updated scouting report Grade 70 Expert's Take Kassell has marginal size to play in the middle, but he is a tough, downhill-to-the-ball type of player who will survive because he plays with good instincts and has good play recognition. He does a great job from tackle to tackle and is a leader in the sense that he makes sure everyone is lined up correctly to play the defense that is called. He has decent foot quickness and good lateral movement and shows he has good body control and change-of-direction skills. He is a classic overachiever who plays with a high level of intensity. He takes good angles to the ball in pursuit and is a very aggressive tackler who has the ability to uncoil and hit through a ball carrier. He does an excellent job on special teams and has a good nose for the ball. He lacks the speed to be a sideline-to-sideline player and is somewhat of a liability in definite passing situations. He has good awareness in coverage but just doesn't have the running ability to match up versus the faster backs and tight ends in man-to-man coverage. He can be engulfed by the bigger offensive linemen and does not use his hands real well to strike and shed blockers. He needs to beat you to the hole, and if he gets blocked he stays blocked. He is a situational player who plays the run well but you need to get him out in most passing situations.
i think he'll be inside next to Vilma... he doesnt have the speed to play outside. As of now, i see our LB corps as this: Barton-Vilma-Kassell-Hobson
A very nice signing by Tangini. Kassel fits the Mangini mold perfectly. He's a tough, smart, hardworking player that will bust his back for the good of the team. Barton Vilma Kassell Chatham That's how I see our LB core right now. I have Chatham penciled in ahead of Hobson because IMO Hobson can't play OLB in the 3-4. He's too slow and isn't good at blitzing at all. P.S. People who still think we're drafting Hawk at #4 are nuts.
awesome....he seems like a real good player..this will go unnoticed today due to ricky but oh well....we dont need to sign or draft any LB's now :smile:
This is a phenomonal signing...not because he is so good or anything, but because he will be a starter that can be coached up and become a nice player. This was a guy I really wanted to be a Jet. Nice job Tangini! Is he gonna play MLB? Or OLB?
he is meeting with the leugue offcials today .. between that and and the duke kids coming up clean with the DNA test.. those are the big stories today.
we still have no pass rushing outside linebacker. So i say we draft either lawson or Carpenter to be the pass rushing OLB. This signing also puts Hawk out of the picture.
