Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Rookie free agent profile: Joseph LeBeau, OLB, Jackson State

Joseph LeBeau 6'0" 245
OLB, Jackson State

Rankings:
NFLDraftScout: 38th-ranked SS, #909 player overall, free agent grade.
Scouts Inc: 73rd-ranked OLB, rated as a free agent. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.

Biography/honors:
2012: NCAA Division 1-AA all-America and first-team all-SWAC. Played in all 12 games (starts not listed). 72 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 6 QB hurries and a forced fumble.
2011: Transferred to Jackson State. NCAA Division 1-AA all-America and first-team all-SWAC. Played in all 11 games (starts not listed). 75 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles.
2010: Arkansas Baptist (JC): Complete statistics not available online.
2009: Arkansas Baptist (JC): Played in 7 games with 16 tackles and one sack.

Major: not listed.

Injuries:
2012: Minor ankle injury. Did not appear to miss significant game time.

Pro day results: (2013 NFL Combine LB averages in parentheses)
4.53 40 (would have tied for 2nd-fastest LB at Combine. Average was 4.75)
1.63 10-yard split
35.5” vertical jump (33.5”)
10'7" broad jump (9'10.5")
7.34 3-cone drill (7.14)
4.40 20-yard shuttle (4.34)
26 bench press (22)
 

Positives: Has speed and elite burst off the edge. Offensive linemen at his level of competition simply could not keep up. Wins with his first move. Has quickness and good hands to disengage from blocks. Can cover a lot of ground. Very good closing speed. Effective spin move in pass rush and should be an effective blitzer. Diagnoses runs and closes on the ball-carrier quickly. Good tackling form. Very athletic and energetic.

Negatives: Played at 220 or less in college. Will have to show he can maintain suddenness while adding bulk, and he already has only average to below-average agility and change of direction. Will essentially be learning the linebacker position. Will have to adjust to dropping back into coverage. Only has speed and spin move as a pass rusher, needs to develop additional moves. Runs himself out of plays. Shows no sign of having any kind of inside move. Mostly got owned at Casino del Sol All-Star game. He weighed in at 218 for that game, making it pretty amazing that the Rams currently list him at 245.

Compares to: Ray Ray Armstrong.

Fun Facts: Jackson State University has produced three NFL Hall of Famers: Jackie Slater, Walter Payton and Lem Barney. Ram receiving great Harold Jackson, 7-time Pro Bowl linebacker Robert Brazile and 5-time Pro Bowl receiver Jimmy Smith are also alumni.

RamView: A tweener even among tweeners, LeBeau was a rush end for Jackson State, worked out at defensive back at his pro day, and will try out for the Rams at OLB. He fits in nicely with the Rams' efforts to add speed to the roster, and he had respectable productivity at his level of competition. He'll never be an NFL DE at his size, though, which leaves him learning a new position, and we haven't heard a lot from him in camp thus far.

Chance of making team: 5%.

Sources: NFLDraftScout, Wikipedia, Jackson State University athletics, Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger, TSPN Sports, Fox Sports, SBNation, National Junior College Athletic Association, Pro Football Reference

Photo:Jackson Clarion-Ledger

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