Scouting Report: Top Inside Linebackers
Jihaad Campbell - Alabama
- Strengths: Highly versatile; adept at both blitzing and coverage. Quick to read plays. *Bowles will love his versatility.
- Weaknesses: Needs to build strength; may struggle against NFL linemen when reaching the second level. Has difficulty disengaging from blocks.
Jalon Walker - Georgia
- Strengths: Productive player who excelled in a strong defensive unit.
- Weaknesses: Lacks effectiveness as a pass rusher and in coverage. Doesn’t have a lot of off-ball LB experience in college. Not sure if he’s truly an off-ball LB. But also not a great edge. May not align with our specific needs.
Demettrius Knight - South Carolina
- Strengths: Quick to get downhill; possesses size and is an excellent blitzer. Above-average zone coverage skills.
- Weaknesses: At 26, he’s older than most prospects. Athleticism is a concern; lateral movement and ability to play in space are below average. *Comparable to a less athletic version of Devin White.
Carson Schwesinger - UCLA
- Strengths: Tough player with a high motor; impressive size at 235 pounds. Quick to read plays and effective as a blitzer.
- Weaknesses: Needs improvement in tackling; occasionally leaves his feet too early, leading to missed tackles. Can get caught in traffic.
Chris Paul, Jr. - Ole Miss
- Strengths: Extremely athletic; covers a lot of ground. Quick to diagnose run plays before linemen can reach him.
- Weaknesses: Smaller stature may pose challenges against NFL linemen, despite being effective with his hands.
Summary: I would not prioritize an inside/off-ball linebacker with our first-round pick this year. While Campbell’s versatility may appeal to Bowles, I prefer to target an edge rusher capable of winning one-on-one battles. Let’s focus on players who can truly make a difference, rather than adding pawns to Bowles' chessboard. I would definitely consider drafting Schwesinger if he’s available in the third round, and I’d be open to selecting Paul in the fourth round if necessary.
I would definitely consider drafting Schwesinger if he’s available in the third round, and I’d be open to selecting Paul in the fourth round if necessary.
I think they’ll go in R2 and R3 respectively.
@donkey_hunter - for sure. I’d consider Schwesinger in the 2nd. I was just saying that I’d definitely grab him if he’s still there in the 3rd and if we haven’t drafted an ILB yet.
One thing I stand by of all of draft time, since i was 11 y/o covering 05 draft's with walterfootball and limited youtube is that you will almost never regret drafting a productive INSTINCTIVE FAST "UNDERSIZED" linebacker. If you can trigger and process information fast you can get to the back faster than the lineman can reach you. Its jsut the archetype of Linebackers I've always looked for since growing up with derrick brooks. If we look for instincts, speed, and undersized you usually get more bang for your buck in draft capital.
I think dennis is in the mold of those instinctive fast undersized linebackers btw
Kuechley, david, wagner, shazier, Warner, Jeremiah Owusu, Eric kendricks, more recent names
Thats a hefty list of names but more often than not you will get really good production from instincts when youre that close to the line, its just a feel you have when you can process information quickly before the snap like formation, stance, cheating steps when people line up. At the worse you get a few decent years of starting, or a guy who knows football
I like shweschinger instincts, good value
A guy that failed in recent memory with those traits is jaylon smith but i think injuries derailed his career
@mic - I totally agree. And you can add Derrick Brooks to that list. Who at the time of him being drafted, many scouts thought he was undersized. He soon became the new model of successful smaller, athletic LBs.
since growing up with derrick brooks.
What an incredible payer. I love watching LVD and he is incredible too, but Brooks was something else.
I once heard him speak about how he and Sapp watched film to figure out that a single false step Brooks was often taking on a play was impacting their success with that particular defense. Pretty amazing to be that fast and that instinctive and still be a fanatical film watcher who thinks about single steps. And open to change.
Details matter.
His off field life is more impactful than his playing life. And that is really saying something about him too.
@bucsbits that’s the difference between a good player and a great player. Brooks had all of the talent, but he wanted even more!
I know PR didnt want to take a chance on schwesinger because of speed concerns but the gamespeed film doesnt make me worried lvd ran a (4.64?). Its perfect for a value pick where we're at in the second/thrid round. I also love the walk on mentality, its the same mentality you will get from a guy like Baker. Underdog fight your way to starting spot and outperform to become an all american because you know the game and confidence in yourself.
39.5 vert shows explosiveness he prob runs in the 4.6-4.8 whihc is why he doesnt wanna run but processing speed makes up for it.
If u read his draft profile with LVD its the typical fast, instinctive, but undersized and has problems when lineman get onto them. This archetype rarely misses(bush?(had good rookie year then acl), smith? ) from the last 20 years i watched the draft and predicted.
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/lavonte-david/32004441-5602-6654-edb8-aa6da5673253
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/carson-schwesinger/32005343-4882-6491-3eeb-f66a3ca23ab1
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/eric-kendricks/32004b45-4e10-1224-7c6e-cc615bedb57b
I do like Jihaad but hes a 20mil a year guy 5 years down the line and a high first round pick, typically guys who get picked later cost a little less on their seocnd contract. Idk if u want to put 20mil a year into a mlb.
I think one of the most important traits is instincts especially in this new day and age, when offenses are making you the read lb for rpos and pass coverage, that force u to fight through meshes and pick and choose to either go for the high/low. If you know the game you will know what the offense wants to do to you youre a step ahead of the chess match
I think the shoulder thing will scare away the Bucs at least in Round 1, and one factor is the shoulder problems of Dennis. Dennis also had lingering shoulder issues left over from college which came to roost in the pros. I'm not a medical expert, but I can see that's where the contact happens when players tackle, and middle linebackers are the tackling machines on the team. I'm not sold that either Campbell or Dennis will not have a tendency to reinjure their shoulder.I do like Jihaad
He had surgery after the combine, 6 weeks is the recovery period. Doesn’t sound like a big issue.
I do like him, but as Biggs pointed out, the Deja Vu is strong with this one, for many Bucs fans.
He had surgery after the combine, 6 weeks is the recovery period. Doesn’t sound like a big issue.
I do like him, but as Biggs pointed out, the Deja Vu is strong with this one, for many Bucs fans.
He had surgery after the combine, 6 weeks is the recovery period. Doesn’t sound like a big issue.
I do like him, but as Biggs pointed out, the Deja Vu is strong with this one, for many Bucs fans.
He had surgery after the combine, 6 weeks is the recovery period. Doesn’t sound like a big issue.
I do like him, but as Biggs pointed out, the Deja Vu is strong with this one, for many Bucs fans.
I like your commitment to the Deja vu joke.
