Grading System

LANCE BRIGGS

Position: OLB Class: Sr School: Arizona Conference: Pac-10 Ht., Wt.: 6'0½, 242 40 Time: 4.74 Grade: 3.54 Selected by Chicago Bears Round 3, pick 4 (68 overall)

BIO: Moved into the starting lineup as a true sophomore and awarded All-Conference honors the past two seasons. Led the team in tackles as a senior posting 98 with 10 1/2 tackles for loss, 31/2 sacks, intercepting one pass and breaking up two more. Junior totals were 3-14-6.5 after 113-11-1 his first year with the starting unit. Hampered by a leg injury most of his senior campaign. POSITIVES: Tough, hard working linebacker who chases around the field to make plays. Intelligent and quickly picks up assignments, playing with a good degree of discipline. Scrapes laterally, slides through the open gaps and quick moving up the field defending the run. Takes excellent angles to the action, squares into tackles and wraps up. Throws his body around the field and flies around the football. NEGATIVES: Possesses only a short burst of speed, better making plays forwards than in reverse and does too much chasing in pass defense rather than covering assignments. Not quick to the flanks and better in a straight line. ANALYSIS: Built for the weak side though his playing style dictates middle linebacker. Showed well at the Senior Bowl and being looked at as a fringe first day pick. May be better off in the outside in a three-four alignment where he can be protected. PROJECTION: Mid Fourth Round Photo: Tom Hauck/Getty Images