Daily NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
by Ed Valentine on Feb 9, 2010 11:00 AM EST
in 2010 NFL Draft
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PrintAs we continue our series of NFL Draft prospect profiles, looking at players who might be of interest to our New York Giants, let's look at a versatile linebacker who has been drawing some attention.
Sean Weatherspoon of Missouri. There seem to be a lot of things to like about Weatherspoon, as you will find out when you read the scouting reports. He seems more suited to be an outside linebacker, though, and that makes me question whether or not he would be a smart early-round choice for GM Jerry Reese and the Giants.
Let's look a little closer at what Weatherspoon brings to the table.
Sean Weatherspoon Scouting Reports
Here is Walter Football's very encouraging report about Weatherspoon.
Weatherspoon is an extremely talented weakside linebacker prospect who brings the play-making ability and athleticism a lot of teams are looking for. His ability to blitz gives him scheme versatility, but he isn't a 3-4 outside linebacker. Weatherspoon is going to be drafted in the top 40 picks with the potential to go in the top 15 or 20.
ESPN grades Weatherspoon as a probable second-round pick. Here is some of their report.
Is blessed with an excellent combination of size and speed. Is thickly-built and has the top-end speed to play inside or outside depending on NFL scheme. ...
He is big and has adequate overall strength. However, we just don't see that viciousness in his game that is present in elite NFL LBs such as Ray Lewis. ...
Overall tackling skills are adequate-to-good but not great. ...
Good range in coverage. Shows a deep drop in zone. Has better-than-average instincts in coverage and does a nice job of reading the quarterback's eyes.
Draft Countdown has this to say about Weatherspoon.
Good size and bulk --- Very athletic --- Great speed --- Has a burst and really closes in a hurry --- Quick and agile --- Solid instincts --- Reliable tackler and a powerful hitter --- Has sideline-to-sideline range ... Could project either outside or inside at the next level --- A true play-maker who always seems to be around the action --- Fantastic all-around player with an outstanding blend of physical tools and elite intangibles.
Why Weatherspoon fits with the Giants
Simple. The Giants need talented, athletic linebackers. Inside or outside, the Giants just don't have enough of them. The guy projects as one of the best linebackers coming out of the draft.
Why the Giants should pass
Where would he play? Michael Boley is a big-money weakside linebacker, and the Giants appear committed to him. What the Giants really need is a middle linebacker, and there are questions about whether or not Weatherspoon can play there at the NFL level. Early in the draft there are likely to be other players available to the Giants who are more natural fits as middle linebackers.
(E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com)
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This pick
depends on our scheme.
Good range in coverage. Shows a deep drop in zone. Has better-than-average instincts in coverage and does a nice job of reading the quarterback’s eyes.
Has tampa 2 written all over it. But if he is going be used more in run support I say pass.
Yessir!
Kinda like Spikes, I think if they really target him with their 1st pick, the should trade back.
I like him a whole lot better then Spikes, he’s a lot faster. He’s got that ability to cover RB’s that the Giants haven’t had since ? at MLB. Spikes is a lot like AP…and AP couldn’t cover anything even at his best.
I’ve heard he’s a WLB or a ILB in a 3-4. BUt he was the unquestioned leader of his defense, so that seems like MLB material to me. He played a lot of the mike in Mizzou’s 4-2-5.
Dealing with those crazy offenses in the Big 12 too.
I’d much prefer him over someone like Spikes. I actually like Navorro Bowman better then Weatherspoon, but if they get either on the squad, I wouldn’t be against it.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Oh..
Apparently its not off the rocker to think he could be a cover 2 MLB
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Like the sound
of a player that overpursues. Much easier to teach a man to slow down versus speed it up.
speed and leadership
are 2 of Spoon’s best qualities.
I say I like Navorro Bowman better..but when you see that Bowman’s had some injury and off the field concern, it actually makes Spoon the better choice.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Not my first choice, I still like Darryl Washington better.
Everywhere Washington goes he seems to surprise people to the upside, in Texas vs the World he looked strong after being a top defender at Senior Bowl. (labeled by scouts the only true 3 down defender at LB)
Only problem is if he posts a blazing 40 at the combine, he could jump past a slew of other prospects right into round 1.
Nice Photo
Looks like Spoon is posing as your logo Ed.
I just want someone who's gonna fly around and smack the shit out of people.
Is that too much to ask for?
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
I like this guy in the 2nd round
Unfortunately we gave a big contract to Boley which kinda sucks because I believe this guy can be a better weakside LB than him. If we could get both Weatherspoon and McClain, in a few years our LB corps could be the one of the best in the league.
by mclaren_is_the_best on Feb 9, 2010 3:34 PM EST reply actions
tackling
and toughness worry me. Guys have been cut for less while UDFA’s have made 53 man rosters based on those two things alone.
yes
the viciousness comment didn’t please me
As soon as I read that his tackling abilities are only adequate
and he is not very aggressive I lost interest.
by giant fan since 57 on Feb 9, 2010 5:30 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, nothing like a guy with all the tools ...
to get there and make a play … who doesn’t. Hey, all prospect have holes, but not sure you can make someone aggressive who is not (see Kehl).
We need a stud at Mike and...
this guy’s not it. Great talent, looked great in the Senior Bowl, but how many square pegs are working with? We’ve got Sintim learning 4-3, Ross trying Safety, Canty learning 4-3 DT and Kiwi trying to remember where to line up or whether to bulk up or trim down.
BPA is great, but in Rd. 1 it pays to stick to BPA at position of need. We have little chance of Rolando McClain being there, No chance of Suh or McCoy and every Safety after Berry doesn’t grade that high. There is an embarrassment of wealth at DT in Rd. 1 and that may just tempt some GM’s into thinking they can wait. Our highest value player at #15 will likely be a DT, unless the miracle of miracles hands us McClain.
Now if we trade down, that opens up alot of talented players to us at less of a premium and an additional pick in Rd. 2.
Bleeding Blue since 1962
anger
With the news that philips is coming back ,I would love to see the gmen draft taylor to pair up with phillips. i would love to see mclain but realize it is unlikely. Would be interesting if we can trade back still get taylor and pick up an additional pick. phillips and taylor will allow us to compete with the passing offenses of the eagles, cowgirls, vikes etc. Goff with competetion from a later ml pickup like anger can hold it down for 2010. Shoot pierce might come back with something to prove. one last gasp from a aging warrior.
NO 2 mays
yea hes a workout warrior but his athleticism NEVER translated well on the field. He had an unbelievable defense playing in front of him his entire career and this disguised his poor decesion making and cover skills..drafting mays with a 1 or 2 rounder is far too risky.
taylor
I actually meant thomas but wrote mays. Thomas Philips will form quite a tandem
by blueforever on Feb 10, 2010 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
MLB...
I not sure we don’t have a MLB already, isn’t a little early to try and evaluate Goff?
The kid has played a few games, I do know in his first start, came with a late blitz and had a sack, in his second start, he had a pick…I’m not sure Pierce did that in 9 games, he should be gone.
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