I say bypass NT in the 1st round. Go for Shaq Thompson at SS.

[wig]

http://www.gohuskies.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208062105

He started at Nickel, Rush Linebacker and ILB. Only game he ever started at Safety was Stanford

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/shaq-thompson?id=2552447

I can post links too.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/11/nfl-draft-shaq-thompson-red-sox/

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2014/04/11/huskies-notes-shaq-thompson-making-case-at-rb/

He was basically Kam Chancellor, a box safety.

[Gavin]

I can post links too.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/11/nfl-draft-shaq-thompson-red-sox/

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2014/04/11/huskies-notes-shaq-thompson-making-case-at-rb/

He was basically Kam Chancellor, a box safety.

Good for you, One of my sites actually comes from the Washington Huskies webpage......He played mostly rush linebacker/rb/Nickel Backer....he basically was a Joker hybrid

[wig]

Good for you, One of my sites actually comes from the Washington Huskies webpage......He played mostly rush linebacker/rb/Nickel Backer....he basically was a Joker hybrid

Are you really trying to argue the difference between a Joker and box safety?

[Gavin]

Are you really trying to argue the difference between a Joker and box safety?

Nope, I know the difference just fine

[wig]

Nope, I know the difference just fine

That's funny since there isn't any aside from terminology.

[Gavin]

That's funny since there isn't any aside from terminology.

What is your point?

[Gabriel Alexander Morillo]

I can post links too.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/11/nfl-draft-shaq-thompson-red-sox/

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2014/04/11/huskies-notes-shaq-thompson-making-case-at-rb/

He was basically Kam Chancellor, a box safety.

Nowhere in your links did it say he played Safety as a freshmen or any year in college. Best I saw was hybrid linebacker/nickleback role.

[wig]

Nowhere in your links did it say he played Safety as a freshmen or any year in college. Best I saw was hybrid linebacker/nickleback role.

So he was down in the box as a safety and covered guys in nickel?

[Gabriel Alexander Morillo]

So he was down in the box as a safety and covered guys in nickel?

No, he played nickleback as a freshman and Linebacker as sophomore-2015. Kam Chancellor plays strictly as a Strong Safety.

[ztboiler]

Really funny to me how much arguing there is over the technical elements of how Shaq doesn't fit by the same folks clamoring for increased playmaking by physical players that can cover receiving TE's and the middle of the field in general.  

 

You can argue the merits of whether or not Thompson is well-suited to do that, and you can debate whether we need better coverage from the LB/SS position (not sure why anyone would) but simply calling him the name of a position that you don't think exists in our defense in order to justify your position, when the position you are naming is functionally equivalent to covering the middle of the field on passing downs or blitzing, doesn't make much sense.

 

I have no idea wherther Shaq justifies using a 1, 2 or 3...but if you are proposing to pick him because he would be an impact playmaker in a nickel package, then you probably have as good a case as you can make for picking any player.

[Surge89]

In the 1st round?

 

 

Where do you find these!

 

I feel like following every post you put just to get a new meme lol!  keep them coming!

[Surge89]

So for all of those who have actually watched him... Can he play ILB/S?  He has range to cover TE's right?  His quickness means he would be an awesome asset to have in the blitz department.  What does everyone think?

[Dustin]

So for all of those who have actually watched him... Can he play ILB/S? He has range to cover TE's right? His quickness means he would be an awesome asset to have in the blitz department. What does everyone think?

He's extremely athletic and definitely has the range to cover TEs. He fits best as an OLB in a 34. Judging by this thread, I guess I'm one of the few people who have no problem with moving him to safety.

[jskinnz]

GRADE

5.75

Shaq Thompson (OLB)

HT: 6'0" WT: 228LBS.

POSITION: OLB

SCHOOL: Washington

ARM LENGTH: 33"

HANDS: 9 1/2"

Overview

In 2014, Thompson was the winner of the fifth annual Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation's most versatile player. Scored six touchdowns in 2014, two as a running back and four on defense (one interception return and three fumble returns). Started at tailback for Huskies at Colorado, rushing for 174 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and had two receptions for 41 yards. Played in 40 games in his three-year career, finishing with 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed and five fumble recoveries. As a senior at Grant High School in California, named first-team All-America by Rivals.com and was one of six finalists for the U.S. Army National Player of the Year Award. Thompson was a sprinter, long-jumper and a standout baseball player who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Struggled to put a bat on the ball and gave up the sport to concentrate on football.

COMBINE STATS

• 40 YARD DASH: 4.64 SEC
• VERTICAL JUMP: 33.5 INCH
• BROAD JUMP: 117.0 INCH
• 3 CONE DRILL: 6.99 SEC
• 20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.08 SEC
• 60 YARD SHUTTLE: 11.78 SEC

ANALYSIS Strengths

Unmatched diversity in this year's draft. Played outside and inside as a linebacker and took snaps at safety against Stanford. Gained 456 yards rushing, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Long, with athleticism and movement of running back playing linebacker. Like a magnet to the ball while pursuing in space. Second gear to finish the chase. Wins over top of second-level linemen. Can sink and search for cutback lanes as back-side defender against stretch plays. Glides laterally from gap to gap when playing inside. Reads the quarterback's eyes and shades the throwing lane as zone defender. Transitions easily from pursuit to coverage against play-action. Can cover running backs out of backfield. Instinctive with plus vision and twitch to make the big play. Scored four defensive touchdowns and forced three fumbles in 2014. Frequently attempts to strip ball. Fluid enough in space that safety could be a position consideration for the right team. Can be used as emergency No. 3 running back on game day. Had 19 tackles on special teams over last two seasons in kick and punt coverage. Football intelligence to process offensive and defensive playbooks. Strong work ethic and team-oriented player.Weaknesses

Scouts question his natural NFL fit. Needs more mass on his frame. Played under listed weight at times. Aggressive, but lacks the play strength to back up his intentions near the line of scrimmage. Fails to consistently leverage his gap when forced inside box. Too easily redirected as blitzer. Gets blasted out of gaps by pulling guards. Must develop hands to keep linemen off of him and improve at slipping blocks. Not fully utilizing explosiveness. Fails to fire downhill and attack on the other side of the line. Ducks head into contact and will lose sight of the ball. Shoulder hitter in space rather than wrap-up tackler. Motor lets up at times when pace quickens.Sources Tell Us

"He was 219 pounds when I visited late in the season. I'm concerned about whether he will be able to keep enough weight on to be a 4-3 WILL. Until I see him actually play deep as a safety, I'm not sure that is a projection I'm comfortable making." -- AFC North scoutNFL Comparison

Brandon Marshall (Broncos)Bottom Line

Long, twitchy athlete with outstanding range to become a highly restrictive defender. Able to make plays well outside of his area against both the run and pass. With his big-play potential, Thompson could become a unique chess piece in the hands of the right defensive coordinator, but there are a growing number of teams that are beginning to struggle with whether to project Thompson as a safety or 4-3 outside linebacker.Related Links

• Sarkisian: Thompson's best days ahead at LB
• Coach: Thompson's best position is running back
• Brooks: Thompson has buzzkill combine performance
• NFL teams say Thompson should play strong safety
• Mayock places Thompson among safeties in rankings

-Lance Zierlein

He does not strike me as projecting to the type of safety the colts need. Think this is a poorly reasoned argument for taking him in the first.

[wig]

So for all of those who have actually watched him... Can he play ILB/S?  He has range to cover TE's right?  His quickness means he would be an awesome asset to have in the blitz department.  What does everyone think?

 

 

I don't think there's a position he's better fit for than OLB in a 43.  He's a little stiff in the hips, but has good football speed and physicality.  His best trait is being a playmaker (which is annoyingly broad, I know).  I don't think he has the size to play in the 34 at LB, and is a bit stiff for SS.  In the right system I think he can be very, very good, I just don't think the Colts have that system.