Thomas Davis
 

I have read a lot of mock drafts that have us taking S Thomas Davis out of UGA. This guy apparently played safety in college, but is expected to make the switch to LB in the pros. I've seen him play a couple of games at UGA and I've seen some video highlights of his time at Georgia, and he definitely possesses a lot of speed and athleticism. But, does he have the size to make the conversion from safety to linebacker?

Thomas Davis
 

don\'t know his exact mearsurements but he is big for a safety. i think he is about Watson\'s size. but i could be wrong.

Thomas Davis
 

I read where he actually played both OLB and SS at UGA. The UGA defense plays their SS close to the line anyway so its very similar to playing OLB anyway.

I think he\'s a better OLB prospect than he is a SS prospect. To me his main attribute is that he is a playmaker. He has football skills, not just the measurables.

Thomas Davis
 

As for his size: 6\"1\" 220 to 230.

Thomas Davis
 

For comparison\'s sake:

Levar Fisher - 6\'2\" 239
Sedrick Hodge- 6\'4\" 246

So maybe a little light, but like I said earlier, he\'s got ATHLETICISM

Thomas Davis
 

I\'m high on Davis, but only as SS. We don\'t need anothe r light in the pants LB, especially with our DTs. I\'ve read many reports of 4.4 speed, so he\'d do just fine with Smith. I\'m thinking that he would be a smarter TBuck, a Roy Williams clone.

I think the best move would be to give the Eagles our #2 and change for Simon, and draft Davis. I\'m assuming Simon hasn\'t been dealt yet. We\'d get at least our #2 back for Howard, maybe a #1 from someone. (shrug)

Thomas Davis
 

EDIT: At the combine he measured 6-1, 231, 4.55
Some other OLB\'s of interest...
6-4, 235 Derrick Johnson
6-2, 236 Kevin Burnett
6-4, 240 Darryl Blackstock

Playing in NFL now...
5-11, 242 Jamie Winborne
6-0, 223 Ian Gold
6-0, 235 Derrick Brooks
6-0, 234 Levar Fisher
6-0, 242 DJ Williams
6-0, 233 TJ Slaughter
6-1, 237 Jessie Armstead
6-1, 231 Will Witherspoon
6-2, 245 Keith Brookings
6-2, 245 Brady James
6-2, 244 Mark Fields
6-3, 235 Boss Bailey
6-3, 235 Julian Peterson

Looks to me like Davis is the perfect size for an OLB. He\'ll probably get a bit bigger I\'m sure.

[Edited on 13/4/2005 by Danno]

Thomas Davis
 

If Davis played at LB, I think he has the knack for making tackles. He punished people at Georgia and is an explosive tackler. Lack of size may hurt him taking on blocks though.

Thomas Davis
 

I heard a draft show, i think on NFL Network that he is comparable to Derrick Brooks. Maybe it will be good to stay put and get this guy!!!!

Thomas Davis
 

Oh yeah! I like it.
A bigger, faster Derrick Brooks?
I\'m sold.

ANALYSIS
Big, strong, physical athlete with a V-shaped torso, thick chest, broad shoulders, muscular arms, large hands, good bubble, thick thighs and calves … Does everything the coaches ask, is a workout warrior and pushes others when they see his work ethic … Has good field smarts and is quick to see and read plays, especially the run … Shows quick reaction to what he sees in front of him and he is rarely caught out of position … Can lay back and play centerfield with good timing to make the play on the ball … Has good timing ability on his leaps going for the ball, showing good arm extension to get to the pigskin at its high point … Has outstanding range, doing a very good job of covering ground in a hurry … Quick to support against the run, showing good explosion when closing … Has the height and speed to match up against any tight end, running back or receiver … Big hitter who can blow opponents up if he\'s on track … Does a good job of breaking down, facing up and wrapping … Has enough speed to trail tight ends, running backs and slot receivers … Keeps things in front of him in zone coverage, showing very good range and takes proper angles in pursuit … Quick to step up and plug the rush lanes, showing a good feel for the support lanes and will generally take good angles to get to the ball … Davis\' strength allows for him to display explosive hitting ability … Uses his hands effectively to shed blocks and will not hesitate to throw himself into the pile to sniff out the ball … Excellent blitzer who can come off the edge with explosion or use his club and rip moves to shed, stack and control to shoot the inside gaps.


[Edited on 13/4/2005 by Danno]

Thomas Davis
 

I am leaning towards Davis versus movin up to get DJ, and I am a huge DJ fan.

Thomas Davis
 

Ditto.

Thomas Davis
 

Read my lips: No New Trade-ups!

Thomas Davis
 

I\'m sort of 50/50 on Davis. I say we draft Carlos Rogers in the first round and try and snap up a Burnett or Blackstock in round two if they are available. I like Burnett just as much if not more than Davis at OLB and he will be cheaper due to second round price. If we want to take Davis and make him a SS and put Bellamy on the bench I am fine with that as long as we get a quality LB in the 2nd.

Thomas Davis
 

I would personally stick with the 16th pick and either take an OT or Davis. There are quality corners that will be available in the 2nd. I think once we trade Howard for another 2nd round pick then we should definitley take a CB and OT( if we go with davis) with those picks. Or maybe CB and another LB. I am not hard to please I just want to see them do something smart with all the options that may present themselves to us.

Thomas Davis
 

The only reason I want Carlos Rogers in the first round is because he will be a shut down corner in this league and it will give us tremendous leverage when dealing with McKenzie next year. Also, no one really knows if Davis can play OLB at this level. I would much rather get a player like Burnett or Blackstock in the second round who have played the position full time in college.
I also would not mind snapping up an Adam Terry in the second round if we can get an extra one. I hear he is a road grader at ROT and also knows how to not jump offsides.
Yes Victor Riley I am talking to you.

Thomas Davis
 

Perhaps similar to the way Boulware played in Seattle last season, although an opposite transistion.
but i like the dealing for simon idea, for a 2 and only a 2(unless they want the greatest quaterback of all time, then we can send him over too)

I know someone had a thread about the hardest position to play, does anyone feel the switch from lb to SS or SS to lb is more difficult than other positions? Anyone think Thomas Davis played enough of either to where a transistion would be more difficult?
Anyone feel SS is harder than LB?

Thomas Davis
 

If we draft Thomas Davis it should be for OLB.

Thomas Davis
 

The one thing that makes me optimistic about a guy like Thomas Davis is because the last time we heard a round 1 quality Safety moving to play LB in the pros it was Brian Urlacher. When not injured, Urlacher is a star.
I also am a big DJ fan, but reading comparisons to Brooks start to warm me up to Davis.

Thomas Davis
 

Why dont we pull another Ditka and Ricky, and trade all our picks for him? j/k, supprised noone has said this yet.
Is this guy this good (considering some of these trade-up idea\'s some people has came up with). Aint everyone noticed that were not that good when it come\'s to moving up. The player always ends up not being worth what we gave for them.

Thomas Davis
 

I think we need to address the linebacker situation before we address the cornerbacks. There are plenty of CB\'s who will be available in the 2nd and 3rd rounds that could have an impact. Our CB\'s played very well at the end of the season, the LB\'s didn\'t. I think Davis\' pure athleticism makes him a good choice ot OLB. However, I\'m still a huge proponent of moving up to get DJ.

Thomas Davis
 

Could be the next Sammy Knight!!