Farrior also battled injury problems this past
season. Backups inside include John
Fiala and Larry Foote. Foote had a
decent season given all the rookie mistakes he made. Fiala was lost for the season, but should return as the primary
backup at both inside positions, which should allow Foote to grow into the
position more. It is unlikely the
Steelers will use a draft pick here, unless they decide to move Foote to
outside linebacker.
#1
E.J. Henderson
6' 2"
250 lbs
Maryland -
Senior
By far the best
inside linebacker coming out, Henderson possesses a nice combination of size
and strength. Speed is a bit of a
concern, but Henderson makes up for it with great instincts and knowledge of
the game. Would have been a top 15
selection in 2002 if he had come out last year, but stayed due to a back injury
suffered in the final game of the 2001 season. He’s a much better run defender at this point than pass defender.
Shows a lot of skills in getting after the
quarterback.
Likely to be
drafted: First Round
#2
Gerald Hayes
6' 1"
242 lbs
Pittsburgh -
Senior
A very solid run
defender, Hayes is strong at the point of attack, showing good leverage. Where Hayes gets in trouble is playing in
pass coverage, where he lacks good change of direction skills. Despite this drawback, he’s continued to
improve his pass coverage skills, and his very solid run stuffing skills should
gardener him early consideration.
Likely to be
drafted: End of First Round
#3
Terry Pierce
6’ 3”
250 lbs
Kansas State –
Junior
Pierce has ideal
speed and size for an interior linebacker. Plays well in space and can take on blockers.
Doesn’t have great hands, but is fluid in coverage. A very consistent player, Pierce may sneak
into the first round with good pre-draft workouts.
Likely to be
drafted: Second Round
#4
Clifton Smith
6' 3"
263 lbs
Syracuse -
Senior
A big, physical
linebacker, Smith excels playing between the tackles. A dominating run stuffer, Smith has problems playing in zone coverage
and does not react well when in coverage. He’s good at reading and reacting.
Has been very durable over his career, which spans over 40 games since
his freshman year. Can be a hot and
cold player at times.
Likely to be
drafted: Second Round
#5
Angelo Crowell
6’ 0”
238 lbs
Virginia –
Senior
A 3-4 linebacker
for the Cavaliers, Crowell is a solid all-around prospect that doesn’t shine in
any one area. More quick than fast,
Crowell can be beat by fast runners and receivers. Average in rushing the quarterback, strength at the point of
attack will also be an issue. May end
up being a better college player than pro player.
Likely to be
drafted: Second Round
#6
Lawrence Flugence
6' 1"
237 lbs
Texas Tech -
Senior
A
sideline-to-sideline player, Flugence shows good speed for the position. Although very good against the run, Flugence
is not good at turning his hips and chasing. Will need to bulk up some to stay inside in the NFL.
He’s very good at rushing the passer as well
and has been one of the leading tacklers in the nation the last three years,
after switching from defensive end following his freshman year.
Likely to be
drafted: Third Round
#7
Lance Briggs
6' 1"
230 lbs
Arizona - Senior
Briggs started
his career at Arizona as a running back, before changing over to inside
linebacker his sophomore year. A good
sideline-to-sideline player who shows good hands when shedding blocks, but all
too often will try to run around blocks. Very good at rushing up field and reading and reacting to the play as it
develops. He’s a bit lean and will need
more bulk to play inside.
Likely to be
drafted: Third Round
#8
Mario Haggan
6’ 2”
255 lbs
Mississippi
State - Senior
Haggan played
outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and end in college. He’s best when rushing up the field, showing
a good burst off the line. Speed will
be the biggest concern, as Haggan lacks both straight-line speed and
sideline-to-sideline ability. May have
the best shot at fitting in if moved back to defensive end in a 4-3 or outside
linebacker in a 3-4 alignment, so that his pass rush skills can be best
utilized.
Likely to be
drafted: Fourth Round
#9
Tony Gilbert
6' 1"
242 lbs
Georgia - Senior
Gilbert is a
very strong individual, showing good upper and lower body strength. Demonstrating a good understanding of the
game, Gilbert is always in position and shows a real nose for the ball, which
helps make up for his lack of speed and sideline-to-sideline ability. He’s a very solid tackler, but will be
limited to being a two-down backer due to his lack of range and speed.
Likely to be
drafted: Fifth Round
#10
Matt Wilhelm
6' 4"
245 lbs
Ohio State - Senior
A true
overachiever, Wilhelm has a motor that goes non-stop from the opening kickoff
to the final whistle. He’s a physical
player who takes on blockers and tackles with power. Lacks good hips and change of direction skills.
A much better rush stuffer than pass
defender at this point. Reads and
reacts well, which allows him to be a sideline-to-sideline player. An ankle injury suffered as junior will have
to be looked at.
Likely to be
drafted: Fifth Round
#11
Merrill Robertson
6' 1"
252 lbs
Virginia -
Senior
Roberson is
still making the transition from defensive end to inside linebacker. Displays good power at the point of attack,
takes on blocks well, and knows how to tackle. He’s better rushing up the field, but does show good speed.
Has problems changing direction and is still
really trying to learn the position. Struggles in pass coverage.
Likely to be
drafted: Fifth Round
#12
Mark Brown
6’ 0”
228 lbs
Auburn - Senior
A bit late
developing, Brown wasn’t a full-time starter until he was a fifth-year
senior. A neck injury in 2001 slowed
his development, but he managed to stay healthy this past season. Has improved as his playing time has
increased and led Auburn in tackles this past season. Much better against the run than the pass, Brown does not have a
lot of speed or possess good change of direction skills.
Likely to be
drafted: Fifth Round
#13
Keyon Whiteside
6’ 1”
235 lbs
Tennessee -
Senior
A former outside
linebacker, Whiteside moved inside part way through this past season and looked
much more comfortable there. Whiteside
is a very good tackler, wrapping up when he makes the hit. Has more straight-line speed than overall
speed, which hurts him in coverage. Good at rushing the passer. Will
need to add some bulk in the pros, but might have some upside.
Likely to be
drafted: Fifth Round
#14
Kawika Mitchell
6' 1"
248 lbs
South Florida -
Senior
Mitchell has a
non-stop motor, with good instincts. He
is quicker than fast but is good at reading the play and reacting. Plays with good leverage but is a bit stiff
in his hips. Does not match up well in
coverage. Played both weak side and
middle linebacker in college. Looks to
be a two-down backer in the pros.
Likely to be
drafted: Sixth Round
#15
Terrence Robinson
6’ 0”
239 lbs
Oklahoma State -
Senior
A decent
coverage linebacker, Robinson has good sideline-to-sideline ability. Undersized for the inside, Robinson has problems
dealing with blockers and at the point of attack. Does miss tackles on occasion, but is fundamentally sound.
Played in a very unconventional system for
Oklahoma State, the 4-2-5.
Likely to be
drafted: Sixth Round
#16
Jerry Schumacher
6’ 2”
233 lbs
Illinois - Senior
Schumacher is a
very solid three-year starter for Illinois. A fundamentally sound player who makes the most of his ability.
Rarely takes false steps. Does not have great speed or strength and
doesn’t make very many plays coming from behind.
Likely to be
drafted: Sixth Round
#17
Byron Hardmon
6’ 1”
234 lbs
Florida - Senior
Hardmon is a
very strong linebacker for his size, but will need to bulk up in the pros. Has gotten better with experience, but is
still developing. May need some time in
the pros to develop. Has decent speed,
but isn’t fast enough on the blitz or chasing down faster backs. Needs to learn to take better angles.
Likely to be
drafted: Seventh Round
#18
Eddie Strong
6’ 2”
242 lbs
Mississippi -
Senior
Past injuries
will need to be looked at, as Strong missed the entire 2000 season because of a
fractured foot. That missed playing
time has hurt his development. Has
played all three linebacker positions but doesn’t have the speed to stay
outside. He’s a very strong player but
plays high at times and loses his power advantage. Could develop into a solid inside linebacker, but will most
likely start as a two-down player.
Likely to be
drafted: Seventh Round
Undrafted
Free Agents
Solomon Bates
6' 1"
265 lbs
Arizona State
Bates is a
load. Over the last couple of year he
has added a lot of bulk, which has killed his speed. He’s best at home between the tackles, stuffing the run.
Does not have enough speed to cover well or
play sideline-to-sideline. Will need to
shed some bulk and work on his speed.
Bradie James
6’ 2”
248 lbs
Louisiana State
- Senior
A tackling
machine, James was named a first team All American after setting a team record
of 154 tackles this past season. A
solid presence inside but more of a run defender than anything. Does show some up the field ability, but is
more quick than fast. He’s not real
comfortable in the passing game.
Darvin Lewis
6' 3"
235 lbs
Central Michigan
A knee injury
suffered as a junior will need to be looked at. May not have totally recovered this past season, but does show
some up the field burst.
Ben Mahdavi
6' 1"
232lbs
Washington
Mahadavi has
improved each year he has played. A
very durable player, he has decent speed and can play sideline to
sideline. Does not have a lot of
upside, but is a consistent player that gives 100%. He’s undersized and has problems dealing with blockers.
Will need to make a roster through special
teams.
Jason McWilliams
6' 2"
230 lbs
Western Illinois
Showing a good
combination of run stuffing, pass defense, and blitzing abilities, McWilliams
might be the best middle linebacker coming out of the smaller schools. Level of competition will be a question as
well as overall speed, but McWilliams could be a late-round gem.
Eddie Moore
6’ 0”
220 lbs
Tennessee -
Senior
Plays with a
good motor and shows a good ability to get up the field. Makes plays in the middle of the field and
has a decent feel for the passing game. Too small to be playing inside and may not be able to add bulk.
Also doesn’t have the speed to move to
strong safety.
David Moretti
6’ 1”
237 lbs
Oregon
Moretti has very
good speed and strength for the inside. He’s a sideline-to-sideline player, but does not show very good
instincts. Appears to be a weight room
warrior more than a football player. It’ll take time to groom him into an NFL linebacker and he’ll have to
show he can be a special teams player in the meantime.
Ryan Myers
6' 1"
244 lbs
Akron
Myers’ lack of
competition will hurt his draft status. One of the better run defenders coming out from the smaller schools,
Myers does not perform well when asked to cover as he doesn’t have the speed
needed for pass defense. Shows limited
up the field ability.
Joe Odom
6’ 2”
243 lbs
Purdue - Senior
Odom has good
size for the inside, but doesn’t have the speed to play sideline-to-sideline or
while blitzing the quarterback. Understands the game, but may not have the athletic ability to excel at
the next level.
Mark Thompson
6' 2"
220 lbs
Richmond
Thompson had a
better junior campaign than senior, but improved upon his tackle total. Shows pretty good up the field speed, but is
not real comfortable in pass coverage. A good between the tackles middle linebacker who might stick due to his
tackling ability and special teams play.
Drew Wahlroos
6’ 2”
235 lbs
Colorado
Wahlroos has a
good burst and good pass rushing skills, but lacks true speed. Has problems playing sideline-to-sideline
and can be a liability in pass coverage. Can play strong side linebacker, but will most likely only be a
situational rusher in the pros.
More Player Links:
E.J. Henderson
Gerald Hayes
Terry Pierce
Clifton Smith
Angelo Crowell
Lawrence
Flugence
Lance Briggs
Mario Haggan
Tony Gilbert
Matt Wilhelm
Merrill
Robertson
Mark Brown
Keyon Whiteside
Kawika Mitchell
Terence
Robinson
Jerry Schumacher
Byron Hardmon
Eddie Strong
Solomon Bates
Bradie James
Darvin Lewis
Ben Mahdavi
Jason McWilliam
Eddie Moore
David Moretti
Ryan
Myers
Joe Odom
Mark Thompson
Drew
Wahlroos