2010 Pre Combine Defensive Draft

Round 1

Sergio Kindle, Texas, SLB/DE, 6-4, 254, 4.54

This is the player to target in the 2010 draft for the Saints. Now I believe the Saints must find away to move up in the first to get him. I do not see him getting past the Patriots at 22 if the Falcons pass on him at 20. So I am going to play with him being there at 32. The Saints have a ton of WLB on the roster and it is time to get Scott a back up. Forget about the 2009 season as a DE. I look at the 2008 hen he played OLB at Texas. Stand him up and he is a nightmare. Talk about a nasty demeanor to go with a great explosion, speed, strength, athleticism and size are off the charts, how can I not love this player.

As a DE

Kindle will beat most tackles off the ball and use his power to rag doll blockers. He has great strength and speed and combines them to be one of the most violent tackler in the 2010 draft. He is a relentless attacker that holds the point versus the run. His great arm length allows him to wrap up and stop plays at the line of scrimmage. As a pass rusher, he uses that awesome first-step quickness to put the tackle out off position. He turns the corner well and has a nice shoulder dip. This allows him to take angles that most pass rushers cannot. He closes quickly and aggressively on the quarterback. He can also bull rush and will overrun backs in blitz pick-up. Does a good job knocking down passes and getting his hands up.

Troubles as a DE

He has trouble disengaging from blocks and must learn to use his strong hands to prevent getting locked up with blockers. He does loses sight of the ball too often and falls back in pursuit or in other words he is late to react at times. He must learn to do a better job of using his hands to keep tackles and guards off of him. He tends to try to outrun blockers and can be described as wreck less as a pass rush. He must develop more moves and be coached up on his fundamentals.

As an OLB.

He has elite-level speed and closing quickness. He is athletic and fast enough for coverage responsibilities. He can run with most receivers, tight ends, backs and has no trouble running them down. He is quick adjusting to pass plays- gets to the flats in a hurry when given pass responsibility.
Troubles as an OLB

The major knock is he is very raw and doesn't always diagnose plays cleanly. In other words he is a little slow reading and reacting to the quarterback as a OLB. Or can be tricked by misdirection and relies on his speed and strength to much instead of reading the offense. He does have limited experience in coverage.

OVERVIEW

Kindle has the skills to become a playmaker and has improved from game to game. With tremendous upside and him testing off the charts at the Combine I see his stock climbing. Has proven that he can play as a defensive end in the 4-3, or an outside linebacker in either the 3-4 or 4-3. He is more instinctive at OLB in my opinion because he is at his best when able to freelance and make plays in the open field. So I think 43 OLB would work well for him under Williams and with Scott as a mentor the sky is the limit for Kindle.

Why he maybe there:

Nagging injuries during Kindle’s first two seasons and well some off-field issues. Kindle actually drove his truck into an apartment in Austin. No charges were filed. Sorry that one made me LMAO.

How does he fit in with the saints?

Instant impact for special teams coverage jumps out to me in year one. His flexibility makes for a lot playing time for him and gives the saints some roster flexibility at SLB and DE.

Round 2

SS, Myron Rolle, Florida State, 6014, 214, 4.59

I can hear everyone right now, "What the heck" but hear me out here. I will be surprised to see him here in the second in the first place. Granted his contract will have a ton of clauses in it and he has been out of football for a year I think the Saints would not pass on him here. The NFL already knows what Rolle can do and now the question is whether or not he can do it after being away from the game for a year. Myron Rolle is best known for winning the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship after graduating in 2 1/2 years at Florida State, for those less knowledgeable; the Rhodes is often referred to as the Academic Heisman. He chose to skip his senior season of football and went to study at Oxford instead. He still aspires to an NFL career and participated in intense workouts during his stay in England. Rolle was invited to participate in the Senior Bowl and made a big impression on NFL coaches with his conditioning, body type and work ethic.

Senior Bowl invitee. Measurements - arm: 33.0" hand: 9.25" Notes: Athletic build, muscular, clearly he was lifting more than books while away.
Rolle has first round talent, but he will need to have a decent NFL combine and show everybody that there is no rust.

Rolle is as smart on the field as he is in the classroom, which is pretty smart. He understands the game and its nuances. He has great instincts and always seems to be around the ball, but his best assets are a little easier to notice. Rolle has prototypical size, at 6-2 and 218 pounds and strength. He is versatile and can play any backfield position, perhaps even corner. He can fill the enforcer role and he hammers people when he has the clear shot, but knows when to wrap. Myron can cover pretty well too. He defends the pass extremely well and has the quickness to cover the field sideline to sideline.

There has never been any question about the talent or the physical tools with . He does rests on his laurels sometimes. Not the most instinctual player around, and that may be because he tends to over-analyze situations, tendencies, etc. prior to reacting. Not an elite hitter for his size. Book smart, but that may be an actual impediment. Sometimes looks a bit soft. Could be considered an athletic underachiever as a result of his play on the field. Never made as many impact plays as one with his ability should. His time away from the field could put a damper on his ability to contribute to a team immediately, as he will likely have to shake off some rust and get re-acclimated to the speed of the game.

Many may question his commitment to football, I don't. He is a talented player who is taking full advantage of his academic situation, as a result of him giving up his senior season to study at Oxford. He's going to be a huge PR asset for any team that drafts him, and front office folks may push him up draft boards some as a result. He's a guy who could be drafted anywhere from the late second to the late fourth rounds in the 2010 NFL Draft. I say he does solid at the combine.