Because of the resurgence of the 3-4 alignment in the NFL, the supply of inside linebackers does not match the need of teams looking to fortify their middle linebacker position. In a position where numbers can’t match the needs, the top players normally get overdrafted and this year will be no exception.

There are three very good inside performers in the draft class of 2008, Jerod Mayo, Dan Connor and Curtis Lofton, and look for all three players to be selected in the opening day of the draft.

The Talent: Jerod Mayo-Tennessee…..Mayo is one of my favorite players in the draft class of 2008. When you watched Tennessee play last season Mayo was a constant force against the run and he displayed great football instincts. One very prominent offensive player for the LSU Tigers told me after the SEC Championship game that it looked as though there were two Jerod Mayo’s on the football field because he was making so many plays. Jerod led the SEC in tackles in 2007 racking up 140 stops and he started at both middle and weakside linebacker. His combine workouts have put him squarely in line to be picked from pick 18 thru 25 in Round 1.

Mr. Production: Dan Connor-Penn State…. Connor recorded a school record 419 tackles at Penn State.  Like Mayo, Connor has excellent football instincts and he runs the field very well from sideline to sideline.  Dan is a very physical openfield tackler and he has really bettered his ability to take on and defeat blockers at the point of attack.

The Playmaker: Curtis Lofton-Oklahoma… Lofton has only really been a full-time starter for one season at OU, but he made quite an impression in 2007. As a junior Lofton recorded a team-high 157 tackles and he seemed to be everywhere the ballcarrier was. Curtis came out early for the 08 draft, but this young man is quite a playmaker and a very aggressive tackler at the point of attack.

He looks the Part, but: Jonathan Goff-Vanderbilt… Jonathan is a 6-2, 245 pounder, who is very intelligent and has recorded 304 career tackles, but his instincts to the football are average at best and he shows some stiffness when moving in reverse or from side to side. Goff ran a very impressive (4.63) 40-yard dash time at the Combine workouts and he did 28 reps of 225 pounds, but his production has never really met what looks to be tremendous physical skills.

Mr. Versatility: Thomas Williams-USC…. Thomas has played all three linebacker spots at USC and even seen work at fullback. His biggest contributions have been that he is a very versatile performer and this guy is a first-rate special teams star. While Williams will never be an elite NFL football player, he has great value because he is a master of a lot of trades and he is an elite special teams player.

The Sleeper: Brian Bradford- Towson State…. Bradford has not gotten a lot of recognition despite the fact that he has recorded 328 tackles at Towson. Bradford is a smart, very instinctive football player, who rarely takes a false step to the football and he has 1^st rate track down skills. While he lacks great size and take-on strength, Brian knows how to play this game very well and he is a double-tough performer.

Mike D’s Top 5 Inside Linebackers…

 1. Jerod Mayo-Tennessee          1^st round selection

2. Dan Connor-Penn State           late 1^st or early 2^nd round selection

3. Curtis Lofton-Oklahoma            2^nd round choice

4.  Philip Wheeler-Georgia Tech  late 2^nd or very early 3^rd round choice

5.  Tavares Gooden-Miami (Fla.)  3^rd round choice….

The Locals… Luke Sanders-LSU… Luke has started at strongside LB. the past 2 seasons at LSU, but he looks as though he is best suited to play inside in a 3-4 alignment. Sanders, the son of a strength and conditioning coach, has the ideal size, strength and foot speed to excel at inside LB., but he rarely made a big play at LSU. His workouts have been terrific leading up to the draft and he may be a real sleeper of a late round selection, in the right scheme.

Saints Draft Interest: (Low)… With the addition of former All-Pro inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the New York Jets, the Saints have a player that actually has the talent level to be a top-flight inside performer. In my poll of 12 college scouts and NFL personnel people, Vilma ended up being the 3^rd best inside linebacker in the NFL in the spring of 2007. The Saints also have re-signed veteran inside linebacker Mark Simoneau and they have high hopes for 2007 7^th-round pick Marvin Mitchell to develop into a good NFL player.