Cincinnati LB Darrian Beavers

wouldn't mind seeing him around our 4th pick maybe?

 

Have him rated going in the 2nd Round. As asinine as this is going to sound.. this would be the ideal buck Linebacker for the Steelers should they opt to go this route. Among the BUCK Linebacking Prospects I have graded, Mr. Beavers is my highest graded one... and that includes the likes of Damone Clark and Christian Harris.

 

Wow. That's higher than anyone I've seen ranking him. Would you share some of you criteria on him pleas

 

We need an ILB, bush and Shobert stink.

 

According to several scouting reports he would be an OLB in a 3-4 defense, which makes sense based on the video the OP had and his size. He's not really what they need at ILB/MLB. In the end, he is just a larger Robert Spillane.

SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS

• Beavers has a filled-out frame with good thickness and excellent length. Plays at full speed at all times with an active motor and determined quickness in pursuit.
• Patient very smart player with a high football IQ who doesn't bite on fakes
• Solid tackler who is super versatile projects as both an outside 3-4 and inside 4-3 linebacker and has experience across all three LB spots
• Quality pass rusher especially on the edge - improved significantly in 2021
• Very good lateral movement allows him to track running backs sideline to sideline
• Has a good feel for coverage especially in zone - you can tell he used to be a safety in high school
• Reacts well to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out screens to his side of the field. Keeps his eyes in the backfield when rushing the passer and uses hands and strength to stay in the play.
• Tougher between the tackles than many expect. Fluid and quick drop into zone covers enough ground to be Tampa-2 "MIKE" and knows where the markers are.
• Downhill defender and physical tackler. Uses his eyes to decipher and break down the play, showing good awareness and discipline to sniff out fakes.
• Combines very good instincts with above-average reaction skills. Almost always finds the ball in traffic.
• Flashes strength to punch or stiff-arm to get off blocks. Stays with plays downfield, often making tackles even after being hit by multiple linemen.
• Shows the closing burst and footwork to work well in tight areas.
• Has good but not elite straight-line speed or quickness, but has strength and pass-rush ability

SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES

• Is not explosive or particularly quick although this is mitigated by his bigger than average size for the position
• Could do with improving his pass-rushing bag of tricks. Has managed to get pressure on delayed blitzes rather than as a primary pass rusher
• Doesn't have the speed or agility to consistently cover faster tight ends in man coverage
• Hips are a bit high, arms are long, and waist is narrow, which limits his ability to anchor and turn. Not much of a pass rusher if there is not an open lane
• Change of direction skills are only average

 

POSITIVES

— Lightning-fast mental trigger. Able to identify and adjust to all kinds of running concepts, as well as gain proper depth and spacing when he sees pass.

— Plays with all 255 pounds behind his pads. Shows great strength both when he can get a full head of steam as well as when he needs to play slower and take on blocks without momentum.

— Long arms and a head-on-fire mentality often give him the first punch when engaging with offensive linemen. Consistently shed blocks both at the second level and at the line of scrimmage.

— Can play on the edge. Sets the edge against the run with great anchor. Not a bendy pass-rusher on the edge, but has enough strength and motor to disrupt at times.

— Consistent, forceful tackler between the numbers. Often stops runners in their tracks and does not allow them to fall forward for extra yardage. Physical presence at the point of contact.

— Physicality shows up in coverage when asked to press tight ends at the line of scrimmage or reroute players in the seams. Consistently does a good job slowing people down.

NEGATIVES

— Heavy, clunky strider in space. Does not have standout sideline-to-sideline speed.

— Tackling in space can get dicey at times. Much better tackler between the numbers and in more confined areas.

— Man coverage, particularly against vertical routes, could cause issues. Does not have the speed to keep up step for step, has to win in coverage with eyes and leverage.

 

Sure thing!!!


For starters, he is quite the athletic specimen overall. Height, Weight, Size and some good speed to boot, he definitely fits the modern BUCK backer position for the current NFL. However, beyond the physical traits are the processing abilities. His overall Football IQ will not disappoint many as he is not so easily fooled like most Off Ball Backers in the class. Among his best traits though is his run stuffing ability. While it is true he is also a quality EDGE Player, for me, that is a considerable waste of his overall talents for his ability to instantly fill the hole is some of the best overall among not just linebackers in the class but also among all Defensive Players; both Nakobe Dean and Devin Lloyd included.



Now, for all of his positives... there are some negatives. For one, while he can cover... just do not place him in man to man situations with more quick and explosive Offensive Skill players... namely slot corners. For two, while his downhill speed is impressive, his sideline to sideline abilities are less so. Not so much because he does not have the speed; he definitely has it. It is just that, being more straight line than overall, limits his effectiveness as stretch runs really test and can limit his agility given his size. Finally, for three, he will have to be coached up a bit in terms of his overall use of his leverage when disengaging from blocks overall. The skillset is there but the polish is not.



Overall though and, as I said, say hello to the best BUCK Linebacker in the class. Not the best overall in my view but as far as BUCKs go, he is the big one. Sure, Brandon Smith from Penn State may just possess the best overall athleticism, Christian Harris from Alabama possess the best overall coverage skills, Chad Muma from the University of Wyoming is the classic jack of all trade and Damone Clark possess the highest ceiling. However, none of the aforementioned four fit the BUCK role better for Pittsburgh than Beavers.



Now, should the team miss out on Beavers... look for them to target Clark then. Colbert loves his players with SPARQky attributes and Clark has more than enough ability to be a rock solid BUCK for the team.

 

Both are Mack ILB's. Neither are Buck style LBs. Remember Vince Williams? He was a true Buck for the Steelers. The rest of the Linebackers on the team are the furthest thing from that. If anything, I could make the argument that the likes of Gilbert III and Marcus Allen are more closer to being MoneyBackers than actual Linebackers.

 

Disagree here.


Spillane has a Bucks mentality for certain. That said, he does not possess the physical attributes of a Buck like Beavers. To even be a Buck 'Backer in today's league, being 245lbs is the minimum requirement; 255lbs being the max overall. Beavers fits this to a tee and then some.

 

Modern NFL defenses require that the ILB/MLB be able to cover TE and sometimes slot receivers. That’s why more and more of them are not the classic 250 pound linebacker. All of his scouting reports clearly say he isn’t good in coverage and put him as more of an edge rusher in the nfl.

 

All true... but buck 'backers are inherently different. Yes, today's NFL requires Linebackers to do so on a consistent basis. Regarding the throwback 250lbs... Tremaine Edmunds and a lesser extent in LVE fit that mold. As stated before, 245 is the minimum and all of us just saw Micah Parsons run a 4.4... or 4.38 if being more specific. They are becoming more and more common than one believes. Let us not count out the likes of Clark or Muma in the upcoming class either; Harris the same. All three can cover but Harris is the best coverage one. Again though, I did state 245lbs being the minimum yet Harris is not. The reason he can be classified as a Buck is his mentality; something very few sub 240lbs linebackers have.



However, speed is not everything for a coverage linebacker. LaVonte David is not known to be among the fastest coverage linebackers but he still can cover with the best of them. For that matter, Fred Warner of the 49ers who is also not much of a speedster is not just the best coverage linebacker in the game but also among the best overall.



Overall though, having such a Buck Linebacker as you described would essentially make that player a Treamine Edmunds or Micah Parsons. Sadly... those players do not grow on trees. Clark possess the highest ceiling while Brandon Smith has all the athletic tools one could ever ask for in a dream build Buck. However, neither are the complete package like Parsons or Edmunds. Beavers is not either.... but he does possess one key element that not even Parsons himself had coming out; instincts.



Yes, Beavers is limited in terms of his speed; good not great. However, he is not short on his football knowledge and abilities to pre diagnose plays on a consistent basis; something even the best linebackers in the game perform often and doubly so regarding 3-4 Buck ones. That Football IQ, coupled with his athletic profile and versatility (something the team has coveted historically) makes him an ideal candidate for the team.




Given the fact that Desmond Ridder is also on the Steelers Radar, the team will likely get to see Beavers even more up close whenever Cincy's Pro Day commences.... whenever that may be.

 

Don’t get me wrong, if they got him in round 3 or 4 I would love to see a guy like that in the rotation, I just don’t see him as the every down ILB/MLB

 

that means we have a beaver and a bush.

 

While you do not, I personally do. As stated before, very seldom do talents like Parsons appear. Beavers is not a speedster but has more than enough speed to cover well; doubly so in zone looks. Unless he is going up against a Travis Kelce, I believe Beavers can perform well enough for the iob.

 

LOL, this dude is nowhere close to Parsons.

 

You keep saying BUCK linebackers but a BUCK linebackers is a term used in a 4-3 defense which the Steelers do not run.

The weakside linebacker (WLB), or the "Will" in 4–3 defense, sometimes called the backside linebacker, or "Buck", as well as other names like Jack or Bandit, must be the fastest of the three, because he is often the one called into pass coverage.

 

Which is my point.


As I stated before, players like him do not grow on trees.

 

Terms are interchangeable given the fact that the 3-4 is a modified form of the 4-3. While it is not called the Buck position, the 3-4 terms for the stronger backer of the two is called the Mike. The more athletic backer is the Will. Again though, not the point.



What is the point is that there is not a single multi role run stuffer on the team. Darrian Beavers is about as good of one in the class as there is for being a Buck Linebacker; doubly so for the needs of this team.

 

Tomlin's defense requires this. Smart DC match up nickels and safeties on TE.

 

Thanks. Interesting take on this kid.

 

My pleasure good sir!!!


With any luck for my computer... perhaps my Top Five Positional Rankings can finally get off the ground; among other write ups!!!