LB Thread (nothing about Howard here)

[dberce1]

Since LBs seem to be the other hot topic this offseason:

Analysis by position: Linebackers

Position-by-position: DL · LB

By Gil Brandt
NFL.com Senior Analyst

(April 12, 2005) -- Over the past four drafts (2001 through 2004), only six linebackers -- Terrell Suggs and Jason Babin both played defensive end in college but converted to linebacker in the NFL -- have been drafted in the first round. Over the past 10 years, 30 linebackers have been selected in Round 1, with seven first-rounders in the 2000 draft setting the high-water mark over that period.

The 2004 crop of linebackers was very fast with the first three selected recording an average time of 4.57 in the 40-yard dash. The 2005 class is equally fast with seven linebackers running under 4.6, and one (Jordan Beck of Cal-Poly SLO) running under 4.5 on grass at his school's Pro Day.

With more teams going to the 3-4 type of defense, we are going to see teams draft players who played defensive line and try to convert them to players who can play down and rush the passer, and also play up and play in space. Last year, Houston moved up in the draft to select Jason Babin of Western Michigan, where he played defensive end, but he was switched to outside linebacker in the Texans' 3-4 defense.

Many colleges are recruiting tight ends and running backs to play linebacker. I think this is the reason we have so much speed at this position in the draft -- top players like Lance Mitchell (Oklahoma), Channing Crowder (Florida), Kevin Burnett (Tennessee) and Michael Boley (Southern Mississippi) were all running backs in high school.

It is very important that linebackers are good special-teams players, especially on coverage teams.

1. Derrick Johnson, Texas (6-3¼, 242)

http://www.nfl.com/draft/analysis/expert/brandt/lb