How Far Could Courtney Upshaw Fall?

[MetSox17]

Originally Posted by bitonti

upshaw is the type of player everyone craps on for not working out well, and then the ravens or the pats take him and it's a genius pick. lets not forget he was considered a top 15 lock just after the Senior Bowl. in shorts he sucks, in pads he's great. maybe all that adds up to a 2nd round pick, it wouldn't be surprising.

a quick word about his workout, it's possible that the late season (early jan national champ, late jan senior bowl) meant that he was playing football and getting banged up while everyone else was healing and getting trained by olympic sprinters on how to run faster.

The thing is that people were saying those things off of hype. When you really look into his performances, he doesn't stand out. See for yourself. He's just a guy that can hold his ground, shed a block and make a tackle. He isn't a playmaker. He doesn't have the athletic capabilities to make big plays, or to be an effective pass rusher at the next level. He's gonna get swallowed up by the big tackles in the NFL.

[Big Bird]

I've been against Upshaw since day one. He looks stiff on film. The workouts only prove that.

[descendency]

His floor is 16.

[RaiderNation]

Any chance a team like New England likes him enough to move up for Upshaw if he falls some. They could easily trade up into the late teens to get him.

[YAYareaRB]

I think he plays faster than his time. he was all over the field in the national championship.

[CDCB14]

Originally Posted by RaiderNation

Any chance a team like New England likes him enough to move up for Upshaw if he falls some. They could easily trade up into the late teens to get him.

Trading up for Upshaw in anything higher than the late 2nd round would be an epic fail. Ew. The thought of trading up for Courtney Upshaw almost just made me throw up.

[A Perfect Score]

I can't imagine there's any way we don't take him if he's there. Ozzie loves Bama players and Upshaw could be just what the doctor ordered opposite Suggs.

[YAYareaRB]

I still think hed be awesome in a 3-4 defense that sometimes dabbles with the 4 down. Him on the ravens would be pretty crazy

[bitonti]

Originally Posted by MetSox17

When you really look into his performances, he doesn't stand out. See for yourself. He's just a guy that can hold his ground, shed a block and make a tackle.

I did see for myself at the Senior Bowl. he's great in Pads. I do agree with the notion that he's not a sack master type of pass rush guy. But he's a starting OLB from day 1 that has value. the league needs guys to hold their ground, shed a block and make tackles. maybe that's not worth a high or mid first round pick but for all his lack of upside he also has a lack of downside. no way this guy busts.

[A Perfect Score]

I think the misconception here is that some people are viewing him as a primary pass rusher, which I don't think he is. He's a complimentary piece on a defense, not a star. Which is why he should probably go between 16-32 instead of the 10-15 we've been expecting up until this point. He's not a guy that will give you 10 sacks a year, but I think he's the kind of player who gives you 6-8 sacks per season while being an extremely solid football player all around.

[killxswitch]

I asked this earlier and didn't get a response. Could he play ILB in a 3-4? As a Willie McGinnest type?

[Iamcanadian]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

I asked this earlier and didn't get a response. Could he play ILB in a 3-4? As a Willie McGinnest type?

I think he can play there and may find himself there as a pro.

[CDCB14]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

I asked this earlier and didn't get a response. Could he play ILB in a 3-4? As a Willie McGinnest type?

Sure, if that team is trying to lose.

[RWills]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

I asked this earlier and didn't get a response. Could he play ILB in a 3-4? As a Willie McGinnest type?

What???

McGinnest was a 6'5 270 DE who played the elephant position

[YAYareaRB]

yeah i thought McGinnest played on the outside

[Mufasa]

He'll go late first. Opposite Matthews or Suggs in Green Bay or Baltimore would be perfect fits. New England is a good possibility with 2 late firsts.

[mightytitan9]

He's carrying extra weight which i'm sure somewhat caused his poor numbers.

He played around 265 at Alabama, and if his agent adviser whoever thought he was best as a LBer in the NFL he would have came in around 255.

I never really liked him as a DE, and think he can be a good LBer in the right system.

[nepg]

I think he's just a little overweight. Not sure exactly what he's trying to do at close to 280... If he lost what I estimate to be 25-30lbs of excess weight, his numbers would be amazing.

[nepg]

Originally Posted by RWills

What???

McGinnest was a 6'5 270 DE who played the elephant position

McGinnest was what Tamba Hali is now. For the most part (especially with Houston getting more WLB snaps late in the year in 2011).

[TheFinisher]

I don't think he falls out of Round 1. Packers and Ravens are both looking for a complimentary OLB to play opposite their star, which is exactly what Upshaw is. That should be his floor. He's extremely powerful, heavy handed, and understands leverage... at the very least he's going to be a stud edge defender and those guys are still very valuable to a defense. The guy also plays with a mean streak which is a trait that should never be overlooked.

He may never be a dynamic pass rusher but I have little doubt he'll be a good player in this league.

EDIT: And as far as him weighing in close to 280, I'm not so sure if it's a lot of excess weight. Upshaw is just a thick dude with a large frame. For someone that's only 6'1 1/2, he carries 280 pretty well. His numbers may or may not be better at a lower weight but it's not like he was expected to blow people away with his workouts anyway.

[killxswitch]

I thought towards the end of his career McGinnest played inside. My mistake.

[mightytitan9]

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

I don't think he falls out of Round 1. Packers and Ravens are both looking for a complimentary OLB to play opposite their star, which is exactly what Upshaw is. That should be his floor. He's extremely powerful, heavy handed, and understands leverage... at the very least he's going to be a stud edge defender and those guys are still very valuable to a defense. The guy also plays with a mean streak which is a trait that should never be overlooked.

He may never be a dynamic pass rusher but I have little doubt he'll be a good player in this league.

EDIT: And as far as him weighing in close to 280, I'm not so sure if it's a lot of excess weight. Upshaw is just a thick dude with a large frame. For someone that's only 6'1 1/2, he carries 280 pretty well. His numbers may or may not be better at a lower weight but it's not like he was expected to blow people away with his workouts anyway.

He carries it fairly well yes, but the fact still holds that thats more of a DE's weight than LB. If he was trying to work out primarily as an OLB he'd be closer to 255-265.

Him weighing 280 doesn't do anything to help his case for being a LBer

[Don Vito]

Na McGinnest was always at OLB or DE. Vrabel played inside late in his career though and Adailus spent some time inside as well. What I would give to have another McGinnest or Vrable type on this team.

[StaticGator]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

I asked this earlier and didn't get a response. Could he play ILB in a 3-4? As a Willie McGinnest type?

I think that's his only position.

[YAYareaRB]

Originally Posted by StaticGator

I think that's his only position.

hes being looked at a OLB/DE