A Look at This Year's NFL Draft Outside Linebacker Prospects
Von Miller, an explosive outside linebacker from Texas A&M, has his priorities in place as the 2011 NFL Draft approaches.
"I want to be the best defensive player in this year's draft," Miller said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "That may be in a 3-4 (defensive formation), a 4-3, a 5-2. I just want to play football and get on the field."
There seems little doubt Miller will find his way onto an NFL field. Most observers and analysts have rated him as the top outside linebacker in the draft. It will be a surprise if Miller falls out of the first 10 picks in the April 28-30 selection process.
Miller, who won the 2010 Butkus Award as the nation's top collegiate linebacker, gets to the quarterback in the blink of an eye. On stunts and twists, he often leaves blockers grasping at air. His Defensive MVP performance in the Senior Bowl reflects Miller's improvement as a run defender.
Penetrating the offensive backfield is his area of expertise. Miller led the nation with 17 sacks during his junior season at Texas A&M. He had a slow start as a senior after suffering an ankle injury but came on to record 10.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss for the Aggies (9-4).
"My God-given ability is speed off the edge, just rushing," Miller said. "I can drop back into coverage and do all that other stuff, too, but what God has blessed me with is pass rushing off the edge."
Miller appears to be a perfect fit for outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL. He played outside linebacker in Texas A&M's 3-4 last year after operating his junior season at "the joker" position, a hybrid of end and linebacker.
However, as Miller said, he doesn't want to be pigeon-holed as a one-scheme player. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds and has a 37-inch vertical jump. His 6-3, 246-pound frame is still growing as a result of some intense workouts with his friend, Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who's another likely first-rounder. Miller's athletic ability and improving strength would seemingly make him a valuable addition for any defense.
"First and foremost, I'm going to be a great teammate," Miller said. "I'm a team guy. That's how I play football. That's how we were able to win the games that we won at Texas A&M. We didn't have all the talent in the world, but we had a great team. We had great chemistry in the locker room.
"I'll be a rookie. Whatever those guys want me to do, I'll be happy to do it. ... Whatever it takes to get on the field, that's what I'll do."
Aldon Smith of Missouri is another superb athlete who could go high in the draft. But is he an outside linebacker? The position will be new to him after the 6-4, 266-pounder played mostly defensive end in college.
Smith indicated at the Combine that NFL teams are talking to him about playing both outside linebacker and end. He's a natural pass rusher, and his tall frame makes him an imposing figure coming off the edge.
Asked about his comfort level playing in a linebacker's stance as opposed to a three-point stance, Smith shrugged off any concerns. "I've done a lot of work with it since I got out of college," he said.
Asked what sets him apart as a pass rusher, Smith responded: "My versatility, being able to drop, being athletic. Something a lot of people don't know about me is that I can stop the run."
BREAKING DOWN THE 2011 NFL DRAFT'S OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Von Miller of Texas A&M is the favorite among this draft's outside linebackers. He seems tailor-made for the position in a 3-4 defensive scheme. His forte is rushing the passer, and when the Aggies called his number the past two seasons, it was rare that an opposing offense could stop him. After Miller, this draft grows a little unclear as teams try to decide whether to choose a mobile defensive end and switch him to linebacker or select a player with collegiate linebacker experience. Akeem Ayers of UCLA is a true linebacker, swift and strong, and he finished third in the Butkus Award voting. Justin Houston of Georgia and Aldon Smith of Missouri both played defensive end in college but could wind up at outside linebacker in the NFL.
THE LAST FIVE
The last five outside linebackers drafted by the Colts ...
2010: Pat Angerer, second round, Iowa.
Kavell Conner, seventh round, Clemson.
2008: Philip Wheeler, third round, Georgia Tech.
2007: Clint Session, fourth round, Pittsburgh.
2006: Freddy Keiaho, third round, San Diego State.
THIS YEAR'S DRAFT
An alphabetical list of 10 outside linebackers expected to be selected in the 2011 NFL Draft ...
Akeem Ayers, UCLA, 6-2, 254
Bruce Carter, North Carolina, 6-1, 241
Doug Hogue, Syracuse, 6-3, 235
Justin Houston, Georgia, 6-3, 255
Nate Irving, North Carolina State, 6-1, 240
Von Miller, Texas A&M, 6-3, 246
Adrian Moten, Maryland, 6-2, 228
Brian Rolle, Ohio State, 5-11, 218
Aldon Smith, Missouri, 6-4, 266
Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut, 6-0, 229
Note: The content in this story and in the series of draft-eligible players that appears on Colts.com in no way reflects the position of the Indianapolis Colts.
