Moz Wanted Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/draft_1999/scoutingreports_lb.asp Notes: High school All-America running back and linebacker. Also excelled in basketball. Was considered Penn State’s prize recruit in 1997 and lettered as a true freshman, playing in every game and being in on 26 tackles and two sacks. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten and a Gannett and Pro Football Weekly All-American in ’98, when he had 65 tackles, 17 for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions and 11 passes broken up. Was slowed at times by injuries and perhaps a little bit of a big head in ’99 but still had 72 tackles, 10 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and an interception. Was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Butkus and Bednarik awards as the top linebacker and defender in the country. Was a runner-up for the Lombardi and Nagurski awards. Positives: Looked as though he weighs about 225 to 230 pounds, but was actually a sculpted 250 at the Combine. Superior athletic ability for his position. Sprinter-like speed and leg explosion and an NBA vertical jump. Seems to have the instincts and feel for his position. Daring and quick to react. A big-play maker and an impact player with great range and speed as well as phenomenal leaping ability. Has a flair for the dramatic and an incredible burst to the ball. Can come off the edge and blitz the quarterback or run with a speedy receiver down the field. Will jump over the line to stuff a running back on third-and-short or catch a sweep for negative yardage from the backside. Also can time his leaps to bat down passes and to block kicks. Has a nasty disposition. Negatives: Likes to freelance way too much. Can be temperamental and hard to coach and control at times. Will lose his cool and poise if goaded enough and has taken some dumb penalties. Just average ability to take on and shed blockers and is more of a use-speed-to-run-around type of linebacker. Is cut high and does not have huge pins under him. Summary:Not quite Lawrence Taylor, but could be the best since L.T. if he grows up and develops the maturity, discipline and poise he lacks without losing his aggressiveness and passion. Should be the first underclassman drafted in 2000 and could even be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Top of page LB KEITH BULLUCK (6-2 3/4, 244, 4.58) Syracuse Notes: Redshirted in 1995. Played in 12 games and started two at safety in ’96. Ended the season with 43 stops and three interceptions. Moved to outside linebacker in ’97, started every game and had 90 tackles and a sack. Started at middle linebacker in ’98, when he had 104 tackles and three sacks. Started at both middle and outside ’backer in ’99, when he started all but one game. He had to sit out Game Two vs. Central Michigan as punishment for his arrest in February of ’99 for driving while intoxicated. Came back and wound up the season with a career-best and team-high 138 stops. Also had 11 tackles for loss, two sacks and six passes broken up, but for the third year in a row he failed to pick off a pass. Was named first-team All-Big East team and team MVP after the season. Ran under a 4.6 40 on very fast surface at Syracuse. Did not run at the Combine.Positives: Very athletic player who was a defensive back and still runs like one. Excellent range and speed and at times seems to be pretty instinctive. Has stretches when he really flies around and seems to be aware and really into the game. Unlike most ’backers, he can cover man-on-man. Can still turn his hips like a safety. Chases down and catches plays from the backside. Negatives:May like to have fun a little too much at times. Has stretches when his instincts appear to be off and it looks likes he must see the play unfold before he can react to it. As a result, he is slow to locate the ball and his playing speed does not match his football speed. Never has shown game-in and game-out consistency. Is not a powerful player and is more of a run-around-the-blocker type as opposed to a taking-him-on type of linebacker. Summary: Has first-round ability and has stretches when he looks and plays like a first-round pick, but he has not been consistent and has too many games when he really is not much of a factor. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Diggler Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Positives: Looked as though he weighs about 225 to 230 pounds, but was actually a sculpted 250 at the Combine. Superior athletic ability for his position. Sprinter-like speed and leg explosion and an NBA vertical jump. Seems to have the instincts and feel for his position. Daring and quick to react. A big-play maker and an impact player with great range and speed as well as phenomenal leaping ability. Has a flair for the dramatic and an incredible burst to the ball. Can come off the edge and blitz the quarterback or run with a speedy receiver down the field. Will jump over the line to stuff a running back on third-and-short or catch a sweep for negative yardage from the backside. Also can time his leaps to bat down passes and to block kicks. Has a nasty disposition. Negatives: Likes to freelance way too much. Can be temperamental and hard to coach and control at times. Will lose his cool and poise if goaded enough and has taken some dumb penalties. Just average ability to take on and shed blockers and is more of a use-speed-to-run-around type of linebacker. Is cut high and does not have huge pins under him. Summary:Not quite Lawrence Taylor, but could be the best since L.T. if he grows up and develops the maturity, discipline and poise he lacks without losing his aggressiveness and passion. Should be the first underclassman drafted in 2000 and could even be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Ahhhh, the great Joel Buchsbaum - the best football resource I've ever known. It's gonna be 3 years since his passing this December. As far as that assessment goes, it was spot on. Unfortunately, those "ifs" and "coulds" never were answered in a positive way. Maturity, discipline, and poise have never been character traits LA developed. And I think it's a little too late to acquire them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-O-G Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Wow they were actually correct about something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobandwagons Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 It's scary that the exact same assesment can be used to describe LeVar today....So much potential, but he'll never be elite unless he addresses his shortcomings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 why include bulluck? are you trying to say keith was a nutjob that g williams turned around and you are hoping he will do the same for lavar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinstzar Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 You Lavar bashers had your moment now it is time to admit that he makes this team better. All football players freelance, he also doesn't commit dumb penalties anymore. This article hardly has any relevance today. Who doesn't have short comings directly out of college. Sean Taylor was way more of a freelancer and took way more dumb penalties. Great players grow out of it. For every mistake Lavar makes, he makes up for someone elses with a great play. Think about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Sounds familiar. "Just average ability to take on and shed blockers and is more of a use-speed-to-run-around type of linebacker." Yep, that sounds like LaVar. First time I've heard legs refered to as "pins". Why not just say legs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailYeah Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Sounds familiar. "Just average ability to take on and shed blockers and is more of a use-speed-to-run-around type of linebacker." Yep, that sounds like LaVar.First time I've heard legs refered to as "pins". Why not just say legs? Its sexy. Like "stems" for chicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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