WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2006, 2:28 p.m.

Manny Lawson, defensive end, North Carolina State

John Lombardi, a former NFL scout and grandson of Packers legend Vince Lombardi, reports on Manny Lawson, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end from North Carolina State:

"Is he a defensive end or a linebacker? Might have to convert to linebacker to make it in the NFL and he would still need top add some bulk and strength to hold the point. He would probably be better as a 3-4 outside backer. Does not have the bulk to be a defensive end at this time. Not sure he can get significantly bigger. Media guide shows he is a weight room guy. He is very athletic for his position and even though he did not show much production in space, I feel he could play as a backer if he has limited coverage responsibility. Will be a very good blitzer, but could develop some additional pass rush moves. Has very good speed and quickness. May be the fastest player on the team. More instinctive than Mario Williams, he can sniff out screens and draws and has more awareness in my estimation. Has been a special teams demon in the past and is very adept at blocking kicks. Also has a reputation for being very adept at covering kicks. He would be a welcome addition to the team as a special teams player as he develops into a linebacker or matures into a defensive end. Could also be utilized as a pass rush specialist. Unlike some projects, he could contribute immediately. And he played defensive end in the Senior Bowl, so it looks like NFL teams want to see him with his hand in the dirt. He went up against D'Brickashaw Ferguson for most of his snaps and was mostly neutralized as a pass rusher. Ferguson is the best pass blocker in the draft, so that was not unexpected. It is difficult to out-quick Ferguson and Lawson is not big enough to out-power Ferguson. Lawson was effective coming off blocks to make plays around the line of scrimmage and downfield once the runner got beyond the line of scrimmage. Once again, he is a very good athlete and has tools, but needs to either bulk up to be more effective as an end or transition to the linebacker position."

KC will pick Lawson or trade down to pick up Hali

Interesting! I have the Senior Bowl Tivo'd. I thought Lawson got the best of Ferguson on several plays. Sacks? None that i can remember right off hand, but what I recall is Lawson really pressuring the QB and forcing throw aways.

I'm going to have to rewatch some of the Senior Bowl tonight to see if I was mistaken.


And I do know htis for a fact. I saw Lawson make McNeil from Auburn look silly on a one-on-one pass rush drill at the Senior Bowl practice sessions. It was on just the other night on a replay on ESPNU.

BCF,

Have you read any recent reports on Lawson? I heard he's put on 10-15 pounds and is looking to become a permanent 4-3 DE...

At 6'5", 255-260, I think he'd be damn near perfect for us as a DE.

but did he lose any quickness by gaining the weight?

Even so he'd still be quicker than most

He said he would put on weight until he started to lose quickness, then he wouldn't go any higher. Even if he lost a tenth off of his time, that is still 4.53 which would rock.

I don't know for a fact that he actually gained weight, that's why I was asking.

But like Coogs said, even if he lost a 10th of his speed, he'd still be faster than alot of LB's.

The latest I've heard is he is keeping his weight down, because he doesn't know whether he will be a LBer or a DE at this point. He believes he can easily put on weight. He's done it before by eating potatoes and working out to bulk up. It's one of the posts that I posted earlier on this thread, it's from the Atlanta Falcons website, but rather than look for it, here's an excerpt, that Gosselin wrote about the same thing. I'll look for the orginal post number so you read the interview in it's entirety. Also, there is actual audio clip, if you prefer to hear it direct from Manny, himself. I'll edit this post and put the link up again. Meanwhile, here's the short version...

Posted on Wed, Apr. 19, 2006email thisprint this
Evaluating defensive linemen for NFL draft
BY RICK GOSSELIN
The Dallas Morning News
SPOTLIGHT ON

Manny Lawson, DE, North Carolina State

The Super Bowl champion has played a 3-4 defense for three consecutive years: New England in 2003-04 and Pittsburgh in 2005. The NFL is a copycat league. If a blueprint works, other teams steal it.

Pittsburgh was the only team playing a 3-4 in 2001. The Steelers have led the NFL in defense twice and won a championship since then. Eight teams played the scheme in 2005, and the number will increase in 2006.

So more and more teams are scouting the undersized ends in the college game. The search is on for speed rushers off the edge like Jason Taylor, who entered the NFL at 6-6, 239 pounds. He's now a Pro Bowl pass rusher playing at 255 pounds for Miami.

Manny Lawson has been compared to Taylor on this draft board. He's 6-5, 241 with 4.43-second speed over 40 yards. He posted 10 sacks at North Carolina State in 2005 and 20 in his career. He started a handful of games at linebacker in 2003 but moved to end in 2004. He put on 25 pounds for the 2005 season.

"Baked potatoes," Lawson said. "Then I went to the gym. Eating and working out, instead of eating, running and working out."

Lawson can continue eating those baked potatoes and bulking up to play end in a 4-3. Or he can stay at the same weight and move back to linebacker in a 3-4.

"My frame can hold a lot, but I don't want to substitute weight for speed," Lawson said. "So I'd stop when I start slowing down."

My first two rounds are Lawson and Cedric Griffin, CB from Texas in the 2nd. Herm said the key for CB's is to find a CB's (and players) who fits/fit the system, which is Cover 2. Lawson fits the DE spot to a T, as does Griffin. This is from the Scout.com magazine, typed word for word...

Pos: Physical cornerback with good upside potential. Jams opponents at the line, fluid turning his sips and easily runs downfield with receivers. Quickly breaks to the throw, has a burst of closing speed as well as a hard-hitting style. Active in run defense, attacks opponents and shakes the ball loose with jarring hits.

Neg: Mentally hesitant, slow locating the ball and gives up receptions when he should not. Struggles making plays with his back to the ball.

Analysis: A terrific athlete with good upside, Griffin could start at the next level in the proper system. Best in a zone system or press coverage.

Here's the interview in print. Click on the link and click the audio tab, to hear Manny Lawson, himself.

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/article.jsp?id=11113


Manny Lawson (DE - N.C. State) - Sunday, February 26, 2006:


Q: Would you feel most comfortable as a outside linebacker or a defensive end?
Lawson: Wherever a team wants to put me, so long as I can play.


Q: If you went to a 4-3 team, what weight do you think you come become eventually?
Lawson: The way I look at it, my weight can hold a lot, but I don't want to substitute weight for speed, so I'll probably stop adding weight whenever I start slowing down.

Q: What's the most you've ever weighed?
Lawson: The most I've ever weighed is 247.

Q: Are you going to do all the workouts at the Combine?
Lawson: Yes.

Q: Who all have you met with here at the Combine?
Lawson: The Falcons, Jaguars, Dallas, New York Giants, Tampa Bay...I can't remember all of them. I had eight interviews last night.

Q: How about the Dolphins?
Lawson: I have not met with them. I actually met with them at the Senior Bowl.

Q: Is there a certain way to block punts like you did so much in college?
Lawson: There is a specific technique. Really, I think the knack is ‘want to,' as coach [Chuck] Amato would call it. If you want to get back there, you'll do anything or whatever it takes to get back there.

Q: How do you feel about being compared to linebacker/defensive end tweeners like Willie McGinest?
Lawson: It's crazy because they've done things I have not yet done, so I don't know what to say.

Q: Do you think Mario Williams complemented you as much as you were a complement to him at State?
Lawson: I think it goes both ways. When you see one guy coming around the corner, you're definitely not going to run his way, so you're automatically going to go the other way and into the next guy, who you don't see. I think we both complemented each other.

Q: Are you faster than Mario?
Lawson: By far. It's not even close. Not even.

Q: You did jumps for N.C. State track?
Lawson: Yes. Long jump and triple jump. I ran track all the way up until my junior year. I stopped before my senior year so I could focus more on football and get closer to [weighing] 400 pounds [laughs].

Q: How many reps did you do in the bench?
Lawson: I did 23 reps.

Q: Is that the most you've ever done?
Lawson: Actually, that's the only time I've ever done it.

Q: Where are you training?
Lawson: Phoenix, Arizona. Fisher Sports wish Brett Fisher.

Q: Did you put 25 pounds on before your senior year?
Lawson: Yes.

Q: How?
Lawson: Baked potatoes. Baked potatoes and right after I ate baked potatoes, I went to the gym. Just constantly eating and then working out rather than eating and running and then working out.

Q: How much have you played standing up like a linebacker?
Lawson: I played probably two years to a year and a half.

Q: As a starter?
Lawson: I started against passing teams standing up whenever my talents were needed to cover a tight end or a receiver.

Q: So do you think playing outside linebacker for a 3-4 team would be a huge adjustment for you?
Lawson: I don't feel it will be new to me at all. There may be a technique I have to learn or re-learn or improve upon, but as far as covering somebody, as far as dropping back in zone, I feel I can do it.

Q: So you're very comfortable in dropping into pass coverage?
Lawson: Very. I've been dropping into pass coverages all throughout my years even as a defensive end.

Q: How accomplished of a pass rusher do you feel you are?
Lawson: I'm pretty much still learning. I'm going to always be learning. I feel I have a variety and array of pass rushing moves that I can use and that will work, but if you really want to look at it, I've only been playing defensive end at the collegiate level for two years. So I'm still new to the game.

Q: Would you liken your abilities to anyone currently in the NFL, or is there anyone you model your game after?
Lawson: The guy who I look up to is a guy about my size, my height: Jason Taylor. And another guy is Dwight Freeney, because I wish I had the spin move to where I could keep spinning and spinning and somehow end up at the quarterback. I just can't do it.

Q: Who's the better end, you or Mario Williams?
Lawson: Better end? Better looking is me hands-down. We both have our days. Sometimes I'll end up with a good day and sometimes he'll end up with a good day. I've been rated as an athlete ad he's your prototypical end.

Q: You were voted your team's most valuable defensive lineman the past two seasons. Who votes on that?
Lawson: The team votes, the coaches vote.

I think Lawson is the perfect fit for us and I really like Cedric Griffin. I walked away from the Senior Bowl wondering why he wasn't getting more props. So did you sit down and watch the Senior Bowl again?

The players that stood out to me from the Senior Bowl where/are
Manny Lawson
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Gabe Watson
Cedric Griffin
Nick Mangold
DeAngelo Williams
Moss
Chad Jackson

I'm sure they were others, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Not worth the risk to me. I'm sure he is a nice player but I'm for going CB unless the good 4-5 are gone.

Dave

Not yet! :)

Watched the Royals actually win a game instead that night. Maybe watch a bit Friday night.

Another player who impressed me was a small CB from Georgia. Tim Jennings. You could see the QB's look his way, and always look for another WR. Makes me think he had good coverage on his side, because they never threw there. Could be a good 5th rounder if he is still there.

Why?

He made one great play, but aside from that, there's not much to "scout" him on, given that the camera is never on him.

Trying to evaluate a corner from TV angles is pointless.