Comments on: Manti Te’o will be a first-round pick, but some question his speed

By: cylondetector

cylondetector — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:35:57 +0000

Brandon Spikes anyone?

By: ErinAndrewsStopCallingMe

ErinAndrewsStopCallingMe — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 07:07:52 +0000

Because scouts always are….right? Right.

By: daddyb1gdrawz

daddyb1gdrawz — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 02:39:34 +0000

One of the most overrated players in this years draft. He was giftwrapped 5 interceptions and now he is a great linebacker.

By: allen227

allen227 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 23:47:58 +0000

Question his speed? How about the fact he makes play after play.

By: fightingirish48

fightingirish48 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 23:32:40 +0000

How about drafting based on game tape not 40 times. Plus the whole defense feeds off Te’o. He has that Ray Lewis factor were no one on the defense wants to be the guy to let him down.

By: contract

contract — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:46:05 +0000

If you have instincts, you can play.

By: toonsterwu

toonsterwu — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:38:13 +0000

As for Aaron Curry, it is my belief that he would be better off trying to latch onto a 3-4 team and playing inside, making the transition like AJ Hawk did (both guys were drafted high for the 4-3). I think Te’o has a bit more versatility than both guys in the 4-3, as I think he’s a better MIKE than either of those guys could be in the 4-3, but Te’o might be better off inside in a 3-4 as well.

At the end of the day, going to a team that fits and values him is more important than going high.

By: toonsterwu

toonsterwu — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:34:51 +0000

Quick comment – for all the comparisons to Brandon Spikes, there’s a couple points that need to be noted. First, Spikes didn’t go in the first. The implication of this article, and Schefter’s blurb, was that Te’o would go in the first, but might not go high.

2nd, and perhaps more importantly, Spikes fills a run-stuffing role in a 3-4. I believe that, in a 3-4, the inside backers lateral movement is as important as their vertical speed, and Spikes doesn’t fill the coverage role on that team for inside backers (Jerod Mayo has a lot more responsibility).

Look at recent draft history. Not many interior 3-4 backers go high.

This isn’t to say Te’o won’t be good (in fact, above, I said he’d be fine in the NFL). I don’t think the article implies that either. The article’s point is to discuss how safe Te’o is as a prospect, as risk is a big factor in the draft.

By: orangecrush1

orangecrush1 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:34:43 +0000

I have seen almost every game Manti has played at ND. He has improved every year. He is faster this year and can continue to improve. The comparisons are unfair. Curry was to play OLB or DE coming out. Never was he to play ILB. Also Notre Dame has nothing to do with Manti’s hype. Notre Dame has been down for so long that people thought they would never be good again. I was surprised that Teo even came to South Bend. And to the guy who says Notre Dame players make it to the NFL on hype. Rick Mirer was ROY. He played on a bad team. Some ND players don’t succeed in the NFL. But no more than any other school.

By: ron69

ron69 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:50:38 +0000

Scots have missed badly with non pass rushers LB’s last few years (Mclain, Sims, Hawk, Curry just to name a few) now they want to find weakness in Manti Te’o, you can’t blame them really.
I think he is not the next Patrick Willis or Ray Lewis but neither the next Mclain or Curry somewhere in between i guess.

By: gmenfan1982

gmenfan1982 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:30:02 +0000

To anyone saying Manti Te’o is overhyped, obviously you don’t watch Notre Dame football. I love how there are always people out there ready to find the first thin they can to knock a guy about. Go ahead everyone, pass on Te’o. I’d love to see one or my Irish greats get selected by my giants.

By: lks311

lks311 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:21:50 +0000

The silly season has already started where people begin looking at stats and not trusting what they see. He passes the eye test…that simple. All who pass on him will regret it.

By: giselleisasucubus

giselleisasucubus — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:47:13 +0000

Brandon Spikes was supposed to be slow too, but he is one of the best run stopping linebackers in the NFL. Te’o will be fine.

By: agcooney108

agcooney108 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:41:23 +0000

You can’t teach passion and heart with the skill we he has. Will be on of the best nfl players we’ll ever witness

By: cmgww

cmgww — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:29:27 +0000

He will have no problem in the NFL. He has “football instincts” that you can’t teach. He hasn’t been asked to cover a lot at ND this season, but play middle zone/run first, and “QB” the defense. He is a playmaker though. Plus, with so many defenses going to different looks, there will be a place for him. Look at the Colts who switched Robert Mathis to an OLB! He isn’t dropping back too much, but can if needed. And the Colts D has improved, maybe not on the stat sheet, but they are getting stops on 4th down b/c they aren’t playing Tampa 2 with the corners 10 yards off the WRs every down. My point is, Te’o is has a lot of intangibles, and a nose for the football. He will be stuffing a lot of RBs at the line of scrimmage on many Sundays in the coming years.

By: deltaoracle

deltaoracle — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:29:12 +0000

Here we go once more with people grading based on stopwatches, bench presses, and sprints done in shorts and t-shirts. What are we drafting for again? Oh yeah – guys who can play football.

By: bigbluenationdb

bigbluenationdb — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:19:41 +0000

Branding Spikes ran a 5.0 at the combine. He is a beast for the Pats. Old man London Fletcher probably runs high 4s and he is just fine.

Teo will be a beast.

By: true9erfan66

true9erfan66 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:08:22 +0000

So not at all saying for sure manti is gonna be Pat Willis cause that is best MLB in game. Off subject but Bowman & Willis can cover any RB or TE in league so it is possiable. Anyway if you guys remember right there was some critics on Willis. Saying he wasnt worthy of top half of first round pick. They questioned his speed and size. So niners took him at 11th and did what they thought was best. It worked out beautifully so just saying every player has critics. But the team just needs to evaluate and make own decision. If they think Manti will be a stud and worth first round pick. Than they need to do it. If they don’t then they take a risk that he doesn’t make them regret it for next 12-15 years.

By: bharr170

bharr170 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:03:36 +0000

Rey Maualuga 2.0

By: lawyermalloy

lawyermalloy — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:52:24 +0000

One thing is clear, if he wins the Heisman he’ll get the “hex” that goes with it; one max rookie contract and out!

By: fnc111

fnc111 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:38:42 +0000

Haters gonna hate. You the man Heismanti!

By: billsboy88

billsboy88 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:26:00 +0000

He’s a playmaker and a true leader. He’s exactly the kind of guy you want in the middle of your defense.

If he’s available when the Bills pick, no way they could pass on him. He’s who they need in the LB corp.

By: archetypeobscure

archetypeobscure — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:20:51 +0000

Stand up or sit down against ‘Bama. 50% of his draft stock.

By: EJ

EJ — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:18:14 +0000

Nick Barnett needs a better teammate than Kelvin Shepherd. Te’o would fit in well with the up and coming Bills D. Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Shawne Merriman, Chris Kelsay, Nick Barnett, Nigel Bradham, Stephon Gilmore, Ron Brooks, George Wilson and Jairus Byrd.

By: rajbais

rajbais — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:15:19 +0000

6’2″ 255 is his size???

Manti, lose 15 lbs before the combine and then you’ll run excellently!!!

6’2″ 240 is a decent enough of a LB size.

By: stampnhawk

stampnhawk — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:12:05 +0000

Nothing against the guy, but the example of Curry, a smart guy with seemingly all the tools, but couldn’t make the leap to an NFL defense. Also, the hype machine that comes out of South Bend can’t be discounted (though this guy has proven it) see Mirer, Rick, in so far as being hyped as a guaranteed first rounder.

Honestly, I see this guy more like a Lofa Tatupuu in size and style of game..a good player that also wasn’t “fast” but hard hitting and made it to the Pro bowl a few times, but was a second round pick (which means less hype and expect ration, which helps in devlopment). If this guy can get in the right situation and put it all together, he can be in a similar position in the next 5 years or less.

By: fakefranknunley

fakefranknunley — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:08:57 +0000

phillytj says: Dec 8, 2012 1:45 PM

Agreed…what a poor assessment. Can any current pro MLB cover Jimmy Graham or Darren Sproles?! NO!
—————————————————
Navarro Bowman & Patrick Willis.

By: toonsterwu

toonsterwu — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:05:36 +0000

I think Teo is going to be an excellent middle linebacker in the NFL for a long time, but I think the questions are legitimate as it relates to how high he’ll go in the draft. For a LB to go high, fair or not, he has to show elite physical tools, and even then, that might not be enough (Patrick Willis had excellent tools, but went outside the top 10). The position is just one where many teams feel like, unless a player is an elite talent (and Aaron Curry/AJ Hawk are examples of guys that went high and weren’t elite), teams feel like they can wait.

I think Teo has excellent instincts, good lateral movement, and solid speed, which should make him a capable 3-down linebacker, but I’m not sure he’s a guy you want running down the seams or in the flats. I hate comparing to potential HOF players, as it’s unfair to the prospect, but he might be similar to Ray Lewis in that, neither had great physical tools, but their ability to read and react were better than others. I think he can play 4-3 MIKE, but I wonder if he might be better in a 3-4 as an inside linebacker, where the long speed won’t be as important as his quickness, reaction time, and lateral movement.

By: knon2000

knon2000 — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:00:46 +0000

Man, I’d love it if the Steelers would get him, but I can’t see him lasting to pick 32

By: raidermanrock

raidermanrock — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:49:49 +0000

The Oakland raiders will take him . He will be a raider bank on it