Tag: Evan Weaver

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Linebackers

The Lions Wire staff has identified which linebackers Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the linebackers won’t take the field until Saturday, February 29th. One interesting note about some of the players in this group is that while they will work out with the linebackers, they may play another role in the Lions scheme.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, interior defensive linemen, and EDGE rushers previews.

Off-the-ball linebacker traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the linebackers are:

  • Lateral movement should be smooth and quick.
  • Reaction to instructions, too many times prospects guess the command and make mistakes.
  • Can they turn and unlock their hips when dropping into coverage?
  • Head up and eyes on the ball.
  • Which linebackers take place in EDGE rushing drills? How do they perform under those expectations?

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler

Simmons was a chess piece at Clemson, seeing snaps at free safety, strong safety, over the slot, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and outside corner. And at the college level, he played all of them at a high level.

In the NFL, he likely won’t have that positional range, and depending on the scheme, he may be labeled either a linebacker or a safety. At the Combine, he will work out with the linebackers, but with the Lions, he would likely find the most success at the safety level, in Tavon Wilson’s role.

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Blessed with both speed and quickness, Simmons uses his rare athleticism to win in coverage, stop the run, and get home on disguised blitzes.

The Lions deploy three-safety sets roughly 50-percent of defensive snaps, and pairing him with Tracy Walker — along with last years third-rounder Will Harris in the third safety role — would give the Lions an instant upgrade in the secondary.

Zach Baun, Wisconsin

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon

Baun played outside linebacker in Wisconsin 34 scheme, alternating between rushing the passer and dropping into coverage. Due to his build (6-2.5, 240, with 31.13″ arms) and skill set, he is better suited for an off-the-ball role, and with the Lions, he is a natural fit for the Christian Jones role.

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Comfortable operating in space, Baun is a plus athlete who uses his intelligence, instincts, lateral quickness, and internal drive to flow to the ball all over the field.

Josh Uche, Michigan

Suggested by: Scott Warheit

Uche spent his first few years at Michigan adding weight and learning techniques as a situational stand-up pass rusher before finally earning a starting role in 2019. Like Baun, Uche is comfortable bending the edge and dropping into space, but Uche’s arm length (33.25″) and athleticism, makes him a player who will spend more time rushing the passer.

At 241-pounds, Uche is a bit undersized to be an every-down JACK linebacker in the Lions scheme, but his ability to drop into coverage and insane speed/bend off the edge makes him a unique prospect that is the perfect fit at SAM and WILL linebacker spots in a multiple scheme.

Malik Harrison, Ohio State

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff and Ty Finch

After examining three hybrid defenders in Simmons, Baun, and Uche, Harrison represents the first true off-the-ball linebacker on this list. Harrison has the size (6-2.5, 246 at Senior Bowl), speed, range, and power the Lions look for at their MIKE and WILL positions. He is gap sound, a complete run defender, and has shown some cover skills, which would make him an instant competitor in most schemes.

Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech

Suggested by: Matt Urben

With speed, athleticism, and plus instincts, Brooks (est. 6-0, 241) is not talked about enough in the Lions community. He is a downhill, productive, run-stuffing inside linebacker, who fits the mold of a Lions linebacker, including struggling to cover tight ends and running backs. If the Lions plan on moving on from Jarrad Davis when his contract expires after this season, Brooks could be a target to develop and mix into a starter rotation in 2021.

Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield and Derek Okrie

Like Simmons, Davis-Gaither (6-1.5, 219 at Senior Bowl) would be a hang defender in the Lions scheme, but without the range to play deep safety. Davis-Gaither can rush the passer, cover the slot, and will be one of the quickest athletes on the field at any given time. If you like Miles Killebrew, then you’ll love Davis-Gaither, as he can do a lot of the same things Killebrew can, but with less power and more speed.

Troy Dye, Oregon

Suggested by: Max Gerber

Like Davis-Gaither, Dye (est. 6-3, 218) is another hang defender with speed to burn and strong tackling skills. In Detroit, he would play in the Killebrew role as a potential four-down defender, who would backup at WILL linebacker, see coverage work in obvious passing situations, with his skills truly shining on special teams.

Evan Weaver, California

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt

When watching Senior Bowl practices, Weaver stood out for being gap sound, recognizing the play early, and beating the offensive player to the correct hole. He has terrific football instincts and his anticipation shows up rep after rep. He attacks downhill with tenacity but won’t win any athleticism competitions, and at 6-2, 239 pounds, fits the profile of a Lions linebacker.

Shaq Quarterman, Miami

Suggested by: Zack Moran

Loaded with experience at the MIKE, Quarterman jumped onto the big stage as a true freshman. Quarterman is a two-down defender who attacks with power but lacks the range and athleticism to stay on the field in traditional third-down situations. He has a long history of production and rarely misses opportunities to make tackles, which will help him be an instant impact starter on special teams and reserve interior linebacker.

2020 Senior Bowl: Winners, losers from Day 2 practices

Draft Wire’s Gavino Borquez gives his winners and losers from Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices.

Plenty of performances stood out on Day 2 of the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Who impressed? Who disappointed?

Here are my picks for the the biggest winners and losers from Wednesday’s on-field action:

Winner – Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

It was Justin Herbert that had the best day out of all quarterbacks on Day 1, but Love had the slight leg up today. Herbert still had a great day, but Love was fantastic. He made a lot of magnificent passes, showing his super quick, a live arm and beautiful ball placement throughout the entire duration of the practice. He had the type of the day that many believe he is the type of player that could sneak into the top-10.

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Prospects for Jags fans to watch: Cal LB Evan Weaver

One player I would like to see the Jacksonville Jaguars take a peek at in the later rounds is California LB, Evan Weaver.

Along with the never-ending hole at the tight end position, the linebacking corps has been the Jacksonville Jaguars’ biggest weakness in 2019. It all began with the loss of Telvin Smith in the offseason, and then there was also Myles Jack’s concerning decline in the regular season. Additionally, injuries also plagued the unit, sending Jack, Quincy Williams, Jake Ryan, and several others to injured reserve.

The team has been forced to rely on newly acquired free-agents to just get by until the end of the season. While players like Donald Payne have certainly stepped up in recent weeks, the position is no doubt one that the front office will have to prioritize in the offseason. With extra picks thanks to some trades, the team will have their pick of the litter come April.

One player I would like to see the Jaguars take a peek at in the later rounds is California linebacker, Evan Weaver.

While Weaver is not the top caliber prospect that I generally have covered the last few months, he is the type of player the Jaguars need. Weaver is a physical tone-setter and a run stuffing, tackling machine, wrestling down 172 ball carriers in 2019 alone. With 11.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to go along with his NCAA leading 172 tackles, Weaver has certainly caught the eye of many national scouts.

The Senior linebacker recently accepted his Senior Bowl invitation, cementing himself as a legitimate draft prospect. Any team looking for a thumper on the inside will be swooning over this 6-foot-3, 235 pound linebacker. Weaver may not possess elite athletic traits it is his instincts and knack for finding the ball-carrier that will make him an enticing prospect in April.

 

Weaver has adequate range and would fit well in a Jags defense desperate for help in the run game. The team has also struggled mightily with tackling. According to Pro Football Focus, as of Dec. 10, the team was second in the NFL in missed tackles.

I believe Weaver could play a role on the defense similar to that of former linebacker Paul Posluszny. Both are strong, physical, run-stuffing, tackling machines who lacked the athleticism to become consistent three-down playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. I don’t expect Weaver to be a Top-50 player in the 2020 class, but he has the ability to be an impact player for a team.

Here is just an example of the physicality that Weaver brings to his game:

If Weaver is available as a late Day 2/Day 3 selection, I would expect the Jaguars to be salivating over the thought of getting a pro-ready, defensive asset like Weaver. A sure tackler and a polished player, Weaver would be a natural fit at the MIKE position, shifting Jack back to his more natural position at weak-side linebacker. He may be a two-down player, however, he would help sure up the biggest hole on the roster.

The Jaguars run defense needs an overhaul and Weaver might just be who piece that brings it all together in 2020.