Singletary Liking Willis?

[Jlowd21]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jm-topfifty020207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

32. Patrick Willis, inside linebacker, Mississippi – A terrific defender that brings an emotional presence to the field, Willis showed much better range than anticipated during Senior Bowl practices. Both the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers seemed to keep a closer eye on him throughout the week in Mobile. In fact, Niners linebacker coach Mike Singletary appeared to enjoy coaching the former SEC standout.

[Captain America]

If he falls like Manny did last year, watch for us to move into the late first just like we did last season.

[MisfitZ]

and last year apparently we had our eye on DeAngelo Williams... :whistling:

he was my favorite RB coming out

[Pound th' Rock]

and last year apparently we had our eye on DeAngelo Williams... :whistling:

http://puffmatic.homestead.com/files/haterade.gif

[Fez]

http://puffmatic.homestead.com/files/haterade.gif

Indeed. :wild:

[The Jerm!]

If he falls like Manny did last year, watch for us to move into the late first just like we did last season.

Um we had the late 1st rounder before the draft began.

[theredandgold]

I wouldnt be upset with that pick at all. If we sign AT and draft Willis, we go from a suspect LB core to one of the best, OLBs AT and Lawson, ILBs Willis and Moore, id say thats a bit of an upgrade over last season. Before we drafted him at 11 i would like us to adress the DL through FA, or maybe trade, Jared Allen would be nice. The damm Raiders, i thought if we could sign Sands before the draft we could have done anything we wanted with the 11th pick. If we dont get DL help pre draft i say Adam Carriker is the guy, regardless of what happens, with money, Mike Nolan, and the 11th pick im pretty confident i'll be happy with what ever happens.

[Denver9erfan]

If he falls like Manny did last year, watch for us to move into the late first just like we did last season.

If he falls? He's projected to go at the end of the 1st so if he fell it would be into the second.

...and we had the 2nd 1st well before draft day.

[SBbound49ers]

Willis ran 4.49.

[WehaveVD]

I think Willis would be a nice addition to this team, not only in the immediate future, but long term as well..... As everyone already knows the 3-4 D designed around having stud linebackers. Willis is the only guy who fits the bill here. If we add him we'll have the best linebacking corp for years to come......
AT Willis Moore Lawson:Guitar:

[Tovey21]

i'm sick of this Willis talk quite frankly. this MB hypes him up way too much, mostly because of a hit he had on LSU last year. well he hardly hits hard at all. he doesn't explode through hits, he doesn't fill the hole well. Willis is a run and chase LB who will be much better in a 4-3 with DT's protecting him. with guards blocking him Willis is going to get owned up the middle.

instead of just saying draft Willis, why not actually watch the kid. he tackles around RB's freaking ankles most the time or makes tackles 5-10 yards down the field. in the NFL, most those ankle tackles will be broken tackles.

Exactly what I saw on tape, especially his inability to shed blocks. Your truly asking for trouble if you put Willis at ILB in a 3-4.

[Pound th' Rock]

i'm sick of this Willis talk quite frankly. this MB hypes him up way too much, mostly because of a hit he had on LSU last year. well he hardly hits hard at all. he doesn't explode through hits, he doesn't fill the hole well. Willis is a run and chase LB who will be much better in a 4-3 with DT's protecting him. with guards blocking him Willis is going to get owned up the middle.

instead of just saying draft Willis, why not actually watch the kid. he tackles around RB's freaking ankles most the time or makes tackles 5-10 yards down the field. in the NFL, most those ankle tackles will be broken tackles.

i see Willis as a good LB in a 4-3, especially a cover 2 defense. Buffalo will probably take a long hard look at him even though the #12 pick seems way too high to draft a run and chase LB IMO.

I have watched the kid. I urge you to look at his full resume and not focus on the LSU hit before you say he can't tackle. The guy CAN tackle. Who cares if he tackles people by the legs and ankles as long as he brings them down. He racked up over 260 tackles the past two seasons. If you're saying that he isn't going to be tackle people because all he makes are ankle tackles, that is short-sighted at best. The guy is going to be a great linebacker wherever he plays.

[Pound th' Rock]

If he falls? He's projected to go at the end of the 1st so if he fell it would be into the second.

...and we had the 2nd 1st well before draft day.

Mayock has him going in the middle of the 1st.

[Denver9erfan]

Mayock has him going in the middle of the 1st.

He hasn't even done a mock yet, not one I've seen at least. He might say he has a mid 1st value, but that's not a projection. All of the projections, IE mocks, have him going at the bottom of the first.

[LetsGo9ers]

I still like Okoye/Carriker/Branch better than LB. But, when it comes down to draft day, if Nolan and Singletary think that Willis can play the 3-4 for us and be successful, I will trust them to make the right call. He looks like a stud to me, but still want someone on the front line 1st and foremost.

[GoldRush2007]

i'm sick of this Willis talk quite frankly. this MB hypes him up way too much, mostly because of a hit he had on LSU last year. well he hardly hits hard at all. he doesn't explode through hits, he doesn't fill the hole well. Willis is a run and chase LB who will be much better in a 4-3 with DT's protecting him. with guards blocking him Willis is going to get owned up the middle.

instead of just saying draft Willis, why not actually watch the kid. he tackles around RB's freaking ankles most the time or makes tackles 5-10 yards down the field. in the NFL, most those ankle tackles will be broken tackles.

i see Willis as a good LB in a 4-3, especially a cover 2 defense. Buffalo will probably take a long hard look at him even though the #12 pick seems way too high to draft a run and chase LB IMO.

yeah i mean 137 tackles..... this kid cant tackle at all:confused:

[Jags4Life]

He's the top ILB because of his combination of size/skills. Has good size. He's okay in the fast and athletic departments. More football player than athlete, but good enough. Moves very well. Just not explosive or overly quick. Patrick is stout enough to be a force vs the run on inside plays, but can also get out in the passing lanes. He has sideline to sideline range. He chases down a lot of plays. Looks fairly smart and instinctive. One of his biggest strengths is his tackling. Willis can shoulder tackle guys because of the power he hits with, but generally he is a wrap-up tackler. And he does it with some force. Guys go down. Some defenders become sorta hesitant when they wrap-up and end up more as drag down tacklers than as forceful hitters. Not Patrick. Might remind you of Al Wilson. The guy who I think of is former Eagles MLB Byron Evans. He had a good game vs AUB. Patrick finished with 15 tackles (9 solo).

SUMMARY

The top MLB prospect. Can play in any system. Not athletic enough to be a top 15 pick most likely, but a very good MLB who is a high character person and outstanding football player.
http://scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=ranknote0607

Best profile I've found on P-Willy so far.

Edit: I should also note that this profile was done before the combine... I don't expect him to change it a lot though.

[GoldRush2007]

seriously instead of talking out of your @$$, go watch him. the majority of his tackles are 5 yards or more past the line of scrimmage. plus when he tackles he tackles with bad form. jst got watch some film on him and you will see.



BTW i wouldn't try using that tackle amount argument around here or the name Derek Smith will soon be thrown in your face.

Right Now, to me it's not even about if we should take him. You have been putting this guy down in every which way. He is a great football player. He is going to excel in the NFL. There is NOTHING wrong with his Tackling. These tackles 5 yards down the field you speak of, are tackles that were missed by others and he hustled to take the person down.

I wish Willis saw this Message Board, ran into your house and with PERFECT FORM tackled you through a wall.

[GoldRush2007]

no the criticism is deserved. he is a run and chase LB, that type of LB doesn't deserve the credit you want to give him. making tackles 5 yards downfield isn't that impressive.

i break down his skills the way i see them. criticising a player is part of player evaluation, in case you didn't know. i have talked about his positives as well but the fact that this MB hypes him up mostly because they saw 1 tackle he made on Vincent of LSU (last year) and they think he makes those types of tackles often. in fact most his tackles are chasing people and nothing like they saw that in the video. he is going to be the type of LB that looks good on stat sheets but people that actually watch him know a bit better. if you run at him he is done and out of the play. but when you run to the outside he can make the play, make the play when its someone else's responsibility.

BTW that if he saw this convo excuse is pathetic. every player thinks they are better than they are. for example, Darius Walker thinks he can compete with Adrian Peterson in this draft as all around back........and even if he did get upset he would miss my body and dive for my ankles.

I'm going to leave this topic alone. You obviously have a bias opinion, because no one could hate on someone this much for no reason. And where did you post any positives? Anyways, we will see how the BUTKUS AWARD WINNER performs in the NFL.

[GoldRush2007]

when i say he can get sideline to sideline, or is a chase and tackle LB, or he can cover so would be perfect in a cover 2.....those are compliments. what i dont like is when someone such as yourself reads an article on Willis or watches a highlight film of him that shows exactly what i'm talking about and you still want to defend it. i think this MB is the only place you will see a place where people want to draft at #11 a chase and tackle LB in a 3-4 that can't get off blocks and doesn't explode through tackles.

BTW throwing around an award does not mean he will make a good pro. if you dont trust me then go back and look at past Butkus or Heisman winners and you will see it doesn't often translate into the NFL or make you a top prospect. if winning an award makes you a top prospect then i guess we will see Troy Smith at the top of the draft.

Actually i looked at the previous winners before I wrote that so I knew what I was saying and I was not implying he would be a success simply because of that. You clearly state what you DON'T like so I might as well do the same. What I DON'T like is people, such as yourself, see the one highlite video i posted and judge him on that. I've seen him play multiple times and most of those plays are not the best I've seen from him. And I believe I am not the only one who believes he could be taken at the 11 spot or anywhere around there. Ive seen numerous mock drafts predicting he's taken at the 11-15 range in the 1st round. He will fit in perfect. The only scenario in which I say we don't take him first is if we can get Posluszny in the 2nd. Then I say get Okoye/Carricker/Branch in that order, if available. Then get a Steve Smith/Jason Hill WR in the 3rd

[Pound th' Rock]

The draft is only about two months away...

[Denver9erfan]

Actually i looked at the previous winners before I wrote that so I knew what I was saying and I was not implying he would be a success simply because of that. You clearly state what you DON'T like so I might as well do the same. What I DON'T like is people, such as yourself, see the one highlite video i posted and judge him on that. I've seen him play multiple times and most of those plays are not the best I've seen from him. And I believe I am not the only one who believes he could be taken at the 11 spot or anywhere around there. Ive seen numerous mock drafts predicting he's taken at the 11-15 range in the 1st round. He will fit in perfect. The only scenario in which I say we don't take him first is if we can get Posluszny in the 2nd. Then I say get Okoye/Carricker/Branch in that order, if available. Then get a Steve Smith/Jason Hill WR in the 3rd

Willis has TERRIBLE value at #11, and if you've seen a mock that puts him that high then it's from some *****. The big guys who actually talk with team scouts to get a feel of what they're looking at all project him in the 20-30 range. We'd be fools to take him that high. As it stands now we're going to be looking at one of the DE prospects (carriker/okoye/branch) or Landry. Reaching for willis a position our FO arleady said we're "good" at is incredibly stupid and will not happen.

Willis is a good ILB prospect, but not good enough to be early-mid 1st and the 9ers wouldn't even draft him there if he did have good value... why can't you willis supporters understand that? Our FO said we're "good" at ILB so the'yre absolutely not going to go draft a guy at a position that isn't a need when we good fill a need with a top prospect... do you willis guys understand that?

[kavaholic]

I truely believe that Nolan is going to work out some miracle to pick up another first round pick like last year. Don't be suprised if we pick up Willis in the late 1st round.

[SB49er4life]

no the criticism is deserved. he is a run and chase LB, that type of LB doesn't deserve the credit you want to give him. making tackles 5 yards downfield isn't that impressive.

i break down his skills the way i see them. criticising a player is part of player evaluation, in case you didn't know. i have talked about his positives as well but the fact that this MB hypes him up mostly because they saw 1 tackle he made on Vincent of LSU (last year) and they think he makes those types of tackles often. in fact most his tackles are chasing people and nothing like they saw that in the video. he is going to be the type of LB that looks good on stat sheets but people that actually watch him know a bit better. if you run at him he is done and out of the play. but when you run to the outside he can make the play, make the play when its someone else's responsibility.

BTW that if he saw this convo excuse is pathetic. every player thinks they are better than they are. for example, Darius Walker thinks he can compete with Adrian Peterson in this draft as all around back........and even if he did get upset he would miss my body and dive for my ankles.

So more or less your a better talent evaluator than Mike Singletary ?

If your making tackles chasing people, it usually means your all over the field and/or pickin up someone else's slack; your not always gonna get to go heads up with the ball-carrier. Frankly, our D at this point really could use a guy who can cover their asses when someone screws up.

Form and technique can be easily corrected, especially by good coaching. We just got the Chargers LB coach and we have Singletary. You can teach someone how to tackle properly and fight off blocks more efficiently; you can't teach that kinda athletic ability and instincts.

[SB49er4life]

you have seen him on multiple occasions :ok:






...trust me if you have then you would see what i'm talking about. watch his games, or watch highlights because i dont care, we both know he is a run and chase LB with a flawed game. Willis is obviously more athletic but he plays similar to London Fletcher and Donnie Edwards.....you just dont waste a 1st round pick on that type of LB. i will also note that if prospects such as Adrian Peterson get questioned for durability concerns then so should Willis who has had a broken hand and broken foot in the past 2 years.

Isn't Donnie Edwards a perennial Pro-Bowler and a staple of one of the best 3-4 defenses of the last several years ?

[GoldRush2007]

Isn't Donnie Edwards a perennial Pro-Bowler and a staple of one of the best 3-4 defenses of the last several years ?

I was just going to say that, thats like someone saying a WR isn't good because he resembles jerry rice and torry holt:dance3:

[Denver9erfan]

So more or less your a better talent evaluator than Mike Singletary ?



You show me where Singletary said Willis is an attacking ILB who blows up blocks and takes people head on... seriously, I'll be waiting.

[WehaveVD]

Willis has TERRIBLE value at #11, and if you've seen a mock that puts him that high then it's from some *****. The big guys who actually talk with team scouts to get a feel of what they're looking at all project him in the 20-30 range. We'd be fools to take him that high. As it stands now we're going to be looking at one of the DE prospects (carriker/okoye/branch) or Landry. Reaching for willis a position our FO arleady said we're "good" at is incredibly stupid and will not happen.


Unfortunatley we only have the luxury of one #11 pick and so far you like 3 of 5 DL who will likely be drafted at that point. You do realize that statistically about half the guys you like are going to be busts, right? So why not pick THE BEST ILB IN THE ENTIRE DRAFT over the 5th best DL??? We do need ILB because Smith is getting old and Ulbrich suqs......
Willis is a high character guy, with leadership skills, and phyically he ran a 4.4 and is around 6-1 240.....Scouts even go so far as to compare him to Johnathan Vilma and say that he is versitile and could possibly be switched to OLB...

[SB49er4life]

just because Singletary likes him as a person doesn't make him a bad prospect, i never once said that.

Nolan said he likes Willis as well but that question was taken out of context. the interview directly asked Nolan what he thought about Willis.......Nolan wasn't asked about any other LB and certainly isn't going to talk down a player.

not really, his style of play is run and chase and thats what he will be. your not going to change his style of play like that.

a perennial pro bowler mostly in a 4-3 not to mention SD knows he is easily replaced. the only reason he is in SD so long is Marty. run and chase LB aren't highly coveted because they are easy to find. i will also note that having the players he has around him is pretty nice as well. let me guess, Randall Godfrey and Stephen Cooper are also great players because they have looked very good in that defense as well.

now i dont want to take anything away from Donnie because he is good but obviously he is a vet that just knows how to get it done in any defense.

BTW go and look what round Edwards went in, if you want a run and chase LB you drfat him later in the draft.


no its like saying you get run and chase LB's late in drafts because thats what you do. you dont draft a run and chase LB that doesn't hit with force early in a draft.





~ i want to point out Nolan said he hasn't had a chance to watch film on players yet so the stuff he says about players is on interviews and a senior bowl. he doesn't have a good grasp on alot of players yet so taking a quote of his saying he likes him because he is a good kid is pretty standard.

I think there is probably better PROSPECTS out there for the #11 pick, and I don't think he's the player we could use the most, because LB is one of our teams strengths, but I think he will end up being a very good player and a Pro-Bowler at some point, so I don't think he'd be a BAD pick, just not the best.

Donnie Edwards has always been a great LB, and he is very crucial for San Diego as cover LB, using his speed and athleticism to make plays in the passing game and being a solid tackler; I'd rather have a guy always bringin the ball-carrier down rather than a punishingly explosive hitter who misses tackles. That's the ILB role I envision Willis playing.

Wouldn't be half mad if we traded for another later 1st round pick and grabbed P-Will.

And for the record, there are other players I'd want at 11. Just think he'll be a good one, thats all.

[BigB_85]

I really like Patrick Willis and I think he will be an excellent player but I definitely wouldn't want him at #11.

[SB49er4life]

You show me where Singletary said Willis is an attacking ILB who blows up blocks and takes people head on... seriously, I'll be waiting.

When did I say that ? I'll be waiting for when you quote me on that. Take what I say for how it's meant, please don't give it your own twist and then try to make it a joke on me.

[SB49er4life]

same here, i feel the same. i think Willis is a good prospect and a good kid, i just dont think he is good for us. with our d-line a player like Willis wouldn't be able to roam and make tackles. i just think he would be a waste here and his talents are better off in a cover 2 scheme where he can run around and get deep in coverage. i think Buffalo is going to look long and hard at him with Fletcher gone. being a Bills season ticket holder i actually kinda like it because they play a cover 2.

It sounds like we're more or less on the same page. I wouldn't say he's a waste, and I think most LB's would be better off in a 4-3 unless they're pure tweeners who are gonna rush the passer.

I'd see him being good for the Bills. I think he could be a good player for us, he's just not "ideal" and could be squeezed for all he's worth in another system.

[Denver9erfan]

It sounds like we're more or less on the same page. I wouldn't say he's a waste, and I think most LB's would be better off in a 4-3 unless they're pure tweeners who are gonna rush the passer.

I'd see him being good for the Bills. I think he could be a good player for us, he's just not "ideal" and could be squeezed for all he's worth in another system.

Knobs has been saying this whole time that willis is a run and chase MLB who isn't the attacking physical LB we need to run a 34. Here is the last post before you responded with: 'So you're a better talent evaluator than Singletary'

"no the criticism is deserved. he is a run and chase LB, that type of LB doesn't deserve the credit you want to give him. making tackles 5 yards downfield isn't that impressive."

By responding.. 'so you think you're a better talent evaluator than singletary' you are saying that Singletary disagrees with what he has said when the reality is Singletary has not said one word that would conflict what Knobs has been saying.