Would Manti Te'o (Notre Dame's LB) be worth pursuing in the draft?

I watched him play on Saturday. He a great combination of talent, high football IQ & heart. He looks like an incredible athlete who could be worth a look as Urlacher's eventual replacement. I realize we would probably have to trade up to get him. What do you guys think?

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Skill-Set Summary: Te'o is a well-rounded linebacker. He does everything well and doesn't have any flaws in his game. Te'o is strong at the point of attack gainst the run. He has good instincts to get in position to make tackles and be around the ball. Te'o is a natural at reading his keys and quickly determines what the offense is setting up to do. His run defense is advanced, and at the next level, he should immediately be a good run-plugger.

In the college game, Te'o is a good pass defender. He splits time between blitzing and dropping into coverage. His ability to do both makes it harder on offenses and lets Te'o provide more mismatches. He functions well in space and can cover ground in zone coverage. As a pass rusher, Te'o has nice blitzing ability and closing speed. He has the speed and athleticism to to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL.

Te'o is an ideal NFL middle linebacker who can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense in the NFL. He has bulk and strength to hold up on the inside of the 3-4 with the speed to play in the middle of a 4-3 defense. Te'o will enter the next level very experienced and should be able to start immediately.

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http://sigroup.files.wordpress.com/2...wood_promo.jpg

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LINK to the article

Manti Te'o Emerges As Heisman Trophy Candidate


Te'o has been the driving force behind the best Notre Dame defense in at least a decade, leading the Irish to their 4-0 start and their No. 9 ranking. He has played a role in seven of the 13 turnovers forced by the Irish, intercepting three passes, recovering two fumbles and hurrying the quarterback twice on passes that were intercepted.

Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco believes the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Te'o is the finest football player in college, saying he can power his way through blocks, but moves like a much smaller player.

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Will he be around 32 in the draft? he's gotten a ton of hype.

Don't say a college athlete is Urlacher. He is/was one of a kind. This kid might have potential, but any and all comparisons to Urlacher should be halted until he plays against the MEN of the NFL. Compared to them, he is facing off against boys as most college athletes will never be heard from ever again.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Will he be around 32 in the draft? he's gotten a ton of hype.

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The Bears will have to decide if they need a high quality guy like, Brian Urlacher, Singletary, or Butkus to carry on the Chicago Bears tradition of excellence at LB. They can get guys like Roach for a song and a dance (Roach was an UFA).

My gut feeling is that nobody taken later in the 1st round will replace Brian Urlacher. Brian was a 9th overall pick. Butkus was a 3rd overall pick in the 1st round. To find Brian's replacement we're probably going to have to trade up. Or do the J'Marcus Webb equivalent at LB. Grab anyone and try to make him work.

The kid is a stud, but unless we tank this year like we did last year, he will not be available. That said, "The future is promised to no one", so, he could either get hurt or we could suffer major injuries that could cost us our season, so anything is possible.

To answer your question though, if he is there when we pick and he is not working his way through some major injury then yea, I send the pick to the podium with the fastest guy in the war room.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Don't say a college athlete is Urlacher. He is/was one of a kind. This kid might have potential, but any and all comparisons to Urlacher should be halted until he plays against the MEN of the NFL. Compared to them, he is facing off against boys as most college athletes will never be heard from ever again.

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I agree, but if we're wanting to have a decent shot at getting a stellar replacement for Brian, we'll probably have to spend a high round draft pick. There are exceptions. Singletary was a 2nd round pick. Briggs a 3rd round pick. So it's not impossible to land a solid LB in the 2nd or 3rd round.

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Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I agree, but if we're wanting to have a decent shot at getting a stellar replacement for Brian, we'll probably have to spend a high round draft pick. There are exceptions. Singletary was a 2nd round pick. Briggs a 3rd round pick. So it's not impossible to land a solid LB in the 2nd or 3rd round.

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By all means, we must draft a replacement. Just saying do not say he is a young Urlacher until he proves it at the big boy table

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

By all means, we must draft a replacement. Just saying do not say he is a young Urlacher until he proves it at the big boy table

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Crabby pants! He did place the "young" qualifier in there ya know, as if to say a good college LB like Urlacher was. Hell Urlacher was not like Urlacher yet (college days) either.:lol-027:

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Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

Crabby pants! He did place the "young" qualifier in there ya know, as if to say a good college LB like Urlacher was. Hell Urlacher was not like Urlacher yet (college days) either.:lol-027:

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Not crabby pants at all ;)

I just dont like college kids being compared to NFL greats before they take a snap in the NFL. Happens way too often and those kids bomb.

But I thought he was a young (insert name here). LOL

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Not crabby pants at all ;)

I just dont like college kids being compared to NFL greats before they take a snap in the NFL. Happens way too often and those kids bomb.

But I thought he was a young (insert name here). LOL

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Man, you guys are a tough audience today.

Just for you Benj, I went back and edited my OP to be politically correct :smile:.

On a serious note, I do agree that kids all too often bomb after getting the college hype. I agree 100% with your point. I'm just trying to think of who we should pursue as the next youngster to continue the Chicago Bears excellence at the LB position. And I realize we may not value the position as much as in the past decades. Urlacher pre-dates the Lovie Smith & Jerry Angelo era. I have no idea of how important Emery values the position.

Urlacher cost us a 1st round 9th overall pick of the draft. Butkus was 1st round 3rd overall pick of the draft. Singletary was a 2nd rounder. I don't have a clue as to where Manti Te'o would go, but he sure looks like somebody to consider drafting if at all possible.