Is Manny Lawson being overrated by fans?

[Nick]

If he is, I'm as guilty as the next guy, because I have him projected to go to Cleveland right now. But according to Scott Wright of NFL Draft Countdown, Lawson is at best a late first rounder right now.

The real DE/OLB tweener whom scouts apparently feel is a mid first prospect?

Kamerion Wimbley

[rampete]

if you look at the stats alone then you'd be wondering why all the hype is on mario williams and little is known of manny lawson...'cause their stats are comparable on all levels:

Williams 62 (TK) 24.0-96(TFL-YDS) 14.5-80(Sacks-YDS)
Lawson 58 19.5-112 10.5-83


but...if you consider williams was double teamed and chipped out of the backfield more often than lawson then you may see why there may be differing opinions...

and then there's the physique difference...williams is 6'7" 295lbs, while lawson is 6'6" 245...the question on lawson may be, can he handle the run when a 330 lb LT is trying to drive him into the ground...?

[RamsFan16]

No I don't think he is being overrated. He did good last season and did really good at the combine. Something like a 4.41 and did good in the drills. I think he was underrated now is rated about right.

[serkicker32]

huge state fan here and Mario and Manny were double teamed all the time. As for over-rated, as a 3-4 OLB he is not; he is very athletic, spent his first 2 years as a linebacker, and is a great pass rusher. in a 4-3 he is no better than a late second but in a 3-4 he is a top 20, probally a top 15. People forget how much SLB he played sophmore year.

[rampete]

thanks for the insight serkicker32...but would you elaborate on your comment, "...in a 4-3 he is no better than a late second..."

what makes you say that, i'm curious...thanks in advance.

[serkicker32]

What I ment was that with his hand in the dirt he can ran at, but in a 3-4 he would have a two gap d-end in front of him to help with the o-line.