Jonathan Casillas at 141

by John Morgan on Apr 15, 2009 3:32 PM PDT

Jonathan Casillas

Birthdate: June 3, 1987

Height/Weight: 6'1 1/8"/228

Position: OLB

College: Wisconsin, 48 games played

College Stats: 199 tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 5 hurries, 4 forced fumbles, 5 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 3 punt returns for 50 yards and a TD (!)

My Take: Casillas was charged with a DUI for driving intoxicated on his moped. I'm honestly not sure if that disqualifies him or not. He's still recovering from surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his knee. Casillas underwent surgery in December and the length of his recovery is concerning. That's one reason that despite a fourth round grade, I think Casillas will be available in the fifth and don't think he becomes a value until the fifth. Poor health and character concerns are two big strikes against Casillas, two strikes that may knock him off Tim Ruskell's board completely.

What he does do is produce, and what he does have is great speed and cover ability for a weakside linebacker. He's an awful lot like Will Herring, but a better, fiercer tackler and a truer, more experienced linebacker. Seattle needs special teams help, and Casillas can contribute on special teams from the moment he's cleared to play, but his potential as anything more is dependent on him playing on a Tampa 2, or Tampa 2 style system. He's not Cato June -- in a good way. June's a fantastic upside for any mid-round linebacker, but Casillas is more like current Colt Clint Session. A little more power and a little more athleticism, but not the same kind of pure coverage skills as June. As far as fifth round picks go, drafting Casillas could net nothing, but late enough in the draft, upside really can annul any kind of downside.

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Looks interesting.

What are your opinions of Marcus Freeman? I love him personally, 3rd round or so pick, good production, good school, hopefully a good complement to LeRoy Hill’s blitzing. He’s a bit slow at 4.74 (4.51 at OSU’s pro day). I hope he doesn’t move up to the 2nd round.

by LantermanC on Apr 15, 2009 3:38 PM PDT reply actions

Two severe knee injures make me wary

I’d rather Seattle not select an injury risk so early.

by John Morgan on Apr 15, 2009 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I wonder how leery Ruskell will be of injuries

after the Tyler Schmitt situation

by Nate Dogg on Apr 15, 2009 4:41 PM PDT reply actions

Who cares with a 6th rounder?

Don’t you mean after the WR, OL, QB situation?

by LantermanC on Apr 15, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

You don't care that we spent a draft pick on a long snapper

with chronic back problems?

by Nate Dogg on Apr 15, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions

No one knew about those problems.

And he was by far the consensus best player at his position.

by Fear on Apr 15, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Thats what I'm getting at

I wonder if he’ll be more cautious with injured players after getting bitten by Schmitt’s mystery injury. He’s also gotten screwed by a recurrance of injuries on Kerney and Wahle, seen Branch’s nicks and bumps turn into a variety of significant injuries, and didn’t Spencer have some injury issues coming out of college too? Injuries are a part of the game but Ruskell hasn’t always set himself up for success when it comes to health.

This is a more interesting question to me when it comes to Crabtree and Monroe, not so much with Casillas.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 15, 2009 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Indeed.

Crabtree and Monroe are both fantastic prospects with considerable upside, but if either busted it would look like a bad pick in retrospect because they did have recorded injuries in college.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Apr 15, 2009 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions