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Not that I want us to draft any of these players (Conner Williams OT, Jefferson ILB, Deshaun Elliot S, Hood NT), but just weird that some people keep bringing them up, and yet I have not heard anything about their pro days and who was there scouting them.
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I wouldn't mind at all if we got Jefferson from Texas. -
Athletically, he fits the profile that we are looked for to a "T." However, I've heard too many reports saying that they don't think the kid truly loves football. Linebacker is one of those positions where being passionate is a job requirement, and if the kid doesn't have that, no amount of athletic ability would make it a good pick. Hopefully our front office is able to sniff that out one way or another if they meet with the kid.Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.
Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.
We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.
We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.Comment
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OLB
MALIK JEFFERSON
Texas Big 12
Combine Results
4.52 SEC
40 yard dash
27 REPS
Bench Press
36.0 INCH
Vertical Jump
125.0 INCH
Broad Jump
6'3"
Height
32"
Arm Length
236LBS.
Weight
9 5/8"
Hands
Overview
Texas' landing of Jefferson was seen as a turning point for the program, as he was the High School Butkus Award winner as the nation's top linebacker, as well as a Parade All-American and top-20 overall recruit from Mesquite. Longhorn coaches could not wait to get him on the field in 2015, as the true freshman's long, lean build, exceptional athleticism, and quickness allowed him to start nine of 11 games played (he missed time with an ankle injury). He started with a bang, picking up nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, in the season opener against Notre Dame. The Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, and consensus Freshman All-American finished the year with 61 tackles, seven for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Jefferson struggled with a concussion as a sophomore, starting in nine of 11 games again but still garnering second-team All-Big 12 accolades by league media (62 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups). He was healthy enough to start all 13 games in 2017, leading the Longhorns with 110 tackles (10 for loss, four sacks) and earning second-team Associated Press All-American status and first-team all-conference accolades.
Analysis
Strengths
Built like an NFL linebacker with a long, athletic frame and good musculation. Explosive with loose hips and good speed. Has ability to range far and wide for the tackle. Covers ground quickly when scraping. Can access a second gear when he commits to the pursuit. Substantially more productive when Texas put him in position to think less and just play. Tackles improved from 60 to 104 under new defensive coordinator. Reactive quickness and agility to spring suddenly into runners trying to burst by him. Has recovery speed to make up for slow diagnosis or mistakes in reads. Can be a nemesis as A-gap blitzer or off the edge. Possesses man cover talent. Crowds and squeezing routes. Has seven career passes defensed. Strength to re-route tight ends off the snap.
Weaknesses
Plays through a straw and is lacking in instincts. Fails to feel climbing blocks and stay ahead of the traffic in his flow. Pursuit leverage inconsistent. Runs himself out of runs fits too often. Doesn't play as fast as he can. Needs to play with better knee bend. Waits on second level rather than tilting downhill and bringing it to blockers. Passive taking on blocks. Ducks head into contact and allows blockers to swallow him. Gets pushed around more than he should. Missing aggressiveness and alpha quality. Inconsistent coming to balance as open field tackler. Slides off tackles rather than wrapping and running feet to completion. Movement in space as zone defender can be undisciplined and inefficient.
Draft Projection
Round 3
Sources Tell Us
"He was better this year because Todd Orlando (defensive coordinator) had him attack and run instead of trying to process and react. I see him as a better tester (Combine) than player." -- AFC regional scout
NFL Comparison
Jordan Hicks
Bottom Line
Jefferson has the desired combination of height, weight, speed that teams covet and draft, but his career production never matched his athletic traits. He lacks the instincts and play demeanor to be a middle linebacker and could move to a weakside linebacker spot in a 4-3 to take advantage of his athletic gifts. Jefferson has athletic talent, but needs to play with more of a glass-eating mentality to fit in with NFL linebackers. He has eventual starter talent and should become a very good core special teamer.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/malik-jefferson?id=2560171Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.
Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.
We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.
We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.Comment
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Sounds like a guy who needs some camp work.
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If we miss on ILB in 1st Jefferson would be welcome in the 2nd. Guys that athletic and that speed gets guys drafted earlier then others. I'm not sure he makes it to 60.Comment
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