Thread: James Laurinaitis information/pic page

James Laurinaitis
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 240 | 40-Time: 4.60

Strengths:
Adequate size and bulk...Good athlete...Very good speed...Excellent instincts with a top-notch football IQ...Reliable tackler...Has sideline-to-sideline range...Reads and reacts quickly...Smooth with fluid hips and terrific awareness in coverage...Good hands...Does a real nice job of avoiding blockers and working through traffic...Super active with a great motor...Offers some versatility...Intense and competitive...Has a lot of experience...Durable...Smart...Very mature...Outstanding work ethic...Team and community leader...Was extraordinarily productive.

Weaknesses:
Needs to be more physical...Struggles when he has to take on and shed blockers...Can be too aggressive at times...Doesn't have elite strength and power...Not real explosive or a big hitter...Average pass rusher / blitzer...Doesn't make many impact plays...Frame is close to being maxed out...Surrounded by lots of talent...May not have much upside.

Notes:
Was a three-year starter in the Big Ten...Would have been a Top 10-15 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft had he come out after his junior season...Father was a professional wrestler known as “The Animal” of the Legion of Doom...Also played hockey in high school...Named Minnesota's Defensive Mr. Football as a senior...Played extensively as a true freshman and stepped into the starting lineup when Bobby Carpenter went down with an injury...Won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s best defensive player in 2006...Won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker as a junior...The Big Ten defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008...Winner of the 2008 Lott Trophy as college football’s impact player of the year...Winner of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in 2008...A three-time 1st Team All-Big Ten selection...In elite company as a three-time AP All-American...Prolific college football player who won just about every award and honor imaginable during his time with the Buckeyes and will go down as an all-time great...A well-rounded player who never has to leave the field...Capable of playing all three linebacker positions but his best fit will likely come in the middle or on the weakside in a 4-3 scheme...Not quite in the same league as a prospect that his former teammate and #5 overall pick A.J. Hawk was coming out of college but awfully close.

Just my honest assessment that JL played on a great college team with good talent and will not translate well into the NFL. He has the fire and the desire I like, but I think he just has some limitations that will be exposed. Just my thoughts. Great college player, average pro. If there is anyone I'll eat dirt on it'll be this kid I'm sure. I don't like him at #12, not at all. I just really don't want him on our team.

I think I'd b disappointed to hear his name called, but I also think we can do worse. As G said, he is a hard working leader and a gamer. His football intelligence and play recognition is incredble. So wht if he doesn't make the highlight reel hit, he rarely misses tackles. He pursues well and takes good angles, but is lacking the speed an strength to get off of blocks.

Yeah, I think we could do a lot worse, but I think we could do a lot better too. If we traded down and got a few picks, sure why not -- but at #12? I don't think so. Heck, maybe. He legitimately is a top fifteen guy, but there is so much talent this year. . .