2013 Draft Rewind – Manti Te’o – San Diego Chargers

What Ourlads NFL Scouting Services said about MANTI TE’O: Notre Dame, 6012 241 4.78. Four-year starter and team captain who was the Irish’s leading tackler the past three years. Plays square inside. A thickly built linebacker of Samoan descent, he trimmed down his weight in 2012. The run-dominating, thickly built linebackers are being replaced by the lighter, faster, and more athletic coverage linebackers. Size and strength are being sacrificed for quickness and speed. Te’o is trying to make the adjustment. Quick to read and react to his keys. A three down linebacker who possesses the skill set to play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive scheme. Played out of his comfort zone in a 4-2 scheme. A run player who played more in coverage this past year. Very disciplined within the defensive scheme. Will finish long and short pursuit. He is always around the ball. Strong at the point, although he was the target of several offensive linemen. Struggled through his senior year with inconsistent tackling and taking bad angles. Can be fooled by play action passes. Question instincts when he is slow to react at times. Loses feet in traffic and will get tied up and walled off. Will get stuck on blocks or pushed up the field as a blitzer. Will eventually replace a declining starter. 2012 stats: 103 T, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 7 INT. OSR:8/11. Did not bench press – shoulder stinger. First/second round. (A-32 1/2, H-9 1/2, BP-DNP, SS-4.27).