STRENGTHS
The best pure, true linebacker in this draft is Devin Bush. He is a “quick twitch” athlete with excellent instincts along with excellent speed to play in any style of defense. You can use him inside or outside, as a run stuffer or in single coverage situations. Devin plays bigger than his size and has the strength and leverage to blow bigger offensive lineman up in the hole allowing others to make tackles for losses. He is a form tackler with excellent skills to shed blocks and make the tackle before the 1st down maker. He’s a coach on the field and shows leadership skills in his ability to direct players when his instincts suggest the defense needs to be adjusted just before the snap of the ball. He has the speed and change of direction skills that most safeties at the next level do not have. Devin is a playmaker and you don’t find those very often playing defense at the middle linebacker position in the draft. He has the ability to impact like Sean Lee has for the Cowboys.
CONCERNS
Devin’s size will deter some teams from selecting Devin early in this draft. All I can say is, if your team needs a leader on the field who can make plays defensively than passing on selecting Devin because of his size is a big mistake.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.44
In evaluating Devin we get into this “check the boxes” BS, I hear every year to “eliminate” players who don’t fit the standards someone has decided are needed to play in the NFL. That’s right, checking boxes only succeeds in “eliminating” players and not evaluating players. I mean really, a player is not tall enough so we eliminate him no mater how well he plays on the film? Or we knock him down a round or two because he is not tall enough. Let me tell you, Devin hits all the other boxes big time and if being fast, strong, smart, quick, instinctive, coach on the field, leadership skills, is not enough to overlook one freaking box for height…all I can say to those teams is, I guess I’ll see you drafting in the top ten next year also. So, go right ahead, keep checking those boxes and “eliminating” players who lack the height or are little short on speed. Eliminate the ones who know HOW to play the game so that those playoff teams late in the rounds can keep selecting them and be in the playoffs every year like the Patriots are. I bet they don’t pass on selecting Devin because he might be vertically challenged. I bet they don’t check any dam boxes either. I bet the just watch the film like I do.
