2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Vontaze Burfict Has Potential to be an Elite Player (Video)

Senior Writer

Size. Strength. Speed. These are things NFL scouts look for when evaluating talent, especially at the linebacker position.

Vontaze Burfict, from Arizona State, has all of these.

Burfict’s talents should have scouts foaming at the mouth after the combine, if they aren’t doing so already.

But his king-size talent also comes with a heavy load of baggage, according to Danny White former ASU and Dallas Cowboys quarterback. “He was the reason Dennis Erickson got fired,” says White. “When your best football payer is a guy like that, he’s what I call a coach killer. He’s such a great athlete, you have to have him on the field. But, by the same token, the negatives outweigh the positives with him.”

Erickson was let go from ASU at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Burfict, in fact, managed to do almost the impossible with Erickson, who is not known as a tough disciplinarian. After three years of head butts, personal fouls, late hits, trash talk and problems with guys on the team, Erickson benched him several times this past season, thus accounting for the decline in Burfict’s statistics from 2010-2011.

Standing 6'3" and 250 pounds, Burfict nonetheless proved in college that he can be a force. Add in his 40-yard dash time of 4.65, and the junior linebacker has the potential to make waves right away.

Although 2011 was a down year by Burfict’s standards, he managed to start 12 games, though he was benched a number of times by Erickson. He recorded 69 tackles (40 solo), adding in five sacks. The previous season his tackle total was 90.

One thing that should impress people, from football fans to NFL scouts, is the way Burfict tackles.

Too many players lower their heads, not seeing what they are hitting, or just throwing a shoulder trying to get a big hit and make ESPN highlights. Burfict hits with his head up, wraps up and drives opposing players back (think Ray Lewis).

Burfict has a reputation for big hits and physical play; sometimes, too physical. Throughout his career for the Sun Devils, he was just as likely to make the highlight reel for doing something to hurt his team as for making outstanding plays. As Charles Barkley would say, “That guy’s a knucklehead.” He will need learn how to maintain his aggressive play, but under control in the NFL.

Some draft pundits have him going to the Detroit Lions with the 23^rd overall pick. While his style of play would fit well with the aggressive nature of defense for the Lions, his attitude may not. With all of the disciplinary problems the Lions had in 2011, adding a headcase like Burfict may not be the best idea.

With his size, strength, speed and tackling skills, Burfict has the potential to not only have a long and successful career in the NFL, but also has the ability to be a game-changer. He looks like a perfect fit manning one of the two inside linebacker spots in a 3-4 defense. His strength is not pass coverage, so a run-stopping spot like inside linebacker is the best fit.

Unfortunately, he could flame out if he and whatever team drafts him are unable to solve the problem between his ears. For that reason, some draft analysts think he could drop into the second or third round.

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