Shaq Lawson-DE/OLB-Clemson

Shaq's shoulder should not be a surprise. In numerous games this year, he would avoid taking on pulling guards and protect his shoulder from contact. It was my biggest beef with him in 2015. Hopefully it checks out well for him, because he is a very talented player. At 7, too rich for me. Maybe if the team is looking to move down.

As stated in another thread, the short shuttle is used by some NFL teams as the most critical gauge of a player's future success at DE in the NFL. Lawson blazed a 4.21, which is outstanding.

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Shaq's shoulder should not be a surprise. In numerous games this year, he would avoid taking on pulling guards and protect his shoulder from contact. It was my biggest beef with him in 2015. Hopefully it checks out well for him, because he is a very talented player. At 7, too rich for me. Maybe if the team is looking to move down.

As stated in another thread, the short shuttle is used by some NFL teams as the most critical gauge of a player's future success at DE in the NFL. Lawson blazed a 4.21, which is outstanding.

Maybe they are checking him out in case they do trade down? No way should he be the 7th pick in the draft.

also when we get to see your mock?

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Maybe they are checking him out in case they do trade down? No way should he be the 7th pick in the draft.

also when we get to see your mock?

Trade down with the Jets for Wilkerson, still find a way to get Lawson.

#winning.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Maybe they are checking him out in case they do trade down? No way should he be the 7th pick in the draft.

also when we get to see your mock?

Trade down with the Jets for Wilkerson, still find a way to get Lawson.

#winning.

That's GM of the year stuff

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Maybe they are checking him out in case they do trade down? No way should he be the 7th pick in the draft.

also when we get to see your mock?

Trade down with the Jets for Wilkerson, still find a way to get Lawson.

#winning.

Rather have his teammate Kevin Dodd, dudes a beast. Not really impressed with Shaq's play, looks like he gets all the tackles because teams are going away from Dodd's side.

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

Rather have his teammate Kevin Dodd, dudes a beast. Not really impressed with Shaq's play, looks like he gets all the tackles because teams are going away from Dodd's side.

Weren't teams doubling shaq this past season much more? This was Dodd's only year with really any production plus he'll be 24 before the season even starts.

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

Rather have his teammate Kevin Dodd, dudes a beast. Not really impressed with Shaq's play, looks like he gets all the tackles because teams are going away from Dodd's side.

Lawson was the guy going up against double teams and elite left tackles such as Stanley and still beating them.


Dodd was getting to go up against right tackles and clean up the trash on the backside.

I'll take Lawson over Dodd. Far more developed as a pass rusher, better against the run as well. More imptessive athletically.

Dodd pretty much has length on him and that is it.


The Notre Dame game is one that shows the disparity between these two players.

Great college player but I don't see him transitioning that to the next level.
I think he's very limited in terms of a pass rusher. He doesn't posses that strength that's going to blow tackles away.

Originally posted by wailers15:

Great college player but I don't see him transitioning that to the next level.
I think he's very limited in terms of a pass rusher. He doesn't posses that strength that's going to blow tackles away.

He's only 21 and he's already strong as hell. He's only going to get stronger.

He has a devastating inside spin move. guy was constantly causing havoc in every single game.

I love this guy. He has such a great attitude, too. Leader and will leave it all on the field for his teammate's.

He won't last much longer after 7(NFL.com mocks have him going 11/13) so if Baalke takes him there, that's good with me.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Maybe they are checking him out in case they do trade down? No way should he be the 7th pick in the draft.

also when we get to see your mock?

Trade down with the Jets for Wilkerson, still find a way to get Lawson.

#winning.

Wilkerson would have a Fred Dean effect.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by wailers15:

Great college player but I don't see him transitioning that to the next level.
I think he's very limited in terms of a pass rusher. He doesn't posses that strength that's going to blow tackles away.

He's only 21 and he's already strong as hell. He's only going to get stronger.

He has a devastating inside spin move. guy was constantly causing havoc in every single game.

I love this guy. He has such a great attitude, too. Leader and will leave it all on the field for his teammate's.

He won't last much longer after 7(NFL.com mocks have him going 11/13) so if Baalke takes him there, that's good with me.

Oh i agree he shows that but I see him as one of those players that dominated the college level but will struggle in the pros. Like Tank to say the least. Totally different game too.
We shall see though. I would rather have reed from bama.

Originally posted by wailers15:
Oh i agree he shows that but I see him as one of those players that dominated the college level but will struggle in the pros. Like Tank to say the least. Totally different game too.
We shall see though. I would rather have reed from bama.

You'd rather have Reed over Shaq?? Reed is a DT and brings literally nothing as far as pass rush (two career sacks). He's a two down run stuffer. tank should have never been a 3-4 DE, he should have been a 3-4 OLB for us.

Originally posted by wailers15:
Great college player but I don't see him transitioning that to the next level.
I think he's very limited in terms of a pass rusher. He doesn't posses that strength that's going to blow tackles away.

I don't get the limited in terms of pass rush? He was one of the best pass rushers in college this past season. one of his big pluses is that he is strength.

STRENGTHS Built like a tank with thickly muscled legs and a broad chest. Clemson played him at 5-­technique and standing up on the outside. Scheme versatile and will likely appeal to be 3­-4 and 4-­3 teams. Very powerful at the point of attack. Able to punch, extend arms and control the line of scrimmage or set a hard edge. Able to shock and shed blockers and has the hand quickness to staggered block attempts. Power allows him to play on other side of the line. Finished second in the nation in "stuffs" for defensive linemen with 17. Comes off ball low and with forward lean into his rush. Has frame to handle a double team. Has plus instincts and feel for the game. Toughness in full display.

He's biggest issue is arm length, bum shoulder, and he's not really a bend around the edge flexible pass rusher. I don't think he's a top 10 pick but he's one of the best if not the best OLB in this draft IMO.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-first-draft/0ap3000000641413/First-Draft-Shaq-Lawson

If you don't know abou shaq, you should spend a second learning about this incredible young man. he has had to help his single mom raise 5 siblings because his dad died when he was 16 in a tragic car accident. He originally accepted a scholarship offer to Tennessee his junior year, but after his dad died, he changed his mind and specifically went to Clemson to stay close to his brothers, sisters and mom. He's overcome a lot of adversity. In addition to being a game wrecker on the field, he's a high-character guy with a really good head on his shoulders.

Played with a torn MCL in the national championship game because he wasn't going to let down his teammates.

This team desperately needs more high-character guys ready to lead like shaq.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

I don't get the limited in terms of pass rush? He was one of the best pass rushers in college this past season. one of his big pluses is that he is strength.

STRENGTHS Built like a tank with thickly muscled legs and a broad chest. Clemson played him at 5-­technique and standing up on the outside. Scheme versatile and will likely appeal to be 3­-4 and 4-­3 teams. Very powerful at the point of attack. Able to punch, extend arms and control the line of scrimmage or set a hard edge. Able to shock and shed blockers and has the hand quickness to staggered block attempts. Power allows him to play on other side of the line. Finished second in the nation in "stuffs" for defensive linemen with 17. Comes off ball low and with forward lean into his rush. Has frame to handle a double team. Has plus instincts and feel for the game. Toughness in full display.

He's biggest issue is arm length, bum shoulder, and he's not really a bend around the edge flexible pass rusher. I don't think he's a top 10 pick but he's one of the best if not the best OLB in this draft IMO.

Why didn't you post the entire scouting report of him? Cause it wouldn't fit your point? It reads like he's going to be a good player against the run and not as a pass rusher.

Weaknesses
Thickly bound with very average flexibility. Average athlete for an end position. Not a natural hip bender and will have to focus on keeping pad level lower to unlock his leverage potential. Shows obvious signs of fatigue as game wears on. At times, is too content to lean on blocks when play isn't run to his side rather than working to discard. Will have snaps where he seems more concerned with imposing his will on blocking rather than diagnosing the play. Doesn't have the bend or upper body flexion to be edge turner as pass rusher. Effort sacks will diminish in pros and will need to become more nuanced pass rusher.

Sources Tell Us
"I see Shaq as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He's not the guy you want to turn loose against the quarterback, but he is the guy that will make it hard for tight ends to block him in the run game. We knew we couldn't run at him and it changed how we called plays." -- ACC offensive coach

NFL Comparison
Courtney Upshaw

Bottom Line
Productive backup for two years before putting together an All­-American season in his first year as a full- time starter. Lawson is built like a full­-grown man and combines his instincts, toughness and power to fill up a stat sheet and set an early tone. Lawson's frame and game are easily translatable to the NFL, but his average athleticism and pass rush skills will likely have teams viewing him as a 3­-4 edge setter or a 4-­3 base end. Lawson may also have value as 3­-4 defensive tackle in an upfield scheme.

I've seen him compared to Upshaw alot, and that's not a bad thing, Upshaw is a fine player, but he's not a good pass rusher (5 career sacks) and makes his living playing the run well. And just for fun I'll leave a link to Courtney Upshaw's scouting report. It sounds eerily similar to Lawson's. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/courtney-upshaw?id=2532964