediate help, and does have that upside. I mean, this kid actually has the raw talent to learn on the job this season, and return next season as a stong contender for a starting spot.
OK I've covered the 4th and 7th rounds for you. I'll get back to you with some other sleepers.
