2011 Senior Bowl: Mason Foster 'Generating Buzz'

I profiled Washington outside linebacker Mason Foster a few days ago, a player some think could be a second-round target for the linebacker-needy New York Giants. Well, it is worth noting that Foster has been turning some heads this week during practice for the 2011 Senior Bowl (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, NFL Network).

From the Seattle Times:

Washington linebacker Mason Foster is generating the same kind of Senior Bowl buzz that Donald Butler did a year ago. Wes Bunting, draft analyst for the National Football Post, said Foster is getting a lot of attention from NFL teams and is a solid candidate to be chosen in the second, perhaps third round.

He is versatile enough to play in either a 3-4 scheme as an inside linebacker or an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.

Linebackers don't get as much attention early in the week as other positions simply because tackling is so very important to that position, and tackling is something that isn't allowed during these practices.

"That kind of robs him of what he does best," said Rob Rang, draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com. "You saw the instincts. You saw the quick hands to get off of blocks. You saw the athletic ability to drop into coverage. He does all those different so I think that he's going to be successful as well."

It will be a surprise if he's still available after the third round, and he could go as high as the second.

From Yahoo! Sports:

Washington's Mason Foster had my eye Thursday; I think he could be a very good linebacker in zone defenses where nickel is frequently used. He reminds me of Indianapolis' Clint Session in that he's as good going backward as he is running downhill. Not an incredibly physical guy, not a dominant tackler, but he's good at covering tight ends on crossing patterns, passes off receivers well in zone, and he has excellent redirect when the play goes away from him.

Hmmm ... zone defenses where nickel is frequently used. Does that sound familiar?

Here is another profile about Foster. I am more intrgiued by this guy the more I read.