Sammy Brown 6'2" 242OLB, Houston
Rankings: 32nd-ranked outside linebacker by Pro Football Weekly. Graded slightly better than 50-50 to make an NFL roster or practice squad.
NFLDraftScout: 23rd-ranked OLB, #260 player overall, 7th-round to free agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2011: First-team all-Conference USA. Started all 14 games at WLB. 93 tackles, led the nation with 30 tackles-for-loss and was one of the sack leaders with 13.5. 3 pass breakups.
2010: Junior college transfer. Honorable mention all-Conference USA. Played in all 12 games and started 11 at WLB. 76 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss (led conference), 7.5 sacks, one pass breakup.
Major: sociology.
Injuries:
2011: played 5 games on a bad ankle.
Pro day stats: (NFL Combine OLB averages in parentheses)
4.63 40 (4.73 average - Brown would have been third-fastest OLB)
1.57 10-yard split
37” vertical jump (34.5” average - Brown would have tied for third)
10'3" broad jump (9'9" average - Brown would have had third-best jump)
7.13 3-cone drill (7.16)
4.47 20-yard shuttle (4.30)
20 bench press (23 average - Brown would have been in bottom five)
Positives:
Disruptive force in the backfield with eye-popping production: 21 sacks and 50 tackles-for-loss in just two seasons. Pretty athletic stand-up pass rusher with elite lower-body explosion and long arms that allow him to play bigger than his size. Shows good footwork and uses his hands well. Good feel for getting to the QB. Good burst, first step and speed off the edge. Has good interior pass rush moves and a good swim move. Changes directions quickly. Good instincts as a run defender, solid tackler who can set the edge. Gets good depth dropping back in coverage. Had interest from the Eagles and Raiders. Came a long way in a short time and is a much more disciplined player now than when he started.
Negatives:
Short and plays small against the run. Had reputation for not going all-out on the field except when he thought he could make a highlight reel play. Also had reputation for slacking off in the weight room and not paying attention in the film room. Plays a little tight. Will slow his feet at times and make himself an easy target. Hasn't dropped into coverage much and plays too high when he does. Gets too high at point of contact and can get steam-rolled. Needs to improve his hand use - leads with his shoulder too often and can get washed out of the play. Played both years in major college ball as a 3-4 outside linebacker and will be best-suited in a 3-4 in the pros. Didn't face a high level of competition and will have to bulk up and play stronger at the point of attack if he's going to be more than a third-down specialist at the next level.
Compares to: Larry English.
Fun Facts: Some reasons for choosing a college may not be great but work out in the end. Sammy's first time on a plane was to go to Houston for an official campus visit, and he hated flying so much, he picked Houston to avoid having to fly to any other schools.
RamView: RamView's very intrigued by Sammy Brown, another player who easily seems like a draftable talent but wasn't drafted (or even invited to the Combine). Go figure. He played at a lower level of NCAA competition but had dominating production there (unlike Dontari Poe in the very same conference). Maybe he's considered undersized in the weird NFL world that can call 6'2" "short". He was considered lazy his junior year (which was still impressive), but put that behind him his senior year. I'm confident Brown learned his lesson in college, knows he'll have to work hard to make the NFL, and will. But, as puzzling as it is that Brown wasn't drafted, it's even more puzzling why the Rams were the team to sign him. Jeff Fisher runs a 4-3, always has run a 4-3, and Brown is clearly a 3-4 OLB. Brown definitely shows the athleticism to convert to a 4-3 WLB, which I imagine is what the Rams are banking on. But man, haven't you guys given yourselves enough projects to work on this summer?
Chance of making roster: 50%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, CBS Sports, University of Houston athletics, National Football Post, Dallas News
Photo: Pro Football Weekly
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