With a nickname like "Baby Seau" it's little wonder Te'o is among best LBs
Manti Te'o earned the nickname "Baby Seau" and leads the group of 2009 linebackers, writes Billy Tucker.
Jesse Beals/Icon SMILB Manti Te'o, ranked No. 4 overall, is considering USC, Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford and BYU. Today we focus on the best situational linebackers in the 2009 class, while also noting the 'backers with the best diagnostic skills, maybe the most important positional attribute.
Ideally, every-down linebackers who can stay on the field and provide equally effective run and pass support are most coveted, and this class has its fair share of well-rounded prospects, demonstrated by the number of linebackers who claim positions in multiple categories.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: A player with the ability to shed blocks, stay square to the line of scrimmage and play strong at the point of attack while maintaining gap integrity. Great range, closing speed, direct pursuit angles and lateral fluidity through the fast moving traffic are imperative to stop the run. Of course, solid tackling skills are a must for any linebacker who plays the run.
Burfict possesses very few flaws as a run defender, particularly between the tackles. He is explosive filling downhill; has the ability to run through the cutoff block with power or slip it with deceptive lateral foot-quickness. His ability at 244-pounds to chase down faster backs sideline-to-sideline is what places him into elite status. The future Trojan is one of the most tenacious hitters in this LB class.
A tackling machine, Te'o is just a supreme blend of size, speed and intensity as a run supporter. He will offer his future defensive coordinator great scheme versatility with his ability to blow up the run between the tackles or slide out and chase down faster skill players in space with excellent burst. He has earned the nick name "Baby Seau" amongst the Scouts Inc. staff, rare to find an LB with both his great physical and mental attributes.
While this future Tide linebacker does not currently possess the power of Burfict at the point of attack, he shows flashes of better versatility as a run defender. At 220-pounds, Johnson provides great short-area power when filling his middle run gaps, but it's his ability to change direction and sift fluidly through the lateral trash that may be his best strength. Johnson is a strong tackler who shows good athleticism breaking down in space.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: These players match up well in man coverage and consistently get depth in their drops, level off and blankets the underneath area in zone. Flexible hips, turns and speed are a necessity defending today's wide open offenses. Route and coverage awareness are key to be a good pass defender.
Lewis may play small-time football but there is nothing insignificant about his pass defense skills. Another kid who has taken a lot of reps as a high-point safety, the future Sooner has a great combination of size and hip-fluidity in coverage. Should be able to blanket his underneath zone at the next level with his great breaking quickness as well as provide valuable one-on-one matchups versus today's bigger, more athletic tight ends. Lewis has some of the better ball skills in this linebacker class.
One of the better athletes in this impressive linebacker group, Skov has a lot of experience playing in the defensive secondary and it shows in his technique. His blend of size, range, athleticism and awareness skills in coverage may be unparalleled. Equally effective playing over the top of routes or exploding on the underneath pass. Look for him to earn early playing time on Nickel packages at Stanford.
Similar to current Miami freshman standout Sean Spence, Telfort is exceptionally quick in coverage but his best attribute may be his awareness skills. Hard to gain much after completing the short pass in his underneath zone -- he has great breaking quickness and closing burst. Aside from his striking physical tools in coverage, Telfort feels route develop behind him, can pattern-match in space and has great ball skills.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: Savvy blitzers who can disguise the pressure, anticipate the snap and make themselves thin when needed. Explosive first step and the ability to accelerate to full speed quickly are vital. Needs to find the correct seam at full speed, attack from different angles and possess good bend with hand technique coming off the edge. Best blitzers come with reckless abandon and deliver high-impact, tempo-changing hits.
The future Buckeye plays in a system that allows him to attack freely off the edge and fits his physical tools perfectly. With his great size, speed and closing burst, Bell is almost impossible to block at the high school level. He can beat tackles to the corner with his great timing and first-step quickness or use his good arm extension and hand technique to get under their pads with a rip. Bell can also hurt you as a blitzer with his raw power when isolated on a back in pass protection. He is extremely tough as well as savvy at his craft.
If Jenkins lands in a heavy pressure system at the next -- look out. He is a quick-twitch athlete who can generate a striking burst of speed when given the green light to blitz. A devastating hitter, Jenkins generates the power of a 235-pound linebacker on contact. Explosive in space now, just wait until this 16-year-old finishes physically developing.
We labeled Telfort "a little keg of dynamite" when we saw him at the Miami Nike camp this summer. He is another smaller linebacker who masks it well with outstanding initial burst and explosiveness closing in space. More than just a relentless blitzer, Telfort soundly anticipates the snap and times his jump well.
This future Tennessee Volunteer closes like he was shot out of cannon and may have some of the better pure explosiveness in this linebacker class. He is very reactive blitzer with an extremely quick first step. The great speed and power he generates in the short-area are rare leading to high-impact, tempo changing collisions.
Wort is the defensive version of Sam McGuffie on YouTube this year. He wreaks havoc as a blitzer and a vertical attacker with his impressive closing speed in space. Sells out his body for eye-popping hits and just runs through ball carriers with striking velocity in the short-area.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: Reactive athleticism, meaning a player's body reacting instantaneously to what his eyes see. Needs to make quick, decisive reads by following proper keys. Instincts, football intelligence and a natural feel for the game are intangible attributes.
Jenkins is a rare quick-twitch athlete who consistently explodes out of stance and beats linemen to the point of attack. He takes very few false or wasted steps to the ball carrier. A very reactive athletic whose savvy skills as a football player seem to come very naturally to him.
Te'o quickly sees the play develop and simultaneously reacts at 100 miles per hour. Makes sound, decisive reads, takes very few false steps and is just a smart football player. Little wasted motion to the football, often a very underrated attribute for a linebacker.
The game seems to slow down for Burfict, particularly when he just lets his great reaction skills and natural instincts take over. He has a striking jump to the football for a player with his bulk; his great initial burst allow him to make plays on the football inside-out and countless stops behind the line of scrimmage.