STRENGTHS
Devin has good overall speed and burst to the play when attacking the line of scrimmage. He has made a name for himself being used as a blitzing middle linebacker on plays called for him because of this straight line burst and speed that he possesses. When Devin is left free to roam with four big bodies in front of him he can be very effective. When left free to roam Devin can take good angles on running plays and get into the back field and make tackles for losses. Devin flashes when used to stop the run and attacking the line of scrimmage and seems to have confidence in his skills to be used in single coverage on passing downs.
CONCERNS
Right now, Devin lacks the ability to get off blocks consistently and make tackles. He is also a bit sloppy tackling in open space when they run right at him. When he is attacking he is fine but when they attack him he struggles to identify who’s going to block him, were the play is going and struggles to wrap up because he is on his heels. Also, Devin doesn’t really have any one on one pass rushing skills and when blitzing and is blocked, struggles to get off those blocks or make double moves. He needs a clean path into the backfield to be effective.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.92
The talent is there but just because a player flashes and makes some tackles and sacks on plays designed for him, does not mean he is a complete linebacker. In his defense Devin has been used as the primary pass rusher up the middle so it hard to get film on him being used in other situations. Devin’s combine and work outs will dictate where he will go in this draft. I think Devin is an impact player in a certain type of defenses because he doesn’t seem to take on blocks and shed very well when he is being blocked on the second level. Linebackers are like that…they can be cut by one team and then become player of the year with the very next team. Like I said his combine numbers will answer a lot of questions and don’t be surprise if some rate him higher than others. Teams that use a 4/3, 2 gap defenses might rate him higher than those that use a 3/4. Although Devin is rated in the top ten of this draft as of this writing, I think that might be a little high for a linebacker whose impact depends on the style of defense he will be used in. Than Again, I’ve been wrong before… just maybe not this time. Usually players with Devin’s skill set get selected in the second round but if Devin’s workouts are exceptional he could easily be selected in the first. Right now, for me personally, I see him as a 2nd round selection with 1st round talent.
