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Linebacker has traditionally been one of the safest positions to
project in Round One, due largely to the easier transition from
college to the NFL. Top draft picks and successes A.J Hawk, D.J.
Williams, and Derrick Johnson were outstanding collegiate players.
Paul Posluszny fits that mold and is the best outside
linebacker prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft because of his experience,
underrated athleticism, and versatility.
Paul Posluszny's career at Penn State so far outshines Lawrence
Timmons that there is little reason to compare. But for the sake of
argument, Posluszny had three seasons with 100+ tackles. Lawrence
Timmons career high was 79, with 35 being his second highest.
Posluszny is an all around player that will instantly been the
leader of his defense, as he was at Penn State, where he won two
straight Bednarik Awards (Best Collegiate Defensive Player).
Posluszny's athleticism is underrated. My opponent calls Timmons a
"phenomenal" athlete yet calls Paul Posluszny a slow prospect.
Posluszny's 40 yard dash at the combine was only .04 lower than
Timmons. In the agility drills, which are arguably more important
for linebackers, who frequently change direction, Posluszny
performed better. Posluszny recorded a 4.20 in the 20 yard shuttle
(one of the best of all LB prospects) was much better than Timmons
4.32 (same time as 270 lb Tim Crowder).
Posluszny has the ability to play ever linebacker position, in any
scheme. He played outside linebacker early in his career at Penn
State, before moving to the middle as a senior. In the NFL, his best
position is probably WIL backer in the 4-3 or inside in the 3-4, but
he could easily start in any scheme. That versatility will impact
his draft position and help elongate his career.
Lawrence Timmons succeeded based solely on his athletic ability,
which, as already documented, is not much better than Paul
Posluszny. His technique is poor, he does not have good instincts,
and he has immense trouble shedding blocks. Posluszny will be faced
with none of these problems. His instincts and intelligence - he
made the Dean's List all but one semester at Penn State - will help
ensure his NFL success.
In the end, there is little argument that supports Lawrence Timmons
over Paul Posluszny. Timmons is a fine prospect - but in every area
that projects to future NFL success, Posluszny reigns supreme. |
I
attribute the fact that Lawrence Timmons is the best outside
linebacker prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft more due to the
deficiencies of the opposition at the position than due to the
strengths that Timmons represents as an OLB prospect. Let’s take a
look at the OLB prospects in the 2007 Draft not named Lawrence
Timmons. Paul Posluszny is a slow linebacker prospect who is coming
off a severe knee injury which limits his speed even more. It will
take the proper defensive scheme to get the most out Paul Posluszny.
Jon Beason is coming off a career where he never dominated, workout
sessions where he may have “tweaked” his ACL, and he is undersized
and will have difficulty adjusting to the massive blockers at the
NFL level. Now to Lawrence Timmons…
Lawrence Timmons is a phenomenal athlete who is the most “complete”
package at the outside linebacker position entering the 2007 NFL
Draft. He is as adapt at pass defense as run defense, so he adds
additional versatility to an NFL teams defense, as opposed to the
other “top notch” OLB prospects who lack such versatility and will
confine many defenses at the NFL level. He has excellent speed, can
play sideline to sideline and plays faster than his workout numbers
conclude. He is a solid tackler who packs a wallop at the point of
contact. In the ever evolving world of the National Football League,
smallish running backs are being used in the passing game to force
miss matches with NFL linebackers in order to gain an advantage
offensively. Can you imagine a Brian Westbrook or Reggie Bush being
defended by Paul Posluszny? It would be quite ugly I feel, however,
an athlete such as Lawrence Timmons would at least have the
possibility of stopping such an instance.
The only negative aspect to Timmons is his lack of experience,
however, this was an occurrence due to the fact that he had prior
1st round draft picks Ernie Sims and Kamerion Wimbley playing in
front of him, rather than any negative connotation towards Lawrence
Timmons. With the right coaching, Timmons will progress nicely as an
NFL outside linebacker.
In conclusion, in normal years I would not be such an advocate on
behalf of Lawrence Timmons, he does not stack up well against recent
OLB prospects Derrick Johnson, A.J Hawk, or Ernie Sims, however, he
is the best in a poor group of OLB prospects in the 2007 NFL Draft.
His physical gifts and upside give him the advantage over the
remainder of the competition as far as their prospects entering the
National Football League. |
