ILB, Darry Beckwith, LSU

ILB, Darry Beckwith, LSU

Pros:  Good size for the position with the frame to add mass without a significant loss of quickness. ... Highly aggressive and physical.

Cons:  A physical battering ram when it comes to taking on blockers, Beckwith struggles to quickly disengage and make tackles in space.

Styg's Broncos Fit:   This prospect is all about the "upside".  With only limited exposure to the LB position Beckwith managed to accrue some good production.  But unfortunately, beneath the production are a tidal wave of concerns.  He was rarely used as a blitzer, and really doesn't have ideal size.  He was kept back in zones much of the time, and though his feet are good (he has played RB and WR before) his hips are below-average, and as a result he would often try to take up position in his zone too early.  His offensive pedigree is evident in his speed and terrific ball skills but he lacks the physicality sought in a run-stopping ILB.  Factor in some character concerns, including a brush with the law, and Beckwith, despite the obvious athleticism, just doesn't bring enough to the Denver Broncos' table.  3 stars.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

From "Players we can't afford to lose to injury" at The Valley Shook:

3.  Darry Beckwith, LB:  He's our best linebacker, and our most experienced starter.  He's the only linebacker on the team that is unlikely to come off the field while a game is still in doubt.  The backup (Jacob Cutrera) is actually pretty experienced, but the drop-off in skill is substantial, and Beckwith's leadership at the linebacker position is essential.  Unfortunately, Beckwith has a history of injuries, and we would be fortunate to have him healthy for the entire season.  Stranger things have happened, though.

From Scouting Report at Mocking the Draft:

An experienced player, Beckwith’s strength is his instincts. He reads and reacts to plays as well as any senior middle linebacker in the nation. Can play in the middle or the weak side. Does a nice job maintaining his gap responsibility. Decent tackler in the open field. Can thump when he wants to. Closes quickly.

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

• Beckwith has had somewhat of a questionable past with injuries, although he played and started 12 games for LSU last season. Already in 2008, however, a knee problem has come up to bite him. Beckwith injured his knee in the Tigers' second game against North Texas and he will miss at least the SEC showdown against Auburn. Other than that, it's hard not to like everything about Beckwith. First of all, he has the experience to step in and make an immediate impact for some team at the next level.    [see more...]
• Darry Beckwith was overshadowed by his teammates at LSU, but is a solid player in his own right. He played both the weakside and middle in college but projects best to the middle at the NFL level. He had a string of knee problems at LSU and will require an extensive medical check before he is drafted. He was expected to have a big senior year but the knee injury slowed him. He could prove to be a steal if he can stay healthy, as he has the tools to be an NFL starter, though he does not seem to have the playmaking ability to be a star.   [see more...]
• Nickname is "Dougie"...A local product from Baton Rouge...Was a three-year starter in the SEC...Has experience at inside and outside linebacker and could also project to the weakside at the next level...Was named 2nd Team All-SEC in 2007 and 2008...A finalist for the Butkus Award as a senior...Missed some action with a knee injury in 2006...Dealt with both shoulder and knee injuries as a junior...Had arthroscopic surgery performed on his knee in September of '08 and it hampered him most of the year...Has the ability to start in the NFL but needs to stay healthy ... Better player than  his senior film will indicate.  [see more...]
• An explosive, fluid linebacker with great footwork and ideal balance in and out of his breaks. Possesses great range in coverage with the closing speed to consistently get after the ball. Displays good pursuit and showcases sideline-to-sideline range. Is a good tackler in space and makes a lot of plays down the field vs. the pass. Gets a deep drop in zone coverage and has the range to cover the seam.  [see more...]