Fin Thirteen
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It seems to me that everybody is answering every question other than the one Hoops has posed in his writeup, which is "Do you really believe Shazier has the pre-snap read ability and the post-snap instinct/awareness to be a successful NFL linebacker worthy of a High-ish Round 1 pick?"
I have the same issue with him, more or less and have posted on it in other threads. You can be at elite level in multiple areas of linebacking duties, but if you don't have top-end play diagnosis and read-react abolities, you ceiling just got dramatically lowered. I see similar things with Shazier as hoops does and I also see regularly him struggle to sift through the trash as a combination of him being a little late to the party and not being the biggest guy. This will be exacerbated in the pros.
He might have been in a D that wasn't well coached. He might be an athletic specimen. He might have huge college production. But you have to look at his fit in the pros and ask whether his upward curve will justify such a high pick. I don't think it's there as far as Round 1 goes.
Then you need to look at what Miami needs. They need a Mike. They want to move Ellerbe to WLB and considered Misi for MLB. Misi doesn't want to move (allegedly), because he knows how much play diagnosis is needed at Mike and (despite being a multi-year vet plus 2 yrs with Coyle). So, we're seemingly shopping for a Mike. Shazier isn't automatic Mike material - physically or by experience, he doesn't appear to be the vocal playcaller in Ohio St and he does appear to be a little off the pace instinctually. It's not a fit.
Even if you draft him for the Will spot and keep Ellerbe at Mike, will he justify his lofty draft position and will the sacrifice of not getting a new Mike in work out? Again, I have my doubts.
Hoops also said he's not convinced that Mosley will work out as the better player but at least the instinct and play read ability is there off the bat. I have to agree with that viewpoint also. Mosley doesn't have "elite" written all over him, but he does represent a much better fit for what this LB corps needs. That might not be enough to justify the pick on him, but at least it would be round peg in round hole.
If you're not drafting with need in mind and you believe Shazier will display that instinctiveness in the pros, then fair enough. But it's not a unanimous viewpoint, by any means.
I'd rather we use that pick at a different position and look at Preston Brown as a Mike candidate in the 3rd or so. Van Noy interests me also, but not as a Mike or a pick for need. Borland fits the bill but the lack of size is a big flag for me at the draft position he's being projected, and I'm not a "prototypicals" disciple.
I have the same issue with him, more or less and have posted on it in other threads. You can be at elite level in multiple areas of linebacking duties, but if you don't have top-end play diagnosis and read-react abolities, you ceiling just got dramatically lowered. I see similar things with Shazier as hoops does and I also see regularly him struggle to sift through the trash as a combination of him being a little late to the party and not being the biggest guy. This will be exacerbated in the pros.
He might have been in a D that wasn't well coached. He might be an athletic specimen. He might have huge college production. But you have to look at his fit in the pros and ask whether his upward curve will justify such a high pick. I don't think it's there as far as Round 1 goes.
Then you need to look at what Miami needs. They need a Mike. They want to move Ellerbe to WLB and considered Misi for MLB. Misi doesn't want to move (allegedly), because he knows how much play diagnosis is needed at Mike and (despite being a multi-year vet plus 2 yrs with Coyle). So, we're seemingly shopping for a Mike. Shazier isn't automatic Mike material - physically or by experience, he doesn't appear to be the vocal playcaller in Ohio St and he does appear to be a little off the pace instinctually. It's not a fit.
Even if you draft him for the Will spot and keep Ellerbe at Mike, will he justify his lofty draft position and will the sacrifice of not getting a new Mike in work out? Again, I have my doubts.
Hoops also said he's not convinced that Mosley will work out as the better player but at least the instinct and play read ability is there off the bat. I have to agree with that viewpoint also. Mosley doesn't have "elite" written all over him, but he does represent a much better fit for what this LB corps needs. That might not be enough to justify the pick on him, but at least it would be round peg in round hole.
If you're not drafting with need in mind and you believe Shazier will display that instinctiveness in the pros, then fair enough. But it's not a unanimous viewpoint, by any means.
I'd rather we use that pick at a different position and look at Preston Brown as a Mike candidate in the 3rd or so. Van Noy interests me also, but not as a Mike or a pick for need. Borland fits the bill but the lack of size is a big flag for me at the draft position he's being projected, and I'm not a "prototypicals" disciple.