Middle linebacker’s from the University of Alabama tend to get some attention on draft day, and CJ Mosley should be no different.
Mosley filled the role that Dont’a Hightower and Rolando McClain filled before him, but Mosley might be the best prospect of the three.
I have to admit, the only thing that makes me shy away from Mosley at all is the Steelers have a couple guys that might work out at ILB, like Sean Spence or Vince Williams… Whereas they’re very thin in the secondary.
As a prospect though, they don’t come much more complete than Mosley. Prior to his senior season I might have worried about him holding up against the run, but he improved a lot in his final college season.
Where CJ really excels is in coverage and athleticism. I’d have no anxiety with him covering a guy like Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis running down the seam.
He isn’t a thumper in the run game like Timmons is and could afford to put a little more meat on his frame, but he has great instincts and improved at shedding blocks and finding the ball carrier as a senior.
I think the way that more teams attack with the passing game, guys like Mosley become a great counter.
Mosley would allow Troy Polamalu to move back to the safety spot full time (because Mosley can stay out there on every down) and give Lawrence Timmons a little more time to free lance and take advantage of his own athleticism.
Grabbing guys from a defense as stacked as Alabama’s always worries me a little bit, because they’re so good as a unit it doesn’t require each individual to play as well…
Across the board though it’s hard to find holes in CJ’s game. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he’s gone by the time the Steelers are on the clock at 15.
I think that there are bigger holes than ILB, but you can’t argue with grabbing a guy that appears to be low risk, and potentially high reward, especially in the first round.
