Jatavis Brown - Akron OLB

I think he will need to go to a team with 4 down linemen. When he's clean he's pretty good. He looked like Thomas Davis out there but that was against a bunch of guys that are hoping to get drafted in the 7th round or get signed on as UDFAs. JMO.

 

He was amazing in the East-West Shrine Bowl game. He was all over the field, he's fast, hits pretty hard, and will make some 4-3 team very happy, but he won't be a fit with the Jets imo. I think he's also only 5'10".

 

London Fletcher was 5'-10 also, and he had a great career. I agree that size does limit some players, but when they have desire, skill, and the smarts, it could translate into a good career.

I did not see him in the east-west game like you guys did so I can't express any opinions.

However if you guys think he has skill, and potential, then size should not be that much of an issue.

 

Weight totally matters. 221 pounds is way too small for a 3-4 LB, be it OLB or ILB. He can thrive in a 4-3, but not in a 3-4. Height isn't as much of an issue, but it still is a problem in that they have a harder time covering a TE or receiver that has 5-6 inches on him and when rushing the passer, the QB can easily throw over him. 3-4 LBs are optimally 6'2 or taller.

 

I did not see where you guys mentioned weight, i only saw the height.

Definitely, 221 is totally light weight.

 

Yeah, I should have mentioned that earlier. My bad. I got excited watching him play in the Shrine game, and thought maybe he would be a gem in a middle round. I got a little concerned when I noticed how small he seemed. Then I googled him, and was really disappointed to learn that he was only 5'10 and 221 pounds. That's even light for a 4-3 LB. Shaq Thompson was about that weight when he entered the draft and he was considered too light. He's up to 230 now and is still a little light, but effective. If Brown can put on at least 9 pounds without it affecting his speed/quickness, he can have an excellent career in the NFL. He has a nose for the ball, a great motor, and seems to have great instincts.

 

Yeah I had previously written him off when I saw his size just looking through the FBS sack leaders earlier this season but he really was making some nice plays. I think that was the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and not the EW Shrine, no?

 

Steve, I think you're right. They were on the same day and I wanted to watch both, but the article in the Star Ledger was wrong regarding times, and I saw all of one game and missed over half of the other. I probably have them confused.

 

Exactly. We want football players before guys that fit an exact height and weight. Not to mention his wing span and bench reps or overall strength are much more important.

We have the type of inside linebacker in David Harris that allows us to go a bit smaller at the other position. The Steelers always drsft undersized linebackers that can ball and it's usually never a problem. Timmons was heavily touted as a 4-3 cover 2 OLB and he's a damn good player who put on size in the NFL. Ryan Shazier came out at maybe 225 pounds and absolutely flies around the football field.

I'm assuming we keep Wilkerson and Snacks walks, so if you're putting Wilk and Leonard Williams at the ends with Sheldon at OLB we have more than enough beef up front.

That being said I don't know much about the player. But if he can fly around and tackle I'm all in.

 

He's an absolute beast. And now the whole country saw it. 14 TT, Sack, FF

I picked him in my mock abt 20 spots earlier than he went IRL. If only our real GM who spends his entire life studying this could make draft picks like a regular schmuck fan