Arizona linebacker Brooks Reed will be the newest member of the Green Bay Packers, if you believe every idiot with a mock draft.
It may not be unanimous, but Reed is the player most often associated with the Packers’ No. 32 pick. The team needs a pass-rushing, 3-4 outside linebacker and Reed fits the bill, but not everyone is sold on him.
Reed played well at Arizona, recording 47 tackles and 6.5 sacks his senior season — numbers that aren’t exactly eye popping. He boosted his draft stock tremendously after the season, though, with a strong combine and Senior Bowl performance. That alone seems to have moved him into the first-round conversation, which may be somewhat high according to Wes Bunting.
The biggest reason why I don’t consider Reed an upper echelon prospect and pass rusher is because of his lack of fluidity and change of direction skills off the edge. On tape when he does reach the corner he lacks the ability to drop his pad level and really flatten out on the corner, consistently allowing his pad level to remain high, and opposing blockers can easily push him past the QB. Thus, he makes a lot of his plays on the edge due to second effort.
Plus, on tape he never really changes directions as pass rusher. Reed is a linear guy who can be effective with his first step off the snap or when shooting the C-gap inside of the opposing tackle and will work a spin move off his rush. However, overall on tape I don’t see any resemblance of the ability to work a sudden up and under or inside out move in order to get his blocker off balance and then accelerate.
That’s why guys who run mock drafts aren’t NFL general managers.
Thankfully, [intlink id=”20″ type=”category”]Ted Thompson[/intlink] and not some jerkoff at SB Nation will make the ultimate decision on Reed. While Ted will be looking for another pass rusher, he’s not going to reach for a guy in the first round if that guy doesn’t have the tools.
With Reed, it remains to be seen if the Packers are as high on him as everyone else.
For Brooks Reed highlights, visit the forum.
Last updated on October 7th, 2015 at 02:41 pm
Reed looks pretty good on tape actually. but I do agree with the assessment that he may be more of an inline tackler (think ILB) rather than a ‘moves guy’ OLB prospect. His teammate, Ricky Elmore, has better technique but not the short speed that Brooks possesses. However, Ricky looks decent against the run. Bottom line is that both guys are ST players who could develop into decent or very good LB prospects with some seasoning. Their ‘Swarm Defense’ they played in college seems very simplistic in scheme and they both executed their jobs well. I will state that Ricky Elmore is heavily promoting himself online and is taking advantage of the 3-4 technique training of one Clay Matthews Sr. however.
Ultimately, I believe the Packers sink their teeth into a more secure pick in Ben Ijalana or Mike Pouncey (versatile, high IQ O-Linemen) or a DE (Clayborn, Wilkerson, Heyward, etc.).
I just don’t see why everyone one has him at pick 32. He’s always been to me a 2-3 round pick.
he would fit in good with our long haired sasquatches!
Agreed, Reed is over hyped. What did he do in College that’s so special?
hold on..the same Wes Bunting who critiqued Reed also has Torrey Smith ranked number 9 behind Niles Paul and Leonard Hankerson, and had Ryan Kerrigan ranked at 9 behind Christian Ballard and Jabaal Sheard? maybe we should do some research into whos analyzing before we go and follow it. Ohh and by the way Wes Bunting is not a GM either so by going by what Wes says isnt exactly a reliable source either. For those who question his ability to transition to the 3-4 due to his lack of athleticism, should as Arizona why they offered him a full scholorship to play runningback before switching to defense. @Trade rumors site, i know it sounds generic but what exactly did Clay Matthews do in college thats so special? Food for thought ladies and gentlemen.
Not drafting Reed (along with Collins injury) likely killed the second superbowl run. Hopefully the Pack does better this year, or the dynasty we were hoping for isn’t going to happen.