Saints Nation: Is Bjoern Werner the Guy at Pick 15?
It's no secret that outside linebacker is a huge need for the Saints heading into this year's NFL draft. With the move to Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense, the Saints will need to generate a pass rush now more than ever. As of now, Martez Wilson and Junior Galette are the only players on roster that have the potential to generate such a pass rush. Luckily for New Orleans, this year's defensive crop is loaded with 3-4 pass rushers.
Dion Jordan, Barkevious Mingo, Ziggy Ansah, and even Jarvis Jones are some of the more highly coveted 3-4 pass rushers that will be available this year. The problem is that all four of those players are slated to be selected before the Saints pick at #15. If that does happen come April, the Saints could be have one of the more highly scrutinized players this year fall to them in Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner.
Werner was a consensus top 10 pick at the end of the college football season but now, after extensive film evaluation and his NFL scouting combine performance, his stock has dropped so much that former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) thinks he could fall to the Houston Texas at #27. That's just absurd.
After having watched him play a couple times this season, Werner is the type of guy that can take over a game. He's stout against the run, has the strength and explosiveness to get past blocks, and can be a terror in the backfield. The general consensus that most scouts have on Werner is that his motor runs hot and cold and that they see him mainly as a strong-side 4-3 DE which is mostly due to his lack of playing in space at Florida State.
Werner has been the topic of several of my discussions on twitter with most of those centered around his ability to play in a 3-4. Most disagree with me in thinking that he can make the transition so in order to back up my claim I dug deep into NFL scouting combine numbers. What I found was pretty surprising.
In comparing Werner's combine numbers to his fellow pass rushers in this year's draft class, one thing stood out – Werner is not nearly as athletic as the top tier pass rushers. However, his frame is bigger, he's more stout, and he's by far one of the best versus the run this year. His main issue is lacking the freakish athleticism of Mingo, Jordan, and Ziggy Ansah.
Comparing him to 3-4 OLB prospects that were drafted in the first two rounds from 2011 and 2010 didn't yield any comparable results either. It wasn't until the 2009 draft class that his most apt comparison was found in Utah defensive end Paul Kruger.
The numbers speak for themselves:
(2009) Paul Kruger 6'5”, 265
4.83 (40) 24 reps 32.5 vertical 108 broad 7.52 3 cone 4.47 20 yd shuttle
Bjoern Werner 6'3”, 266
4.83 (40) 25 reps 31” vertical 111.0 broad 7.30 3 cone 4.40 20 yd shuttle
A quick breakdown of the numbers show that Kruger is 2” taller than Werner and had a 1.5” better vertical but that Werner is equal or better in the remaining categories. The most telling are the broad jump, 3 cone drill, and 20 yard shuttle which tests a player's explosiveness and power, short area quickness, and change of direction ability.
These numbers are comparable as are the scouting reports on the two players. These two scouting breakdowns on Kruger found here and here read very similarly to reports on Werner found here and also here.
These are important to note because they are three of the most important drills for aspiring NFL linebackers. If Paul Kruger's success, which is evident by his new 5 year, $40.5 million contract, can be attributed to anything it's that he has ability to rush the passer as a 3-4 outside linebacker. The same skills Kruger showed off at the scouting combine are similar skills possessed by Werner expect evidently better.
These numbers show that Werner has the potential to make the transition to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. His excellent snap anticipation, ability to bend around the edge, compete vs the run, and explosiveness make him an intriguing candidate for the Saints if he is available when they are on the clock. Whether he can convert to being a 3-4 linebacker remains to be seen but if Paul Kruger's success is any indication then it shows that there is a chance.
I've done a Potential, DE post, with Werner in it, and said I liked him. That was pretty much the same reaction, I got, that he was a 4-3 guy, but I agree, he could well flip to a 3-4 OLB.
@LaSportsDude like minds on that article, my friend! Werner is one of my prospect crushes too.
@zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude did you read the post? Compelling comparisons to Kruger convince me otherwise
@SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude some oline man probably have the same combine numbers as Kruger. Don't mean they can play OLB
@SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude and I strongly agree with Jordan lol. Most People seem to like him thou
@zebraheadandy @realwhodatnorra @LaSportsDude I'm still hoping heart issue drops Lotulelei to 15
@zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude @realwhodatnorra I love Vacarro. Also know @LaSportsDude hates him. Haha
@realwhodatnorra @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg you're right about tackling... but he can work on that... still se him as a future star
@zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg they were both horrible no matter which way you put it
@zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg that's what all say. But roman cant make him not miss tackles.
@realwhodatnorra @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg.. actually i like jenkins... he just need better ss next to him... imo
@zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg in my eyes hes Malcolm Jenkins playing strong saftey.
@realwhodatnorra @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg i haven't seen any tape of him... some mock drafts wanted him to saints... so he's not good?
@zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg I'm not a fan of vaccaro AT ALL! Gimme Cyprien Elam swearinger or Rambo over him
@LaSportsDude @realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg but i think keke has a lot of upside... what do you guys think of picking vaccaro
@LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg we already knew we disagreed on Werner. Just was talking about the emphasis you put on combine numbers
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg If u don't see Werner as an elite pass rusher then I don't know what to tell u. Mingo wasn't elite at LSU
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg Terron Armstead has similar combine numbers to Werner and some teams want to convert him to a TE
@LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy I agree he's enter vs the run bc Kruger isn't very good. I just dot see an elite pass rusher
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy and, btw, Kruger played pretty damn good the first 5 games T-Sizzle was out.
@LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy I was just making the point that you shouldn't compare combine numbers when comparing players
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy He did vs Miami and wasn't bad. He's also more explosive and better vs the run than Kruger.
@LaSportsDude @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy weve discussed Werner before. I see a big strong good run stooping de in a 4-3 with OK pass rs
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy I have. Werner & Kruger compare eerily similar. Werner can drop back in coverage
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy Have you watched any film on Werner? Did you read the scouting reports on him and Kruger?
@realwhodatnorra @SaintsNationBlg @LaSportsDude i don't think kruger is a good olb... only good because of t sizzle... biggest fa bust
@SaintsNationBlg @zebraheadandy @LaSportsDude just dont think comparing combine numbers is a way to do things.
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I think there is more to playing then measurables. For starters, Kruger might have had a bad day, Werner might have had a good day.
90% of the people on this earth run faster then me, but I program better webapplications then 90% of the people of the world. I mean to say; what are his mental abilities, how good can he recognize plays and what are his special moves and how good is he in converting them. That and you also need a tiny different mindset when playing a DE or OLB.
So I think the Saints should not draft him because you better get the best available guy at a position you have the relative biggest need (relative meaning if they would fire Morstead they have a huge need at Punter with no backup, but they should not draft one).
@MarijnPessers I agree with everyone you said, Marijn. Football players are made so much more between the ears. THAT SAID, I have no doubts Werner will be an excellent pro. From what I've seen, the answer to all those question you ask is that Werner will excel in the mental game. The dude is a smart football player.
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My guess is that Kruger is no more than complimentary player and just hit open market in the perfect time! He is not a game changer and not a guy to built defence around..Honestly, I'd prefer Saints not to draft stricktly to their needs, but to get a better player.
@ElImanov I don't disagree with what you say. Kruger is good, but he benefited from hitting free agency fresh off a Super Bowl win after his best year. The timing could not have been more perfect for a big contract. But I agree he doesn't put the fear of God into an offensive play caller. If I had a choice between Werner and Barkevious Mingo I'm probably picking the latter.
