2012 Draft Nuggets - Zach Brown, North Carolina, OB

Zach Brown, North Carolina, 6020 230

Started parts of two seasons with the bevy of standout linebackers backing up the Tar Heel line. He is all about speed and athletic ability. Runs track at Carolina where he set the indoor 60-meter record at 6.72 seconds. He has also run the 100-meters in 10.6 seconds. Major contributor on special teams’ coverage units. Can stick his foot in the ground and get downhill fast. Sideline to sideline player who will play best as a weakside fast flow linebacker. Active but out of control as a tackler at times. Must learn to adjust his speed on the run and keep leverage on the ball carrier. Quick acceleration with excellent catch up speed. Hard to block because he’s a moving target.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Lavonte David, Nebraska, OB

Lavonte David, Nebraska, 6006 223

Two-year starter and a junior college transfer from Fort Scott Community College. Was the Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year and a first team All-Big 12 pick. A tackling machine, he set a Cornhusker record with 152 tackles, averaging about 11 per game. He also had six sacks for 50 yards in losses. A special teams’ standout on coverage teams. Natural and instinctive in his ability to recognize and react to run or pass. Has a nose for the ball. An impact hitter who loves contact. Reacts immediately to keys. Good football aptitude. Very competitive. Aggressive and physically tough. Explodes downhill quickly on run throughs. An athletic knee bender who plays with balance. Slips blocks and stays on his feet.

Nate Bussey, New Orleans Saints, 243rd Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Bussey, Nate Illinois 6010 228 4.54
Nate Bussey will compete at the weakside linebacker position and special teams coverage units. A developmental prospect, he has experience as a nickel linebacker and was Illinois’ second leading tackler. His pro day numbers from 3/16/11 were: 1.51/10, 16/BP, 35.5/ VJ, 10-1/BJ, 4.29/SS, and 6.91/3 cone. Ourlads Scouting Services rated Bussey as a developmental player with draftable qualities.

Malcolm Smith, Seattle Seahawks, 242nd Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Smith, Malcolm Southern Cal 6002 226 4.46
Malcolm Smith played for Pete Carroll at Southern Cal. He knows the defensive scheme. He has rare speed for the position along with instincts and hitting ability. He will play on all special teams units. On his pro day 3/30/11 his numbers were: 1.65/10, 28/BP, 39/VJ, 10-5/BJ, 4.58/SS, and 7.15/3 cone. Ourlads Scouting Services rated Smith as a developmental player with draftable qualities.

Greg Lloyd, Philadelphia Eagles, 237th Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Lloyd, Greg Connecticut 6011 246 4.82
Three-year starter. Always around the ball. Good laterally. Coming back off a year where he was working through a knee injury in 2009. Was injured 11/28/09. Good week of practice during the East/West Shrine Bowl week. The 2010 season was basically getting his feet back under him. Played a defensive end position and projects to a 3-4 outside edge rusher. His father, Greg Lloyd Sr., was a playmaker for the Steelers. A developmental player with pro skills. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Andrew Gachkar, San Diego Chargers, 234th Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Gachkar, Andrew Missouri 6023 233 4.59
Andrew Gachkar should be a major contributor on special teams. A high motor, try hard player, he recorded 84 tackles in 2010. He is a good athlete to get through traffic and make a play. On his pro day on 3/17/11 his numbers were: 1.65/10, 18/BP, 34/VJ, 9-10/BJ, 4.31/SS, and 7.02/3 cone. Ourlads Scouting Services rated Gachkar as a developmental player with draftable qualities.

Bruce Miller, San Francisco 49ers, 211th Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Miller, Bruce Central Florida 6014 254 4.85
Four-year starter. A high motor, great effort player who sells out every play. Productive with 34 career sacks. Two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. Projects to a 3- 4 rush end. Plays with good leverage. Can walk an offensive tackle back to the quarterback. Doesn’t stay blocked. Plays like his hair is on fire. Instinctive. Quick to read and react. Not fooled by screen passes. Strong upper body. Will contribute on special teams. Will need to improve all pass coverage skills. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Jacquian Williams, NY Giants, 202nd Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Williams, Jacquian South Florida 6025 231 4.59

Jacquian Williams projects as a weakside linebacker. A developmental athlete, he has the speed to make a difference on special teams. At his pro day on 3/24/11 his numbers were 1.59/10, 17/BP, 36.5/VJ, 9-8/BJ, 4.20/SS, and 6.93/3 cone. The Giants liked what they saw at the South Florida pro day workouts.

Ross Homan, Minnesota Vikings, 200th Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Homan, Ross Ohio State 6003 240 4.68

Two-and-a-half year starter. Somewhat mechanical in movements but overall is athletic and has a burst in pursuit. Decent change of direction and range, hustles in pursuit. Struggles to get off a block and spent way too much time on the ground. Tends to get caught up in the traffic instead of getting downhill and to the ball. Lacks power to take on a block and will get covered up. Active and aggressive. He needs to be in a scheme that will keep him from getting blocked. He is at his best in pursuit on the edge. Has the characteristics of a Will linebacker in a 4-3. Shorter arms than ideal for the position. Good football intelligence. Understands the zone concepts and has good awareness. Can run with backs on swing and check down routes. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

JT Thomas, Chicago Bears, 195th Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Thomas, JT West Virginia 6010 241 4.65

Three-year starter as the weakside linebacker in a 3-5-3 defensive scheme. Intense and athletic in his play. Has experience in a variety of stunt packages. Has a quick take off. Good use of hands, speed, and quickness. Can adjust on the move. Has a burst to the quarterback. Good timing and anticipation. Uses speed moves to race through the creases and gaps. Will throw his body into a ball carrier. Takes good pursuit angles and will wrap up. Can track and trail in man coverage or drop square in underneath zones. A tough guy mentally and physically. Will play hurt. Will contribute on special teams coverage units. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Brian Rolle, Philadelphia Eagles, 193rd Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Rolle, Brian Ohio State 5095 229 4.56

Two-year starter. Team captain. Good athletic ability and speed. Shorter than ideal. Will take bad angles at times. Active and always around the ball. Will struggle in man to man matchups. Good range. Can stick his foot in the ground and drive on the ball. Explosive quickness. Physical tackler. Initiates contact. Strong for his size. Looks like a weakside Will 4-3 linebacker candidate. Can get smothered by big offensive linemen and separating at times. A three down linebacker who is athletic and instinctive. Will contribute on all special teams coverage units. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

DJ Smith, Green Bay Packers, 186th Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Smith, DJ Appalachian St. 5106 239 4.71

Four-year starter. A sideline to sideline linebacker who can slip a block and make a play. Quick getting downhill and stacking the inside running lanes. Will get a look at both the inside and outside linebacker spots. Outstanding instincts and productivity with 525 career tackles. Smith joins former Dallas Cowboy linebacker, Dexter Coakley, as the only two defenders in Mountaineer history to go over the 500 tackle mark. He was the only FCS linebacker on the Butkus watch list. Plays with quick hands and feet. Quick reactions. Bends his knees and explodes from the ground up. Fluid moves to get to his drop area in zone. Sits down and squares up. Gets depth. Good short man coverage. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Lawrence Wilson, Carolina Panthers, 166th Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Wilson, Lawrence Connecticut 6006 229 4.75

Four-year starter who fills instinctively and quickly in the run game. Has functional strength to take on lead blocks and disengage from lineman. A better than average athlete with the versatility to play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive scheme. A sideline to sideline tackling vacuum. Needs more bulk and overall strength to hold up under the Sunday pounding. Best when covered up. An undersized but athletic linebacker with good quickness and agility. Finished pursuit. Raw as he struggled with some reads and fitting gaps. Was solid in tackling and pass rush drills. Good initial quickness on snap. A situational type linebacker. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Chris Carter, Pittsburgh Steelers, 162nd Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Carter, Chris Fresno State 6011 248 4.58

Three-year starter. A natural edge pass rusher. Explosive first step quickness. Active and athletic. Uses multiple moves. Supreme effort as a pass rusher. WAC Defensive Player of the Year with 11 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss. Fast twitch with suddenness in his body. Hustles to the ball. Plays defensive end in a four man front, but projects to an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Plays low with good knee bend. Has a third gear burst to the quarterback after he accelerates off a block. Good use of hands, speed, quickness, and strength in his pass rush skills. An explosive wrap up tackler who doesn’t give ground. Hits with authority. Moves well on his feet. Will need to develop coverage skills, but his job title will be to “rush the passer”. Will contribute on all special teams. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Doug Hogue, Detroit Lions, 157th Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Hogue, Doug Syracuse 6024 235 4.63

Two-year starter. A former running back who is a developmental linebacker prospect. Productive with 167 tackles over the past two years. Active. Hustles to the perimeter to make a play. A tackling machine who is always around the ball. Will play best in a covered up scheme that lets him run to the ball. Needs more upper body strength to take on and stack offensive linemen. Energizer bunny that doesn’t slow down. Fast twitch in his play. Will be an asset on all special teams.For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

DeJon Gomes, Washington Redskins, 146th Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Gomes, DeJon Nebraska 5114 208 4.53

Nineteen game starter. Junior college transfer from the City College of San Francisco. A competitor with excellent instincts. Played the hybrid safety/linebacker position. Projects to be a utility type player who could play free or strong safety and nickel linebacker. Physical in the run game. Quick to read and react as an alley player. Plays smart and with good awareness. Understands coverages and can run with backs, tight ends, and slot receivers. Will contribute on special teams. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Gabe Miller, Kansas City Chiefs, 140th Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Miller, Gabe Oregon State 6032 250 4.63

Gabe Miller brings versatility to the Chiefs. He will get work as an outside 3-4 linebacker and possibly a third tight end and special teams player. He started his career as a tight end. Miller has a medical history where he tore his Achilles tendon twice. His pro day results on 3/11/11 were 1.58/10, 33/BP, 36/VJ, 9-6/BJ, 4.12/SS, 6.97/3 cone. The Chiefs liked what they saw at the Oregon State pro day workouts.

Colin McCarthy, Tennessee Titans, 109th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

McCarthy, Colin Miami 6012 235 4.65
Three-year starter who can run and has good athletic ability. Active. Averaged 10 tackles per game as a senior playing inside linebacker. Competitive and intense in his play. Top effort player with a high motor. Quick initial read and react, does a nice job getting downhill and to the ball. Smart player, good angles to the ball and quality drops in coverage with good zone awareness. Good technique, uses his hands well to take on blocks and redirects off the block to the ball. Above average footwork when attacking a block. Occasionally will under run a play but for the most part is extremely instinctive with an excellent nose for the ball. Takes good drops in coverage, reacts well on the throw with no wasted steps. Good coverage awareness, sees the receiver and the quarterback. Has good range in pursuit and plays fast with no wasted movement. He is a quality linebacker who played well both inside and outside. Has a chance to be a productive “blue collar” NFL starter. Will contribute on special teams. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

KJ Wright, Seattle Seahawks, 99th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Wright, KJ Mississippi St. 6031 246 4.75
Three-year starter. Captain. Productive tackler who is a good athlete. Instinctive downhill player who has good lateral quickness. Plays square and balanced. A multi-scheme player who can fit into a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. Marginal on initial read and react. Physical taking on blocks and looks like a “thumper type” middle linebacker. Change of direction is okay but he struggles some in space and gets out of position tracking downhill at times. Good range in pursuit and filled well outside. A fringe space player. Does not always have good depth of drop in zone coverage but showed good awareness and reacted well to routes. Does a nice job playing the route and the quarterback. Demonstrates understanding of pattern pressure. Was physical and flashed ability in most areas. Will contribute on all special teams coverage. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Mason Foster, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 84th Pick, 3rd Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Foster, Mason Washington 6012 245 4.75
Three-year starter. Very good motor and hustle. Athletic, shows some explosiveness on contact. Inconsistent with shed, at times got locked onto a block by losing leverage. Sometimes plays high and lacks power to consistently defeat blocks. Good downhill player who tracks well getting to the ball. Good instincts, showing outstanding initial quickness. Will get caught up reacting too quickly at times as play action hurt him some. Normally takes good angles but will overrun at times. Good coverage ability and ability to play in space. Takes good drops and reacts well on the thrown ball. Solid tackling skills and consistently tracked backs on the perimeter. Good range in pursuit and consistently hustled to get to the ball. Has an explosive first step and the ability to turn the corner on the edge. Should be a good blitzer as he is relentless with effort along with his quickness. In the right scheme he can play inside or outside. Arms are shorter than ideal to ward off blockers. Plays in a 4-3 scheme. Will contribute on special teams. Will need more strength to hold up inside on the next level. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.