QBREES9

1. DAN CONNOR, 6-3, 230, Penn State
From the first practice, Connor jumped out as a tremendous middle linebacker with range, the ability to key and diagnose, with all the instincts required to be a great player. When a guy posts 410 tackles in a college career, sometimes you wonder if maybe his stats were padded, that maybe he was getting credit for every time he got to a pile. But that's not the case with Connor. He lines up the defense and meets all of the running backs at the line of scrimmage. It's great to see his pass drops, which he performs with smoothness and an eye on the route progressions. On one play he's holding off the deep middle, and on the next he's colliding a slant route. When the linebackers this week went to their blitz period against the running backs, he made an even bigger impression when he made three different backs simply miss him when he rushed. On two other occasions he won with a bull rush and came back with a spin move to get to the QB. "Connor could play in any scheme, 4-3 or 3-4, and excel as a rookie," said one GM. "He reminds me of Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks, except bigger."

He reminds me of Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks, except bigger. And with the 10 pick the New Orleans Saints Take LB Penn State Dan Conner.

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

MatthewT

Doesn't look like a bad pick for the Saints. Gosh, the Saints really need a performer at MLB. This guy makes things interesting. The Saints with the 10th spot in the draft had better not screw up. The only type of players that should be considered are LB's and secondary help with that top pick.

Cancer Beater

Conner wouldn't be a bad pick.

hagan714

when we were looking at AJ for the draft I watched a lot of Penn St. football. AJ had the knack of coming up with the big plays but I always was more impressed with Dan's play. OLB at the time next to AJ. Over the past two years I have watched the kid get better and better at ILB and OLB. It made no difference, his play never dropped off. He is always around the ball. He is smart and has an unbelievable motor. Of all the LBers in the draft I really believe he is the one guy that is the safest bet to become a captain of a defense.
His versatility and football IQ more than makes up for the lack of any athletic abilities he may not have to Rivers, Believe me there is not that great of difference.

He is "old school". That term is over used but it fits him to a tee. I would love the pick. Some where, some how, we need to find a captain for the defense and MLB is traditionally the spot they reside at.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

BoroSaint

Uhh...AJ Hawk came from Ohio State and Connor is from Penn State. They never played alongside each other. Maybe you're thinking of Laurinitis?

hagan714

. OLB at the time next to AJ.
Thanks that was ment to read opposite of AJ. The first time I saw them on the same field was two years ago when PU upset OSU. So next to Paul Posluszny.
God bless the editors. I left off the end of a complete thought. LOL

LordOfEntropy

It's rare someone catches Hagan like that. Good job Boro! lol

saintsfan1976

This is the "Drew Brees " type of player we can build a defense around....

Reminds me of Urlacher.

LordOfEntropy

Well, if you guys feel that strongly about him, then I'm sold.

saintsfan1976

Now if we could only sell the FO.