James Laurinaitis: Should be our LB

[dbolan]

This guy has better stats than Curry or Maualuga and I like his "strengths" more so than the others.

Strengths:
Adequate size and bulk...Good athlete...Very good speed...Excellent instincts with a top-notch football IQ...Reliable tackler...Has sideline-to-sideline range...Reads and reacts quickly...Smooth with fluid hips and terrific awareness in coverage...Good hands...Does a real nice job of avoiding blockers and working through traffic...Super active with a great motor...Offers some versatility...Intense and competitive...Has a lot of experience...Durable...Smart...Very mature...Outstanding work ethic...Team and community leader...Was extraordinarily productive.

Weaknesses:
Needs to be more physical...Struggles when he has to take on and shed blockers...Can be too aggressive at times...Doesn't have elite strength and power...Not real explosive or a big hitter...Average pass rusher / blitzer...Doesn't make many impact plays...Frame is close to being maxed out...Surrounded by lots of talent...May not have much upside.

Career StatisticsYearGPTKLTFLSACKPBUINT20051290.50.000200 6131158.54.0252007131218.55.0122008131307.04.042To tals5137524.513.079

[KCCAT21]

I think any of the 3 would make a immediate impact on our team. And wanting the best of both worlds, it wouldbe great to be able to trade down and pick up another pick or 2 for them.

[KristofLaw]

I don't believe Laurinaitis to be a reach anywhere inside the top 6-15 picks but alot of analysts and teams would. The key ingredients I see out of him are his drive, his heart, his leadership potential, and many of these are the same qualities which Maualuga possesses. While Maualuga may possess a slightly greater skill-set he also has a small amount of criticism regarding his durability. In either case, I believe these to be the top-two prospects at the LB postion. I also believe, both would operate in either a 3-4 or 4-3 more than adequately.

[Coach]

I am in Buckeye country all of the time. A lot of Buckeye fans aren't sold on him. If they aren't sold, then I'm definitely not sold. I see Vernon Gholston part II. Stay away from Laurinaitis.

[theaxeeffect4311]

I am in Buckeye country all of the time. A lot of Buckeye fans aren't sold on him. If they aren't sold, then I'm definitely not sold. I see Vernon Gholston part II. Stay away from Laurinaitis.

whoa whoa whoa.

Vernon Gholston was a workout warrior. The only reason he shot up draft boards was because he excelled at the Combine. He put up a sick 40 time for a DE, and benched a ridiculous amount. That being said, if anyone was to be a Gholston part II, it would be Brian Orakpo, the workout warrior of this draft. The only difference this season is that whoever chooses Orakpo looks to use him as a DE, not a rushing OLB in a 3-4.

Laurinaitis will be good.

[Big Daddy Tek]

0% chance he is available in the 2nd round.

and no LB is worth the #3 overall pick, especially when they're projected a mid to late 1st rounder.

Aaron Curry is EASILY good enough for a #3 pick. I dont think most people understand how good he is. As far as this guy saying Laurinaitis is better than Curry. I want to smoke the same sh!t that he is! Laurinaitis is Andy Katzenmoyer all over again! Dont get it twisted, I want a tackle at # 3, but if not, Im fine with Curry, he's amazing!

[balto]

Why not trade down to around 7-10th and gain 2 2nd round picks (this years and 2010's)

Then with those extra two 2nd rounders we trade BACK into the first around 20th or so and do this.

1)7th- Rey Maualuga
1)20th- James Laurinaitis

If the Raiders or another team want Crabtree bad enough giving up two 2nd rounders is really not that much. Plus we would keep our 2nd rounder and we could focus on the Oline with it hehe.

BTW: the 20th pick is the Lions second pick and I'm sure they would give up 1 pick to get more picks out of it IMO.

[yashi]

Why not trade down to around 7-10th and gain 2 2nd round picks (this years and 2010's)

Then with those extra two 2nd rounders we trade BACK into the first around 20th or so and do this.

1)7th- Rey Maualuga
1)20th- James Laurinaitis

If the Raiders or another team want Crabtree bad enough giving up two 2nd rounders is really not that much. Plus we would keep our 2nd rounder and we could focus on the Oline with it hehe.

BTW: the 20th pick is the Lions second pick and I'm sure they would give up 1 pick to get more picks out of it IMO.

if we have the 7th and 20th picks and take 2 MLBs I think I'd lose my mind. That could potentially be Raji and an LT, or maybe Raji and Alex Mack. I really want us to rebuild from the inside out.

[balto]

I agree, but if we go to a 3-4 then we would be hurting BAD on LB's.

I'm with you I think even if we went to a 3-4 we could grab Raji (play NT) at 7 and James at 20

[jmlamerson]

I agree, but if we go to a 3-4 then we would be hurting BAD on LB's.

I'm with you I think even if we went to a 3-4 we could grab Raji (play NT) at 7 and James at 20

But we can solve our LB problems a whole lot easier in FA than our DL problems if we go to a 3-4. As much as I like Haynesworth, he isn't really a NT and he might not want to come here if we want him to play NT. And our DEs are way to small to play DE in a 3-4. Heck, Dorsey may be too small to play DE in a 3-4.

If we switch to a 3-4, we'll need to invest some pretty high picks at the NT/DE positions. Not to mention that we'll still need to rebuild our OL. We're just going to have to go to FA for our LBs in that circumstance.