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Leighton Vander Esch injury concerns

FordFairLane

FordFairLane

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http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN ...te-lb-leighton-vander-esch-surface-on-monday/

This could really change things if he has medical red flags.


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I didn't post that as it looked iffy as that it might be bogus report...
 
slashsteel said:
I didn't post that as it looked iffy as that it might be bogus report...
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"To me, he's a third-round talent, but probably will go higher," said an AFC general manager. "He has gotten a lot of hype, but he plays soft. He's too much like Paul Posluszny for me. He's a good player and will have a lot of tackles, but most of them will come four yards downfield. He's not an impact-at-the-line guy like a Ray Lewis, Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason or Brian Urlacher.
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More telling to me is the opinion of this unnamed AFC GM. Third round talent that will go higher. Plays soft. Most of his tackles will be 4 yds downfield.
If this is truly his opinion and not posturing or maneuvering, he doesn't think to highly of the guy.
 
Without specific issues to point to, it's a smoke screen. And hopefully he drops to us because of it.
 
Cope said:
Without specific issues to point to, it's a smoke screen. And hopefully he drops to us because of it.
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According to PFW, the most likely injuries are a grade 1 LCL sprain of the right knee or a stinger that kept him out of a game as a precautionary measure. They note that he did pass the combine physical and wasn't asked to come back for the April rechecks. Their conclusion is that some team(s) are throwing smokescreens.
Still don't want him in the first.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/04/16/way-we-hear-it-combine-medical-report-disputes-leighton-vander-esch-concerns/a45fktj/
 
He plays soft for me, is the most telling....

WE DO NOT NEED THOSE TYPE OF PLAYERS ANY MORE
 
SteelBuckeye said:
More telling to me is the opinion of this unnamed AFC GM. Third round talent that will go higher. Plays soft. Most of his tackles will be 4 yds downfield.
If this is truly his opinion and not posturing or maneuvering, he doesn't think to highly of the guy.
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Yeah I saw that and agreed he doesn't seem like the rough tough ILber type.More like a finesse off the ball type. Saw a decent amount of him on the ground or being blocked fairly easily as the RB flew right by. Against the pass he seemed capable but somewhat lost. Maybe not enough of a burst to stay on their ***, but enough to get their to prevent a long TD. Yeah not a shed the block, stop you in the backfield type. He spent a lot of time off the ball. Perhaps the Steelers like that he could develop into a coverage ILber.

But way too many hmmmmmms to be saying 1st round selection.

I would actually at this point be shocked to see the Steelers go this approach seeing what I saw, and knowing their approach.

Even in 2 you see guys slide and say well he had first round capability. But i question that with him, seriously.
 
slashsteel said:
Yeah I saw that and agreed he doesn't seem like the rough tough ILber type.More like a finesse off the ball type. Saw a decent amount of him on the ground or being blocked fairly easily as the RB flew right by. Against the pass he seemed capable but somewhat lost. Maybe not enough of a burst to stay on their ***, but enough to get their to prevent a long TD. Yeah not a shed the block, stop you in the backfield type. He spent a lot of time off the ball. Perhaps the Steelers like that he could develop into a coverage ILber.

But way too many hmmmmmms to be saying 1st round selection.

I would actually at this point be shocked to see the Steelers go this approach seeing what I saw, and knowing their approach.

Even in 2 you see guys slide and say well he had first round capability. But i question that with him, seriously.
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He's not a "diagnose and get there" type either. I mean, Dirty Red doesn't have a burst, but he can diagnose the heck out of a play and pretty often get there to at least minimize impact. I'm starting to wonder if all that hopping and moving side to side is to help him better process what he thinks he's seeing and/or to provide some sort of momentum to help him get there quicker as he guesses rather than read/react. I'm just not too hyped on either LVE or Evans in R1 at this point. Hell, I'd almost rather see Rudolph to the Steelers than either of them. lol
 
SteelBuckeye said:
He's not a "diagnose and get there" type either. I mean, Dirty Red doesn't have a burst, but he can diagnose the heck out of a play and pretty often get there to at least minimize impact. I'm starting to wonder if all that hopping and moving side to side is to help him better process what he thinks he's seeing and/or to provide some sort of momentum to help him get there quicker as he guesses rather than read/react. I'm just not too hyped on either LVE or Evans in R1 at this point. Hell, I'd almost rather see Rudolph to the Steelers than either of them. lol
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Same here
 
Rudolph (not that I want a QB) really is underrated.I think he is better than the 6th rated QB. I could easily see him as a better value than some others that might be sitting there. If Ben would have said this is his last season, I would be hoping for this pick. But yeah if it is between Rudolph and LVE. I am painting my nose red as yelling mother ****** hereeeeeeee.

Could be good value in 1 sitting there at S/WR/RB/DE/CB


not sure of anything past that...
 
Is he friends with Trump? Looks like 100% fake news. He played all of his senior season and had one hell of a season and one hell of a combine. So, where could the injury concerns be coming from?
 
I hope injury concerns are not code for "he went to the Brian Cushing School of sports medicine".

And I'm not like trying to make any accusations, but it worries me when a smaller School guy cannot get playing time his first two years in college and then suddenly is a starter and projected first-round pick based off of one year
 
swal75 said:
I hope injury concerns are not code for "he went to the Brian Cushing School of sports medicine".

And I'm not like trying to make any accusations, but it worries me when a smaller School guy cannot get playing time his first two years in college and then suddenly is a starter and projected first-round pick based off of one year
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With his iffy burst and lack of physicality I doubt it.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
He's not a "diagnose and get there" type either. I mean, Dirty Red doesn't have a burst, but he can diagnose the heck out of a play and pretty often get there to at least minimize impact. I'm starting to wonder if all that hopping and moving side to side is to help him better process what he thinks he's seeing and/or to provide some sort of momentum to help him get there quicker as he guesses rather than read/react. I'm just not too hyped on either LVE or Evans in R1 at this point. Hell, I'd almost rather see Rudolph to the Steelers than either of them. lol
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Vander Esch made a lot of plays. How can he not be a diagnose and get there type???

I agree he’s not an explosive hitter. I can live with that as long as he tackles well. I didn’t see any broken tackles that he should have made on film, did you?

He tests very well athletically and could be a late bloomer type. Still think he’s our best option among those likely on the board at pick 28.

I’d also be happy with Reid, Payne or Guise.




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Still think he’s our best option among those likely on the board at pick 28.
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Did you watch any of the game tape I provided? this is a yes or no question

How can he not be a diagnose and get there type???
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he can be that type by having difficulty diagnosis what he sees, as in lost like a chicken with his head cut off

I didn’t see any broken tackles that he should have made on film, did you?
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I seen a significant amount of plays he couldn't make the play due to being blocked, as in difficulty getting off blocks. If the runner is trotting right past you it won't matter if you are a good tackler.
 
Coach said:
Vander Esch made a lot of plays. How can he not be a diagnose and get there type???

I agree he’s not an explosive hitter. I can live with that as long as he tackles well. I didn’t see any broken tackles that he should have made on film, did you?

He tests very well athletically and could be a late bloomer type. Still think he’s our best option among those likely on the board at pick 28.

I’d also be happy with Reid, Payne or Guise.




Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
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1. A lot of the "plays" he made came to him. He didn't go to them. So, you can make plays, but not be a diagnose and get there type. It's part of the reason the unnamed AFC GM says you can expect him to make a lot of tackles, but you can also expect most of them to be 4 yards down the field. Being able to read, react and overcome ... essential qualities for an ILB and I don't see it. Maybe it's physical (spark says no), maybe it's mental (is he soft?) or maybe he, to borrow a term I've heard you use, has a low football IQ.

2. Nope, didn't see a lot of broken tackles. Guys either got past him, were gang tackled, occasionally tackled by LVE alone ... or that lack of burst and explosiveness kept LVE totally out of the play. I saw many instances where LVE made tackles because the play was run right at him. You like that. It's part of the job. But, I saw many instances where those tackles occurred 3 - 4 yards past the LOS ... not so good.

3. Mike Mammula tested very well athletically and so did a lot of other busts. We can't afford to have a "Limas Sweed" in the first round.

If LVE is our best option at 1.28 .. I hope Colbert goes out of his way to trade down.
 
OK, so some think LVE didn't diagnose plays. Did Evans? Or did he just have a lot of much better players around him funneling plays toward him? Don't forget, other than refusing to run the 40 because of his injury past, the knock on him is he ain't the brightest bulb in the bunch. He won't be running the D, which one of the ILB's typically does.

One way or another, I still think we end up with one of these two so we'll get to find out over the next few years who makes it and who doesn't.
 
TDX27 said:
OK, so some think LVE didn't diagnose plays. Did Evans? Or did he just have a lot of much better players around him funneling plays toward him? Don't forget, other than refusing to run the 40 because of his injury past, the knock on him is he ain't the brightest bulb in the bunch. He won't be running the D, which one of the ILB's typically does.

One way or another, I still think we end up with one of these two so we'll get to find out over the next few years who makes it and who doesn't.
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If it is one or the other Evans is easily the safer choice.
 
TDX27 said:
OK, so some think LVE didn't diagnose plays. Did Evans? Or did he just have a lot of much better players around him funneling plays toward him? Don't forget, other than refusing to run the 40 because of his injury past, the knock on him is he ain't the brightest bulb in the bunch. He won't be running the D, which one of the ILB's typically does.

One way or another, I still think we end up with one of these two so we'll get to find out over the next few years who makes it and who doesn't.
Click to expand...

I've stated several times I'm not fond of Evans either. But, if the choice is between the two of them, I like Evans more based on his tape and production. Although, if the choice is between them, I'd LOVE to see the Colbert/Tomlin brain trust look for a trade down partner. Now, all that said, if either of them become Steelers, I'd love for them to shove my thoughts/opinions down my throat with spectacular play.
 
I see Evans as too similar to Vince. We need speed AND instincts at the Mack. I'd rather get Avery in the 3rd.
 
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