Chris Mortensen ✔ @mortreport
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Ryan Shazier #PITPick Joins last years 1st Rd pick OLB Jarvis Jones. 22.5 TFL last year. Ran unofficial 4.36 40 at 237 pounds at Pro Day.
9:49 PM - 8 May 2014
http://bleacherreport.com/pittsburgh-steelers
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Ryan Shazier, OLB
School: Ohio State | Conference: BIG10
College Experience: Junior | Hometown: Plantation, FL
Height/Weight: 6-1 / 237 lbs
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Rangy athlete with terrific closing acceleration and burst. Explosive first step as a blitzer to force the QB from his spot. Very good bend off the edge with momentum to fight through blocks and disrupt the pocket. Flexible ankles and flattens easily.
Uses his length well at the point of attack with good take-on strength to deliver a pop, filling hard vs. the run. Eyes are always elevated with good ball vision and anticipation. Breaks down well on the move and gets low, showing clear improvement with his tackling technique.
Smart and puts himself in correct position to make plays. Sniffs out the ball and almost always finishes when he's in the area. Never quits working to the ball and relentless in pursuit.
Team leader and uplifting teammate with strong personal and football character. Versatile skill-set to drop in coverage, blitz and cover both sidelines. Very productive career with back-to-back seasons with 115-plus tackles, including a conference-best 143 stops in 2013.
WEAKNESSES: Lean frame and lacks elite bulk. Doesn't have the body type to get too much bigger. Needs to continue to get stronger to better shed at the point of attack. Too easily engulfed when attacking the line of scrimmage.
Sometimes content throwing his shoulder and not wrapping up. Overaggressive at times in coverage and needs patient and alert. Will lose track of his assignment in man.
Needs to stay disciplined and tidy up his timing to avoid late hits and unnecessary flags. Needs to keep his composure and keep his emotions in check. History of minor injuries that have caused him to miss playing time.
Compares To: Lavonte David, Buccaneers - While he's not quite as refined or tough as David, Shazier has a similar body type and movement skills to cover a large area and be a ultra-productive tackler at the next level.
--Dane Brugler (2/11/14)
Player Overview
A high school defensive end, Shazier was recruited at linebacker and had scholarship offers from Alabama, Florida and LSU, but decided to go north and committed to Ohio State.
He steadily earned more playing time as a true freshman, eventually starting the final three games. Shazier tallied back-to-back seasons with 115-plus tackles as a sophomore and junior, combining for 44.5 tackles for loss over his career and earning multiple All-Big Ten honors.
He played inside and outside in Columbus and has the versatile skill-set to fill various roles. He was loved by the Buckeyes coaching staff because of his team-first approach.
Shazier has instant acceleration and explosive closing burst, using outstanding edge speed and timing to disrupt the pocket. He lacks natural power to disengage blocks and needs to develop his discipline, but Shazier is a scheme diverse player who projects as a three-down weak-side linebacker in a 4-3 or as an edge rusher in a 3-4 base.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/p...7/ryan-shazier
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Overview Ryan Shazier
Prepped in Florida. Originally committed to play for Urban Meyer at Florida, but Meyer resigned. Shazier then signed to play for Jim Tressel at Ohio State, but Tressel resigned five months later. Wound up playing for Luke Fickell for a season, then reunited with Meyer his final two seasons in Columbus. Played all 13 games in 2011, starting the final two at weakside linebacker, and recorded 57 tackles, five for loss and three sacks with two forced tackles and a blocked kick. Started all 12 games played at WLB in '12, registering 115-17-5 with 11 pass breakups, an interception touchdown and three forced fumbles. Was a Butkus Award finalist in '13 after he led the Big Ten in tackles and tackles for loss -- started all 13 games at WLB and racked up 134-22.5-6 with four pass breakups and four forced fumbles. Team captain joined James Laurinaitis, A.J. Hawk, Chris Spielman and Pepper Johnson as Buckeye linebackers to lead the team in tackles two consecutive seasons. Did not run or work out at the NFL Scouting Combine (left hamstring).
Analysis
Strengths Highly productive, disruptive playmaker vs. the run and pass. Shoots gaps and plays behind the line of scrimmage (compiled 39.5 TFL the last two seasons). Agile to slip blocks. Quick, strong hands to shed. Knifes gaps and flows very well laterally. Striking tackler -- uncoils on contact. Excellent speed and range -- opens up his stride in space and really covers ground. Bends naturally. Changes direction and accelerates with ease. Explosive first step as a pass rusher -- shows the ability to dip, bend and run the arc low to the ground. Ample athleticism and flexibility to mark backs and tight ends. Led all players at the combine with a 42-inch vertical jump and blazed a sub-4.4 40 time at his pro day. Four-down utility. Arrow is pointing up.
Weaknesses Lacks ideal size and bulk. Still developing eyes and instincts -- will diagnose and trigger more quickly down the road. Gets caught in traffic or engulfed by larger blockers when he hesitates to step downhill. Prone to overaggressiveness -- occasionally overruns plays or loses cutback contain. Could stand to improve his eyes, awareness, anticipation and reactions as a zone defender. Took some time to acclimate before making an impact.
Draft Projection Round 1
Bottom Line The Big Ten's leading tackler, Shazier flies around the field and his unique athletic ability stands out. Offers a tremendous combination of speed, tackling and coverage skills to become a playmaker as a run-and-hit 4-3 Will or perhaps a 3-4 weakside 'backer if protected by a block-occupying nose tackle. Value is increased by the fact that he will not have to come off the field.
-Nolan Nawrocki
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profil...ier?id=2543486
Don't recall seeing his name mentioned anywhere. Seems pretty athletic though and should solidify the LB situation. Now to the secondary………
was he invited to the stage didnt see him meet roger ballbag?
