John Lotulelei, another UDFA find

[HaroldSeattle]

Nice article over at Field Gulls on Lotulelei. Highest paid UDFA in the NFL this year. Nice highlight video also. A good read.

John Lotulelei was Seahawks' priority UDFA - Field Gulls

 

[HaroldSeattle]

His stats at the combine are worthy of noting.

While Lotulelei's 40 time isn't on par with some of the current Seahawks linebackers' 4.4/4.5 standards (he ran it in 4.78 at the Combine and 4.65 at his Pro Day), his lateral agility is damn near elite: his 6.91 seconds in the three-cone drill was the second-best among linebackers at the Combine, and his 4.30 short shuttle was good for seventh. His 35.5" vert ranked fourth among linebackers and his 25 reps on bench press tied him for sixth. The dude is an athlete, even if he lacks in straight-line long-speed, a little bit. This is also evident in his highlight video below, where he routinely chases down receivers and backs in short distances. It also helps that he has long arms (32"+) and huge hands (10.6").

 

[octagondd]

Awesome. An OLB that saw alot of read option and has incredible lateral quickness and very good instincts. I hope it shows up at the Pro level.

 

[C.Adl.C.Hox.Fan]

Damn, not yet another man-crush...

 

[seahawksfan234]

I have to wonder if the main reason the Seahawks didn't go after any linebackers in free agency is because they intend on playing more nickel. With the addition of Winfield he brings to the table outstanding run defense, with Kam Chancellor who is also a great run-defender I have to imagine the Seahawks will probably run a lot of nickel this year. Hence the non-pressing need to go after a linebacker.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I think it was a combination of Nickel and having Avril or Irving playing Sam at LB.

 

[blstoker]

In my work up to the draft, I really liked Lotulelei, and had the Hawks taking him as an UDFA in a couple of mocks I participated in. I would have drafted him in those mocks, but I was a lot higher on Zavier Gooden and had taken him earlier in the draft. I was really disappointed when it was Hill and not Gooden in the third (I thought Hill would have been there later), but I do think that Lotulelei could compete for a starting spot on our back side. Hear it here first, I think John will have a better career than Star

 

[HaroldSeattle]

" I think John will have a better career than Star "

That's a bold statement. If it happens I'm sure I'll remember you said it first.

 

[blstoker]

" I think John will have a better career than Star "

That's a bold statement. If it happens I'm sure I'll remember you said it first.

I know, I hardly make these predictions. Now that I've said it, watch him not make the team

 

[HaroldSeattle]

We'll see. I think he'll at least make the roster as a special team player. I'm hoping he does more then that.

 

[Osprey 1984]

Is the WLB an open competition? I really never saw Malcolm Smith take real ownership of the position.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

The think with Malcolm is he had a hard time staying healthy!