STRENGTHS
Brian is one of the most instinctive linebackers in this draft class. He has a burst and commitment to the ball that’s as good as any linebacker in this draft class. He has good cover skills and is very smart and is a leader and playmaker on the field. Brian will chase down players, going sideline to sideline to make a tackle. He has that quick speed that allows him to line up deep in a defenses scheme, to sack a quarterback. He will overwhelm a running back trying to block him when he is used to blitz because of his speed, quickness, and ability to change directions in a phone booth. Brian can be an impact player for the team that selects him…in the right defensive scheme.
CONCERNS
In spite of Brian’s talents, he can be taken advantage of at the next level. He doesn’t have the long speed to hang with big receivers in coverage. He also doesn’t have the lower body strength, or the body type, that can add the lower body bulk needed to be effective shedding blocks and becoming a “stout against the run”, type of linebacker. He will also struggle in coverage to move players off their routes, disturbing the rhythm of a passing play.
BOTTOM LINE 3.33
Brian in the right defensive system can be an impact linebacker. Use him to attack the line of scrimmage and in matchup zone coverages and this guy will shock teams on how effective and impacting he can be. It’s simple, he is a run and chase linebacker or an in-the-box safety. He beats the angle on sweeps and screens and shuts down anything that allows him to run to the play. Just don’t ask him to be your goal line linebacker or your middle linebacker or your cover linebacker. He reminds me a lot of Giants Blake Martinez. Keep those big 2 gap defensive linemen in front of him and let him run to the play and Brian could be one of the better linebackers from this very talented linebacker class. Because Brian is a systems linebacker this will affect his draft status. The team that runs this type of defense will rate him higher than other teams. Blake Martinez is a good systems linebacker. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2016 Draft. Just saying.
