Daryl Washington is one of two players from non-BCS schools that I think the Giants should consider drafting in round two. The other (and the one I like a lot more) is CB Kyle Wilson of Boise State.

ProDraftParty Video

Darryl Washington Clips

Measurables

6′3” 234 pounds. Senior.

Stats

Career: 219, 1 FF, 4 INT

2009: 109 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INT. (11 tackles for loss)

Big Games

@ Clemson 13 tackles (8 solo)

@ Air Force 10 tackles (5 solo)

@ BYU 9 tackles (2 solo) and an INT

@ Wyoming and @ New Mexico 11 tackles

Boise State 10 tackles.

TCU doesn’t play great competition, but you can see that out of 13 games this season he had 5 with 10 or more tackles. He had games with 8 or more tackles in 3 more games 8 out of 13. At Va Tech he had 6 tackles.

Last year vs Boise State he also had 6 tackles and 3 passes defensed.

 Scouting Reports

ESPN Scouts Ince (1 exceptional, 3 average, 5 marginal)

Production 4 2006: (13/0) 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF 2007: (12/0) 32 tackles, 3 TFL, .5 sack, 1 PBU. 2008: (13/2) 63 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF
Height-Weight-Speed 3 Good height and top-end speed. While weight is marginal at this point has room on frame to bulk up without sacrificing agility or endurance,
Durability 2 Missed the 2007 Texas Bowl with an unspecified injury.
Intangibles 2 Special teams’ standout that has blocked four punts.
Inside Linebacker specific Traits
Instincts/Recognition 2 Quickly diagnoses plays and can sniff out screens. Disciplined and rarely bites on play action. However, takes too many false steps and can be a step late getting to the ball as a result.
Strength/Toughness 3 Lacks strength and size to hold own in phone booth at the NFL level. However is relentless in pursuit and will lay body on the line to make tackle.
Range vs. Run 1 Takes proper pursuit and can make plays from sideline-to-sideline. Fluid athlete that’s smooth changing directions and flashes the ability to recover when gets caught out of position.
Tackling 3 Wraps up and does a nice job of getting ball carriers to the ground once he latches on. However, explosiveness is just adequate and didn’t show the ability to deliver the big hit during film evaluation. Not as consistent in the open field as is in close quarters.
3rd Down Capabilites 3 Shows good awareness and does a nice job of locating crossers when asked to drop into zone coverage. Fluid enough to match up with most backs and tight ends in man coverage. Above-average closing speed and he can get to the quarterback when asked to blitz but would like to see more aggression.

Sporting News Russ Lande

Strenghts: Is athletic with the speed to go sideline to sideline and has a explosive closing burst to finish plays. Shows the quickness and agility to change directions to avoid blockers. Drops into coverage quickly and smoothly, reads the quarterback well can plant, drive and close on the reciever to break up the pass or deliver a hard hit.

When attacking the line, he gets into the backfield quickly to blow up plays. Is quick and agressive in filling inside holes, taking on lead blockers. Is a good blitzer from a wide alignment, and can “freeze” pass blocking running backs and then burst to the QB.

Weaknesses:

Is a beat late reading plays at times, which makes us wonder about his instincts. Will bite on play action fakes and struggles to recover. Has a bad habit of stopping his feet and launching at ball carriers, missing some tackles he should make. Must learn to use his hands better to protect legs from cut blocks. Lacks the good hands to make many interceptions.

Bottom Line:

Washington is a tough player to evaluate becuase his athleticsm is clearly a level above his production. He’s the type of player who is often drafted a round or two too high. There is no doubt he has the talent to be an N.F.L. starter who can make plays against the run and pass. Washington is sure to “wow” personnel men and shoot up draft boards. He fits best in an attacking defense that doesn’t require its linebackers to have much read-and-react responsiblities.

CBS NFL Draft Scout

The loss of four-year starting inside linebacker Jason Phillips to the NFL put Washington under the microscope. He helped TCU repeat as the FBS’ top-rated defense in terms of total yardage (sixth in scoring) by leading the team with 109 tackles, 11 for loss, two sacks and three interceptions.Washington had never started regularly before 2009. He had been a solid contributor, making a strong statement on special teams his first two seasons by blocking four kicks and leading the kick coverage units.As he gained playing time in 2008, he showed the awareness and tackling technique to match his strong frame and athleticism. The three pass breakups and six tackles he had against Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl, his second start of the season, helped to get scouts excited about his future.Although Washington’s frame is slight, NFL teams using 3-4 schemes have used similar players inside. He could also slide to the strong side for a 4-3 team because of his coverage skills. Either way, his speed and toughness give him a shot as a reserve and special teams contributor.
Analysis
Read & React: Relies on quick reactions rather than great instincts. Explodes into running lane and can smother underneath throws in zone coverage. Will get sucked in by play-action, but is fast enough to recover from a false step.Run defense: Runs like a safety; has the straight-line speed to hustle downfield and chase to the sideline. Attacks and slides by fullbacks coming out of the hole, but will also lose the ball or overpursue the play. Knifes through holes when attacking stretch plays. Long arms help him bring down backs when he doesn’t break down but lacks the strength to do the same at the next level. Runs around blocks inside and is inconsistent taking on blocks and using his length to get free.Pass defense: Fluid in space. Can be too upright when dropping into zone coverage. Nice sideline-to-sideline range. Able to identify and stay with receivers in his zone and run with any tight end down the seam. Closes on the ball in the air. Keeps an eye on the receiver and one on the quarterback; will come off his guy to make a play. Tough for quarterbacks to throw over and Washington — and in front of safeties. Struggles to intercept passes, even when he jumps the pattern and the ball is thrown into his hands.Tackling: Not an explosive tackler. Drags ballcarriers to the ground using his length. Needs to sink his hips instead of tackling shoulder pads. Must improve his angles to the ball against quicker NFL ballcarriers. Tries to cut ballcarriers instead of bringing his hips. Could be a special teams coverage contributor with his speed and aggressive mentality.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Explosive as an inside blitzer, and will reach the quarterback from a stack formation. Uses his speed and/or hands to get past running backs, guard cut blocks and through traffic inside. Has the change-of-direction ability to corral quarterbacks coming off the edge.

Intangibles: His growth as a player throughout out his career in Fort Worth speaks to his upside as a linebacker. Willing and capable special teams force. Solid character and work ethic.

NFL Comparison: D’Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns

Big Boards

Drafttek.com #54

nfl draft bible 77th

CBS NFL Draft Scout 64th

Draft Board Insider 33rd

ESPN’s Scouts Inc 89th

Summary and Final Verdict 

Daryl Washington is a very interesting prospect. He is a very talented player who could do great things in the league, but he’s still a bit raw. He’s a hard worker who has little to no questionable incidents.

Washington has tremendous range, he’s a good athlete and he’s a good football player. There are a few of questions about Washington, first would he have dominated against better competition?

Second…does he have the ability to diagnose plays correctly and make good reads.

Thirdly…Is he better suited to play outside or inside in the National Football League.

These are all legitimate questions, which is why Washington, despite his ability could fall into the third round (I don’t think he’ll make it that far…nor do I think he should).

To answer the first question…yes I think he would have done well against good competition as well. He’s a competitor and a hard worker.

To the second question…Daryl Washington did not have a lot of experience as a starter at TCU. He starated late in his career. But he’s a hard worker, and he makes a lot of plays so I think that will only improve as time goes on. He has improved every year he was in college and will only continue to improve in the N.F.L.

Third: this is the best question of all. Washington has tremendous speed for a linebacker, but that’s becuase he is not an ideal size.  Washington does well against the pass because of his speed, even if he does not intercept a ton of passes (although three interceptions for a linebacker is good).

Daryl Washington is a good football player who has a high upside, but also is not bust-proof. He’s perhaps undersized, and he may lack a natrual football intelligence, but he’s a hard working competitor who made a lot of plays.

Washington also was an excellent special teams player at TCU so at the very least a team should be getting a player who plays Special Teams well.

Bartolis Final Verdict

I like Daryl Washington. And as I have said many of times. I think that productive N.F.L. linebackers are much easier to find in rounds two or three than almost any other position is and that I do not want the Giants drafting a linebacker at 15th overall unless his name is Rolando McClain.

The real question is if the Giants decide they want to go linebacker in round two…who do they go with?

One optoin I don’t hear people mulling around is the option of moving Clint Sintim inside to middle linebacker and drafting an OLB which I think is a possiblity.

If the Giants do that a player like Sean Witherspoon or Navaro Bowman might be available and they are very talented players who should be drafted immediately if they are still available when the Giants select in the second round.

If the Giants keep Sintim on the outside and instead go with a middle linebacker in the second round their possiblites are:

Brandon Spikes (unlikely)

Sean Lee

Daryl Washington

Pat Angerer

Daryl Sharpton

The battle for the third best inside linebacker spot (IF everyone concedes the number two spot to Spikes) is on.

I’ll be profiling most of them to see what you guys think.

I like Daryl Washington and would not at all be dissapointed if the Giants ended up with him, but could there be potentially be better value for the Giants with their 2nd round draft pick?

I believe so, yes. And until I see Jerry Reese draft a player higher than the second round that did not come from one of the six major BCS conferences I won’t believe it will happen.

Pervious Profiles

DT/NT Dan Williams

CB Kyle Wilson

DT Jared Odrick

DE Carlos Dunlap

ILB Micah Johnson

DT Arthur Jones

OT Bryan Baluga

OT Anthony Davis (UPDATED 2/5/10)

DT Brian Price

ILB Brandon Spikes

S Earl Thomas

ILB Rolando McClain

RB C.J. Spiller

S Taylor Mays