NFL draft position preview: LB

The defense the Eagles run under first-year coordinator Billy Davis is a huge question (see story). We may not know what it resembles until we see it for the first time at training camp. For purposes of trying to stay with a uniform theme, I am focusing on players that are widely projected to fit a 3-4 defense. When necessary, I identify players that may also fit a 4-3 system. In no particular order, here are linebackers to look for in the 2013 NFL draft:

Outside linebackers

Dion Jordan, Oregon, 6-6, 248
Jordan excelled as a stand-up DE in college, but he will need to add weight to keep from becoming a fall-down OLB in the NFL. Chip Kelly knows him well but Jordan may not be around for the Eagles at fourth overall.

Ron would draft him in: First round

Ezekiel Ansah, BYU, 6-5, 271
Ansah is a late-comer to football who has advanced quickly. He gives great effort and will bat down passes. He lined up everywhere along the line at BYU and looks more like a 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB. The question with Ansah is, can he drop back and cover routes?

Ron would draft him in: First round

Jarvis Jones, Georgia, 6-2, 245
Jones should be able to transition smoothly from college to a pro 3-4 scheme since that's what he played in at Georgia. From his OLB position, he attacked offenses with quickness off the ball and a motor that did not quit. He’s strong and can mix it up in the run game in ways that belie his size.

Ron would draft him in: First round

In our CSNPhilly.com mock draft, I selected Jones ninth overall to the Jets.

Barkevious Mingo, LSU, 6-4, 241
Mingo shows an ability to penetrate but does not make enough plays to satisfy the hype he gets as a projected first-round pick. He does not impact a game in a way that would force opposing offenses to pay special attention to him each week. He simply is an average producer on many downs.

Ron would draft him in: Fourth round

Alex Okafor, Texas, 6-4, 264
Okafor is among the best in this class at taking a direct route to the quarterback. He plays bigger than his size, which is why I would not be surprised to see him get drafted as a 4-3 DE. His frame looks like it could handle 10-15 more pounds with no let up in speed. On the occasions that he dropped into coverage, Okafor did not look comfortable, another reason he may be marked for a four-man front. He would fit in well on a front like the Giants’ as part of a package that pitches fastballs.

Ron would draft him in: Second to third round

Jamie Collins, Southern Mississippi, 6-3, 250
I’m curious to see what a solid pro coaching experience would do to elevate Collins’ production. He looks the part of a promising 3-4 outside guy, but he needs to be coached in the nuances of the position. I’d like to see him go hard from snap to whistle on every play, not just some of them. At Southern Miss, he played both with his hand in the ground and as a stand-up rusher, but he looks more comfortable as the former. He has no problem transitioning from rushing to coverage. Collins is fluid in his drops.

Ron would draft him: Third to fourth round

Corey Lemonier, Auburn, 6-3, 255
Lemonier was a hand-in-the-ground DE at Auburn who is projected by some as an OLB because of his size. His skills seem best suited to play 4-3 DE. I see him as a tweener who may be stuck between the two positions. He would need to add weight to survive as a DE, and I’m not sure he has the necessary attributes to meet the athletic demands of the 3-4 OLB.

Ron would draft him: Fourth round

Michael Buchanan, Illinois, 6-5, 255
Buchanan certainly looks the part: Tall, lean and athletic. However, he did not make as many plays as he should have from snap to snap. At Illinois, Buchanan often played as a stand-up end. He tended to guess a lot and narrowly miss on tackles. He also gets into too many dances with offensive linemen. When Buchanan dropped into coverage he was fluid and seemed to consistently recognize the flow of the play. He definitely projects as a 3-4 OLB. He could flash in camp because of his athleticism, but he will need seasoning to develop into a starter. Overall, I like Buchanan’s potential to grow into a fastball-type pass rusher.

Ron would draft him: Third round

Sio Moore, Connecticut, 6-1, 245
Moore is very active and plays within himself. That is to say he has a good understanding of his strengths and stays true to them. He is a linebacker who moves like a safety. Moore can play OLB in both a 3-4 and 4-3. He is agile enough to run in coverage and also brings an element to the blitz package. Moore could be a nice fit for an Eagles' defense that seems to be preparing to run aspects of a 3-4 and 4-3.

Ron would draft him in: Third to fourth round

Inside linebackers

Arthur Brown, Kansas State, 6-0, 241
Brown is the brother of Eagles RB Bryce Brown. Arthur transferred from Miami (FL) and became a hammer on the middle of the Wildcats' defense. He is very aware and finds the football. Brown might be a bit short for the position, but he plays bigger than his size, and really lays a wallop when he hits. Brown covers the field well and he can turn and run with slot receivers (4.58 time in the 40-yard dash). He drops comfortably and does a good job of covering the short zones. Brown looks like he fits best in a 4-3 defense, but I would not be opposed to playing him on the outside. He looks to be a versatile option at LB. If he can prove he can run an NFL defense, Brown could star at the next level. His “want-to” mentality would be an asset to any team.

Ron would draft him in: First round

Alec Ogletree, Georgia, 6-2, 242
Ogletree signed with Georgia as a safety, and although he moved to linebacker in college, he still possesses some safety qualities. He’s a fine athlete, who can drop back in coverage effortlessly. He seems to relish that part of the game, perhaps a throwback to bygone days. Ogletree may be able to play outside as well. I would like to see him be more physical and consistently deliver blows with authority. He’s very active and plays fast, which sometimes causes him to overrun plays. If he adds a committed downhill element to his game, he would be a more compelling ILB prospect. Ogletree’s stock may have taken a hit. He was arrested for DUI in February, and acknowledged he was questioned by many NFL teams about the incident. Still, there is a lot to work with here, but largely because I want to see a player with his ability be more of a punisher, I am not comfortable ranking Ogletree as a first-round pick as a middle man.

Ron would draft him in: Second round

Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, 6-1, 241
Off-field antics aside, Te’o is a worker who plays with passion. He should be an attribute to any team that drafts him as an inside guy. I believe he could excel in any scheme, although his ideal position may be as the middle man in a 4-3. Te’o’s instincts are his most important attribute. He’s able to get a jump on plays because of his feel for what the offense is trying to do.

Ron would draft him in: First round

In our CSNPhilly.com mock draft, I selected Te’o 21st overall to the Bengals.

Kevin Minter, LSU, 6-0, 246
Minter is a physical player who plays like a hammer at times, but at other times he can run himself out of plays and get caught up in traffic inside. He’s a difficult player to evaluate because he doesn’t do any one thing exceptionally well. He’s sort of a lunch-pail guy whose value is noticed over time rather than in any one defensive series or game. He’s comfortable dropping into coverage. I see him as a better fit for 3-4 scheme as one of the two inside men. I’d like to see Minter be a more consistent enforcer.

Ron would draft him in: Third round

Kevin Reddick, North Carolina, 6-1, 243
When Reddick plays as though he’s not thinking too much, he’s more effective than when he plays as if he has one finger on pause. I’d like to see him cut it loose more and play on instincts the way he does when he decisively shoots gaps. When he played freely, he showed himself to be a solid player, especially as a blitzer. Overall, he’s athletic enough to get back in coverage. I just see too much hesitation in his game to warrant using too high a draft pick.

Ron would draft him in: Third or fourth round

Khaseem Greene, Rutgers, 6-1, 241
Greene is a former college safety who still depicts aspects of that position in the way he moves as a linebacker. He is a raw prospect that needs to hone his instincts and skills in order to contribute at the pro level. He does not use his hands enough at the point of contact and plays too upright as a pass rusher. Prior experience in the secondary may aid him in coverage responsibilities. Greene’s athleticism makes him a candidate for a 4-3 weakside spot or as an inside 'backer in a 3-4.

Ron would draft him in: Fifth or sixth round

Kiko Alonso, Oregon, 6-3, 238
A former Chip Kelly player, Alonso is an active 3-4 ILB who does a good job of reading the quarterback. He likes to shoot the gaps and comes after the ball. A good chaser, I see Alonso being a potential asset in blitz packages. Very alert and reactionary, he has good feet and drops smoothly into coverage. Overall, he may be a better athlete than NFL linebacker. Could be a contributor on special teams. Alonso has been suspended from games in the past and has a DUI history.

Ron would draft him in: Fifth round