Projected top LB's in 2013 draft. Who should we pick?

One last thought. Linebackers are more important than ever now to a defense. The NFL has evolved and TE's are a huge part of the offenses on the better teams. You really do need top-tier LB's in our scheme to defend these big/fast TE's.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Which one of these guys is the highest and also expected to go no later then 32?

I disagree BiH, you have to get his replacement now and start developing him. The new guy can play SaM until Urlacher goes. That's how GB always ends up w/Good QB's, they always have one waiting in the wings, They've even taken them in the 1st or 2nd during the iornhillbilly's prime.

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Yeah, this is exactly how I'd go about it. Give him year or two one the field playing next to Urlacher learning the responsibilities of MLB as well as SLB and shift him over when Urlacher steps down. Having Urlacher mentor him would be invaluable. What a news guys needs most to learn is the pass coverage responsibilities of the MLB in this defense. That's one area I think Urlacher is better at than any other MLB in the NFL.

Your point about how the Packers approach their QB's development is spot on. You don't wait until it becomes an imperative. Get the player beforehand and you may find a guy in the middle rounds who can develop better than a first rounder who is more ready now but has less upside.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

The one I wanted was drafted this past draft.

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Benji, success doesn't come from looking in the rear view mirror. The path lies ahead.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Benji, success doesn't come from looking in the rear view mirror. The path lies ahead.

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I know... just saying, I wanted that kid in a Bears uniform. A beast like Nigel Bradham learning from Urlacher and Briggs... he could have been unstoppable!

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

I know... just saying, I wanted that kid in a Bears uniform. A beast like Nigel Bradham learning from Urlacher and Briggs... he could have been unstoppable!

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Meh, Nigel was hardly a "beast" of a prospect and him going in the fourth kind of says that. A good one with a high ceiling, absolutely, but there are reasons why he fell with the incredible physical talent he has outside of the solid 2/3 depth of the position. There were easily five better 4-3 LB prospects than him and we actually have a guy whose college tape I find very similar in style in JT Thomas, in-house.

As for the potential 2013 class. It's just way too early. Last year Burfict was a lot of people best MLB if Monti stayed in school, and look how that turned out. I will, for shit and giggles give a list of risers who are primed for breakout seasons and others to watch not on that list.

First, a shout out to Illini stud Jonathan Brown. He is such an underrated player with an absolute ton to like about.

Next it's an oddly packed year of great LB tandems. Georgia's Jones and Ogletree, both Jrs, could make things very interesting if one or both decide to leave.

Minter and Mingo are primed to be the Nation's best duo and are both redshirt Jrs.

Zumwalt and Larimore highlight an up-and-coming and very underrated UCLA front seven. Larimore is the solid SR, Zumwalt -- a spectacular Jr.

Mosley and Johnson at Bama will push the LSU LB corps VERY hard in hopes of being the Nation's best.

Penn St has what I think is the best Sr-Sr duo in the country with Hodges and Mauti, who is fresh off a torn ACL. Both are very solid prospect who will be entering this draft.

Chase Thomas is the overshadowed and overlooked LB because of the much revered Skov at Stanford, and he stepped up big to replace Shane when he went down. He's mostly a 3-4 pass rush OLB spect, but I love him.

Underclassmen wildcards
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James Morris-Iowa
Max Bulloush-Michigan St.
Jelani Jenkins-Florida

Sr Risers
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Jeremiah Attaochu- Georgia Tech
Zavier Gooden- Mizzou
Bruce Taylor- UVA
Sean Porter- Texas A&M

Ric - I agree it's a need, but if Urlacher plays well next year and whoever the LT (or DE) is doesn't, do you still go with a LB on your first pick? I think you really have to see what happens to determine if LB is going to be your biggest need.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Which one of these guys is the highest and also expected to go no later then 32?

I disagree BiH, you have to get his replacement now and start developing him. The new guy can play SaM until Urlacher goes. That's how GB always ends up w/Good QB's, they always have one waiting in the wings, They've even taken them in the 1st or 2nd during the iornhillbilly's prime.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

I know... just saying, I wanted that kid in a Bears uniform. A beast like Nigel Bradham learning from Urlacher and Briggs... he could have been unstoppable!

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I thought maybe you were talking about Kuechley who I would have loved to have gotten. But another one will come along who could also be a good fit. Where was Bradham drafted and by who?

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Originally Posted by soulman

I thought maybe you were talking about Kuechley who I would have loved to have gotten. But another one will come along who could also be a good fit. Where was Bradham drafted and by who?

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4th, buffalo

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Originally Posted by matsellah

Any inordinately large Safeties projecting to be an LB in the NFL eligible next year?

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Well that's what DeCicco was in college but I think it's hoping for too much to see him develop well enough to be the next great Bears MLB. Stranger things have happened but I'm not looking for it to work out that way.

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Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

Meh, Nigel was hardly a "beast" of a prospect and him going in the fourth kind of says that. A good one with a high ceiling, absolutely, but there are reasons why he fell with the incredible physical talent he has outside of the solid 2/3 depth of the position. There were easily five better 4-3 LB prospects than him and we actually have a guy whose college tape I find very similar in style in JT Thomas, in-house.

As for the potential 2013 class. It's just way too early. Last year Burfict was a lot of people best MLB if Monti stayed in school, and look how that turned out. I will, for shit and giggles give a list of risers who are primed for breakout seasons and others to watch not on that list.

First, a shout out to Illini stud Jonathan Brown. He is such an underrated player with an absolute ton to like about.

Next it's an oddly packed year of great LB tandems. Georgia's Jones and Ogletree, both Jrs, could make things very interesting if one or both decide to leave.

Minter and Mingo are primed to be the Nation's best duo and are both redshirt Jrs.

Zumwalt and Larimore highlight an up-and-coming and very underrated UCLA front seven. Larimore is the solid SR, Zumwalt -- a spectacular Jr.

Mosley and Johnson at Bama will push the LSU LB corps VERY hard in hopes of being the Nation's best.

Penn St has what I think is the best Sr-Sr duo in the country with Hodges and Mauti, who is fresh off a torn ACL. Both are very solid prospect who will be entering this draft.

Chase Thomas is the overshadowed and overlooked LB because of the much revered Skov at Stanford, and he stepped up big to replace Shane when he went down. He's mostly a 3-4 pass rush OLB spect, but I love him.

Underclassmen wildcards
-------------------
James Morris-Iowa
Max Bulloush-Michigan St.
Jelani Jenkins-Florida

Sr Risers
---------
Jeremiah Attaochu- Georgia Tech
Zavier Gooden- Mizzou
Bruce Taylor- UVA
Sean Porter- Texas A&M

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Give me another Illinois LB like Butkus and I'd be a happy man. The name Jonathan Brown even sounds like a LB, LOL.