Draft Science compares Derrick Johnson to this years draft class at ILB

[Chief Roundup]

http://profootballspot.com/_/nfl/afc...5-part-3-r8794

"Find a Playmaker at ILB
John Dorsey has a problem. Josh Muaga is currently the 2nd best inside linebacker on the Chiefs roster and would start if there were a game today. The problem is that Mauga is not an NFL starter. To complicate matters, the best inside linebacker on the roster is coming off of a very serious injury.

To improve the Kansas City run defense, Josh Mauga must be replaced with an upgrade. But, what kind? Benardrick McKinney is a mountain of a man, but can’t play 3rd down in the NFL. Denzel Perryman and Paul Dawson are instinctual, active players but will be physically over-matched at the next level. Shaq Thompson is a special player, but he can’t line up at ILB on 1st & 2nd down.

For the Defense Bob Sutton runs, an athletic linebacker is the goal. The team needs a player to pair with Derrick Johnson that can compliment and learn from him next season and be able to take over the 3rd down LB role if Johnson isn’t ready to go. With Johnson’s age and injury, he will need to be the long-term replacement for Johnson as well.

There are options, but they narrow down quickly. Heeney, Ryan and Hicks are all very good athletes. They were productive, but will need to improve in order to make an impact at the NFL level. They are third-day selections, but could be in play for the Chiefs’ 3rd round compensatory pick at #98. That isn’t the talent level that can improve this defense out of the box.

To acquire a day one starter, this boils down to a two-horse race.

Eric Kendricks is a very good linebacker. He is explosive and productive. In fact, he’s a tackling machine. He’s instinctive versus the run and athletic versus the pass. He is a 3-down inside linebacker. Kendrick’s power and range are not elite. From my research, I feel #18 is too high for him but many think he’s worth the pick (see @RealMNchiefsfan). If viable, Dorsey would be well advised to trade back and target him later in round one.

Stephone Anthony is a remarkable linebacker. His explosion and speed are elite. His production is incredible, crashing against the run and rangy in both man and zone coverage. Anthony is a prototype 3-down linebacker. What sets Anthony apart is his aggression. He attacks the running back. As we’ve seen above, he leads this draft class in two areas that defensive coordinators (and I) desire. He causes turnovers, the majority of which come after contact.

However, the most impressive aspect of his game is a simple one. He makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. In the run game and the screen game, he makes an impact with his aggressive explosion. In this aspect, he produces just as Derrick Johnson did at Texas. Also like Johnson, he is effective as a pass-rusher up the middle (video). Negative yardage plays are gold in the NFL and Stephone Anthony has a knack for making them happen.

Anthony is the #1 ILB on my board for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is a nearly perfect scheme fit and Dorsey should be able to capitalize on his value in the second round."


There are cool graphs and stuff in the link that I can't get to copy correctly.
Those graphs show in numbers how Derrick Johnson compares to Kendricks, McKinney, Anthony and others.
If someone can get it to copy correctly that would be cool.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

In ! We need to draft An ILB at 1 if those two are there.

[SeeingRed]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

In ! We need to draft An ILB at 1 if those two are there.

what if Trae Waynes or Davonte Parker is still available?

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by SeeingRed

what if Trae Waynes or Davonte Parker is still available?

Don't pass on either one of these. They're both awesome.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

Don't pass on either one of these. They're both awesome.

DGB may end up being the best player overall in the draft. You don't pass on that possibility at #18 if he is still there.

[Iconic]

About a month ago Dave-Te' Thomas rated all the ILBs after a meeting with some NFL scouts and guess who came out on top.

http://gnb.scout.com/story/1526043-n...t-ilb-rankings

[Chiefnj2]

3 down ILBs are rare with all of the nickel and dime packages teams play these days.

[SeeingRed]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

DGB may end up being the best player overall in the draft. You don't pass on that possibility at #18 if he is still there.

you would take DGB at 18 over Parker??

[SeeingRed]

I would love to see either a stud WR or CB in the 1st and one of the top 2 ILB in the 2nd. he more i think about this draft the more sense i think going CB early makes. Sure up the D with picks 1 and 2 i wouldn't complain

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

DGB may end up being the best player overall in the draft. You don't pass on that possibility at #18 if he is still there.

And he may end up being a gigantic bust.

I'd never take him in the first and wouldn't even consider him until the late third.

[Dunerdr]

What he's selling sounds sexy. But I feel like with nfl teams getting away from the run the ilb position should be decreasing in value with the running back. I say go for the day three guy develop him. Hopefully get something with serious impact( I want oline/wr/ corner).

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

What he's selling sounds sexy. But I feel like with nfl teams getting away from the run the ilb position should be decreasing in value with the running back. I say go for the day three guy develop him. Hopefully get something with serious impact( I want oline/wr/ corner).

The Patrots won this last SB, in large part, because they were able to contain Marshawn Lynch.
The Seahawks advanced to the last 2 SBs, and won 1, in large part, because of Lynch.

Manning has won only 1 SB, and one of the primary reasons is because the ground game stepped up and carried the Colts to that SB

The Pats lost to the Giants twice because they couldn't run the ball, allowing them to pressure and hit Brady mercilessly.

The value of the RB has been diminished.
The value of the running game has not.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by milkman

The Patrots won this last SB, in large part, because they were able to contain Marshawn Lynch.
The Seahawks advanced to the last 2 SBs, and won 1, in large part, because of Lynch.

Manning has won only 1 SB, and one of the primary reasons is because the ground game stepped up and carried the Colts to that SB

The Pats lost to the Giants twice because they couldn't run the ball, allowing them to pressure and hit Brady mercilessly.

The value of the RB has been diminished.
The value of the running game has not.

This I understand. But.... Serious question... How many first round inside linebackers did they have? I'm just saying if there's a guy that can develop to be derrick Johnson next season vs a guy who can be a Derrick Johnson this season, but there's a guy who can be a 10 year quality starter cb,qb,wr,ol, there. I'd go with the latter over inside linebacker.

Personally I don't think the running games ever going to be devalued. Teams will keep loading up to stop the pass and ground games will come back hard when defenses lean the other way.

[Dunerdr]

Basically if your in round one what do you take your next Derrick Johnson or your next Sean smith?

[ILChief]

Draft Kendricks