papz

NEW ORLEANS — Rookie linebacker Chase Thomas may not look the part. He certainly wasn’t drafted to play the part, since all 32 NFL teams skipped over him for seven rounds in April.

But don’t bet against him playing an integral part in the New Orleans Saints’ 3-4 defense under first-year coordinator Rob Ryan, said Russ Lande, director of scouting for National Football Post.

“When you watched Stanford, Thomas was all over the field,’’ Lande said last week. “He was making tackles everywhere. Now he doesn’t test out well. He’s not a pretty looking guy. By that I mean he’s not sculpted or chiseled. He’s just a football player.

“I had him with a second-round grade. I think he’s a starter in a 3-4 defense. I wouldn’t be shocked if he played a ton this year. Plus he’s going to be a (bear) on special teams.’’

So how does a second-round projection by a reputable scout, from a top-shelf BCS school, end up going undrafted? Are there off-the-field problems? Injuries? A make-believe girlfriend?

What’s the deal?

“From all the feedback I was getting, it was a surprise,’’ Thomas said Thursday after the team’s third of their allotted 10 organized team activities. “But you can’t dwell on it for too long. I was blessed to have an opportunity at all. I’m still here. It doesn’t really matter how I got here.’’

Read more: Rookie Chase Thomas set to help Saints defense | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Attached Thumbnails

 

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

QBREES9

He’s not a pretty looking guy. By that I mean he’s not sculpted or chiseled. He’s just a football player.

He's just a Football Player.

|Mitch|

He reminds me of Brian Urlacher in his prime...

Seer1

We'll see. It's not spoken of much, but Urlacher was very fast.

FinSaint

True, and a violent hitter before age and injuries caught up with him.



Urlacher [Combine]

40 yd dash: 4.59
20 yd dash: 2.67
10 yd dash: 1.62
20 yd shuttle: 4.18
3 cone drill: 6.94


Thomas [Pro Day]

40 yd dash: 4.80
20 yd dash: 2.77
10 yd dash: 1.69
20 yd shuttle: 4.31 [Combine]
3 cone drill: 7.17 [Combine]




Best thing to do is just to ignore.

Seer1

I watched him play when I lived in New Mexico. He was pretty amazing. He played safety, wide receiver and ran return duties as well. There were games where he beat teams single handedly.

saintsfan1976

If you can't buy a Paul Kruger, find a guy who you can mold to play like him.

homerj07

I will be amazingly surprised if he isn't on the team come September

jeanpierre

Just watch and wait for it...

RockyMountainSaint

The next Shanle!