2009 MLB Draft Propsects the Chiefs should consider

As the college season is winding down and the mock Draft boards begin to light up with life again, I wanted to take an extensive look at the Middle linebacker prospects for the Draft.  There has been a lot of talk about the obvious candidates and our own “local” favorite, but I thought I would compare them to a few other picks to get a side by side view of how they have done this year.  Sure, you can pick this post apart however you please and debate the conferences the young men play in, but when the day is done, we have to give them a hand for a job well done nonetheless.

James Laurinaitis           Rank 1             Height: 6-3 | Weight: 240 | 40-Time: 4.60

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9-k7Czh_ww

Rey Maualuga              Rank 2             Height: 6-2 | Weight: 260 | 40-Time: 4.75

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WyMRq-7SLA

Darry Beckwith            Rank 3             Height: 6-1 | Weight: 232 | 40-Time: 4.60

No Video

Brandon Spikes             Rank 4            Height: 6-3 | Weight: 245 | 40-Time: 4.72

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J734kA0DISg

Dannell Ellerbe Rank 5             Height: 6-1 | Weight: 232 | 40-Time: 4.65

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBzGjO48TwA

Scott McKillop Rank 6             Height: 6-2 | Weight: 240 | 40-Time: 4.75

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhXvOxSW3BA

Daniel Holtzclaw           Rank 7             Height: 6-1 | Weight: 246 | 40-Time: 4.70

No Video

Rank by http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2009ILB.php

2008 Stats                       GP       So        A           TT        Int        Sa

James Laurinaitis           11        46        75        121      2          4

Rey Maualuga                  10        39        27        66        2          0

Darry Beckwith                 11        18        25        43        0          0.5

Dannell Ellerbe                11        13        9          22        1          1

Daniel Holtzclaw              11        46        49        95        1          1

Brandon Spikes               11        39        35        74        3          2

Scott McKillop                   10        72        34        106      1          4

James Laurinaitis           Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK

2005                12        9          0.5       0.0

2006                13        115      8.5       4.0

2007                13        121      8.5       5.0

Rey Maualuga              Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK

2005                12        37        4.5       1.0

2006                13        78        5.0       2.0

2007                13        79        10.5     6.0

Darry Beckwith            Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK

2005                11        8          0.0       0.0

2006                12        65        6.0       3.0

2007                14        65        7.0       2.0

Dannell Ellerbe             Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK

2004                RS - - - - -

2005                11        15        3.0       2.0

2006                10        7          0.0       0.0

2007                13        93        12.0     4.5

Daniel Holtzclaw           Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK            

2005                11        110      0.0       0.0

2006                12        114      3.5       1.0

2007                12        125      5.0       0.5

Brandon Spikes (JR)    Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK            

2006                9          15        0.0       0.0

2007                13        131      16.0     1.5

Scott McKillop             Career Statistics

Year                 GP       TKL     TFL     SACK            

2004                RS -----

2005                11        27        0.0       0.0

2006                12        29        2.0       1.0

2007                12        151      9.0       3.0

**Stats were taken from http://www.cfbstats.com/

A couple of schools are playing 12 games instead of 11 so I based this on the first 11 games.  *USC I think had like 17 bye weeks for the season so Rey M stats were for only 10 games. Also Scott McKillop stats are for only 10 games.

GP = games played

So = solo

A = assists

TT = total tackles

I = interceptions

Sa = sacks

James Laurinaitis     

James Laurinaitis is one of the best football players that will be available (regardless of position) in the 2009 NFL Draft. Laurinaitis is coming off back to back 100 plus tackle seasons, where he has won the Nagurski Award (2006), the Butkus Award (2007), and the Bednarik Trophy (2007). The senior inside linebacker is one of the most highly decorated defenders in the history of college football, and came back for his senior season to collect even more hardware. Laurinaitis is nothing short of a monster in the middle of the field. He possesses great sideline to sideline speed, so he always seems to be in on the tackle. Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote that he closes ground on tackles as well as any college linebacker you'll find. Through 46 games so far in his career, Laurinaitis has tallied 323 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. He registered a career high 19 tackles last season when the Buckeyes played Penn State. Laurinaitis is an excellent field general for his defense, equally adept against the run or the pass. He has intercepted 8 passes and broken up 6 in coverage, along with forcing 3 fumbles during his career. The 6'3", 240 pound Laurinaitis' combination of size, speed, strength, and instincts will make him an ideal fit for any NFL defense. Teams looking for help on the outside may even consider Laurinaitis for the strong or weak side, to strengthen their team. He should be a top 10 to 15 pick depending on team needs, but will have stiff competition from USC's Rey Maualuga for the top linebacker spot in this draft.

Rey Maualuga                      

Maualuga reminds many of another former USC linebacker, Junior Seau. Maualuga has great size and power. He may lack sideline to sideline speed, but does have good short-area quickness. He is surprisingly smooth for such a big linebacker. Maualuga has improved his instincts as a blitzer. Maualuga is a great middle linebacker prospect and in the right system could emerge as an even better pro than college player. Maualuga finished the 2007 season as USC's leading tackler with 79 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks. Maualuga had a great game in the 2008 Rose Bowl, including 3 sacks and an interception. He was named the game's "Outstanding Defensive Player." Maualuga is the most instinctual linebacker college football has seen in the last 5 years. He has shown an incredible knack for finding the ball early in the 2008 season. Maualuga sprained his knee in the fourth quarter of Southern California's loss to Oregon State. If he recovers from the injury and can remain productive without losing a step, he will be a top five selection in the 2009 draft.

Darry Beckwith         

Beckwith has had somewhat of a questionable past with injuries, although he played and started 12 games for LSU last season. Already in 2008, however, a knee problem has come up to bite him. Beckwith injured his knee in the Tigers' second game against North Texas and he will miss at least the SEC showdown against Auburn. Other than that, it's hard not to like everything about Beckwith. First of all, he has the experience to step in and make an immediate impact for some team at the next level. The linebacker was one of two LSU true freshmen to see action in 2005 before stepping into a starting role as a sophomore. What really makes scout's salivate is Beckwith's combination of size and speed, which has allowed--and will continue to allow--him to play either outside or inside. He is 6'1'' and 235 pounds and his 40 time is under 4.6. With a bit of work he could be able to get that under 4.5 in time for next year's NFL Combine; impressive stuff for a linebacker. If Beckwith gets healthy and remains so, he can sneak into the first round, but at the moment that looks like a big "if."

Dannell Ellerbe         

The Georgia Bulldogs have been clobbered by the injury bug this season and Ellerbe was not immune to it. The linebacker sprained a knee in a loss to Alabama and missed the next game, but he is back in action now. That's good news for the 'Dawgs, who reaped the benefits of having Ellerbe all season long in 2007. He led the team in tackles with 93, playing in all 13 games and making 11 starts. That led the SEC coaches and several publications to name him to the Pre-season All-Conference Team. Ellerbe has plenty of experience that he will bring with him to the next level; he played in 10 games as both a freshman and sophomore. He is not huge (6'1 and 234 pounds), but very strong and has 4.6 (4.5 at his very best) speed. It's difficult to outrun him or escape his grasp. Injuries should not be an extreme concern, although off-the-field problems relating to alcohol and theft will surely be noted by NFL scouts. At the moment Ellerbe is looking like a second-rounder in the 2009 draft. He is probably already as big as he can get with the frame he is, so he'll have to either get faster or really stand out in the second half of the season if he has first-round aspirations.

Brandon Spikes         

He started all 13 games at middle linebacker last year and picked up First Team All-SEC honors. Spikes is the anchor inside once again this season for a Florida defense that has been dominant through three games. If his stellar play continues throughout the season and he performs well at the NFL combine, Spikes could be gone in the first round come next April. That is, only if he decides to leave, since he is only a junior. While not an absolute athletic freak of nature like some at his position, Spikes has good size and adequate speed. A few more big plays involving fumbles, interceptions, and sacks would help his draft standing. He will make his living at the next level, however, with his instincts and toughness. Spikes is quick to the ball carrier and he is right at home in the hard hitting SEC. Perhaps his best quality is a unique ability to drop back into coverage and defend the pass remarkably well. If Spikes can somehow get his 40 time under 4.6 by next spring, he is a sure first-rounder.

Scott McKillop

In his first year as a starter, McKillop emerged as the leader of a unit that ranked fifth in the nation in total defense.  He is not the most physically imposing linebacker around, but he is a smart player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He is a blue collar type of player who will make up for any physical deficiencies with hard work and tenacity. That is not to say that McKillop is not a great athlete, but at 6-2 and 240 pounds, there are bigger and stronger middle linebackers. So far in 2008, McKillop is continuing to be a tackling machine. However, the Pitt team started the season struggling and for a player whose measurables will not blow anybody away at the combine, his production and exposure on the field will go a long way in determining how high he can climb up draft boards.

Daniel Holtzclaw       

He is a senior linebacker for the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Holtzclaw has started all 35 games at middle linebacker during his three-year EMU career. He has accumulated 330 tackles in his three seasons, good for 10th on the EMU career tackles list. He was a freshman All-American in 2005 and a first-team All MAC selection in 2007. He finished third in the MAC and tied for 21st in the nation with his 125 tackles. He has collected 8 career interceptions. Holtzclaw has a habit of dominating the MAC; he won Player of the Week honors after notching 13 tackles and a pick against Northern Illinois. Holtzclaw has been selected to the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award watch lists for the 2008 season.

So there you have it, the top prospects for the upcoming draft, if the Juniors decide to jump in.  Now I’ll add my two cents for what their worth.  I think all these young men are going to make a difference for whatever team picks them up.  Rey M is probably best categorized as a playmaker.  I am a little biased toward Holtzclaw, but I think this young man is going to be good.  When I think of an every down, every game player that can be counted on for every play, I can think of no other than Laurinaitis.  I believe the great MLB’s of the NFL were the blue collar guys you looked to for leadership and fortitude.  Out of all the prospects I believe James has the most and best of each, not to take away from the other guys.  If everything was rosy in April for the Chiefs I would take James Laurinaitis first and begin to build that elite defense that we so deserve around him for the next few years.  From a leadership standpoint and it has to be someone special for me to say this, but I think James could be another Willie Lanier type for the Chiefs.  We need the man who will man the middle for the next 10 years now.  Find the DE in free agency and get our elite MLB with the first round pick. 

It is my opinion that as far as money goes, a DE is going to command a much higher salary than a MLB in a top 5 pick.  Spend the money and make the decisions wisely this time.