Brian Lainhart of Kent State ~ 6.1/210
"A tall, good-looking athlete who simply is a notch above everyone athletically on the Kent State defense. Exhibits good balance in the deep half when asked to sit into his stance and does a nice job keeping his base down and cleanly changing directions toward the football. Isn't the most explosive or rangy of athletes and lacks elite sideline-to-sideline speed, but gets good jumps on the football because of his instincts and for the most part is around the throw. Does a nice job recognizing routes in front of him and cleanly is able to redirect and cover up receivers in zone. Has been very productive playing the football and is one of the nation's top interception guys over the course of his career. He has a nose for the football and has the ball skills to routinely come down with the catch.
Was asked to play up near the line of scrimmage more often this season and he does a nice job reading his run keys and quickly closing the breakdown from the backside. He isn't the most impressive of tacklers when asked to break down in tight areas, however. Has a tendency to drop his head and fails to consistently see what he wants to hit. Displays above-average physicality when asked to play in man coverage on the outside. Did a nice job getting into receivers and re-routing them off the line. Gets a bit grabby and lacks the initial burst out of his breaks to stay with them in and out of their routes. But was effective on corner blitzes.
Impression: Lacks great straight-line speed which will show up at times and is a bit stiff in space. Has a chance to make an NFL roster, but looks more like a reserve only."
Was asked to play up near the line of scrimmage more often this season and he does a nice job reading his run keys and quickly closing the breakdown from the backside. He isn't the most impressive of tacklers when asked to break down in tight areas, however. Has a tendency to drop his head and fails to consistently see what he wants to hit. Displays above-average physicality when asked to play in man coverage on the outside. Did a nice job getting into receivers and re-routing them off the line. Gets a bit grabby and lacks the initial burst out of his breaks to stay with them in and out of their routes. But was effective on corner blitzes.
Impression: Lacks great straight-line speed which will show up at times and is a bit stiff in space. Has a chance to make an NFL roster, but looks more like a reserve only."
"One would expect the career leader in interceptions among Football Bowl Subdivision teams to be a highly-rated free safety or cornerback prospect from a BCS conference team. MAC coaches, however, can tell you that Lainhart has picked off more passes (17) than any other player in this draft class.
He started immediately as a redshirt freshman, with only neck and shoulder injuries forcing him onto the sideline as a reserve through the second half of the season (63 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups). MAC coaches voted him second-team all-conference in 2008 in part because of his six interceptions (along with 106 tackles, four for loss, five PBUs, three forced fumbles), then to the first team as a junior with his seven interceptions ranking fourth nationally (87 tackles, 2.5 TFL, four PBUs, four FF).
Lainhart dropped down to the All-MAC second team in 2010 because he lacked the gaudy numbers (88 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two INTs, five PBUs), and scouts may not like his average straight-line speed. But his short-area quickness, secure tackling and ability to make plays in the air could lead teams to consider him as a late-round pick.
***
Positives: Solid Cover-2 deep safety with awareness and hands to make plays versus the pass if quarterbacks do not hold him with their eyes. Fair backpedal smoothness, good short-area quickness for a safety. Uses size and long arms to handle outside receiver effectively when corners brought on blitz. Breaks down well in space to prevent ballcarriers from escaping his wrap tackles. Regularly brought into the box versus the run. Has length and good upper-body strength to wrap up strong running backs around the line of scrimmage. Seals edge when near the line, takes on pulling guard to force run plays inside. Team captain in 2010.
Negatives: A shade slower than scouts like in a free safety. Lacks recovery speed to chase down elusive ballcarriers; receivers can run by him down the sideline if he hesitates on play action. Too often fails to recognize misdirection when in the box. Not a dominating hitter, hesitates instead of exploding into tackles."
He started immediately as a redshirt freshman, with only neck and shoulder injuries forcing him onto the sideline as a reserve through the second half of the season (63 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups). MAC coaches voted him second-team all-conference in 2008 in part because of his six interceptions (along with 106 tackles, four for loss, five PBUs, three forced fumbles), then to the first team as a junior with his seven interceptions ranking fourth nationally (87 tackles, 2.5 TFL, four PBUs, four FF).
Lainhart dropped down to the All-MAC second team in 2010 because he lacked the gaudy numbers (88 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two INTs, five PBUs), and scouts may not like his average straight-line speed. But his short-area quickness, secure tackling and ability to make plays in the air could lead teams to consider him as a late-round pick.
***
Positives: Solid Cover-2 deep safety with awareness and hands to make plays versus the pass if quarterbacks do not hold him with their eyes. Fair backpedal smoothness, good short-area quickness for a safety. Uses size and long arms to handle outside receiver effectively when corners brought on blitz. Breaks down well in space to prevent ballcarriers from escaping his wrap tackles. Regularly brought into the box versus the run. Has length and good upper-body strength to wrap up strong running backs around the line of scrimmage. Seals edge when near the line, takes on pulling guard to force run plays inside. Team captain in 2010.
Negatives: A shade slower than scouts like in a free safety. Lacks recovery speed to chase down elusive ballcarriers; receivers can run by him down the sideline if he hesitates on play action. Too often fails to recognize misdirection when in the box. Not a dominating hitter, hesitates instead of exploding into tackles."
"Bio: Three-year starter who also saw significant action with the first team as a freshman. All-Conference selection the past three years. Had 88/2/5 as a senior, 87 tackles and seven interceptions as a junior, and 106 tackles and six interceptions as a sophomore.
Positive: Instinctive, aggressive safety at his best playing downhill. Quick up the field, physical in all aspects of the game, and wraps up tackling. Plays with explosiveness, consistently puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball, and works until the whistle blows.
Negative: Struggles with his ball skills and is late arriving on the scene in coverage. Slow flipping his hips and doesn't change direction quickly enough. Does not possess top sideline-to-sideline range.
Analysis: Lainhart has been a terrific college safety but lacks the pure athletic skills to consistently make plays outside the numbers. He'd be a productive backup in a zone system that asks him to play in the box. He comes with a special teams mentality."
Positive: Instinctive, aggressive safety at his best playing downhill. Quick up the field, physical in all aspects of the game, and wraps up tackling. Plays with explosiveness, consistently puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball, and works until the whistle blows.
Negative: Struggles with his ball skills and is late arriving on the scene in coverage. Slow flipping his hips and doesn't change direction quickly enough. Does not possess top sideline-to-sideline range.
Analysis: Lainhart has been a terrific college safety but lacks the pure athletic skills to consistently make plays outside the numbers. He'd be a productive backup in a zone system that asks him to play in the box. He comes with a special teams mentality."
"Overview: All-time active interception career leader for FCS with 17 picks. Named 2nd All-MAC in 2009 and 2010. Playmaking ball-hawk with 344 career tackles. As sophomore and junior earned Read Award as the 'hardest working and most dedicated' player on team. Named to 2010 Jim Thorpe Award watchlist. Team captain. Selected to 2010 Shrine Bowl.
Strengths: Athletic and strong defender who can anticipate and accurately read opponent's play. Great size and speed combination for free safety. Great 'will to hit' and demonstrates excellent work ethic in weight room. Respected team leader.
Weaknesses: Significant production drop as senior (2 INTs vs 13 in previous two years) - probably due to teams throwing 'away' from him. Sometimes overpursues and can miss the tackle. 'Anticipation' makes him liable to bite on play action. Shows some stiffness and could improve his hip flexibility.
Projection: 7th round."
Strengths: Athletic and strong defender who can anticipate and accurately read opponent's play. Great size and speed combination for free safety. Great 'will to hit' and demonstrates excellent work ethic in weight room. Respected team leader.
Weaknesses: Significant production drop as senior (2 INTs vs 13 in previous two years) - probably due to teams throwing 'away' from him. Sometimes overpursues and can miss the tackle. 'Anticipation' makes him liable to bite on play action. Shows some stiffness and could improve his hip flexibility.
Projection: 7th round."
"Brian Lainhart has made a career out of forcing turnovers. With one game left in his collegiate career at Kent State, Lainhart has picked off an amazing 17 passes and forced eight fumbles. For the last four years when the Golden Flashes needed a big play, it was Lainhart who was there to make it. The 6-1 free safety does more than just make big plays though. As a freshman he tallied 63 tackles despite missing some time with neck and shoulder injuries. In 2008 he totaled 106 tackles and picked off six passes.
By 2009 the Mid-American Conference should have known better than to throw in his direction, but Lainhart kept picking off passes, forcing fumbles and making tackles. Lainhart's numbers have dipped a little bit in 2010. Through 11 games he is second on the team with 82 tackles, but he only has two interceptions and has forced just one fumble. That would be a good season for most other players, but Lainhart has set the bar pretty high for himself.
Kent State's bowl hopes were dashed after a loss to Western Michigan, but Lainhart's career could continue at the next level. He is an interesting prospect at the next level. He could be a fine free safety because of his superb instincts and big play ability. However, his lack of strength should keep him waiting to hear his name called well into the late rounds."
By 2009 the Mid-American Conference should have known better than to throw in his direction, but Lainhart kept picking off passes, forcing fumbles and making tackles. Lainhart's numbers have dipped a little bit in 2010. Through 11 games he is second on the team with 82 tackles, but he only has two interceptions and has forced just one fumble. That would be a good season for most other players, but Lainhart has set the bar pretty high for himself.
Kent State's bowl hopes were dashed after a loss to Western Michigan, but Lainhart's career could continue at the next level. He is an interesting prospect at the next level. He could be a fine free safety because of his superb instincts and big play ability. However, his lack of strength should keep him waiting to hear his name called well into the late rounds."
"Big plays always seem to happen when Lainhart is around. He has 15 career interceptions, with seven coming in 2009. He also forced four fumbles last season and has great hands. He's not a one-dimensional coverage safety, though. He's good coming up to the line and supporting against the run. Referred to as a coach on the field and the team's defensive leader."
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Brian Lainhart
A very exciting blend of Lateral Velocity, Fluidity, and Processing Speed. Not the best Tackler in the Galaxy, and won't set any "40" records, but he nevertheless has the right stuff to be a very good Free Safety at the next level, yet will likely be available very late in the Draft, indeed!!
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As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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