Top 10 Sleeper Inside Linebackers For The Bears In The 2016 NFL Draft
PLAYER OVERVIEW (A):
Luke Rhodes-William & Mary- Luke Rhodes was a two time team captain. Only 11 other players covering a 122 year history can ever say that at William & Mary. So clearly his leadership skills are without question. He’s also very fit. So you know he’s a hard worker in the gym and weight room. Very decorated career with a lot of accolades and production. A pretty good athlete to boot. Wowed scouts and coaches at the William and Mary pro day.
MEASUREABLES AND PRODUCTION:
Rhodes has tremendous physical ability. Very fit and built like a brick shit-house. hits like one too when he gets his pads square and centers his target up. Tireless worker in and around the weight room, and also on the practice field working on drills. All that spells out to a lot of explosion. Check out his pro day numbers here. The production matched the ability and work ethic too. Click here for his stats and bio.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Positives: First and foremost are his leadership skills. Natural born leader. Talks the talk, but also walks the walk. Tireless worker in the weight room, film room, and the practice field. Plays with discipline and intensity. Has the attention of his teammates when he speaks and lines them up right. He’s assignment sound as you would expect. Scraps down the line well and fills the holes from would be cut back runs. has good awareness in pass coverage too so can play on all downs. Without a doubt would contribute on special teams day one. Would be a tough cut from anyone’s roster and for sure from this one as Rhodes has all the traits this coaching staff desires in their players.
Negatives: Not too many holes in Rhodes game. A couple technique things with his hands and maybe doesn’t play with enough bend when rushing from the outside which I don’t expect much of from him. Rhodes can be that future field general in the midle of the Bears front 7 to take over once Jerrel Freeman and Danny Trevathan either leave the team,get cut, or retire.
PLAYER OVERVIEW (B):
De’Vondre Campbell-Minnesota- De’Vondre Campbell is a tall rangy long limbed linebacker with good meat on his bones and the frame to add more. Might be a better pro than a collegian. has the physical traits to squeeze more production out of him. Likely underutilized at Minnesota. was third in tackles with 92 in his senior season and led with 4 sacks.
MEASUREABLES AND PRODUCTION:
Campbell Did very well at both the combine and pro day. Ran a sub 4.6 40 and and showed explosion on his jump metrics and very fluid in his drills. Had excellent agility measureables as well at his pro day. See his measureables here. Had very good production too, but could have had more and may do better as a pro. Click here to see his career numbers and bio.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Positives: Great size to speed ratio allows Campbell to convert speed to power and vice versa. Athletic enough to compete with the best athletes at the next level. As much lateral speed and quickness as straight speed. Very quick twitch which is rare for a man of his size. Moves like a much smaller man. Can play inside or out. Strong enough to set an edge. Uses his length to keep blockers off of his frame and uses his hands well to gain an advantage in his stack and shed game. Strong in pursuit and has the speed to chase running backs down from behind. Is a physical hitter and can also rush the passer a little and has an idea of how to factor in the blitz game.
Negatives: Campbell clearly needs coaching. Does not have the instincts to play inside linebacker at the next level as of yet. Over runs plays and allows himself to be easily blocked by running in the direction linemen want him to go in. Susceptible to cut-backs, and mis-direction in the run game and play action in the passing game. Needs to live in the film room and the practice field working on his technique.
Next: Top 10 Sleeper Wide Receiver For The Bears In The 2016 NFL Draft