2011 Draft: Jeremy Beal, LBer

[WarnerHOF]

For some reason, I keep thinking Will Davis when I read the scouting reports.

 

[Mitch]

For some reason, I keep thinking Will Davis when I read the scouting reports.

That's an interesting analogy, WarnerHOF. I think Davis a better athlete...but could use some of Beal's tenacity.

 

[Hypothesis]

The best thing Beal has going for him is he dares to be very good. In that way he is relentless.

Yet, when you match his game tapes versus the other edge rushers, you see a tanglible drop-off in athleticism and edge speed. He just doesn't have it ahtletically...mentally yes...emotionally yes...but athletically, no. Not quick or fast enough.

He battles like hell, and you love that about him.

But, take Ryan Kerrigan...while he's not the fastest quickest guy around, he's a bull who blows up double teams (and I mean blows up)---and he has the ability to get underneath and twist blockers and divert right to the ball. Beal lacks this. He gets held up too much and he doesn't shed fast enough, nor does he turn the edge like a pro.

The Woodley comparison can only be in terms of tenacity, because Woodley brings brute strength and a burst to the ball that Beal can only dream of.

Now...what intrigues me more than a little is Joe projecting him as an ILB. Beal is strong minded and relishes contact. Who knows? Not sure what his range would be at ILB...and you have to question whether he could ever be a factor in pass coverage...but hey, as I said, who knows?

No, he's not quite as quick or as fast as the top edge rushers in this draft, but I think you are vastly underestimating his speed and athleticism and even his "brute" strength. He constantly blew up double teams in both '09 and '10. Especially in '10, if he wasn't getting the sack, he was almost always in the QB's face or collapsing the pocket.

As for having to question whether he could ever be a factor in pass coverage...again, vastly underestimating. When he dropped against backs and TE's, he blanketed them. Thing that makes him effective even against much faster backs, is he has exceptional reaction time and he takes great angles. Granted, he'd probably get blown up in man coverage, but the Pittsburgh defense Horton is going to install here doesn't ask for their LBs to play man. They drop into zone, which Beal plays in Oklahoma.

Now I'd love to have him play SILB for us, I'll give ya that. I think while he may not have that "wow" factor or potential that Quinn, Miller, Houston have, he's an exceptional football player who is going to make the teams that passed on him regret not picking him.

 

[Cardiac]

This guy is a maniac, maniac on the field. And he plays like he has never played before...

Very clever. I couldn't let this go unnoticed. Jennifer is happy to be remembered.

 

[joeshmo]

Now...what intrigues me more than a little is Joe projecting him as an ILB. Beal is strong minded and relishes contact. Who knows? Not sure what his range would be at ILB...and you have to question whether he could ever be a factor in pass coverage...but hey, as I said, who knows?

Just so you get a better understanding on my list here is what I look for in a SILB. My top 3 things are Fearless, Good Base, and Smart. I don't even need to know what the kids 40 time will be. He can run a 5.0 40 for all I care. The SILB comes off the field more then any other position on the D, they get the fewest amount snaps, they are taken out on 3rd downs and obvious passing situations. So coverage skills is pretty low on my list, how they play in the proverbial phone booth is what I care most about.

That is why I like Kelvin Sheppard the best. He has all three traits I like best plus he excels and loves to play in the phone booth. Where Irving has all three skills but doesnt play as well inside the phone booth. Would love either player but have to give the nod to Sheppard in the regard. The added 10-15 pounds of muscle compared to Irving doesnt hurt either. If Irving shows up to the combine next week closer to 245 I might be inclined to look at the ranking again.

Fearlessness is exactly why I have McCarthy on the list, he is the most fearless of them all IMO.

Take Brandon Spikes for example. Everyone dropped the kid down a lot because they said he couldn't cover and he ran a horrible 40 time. But he was Fearless, has a good base, and played smart within his scheme. Patriots take him and he looked great and looks to be a young mainstay for that D for some time to come.

 

[joeshmo]

This board hates Greg Jones

Not a SILB prospect. True 4-3 guy IMO.

Plus his team made him add weight to get to 240 pounds, where he played at 230 the year before and dominated. He just cannot carry that weight without losing his speed, agility, and over all effectiveness.

 

[SuperSpck]

Updated w/ combine numbers.
He did himself no favors.
Joe may be right, if he wants to salvage stock he may have to show up to his pro day lighter.