NFL Draft — Linebackers

Athlon Sports’ 2008 NFL Mock Draft and Top 100 prospect database will be unveiled on Friday, Feb. 15. Until then, we will be taking a look back at the past five NFL Drafts — with a position-by-position breakdown of the players taken in the Top 100 and first round, along with a sneak preview of the 2008 NFL Draft class.

Operation Linebacker

Referred to by many names — primarily Will, Mike and Sam (which is quarterback code for weakside, middle and strongside) — and relied on to do many jobs, linebackers are at the core of any good defense.

Whether they are lined up on the outside or inside, in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme, linebackers must be able to shed blocks, chase down ball-carriers from sideline-to-sideline, tackle, blitz quarterbacks and run stride-for-stride with tight ends and running backs in pass coverage. There are very few players who do all of those chores well. But those who do usually have a disruptive impact on nearly every offensive play.

Throughout history, dominant middle linebackers have led Super Bowl winning defenses. The 1960’s Packers, 1970’s Steelers, 1980’s Bears and modern Ravens had their defensive plays called in the huddle by Ray Nitschke, Jack Lambert, Mike Singletary and Ray Lewis, respectively. Along with talent and toughness, all great middle men have natural leadership skills and an aura of intensity that both teams are aware of.

Meanwhile, since the early 1990’s revolution led by the Giants’ Lawrence Taylor, teams have been searching for one of the select few outside backers with the ability to carry their stop-units by terrorizing opposing quarterbacks off the edge. Lately, ‘tweener college defensive ends have been morphing into NFL outside linebackers. Some might even say that the all-around outsider — like the Bucs’ Derrick Brooks or the Patriots’ Adalius Thomas — is taking a backseat to the pass-rush specialist on Draft Day.

The 2008 NFL Draft linebacker class is led by two versatile prospects (and Senior Bowl standouts) from historic linebacker schools — USC’s newest “No. 55” Keith Rivers and Penn State combo “Linebacker U” star Dan Connor. But those are just two of the many names that will be called early on Draft Day (April 26-27). Defensive coaches around the league are always eager to add more young legs to their side of the ball. On average, there are more linebackers selected in the Top 100 than any other position.

	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
1st Round	4	6	4	2	2
Top 100	12	17	15	15	16

Over the past five years, an average of 15 linebackers have been selected in the Top 100 picks — which is roughly the first three rounds — of the NFL Draft. Of those, an average of three linebackers per year have been first-round draft choices.

The supply and demand for linebackers remains constant. But it helps that the transition for linebackers is much easier, relatively speaking. While veteran backers are able to read opposing offenses and predict what may happen before it actually does, young backers are able to react faster on the field. By its simplest definition, a linebacker's job is to find the ball-carrier, chase him down and make the tackle. A good rookie can do that right away, making linebacker a fairly safe position to draft early.

2007	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Patrick Willis, Ole Miss Lawrence Timmons, Florida State Jon Beason, Miami Anthony Spencer, Purdue	49ers (11) Steelers (15) Panthers (25) Cowboys (26)
Top 100	Paul Posluszny, Penn State David Harris, Michigan Justin Durant, Hampton Quincy Black, New Mexico Buster Davis, Florida State Stewart Bradley, Nebraska Michael Okwo, Stanford Anthony Waters, Clemson	Bills (34) Jets (47) Jaguars (48) Bucs (68) Cardinals (69) Eagles (87) Bears (94) Chargers (96)

Willis exploded onto the scene early in his first NFL season — leading the league in tackles (174 total), being named Defensive Rookie of the Year and being voted to the Pro Bowl following his 2007 campaign. Willis should continue to improve under the direction of 49ers defensive assistant coach Mike Singletary and Ray Lewis' former Ravens defensive coordinator, current San Fran head coach Mike Nolan. The 2006 Butkus Award winning middle linebacker has a killer instinct and hits like a sledgehammer. If he has a weakness, it is in pass coverage. But that should improve with more game experience and film study.

Another former Butkus Award winner, Posluszny was off to a fast start (26 tackles in 3 games) at middle linebacker for the Bills before suffering a season-ending forearm injury. Poz also injured his right knee in the Orange Bowl against Florida State as a junior at "Linebacker U" — where he played alongside 2008 prospect Dan Connor.

One of the biggest (and quickest) busts of last year's draft (regardless of position) was FSU's Buster Davis, who was cut by the Cardinals in August — four months after being drafted in the third round. Often compared to London Fletcher due to his size, Davis was considered a risky pick. But few could have predicted he would be released so soon.

2006	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	A.J. Hawk, Ohio State Ernie Sims, Florida State Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State Chad Greenway, Iowa Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State Manny Lawson, NC State	Packers (5) Lions (9) Browns (13) Vikings (17) Cowboys (18) 49ers (22)
Top 100	DeMeco Ryans, Alabama D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland Rocky McIntosh, Miami Thomas Howard, UTEP Abdul Hodge, Iowa Chris Gocong, Cal Poly Anthony Schlegel, Ohio State Jon Alston, Stanford Clint Ingram, Oklahoma James Anderson, Virginia Tech Freddie Keiaho, San Diego State Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech	Texans (33) Browns (34) Redskins (35) Raiders (38) Packers (67) Eagles (71) Jets (76) Rams (77) Jaguars (80) Panthers (88) Colts (94) Giants (96)

Based on sheer numbers, this is the deepest linebacker class of the past five years — with six first-rounders and 17 in the Top 100. The best of the bunch (at least early on) was Ryans, who outplayed Texans teammate and No. 1 overall pick defensive end Mario Williams on his way to being named 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

A college linemate of Williams at NC State, Lawson was converted to outside linebacker with the 49ers, where he was inconsistent as a rookie and injured (left knee, 2 games played) in 2007. The injury bug took a bite out of Greenway (knee) in the preseason as a rookie, but was able to bounce back with a strong showing last year, his first full season.

Ohio State and Florida State combined to produce four first-round picks. FSU's two first-rounders (Sims and Wimbley) have outplayed OSU's pair (Hawk and Carpenter). This year, the top linebacker prospect would have been Buckeyes backer James Laurinaitis had he declared himself eligible following his junior season.  The "Animal" almost certainly would have been a Top 10 pick and may have gone even higher.

2005	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	DeMarcus Ware, Troy Shawne Merriman, Maryland Thomas Davis, Georgia Derrick Johnson, Texas	Cowboys (11) Chargers (12) Panthers (14) Chiefs (15)
Top 100	Barrett Ruud, Nebraska Kevin Burnett, Tennessee Lofa Tatupu, USC Odell Thurman, Georgia Matt McCoy, San Diego State Channing Crowder, Florida Kirk Morrison, San Diego State Alfred Fletcher, Connecticut Jordan Black, Cal Poly Darryl Blackstock, Virginia Leroy Hill, Clemson	Bucs (36) Cowboys (42) Seahawks (45) Bengals (48) Eagles (63) Dolphins (70) Raiders (78) Saints (82) Falcons (90) Cardinals (95) Seahawks (98)

The Class of 2006 may outnumber the Class of 2005, but there is no comparing the talent. Two teams searching for a Lawrence Taylor clone to put on the edge of a 3-4 defense found their own versions. Through three seasons, Merriman (39.5 sacks) and Ware (33.5 sacks) are arguably the two most feared rush linebackers in the league. Lights Out has played in six fewer games than Ware, serving a four-game suspension for a failed drug test in 2006. Both players are undoubtedly the defensive cornerstones of two Super Bowl contenders.

The Seahawks scored a Pro Bowl middle linebacker in Tatupu and a solid starter in Hill. Both were extremely good values at their draft positions. Despite a successful USC career and an NFL pedigree, Tatupu saw his stock fall on Draft Day due to a lack of measurables (height, weight, timed speed, etc.). But the undersized backer who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time has proven that the NFL is as much a mental game as it is a physical one.

Former Butkus Award winner Johnson got off to a slow start with a terrible Chiefs defense but has shown consistent progress, developing into nearly the type of playmaker he was expected to be out of Texas.

2004	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Jonathan Vilma, Miami D.J. Williams, Miami	Jets (12) Broncos (17)
Top 100	Karlos Dansby, Auburn Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma Daryl Smith, Georgia Tech Dontarrious Thomas, Auburn Michael Boulware, Florida State Courtney Watson, Notre Dame Gilbert Gardner, Purdue Marquis Cooper, Washington Caleb Miller, Arkansas Jorge Cordova, Nevada Keyaron Fox, Georgia Tech Landon Johnson, Purdue Shaun Phillips, Purdue	Cardinals (33) Lions (37) Jaguars (39) Vikings (48) Seahawks (53) Saints (60) Colts (69) Bucs (79) Bengals (80) Jaguars (86) Chiefs (93) Bengals (96) Chargers (98)

Miami's Vilma and Williams were the only first rounders in 2004. Although Vilma has played at a Pro Bowl level when healthy, he has been the subject of constant trade speculation since coach Eric Mangini took over for Herm Edwards with the Jets. Meanwhile, the athletic Williams — a former standout high school running back at California powerhouse De La Salle — has become a better linebacker each year he has been at the position.

Outside of the first round, Dansby has become a big time playmaker for the Cardinals, Smith has been a solid contributor on a consistently good Teal Curtain defense in Jacksonville and Boulware has been a disappointment (since moving to safety) after a promising start to the career of the younger brother of former FSU All-American end, Ravens first-round pick, Defensive R.O.Y., Pro Bowl outside linebacker and Super Bowl winner Peter Boulware. The biggest steal was Phillips, who has combined with Merriman to give the Bolts arguably the best pair of pass-rushing edge rushers in the NFL.

2003	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Terrell Suggs, Arizona State Nick Barnett, Oregon State	Ravens (10) Packers (29)
Top 100	Boss Bailey, Georgia E.J. Henderson, Maryland Pisa Tinoisamoa, Hawaii Kawika Mitchell, South Florida Eddie Moore, Tennessee Terry Pierce, Kansas State Chaun Thompson, West Texas A&M Victor Hobson, Michigan Alonzo Jackson, Florida State Antwan Peek, Cincinnati Lance Briggs, Arizona Gerald Hayes, Pittsburgh Cie Grant, Ohio State Angelo Crowell, Virginia	Lions (34) Vikings (40) Rams (43) Chiefs (47) Dolphins (49) Broncos (51) Browns (52) Jets (53) Steelers (59) Texans (67) Bears (68) Cardinals (70) Saints (86) Bills (94)

Suggs (45.0 sacks in five years) is similar to Merriman and Ware — his main objective is to attack the quarterback. After playing defensive end at Arizona State, where he set an NCAA single-season record with 24 sacks as a junior, Suggs was tagged with the dreaded 'tweener label. Too small for end, too slow for outside backer, Suggs slid all the way to the Ravens, which has been a perfect fit.

Two more well-rounded linebackers from 2003 are Barnett and Briggs. An old-school throwback, Barnett teams with A.J. Hawk to give the Packers a pair of big play linebackers. Across the black-and-blue division, Briggs and Brian Urlacher form an even more talented duo — leading the new Monsters of the Midway defense to an NFC title and appearance in Super Bowl XLI before struggling to repeat that success in 2007.

The NFL is often a family business, proven once again by the Baileys and Hendersons. Boss Bailey is the brother of All-Pro cornerback and former UGA All-American Champ, but has not played up to his older brother's nearly future Hall of Fame standards. As for E.J. Henderson, his younger bro Erin is also a Terp and will be one of the top linebacker prospects in this year's draft.

Keep checking AthlonSports.com for ongoing NFL Draft coverage:

Safeties Cornerbacks Linebackers Defensive Ends Defensive Tackles Offensive Linemen Tight Ends Wide Receivers Running Backs Quarterbacks 2008 NFL Mock Draft

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