Manti Te'o - ILB - Notre Dame

[Stewee28]

Manti Te'o - ILB - Notre Dame
Height : 6' 2" / Weight : 255
Position Rank : 1st
Overall Rank : 5-10 range

WE WOULD DRAFT BETWEEN 8-12! (Thanks HammerStripes)

Overview:

"Considered by many to be a sure-fire first round pick after his junior season, Te'o surprised many when he decided to put the NFL on hold and return to the Irish for the 2012 season. After leading Notre Dame in tackles the past two seasons, he is poised for another banner year as a senior and has a chance to make his mark in the Fighting Irish record books.

Te'o was widely considered the top linebacker recruit out of high school in 2008 and the top defensive prospect by many, choosing Notre Dame over USC and several other top programs.

He worked his way into the starting line-up as a true freshman and started nine games, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 63 stops. Te'o emerged as a defensive leader in 2010 as a sophomore, leading the team with a career-best 133 tackles. He again led the Irish defense in tackles in 2011 as a junior with 128 stops, adding 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks and earning All-American honors."

Analysis:

"Te'o is an intense competitor and covers a lot of ground with his rangy, active playing style and lateral agility to cover both sidelines. He trusts his eyes and attacks the action quickly, showing a high football IQ to play smart, assignment football. Te'o needs to tighten his angles in space and get stronger at the point of attack to consistently finish once he gets his hands on the ballcarrier. He is a smooth, thickly-built athlete and his ability to quickly diagnose the play is why he projects as a starter at the next level."



I wanted to create a thread strictly for Manti Te'o. There is some indecision on the board about his NFL future and whether or not he would be a good fit on the Cincinnati Bengals. Figured we could air out everyones own personal analysis of Te'o and why you would or would not want him on our team.

WE WOULD DRAFT BETWEEN 8-12! (Thanks HammerStripes)

I voted YES! I think Te'o would be a phenomenal pick up for us and worthy of our first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. His leadership skills and overall talent and abilities speek for themselves He is the best at his position in the draft class. Leadership goes a long way in the NFL. He can cover in the passing attack and can stuff holes in the running attack. He is a sure tackler; once he gets to you, hes not letting you get by him. Very good instincts that get him to the ball. Makes the propers adjustments throughout the game (showed that against Pittsburgh this last weekend). He is an all-around solid prospect. It is hard to find any flaws in his play. He is praised by his coaches and his teammates as one of the most sincere guys in the locker room. I would be upset if he were on the board and we passed on him. He would be a great addition to this team and would make not only our defesne better, but the whole team as well.

With their 1st Round Draft Choice, the Cincinnati Bengals select:

Manti Te'o, Linebacker from the University of Notre Dame

[Hammerstripes]

This poll is way too open ended. Are we drafting in the top 5? Are we drafting #20?

It would be tough for me to use a top 5 pick on him.

A pick in the 10-15 range would be ok.

[et2house]

I voted yes I would. However, who's to say where we are picking and what other players are still available.

[Stewee28]

Originally Posted by et2house

I voted yes I would. However, who's to say where we are picking and what other players are still available.

I based our draft selection on where we are projected to pick (analysts) and based off our current record.

[OchoCincos]

I voted yes simply because I believe Jones would be gone before we pick. If he were available, Jones in a heartbeat.

The only other MLB that I would even want besides Te'o is Ogletree, but he still may stay in college. Te'o has the leadership that we desperately need. I think Burfict could use a motivator like Te'o to boost his game even more. If we get neither Te'o nor Ogletree, I'd prefer to then move Burfict back to MLB and draft a WILL

[D.Boon]

Absolutely. This defense desperately needs 2 things:

1.) Leadership. Te'o gives you that. He would be the much needed QB on defense and a significant player in the lockerroom. We all know that the Bengals culture is probably the worst in the league. A guy like Te'o can help change the culture.

2). Playmaking - Te'o has a nose for the ball. He makes things happen. In essence, he is the anti-Maulaluga. He could be a Polumalu type player at the LB position.

Give me Barret Jones at the top of round 2 (or trade up to the end of 1) to get him and the best RB, S or WR available with the second pick in the 2nd and I am a happy man.

[Jasonew6]

Who else is available?

[bradfritz21]

Last week, Te'o looked timid and afraid, which the last thing that we need on our team is another Rey. He also looked horrible guarding the tight end, which is a huge red flag for any backer that plays in our division, especially for us.

Ogletree is an option but I think he would end up playing SAM for us because, even though he says he likes playing outside, where I think he's a stud, I think we should put Burfict at MIKE. I'm also not a fan of Ogletree's failed drug test.

CJ Mosley is a stud that I'd like to see at SAM.

[Stewee28]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

Who else is available?

Already Selected:

Jarvis Jones
Matt Barkley
Star Louitelli
Sam Montgomery
Jon Hankins
Geno Smith

Still on the Board:

Manti Te'o
Bjorn Werner
Bark Mingo
CJ Mosley
Dee Millner

This is all speculation. Bc, ultimately, until the picks are in and Goddell makes the call, outside of the first pick, no one knows who is going to be taken off the board!

[berserkerone88]

Id take Werner and Mingo before Teo

[wolfkaosaun]

Originally Posted by Stewee28

Already Selected:

Jarvis Jones
Matt Barkley
Star Louitelli
Sam Montgomery
Jon Hankins
Geno Smith

Still on the Board:

Manti Te'o
Bjorn Werner
Bark Mingo
CJ Mosley
Dee Millner

This is all speculation. Bc, ultimately, until the picks are in and Goddell makes the call, outside of the first pick, no one knows who is going to be taken off the board!

I'd take Werner in a heartbeat.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by Stewee28

Already Selected:

Jarvis Jones
Matt Barkley
Star Louitelli
Sam Montgomery
Jon Hankins
Geno Smith

Still on the Board:

Manti Te'o
Bjorn Werner
Bark Mingo
CJ Mosley
Dee Millner

This is all speculation. Bc, ultimately, until the picks are in and Goddell makes the call, outside of the first pick, no one knows who is going to be taken off the board!

If Milliner is still on the board, he is the guy I want.

[goalpost]

I'm kind of thinking with the way the board falls that a WR might be the the area offering the best value. It's not my preference, but that's where i see the value at. There could be the top receiver in the whole draft sitting there between 10-15.

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

If Milliner is still on the board, he is the guy I want.

He has looked quite awful of late

[THEBURG]

I said yes, but I doubt he will be there when we pick #32.

[BengalDawg]

I think Te'o is a good option, but Im afraid he is a little over valued. He is a significant upgrade over Maulaluga but he is locked into the MLB role from what I've seen. Assuming we are picking between 12-20 and I've got a choice between Te'o and Ogletree Id look at Burfict's future and decide which to draft. Ogletree is more athletic than Te'o which I think will be proven at the combine. All in alll Im a biased UGA fan but I like Ogletree better with our current scheme because I can see him as an OLB in our system as well.

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by BengalDawg

I think Te'o is a good option, but Im afraid he is a little over valued. He is a significant upgrade over Maulaluga but he is locked into the MLB role from what I've seen. Assuming we are picking between 12-20 and I've got a choice between Te'o and Ogletree Id look at Burfict's future and decide which to draft. Ogletree is more athletic than Te'o which I think will be proven at the combine. All in alll Im a biased UGA fan but I like Ogletree better with our current scheme because I can see him as an OLB in our system as well.

Ogletree is also just a better talent for the NFL.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by berserkerone88

He has looked quite awful of late

What I saw of the Alabama games he did ok, it was his teammates getting burned. I think I really only remember one bad play from him in the aTm game.

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

What I saw of the Alabama games he did ok, it was his teammates getting burned. I think I really only remember one bad play from him in the aTm game.

The LSU game he looked pretty bad. Not getting burned but missing tackles, playing the ball more than the WR, bad angles etc.

Not sure I would take him in the 8-12 range as this scenario suggests.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by berserkerone88

The LSU game he looked pretty bad. Not getting burned but missing tackles, playing the ball more than the WR, bad angles etc.

Not sure I would take him in the 8-12 range as this scenario suggests.

If you only judge a prospect on their worst games, no one would be a top 10 pick.

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by Jasonew6

If you only judge a prospect on their worst games, no one would be a top 10 pick.

Im not but those are also the games he has faced the most NFL-like talent.
How has he performed against the top teams. Not that well.

If you only judge a prospect based on their best games everyone looks like a top 10 pick

[TGISunday]

The guy was being considered for the Heisman. This crowd's a bit rough on the best ILB in college football.

[BengalHawk62]

Originally Posted by TGISunday

The guy was being considered for the Heisman. This crowd's a bit rough on the best ILB in college football.

agreed


and he's still in the top five for voting.

[BengalDawg]

I like Te'o too, Im just not sure he is right for our current system given our personnel. I think he would be a great MIKE LB for us but with Burfict Im not sure that I wouldn't rather look at Ogletree from UGA who I think is more athletic and looks much better in coverage

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by TGISunday

The guy was being considered for the Heisman. This crowd's a bit rough on the best ILB in college football.

Originally Posted by BengalHawk62

agreed


and he's still in the top five for voting.

Great college player on a team who is undefeated. Only reason he is up there for the Heisman. The guy has been a non-factor more often than you expect a Heisman finalist to be. If he was on any other team he wouldn't be up there but for some reason most CFB guys have some sort of nostalgia with Notre Dame