McKillop should have been drafted way before the fifth round.This "scouting" report on him that I just read is typical: "While he lacks the great upside, McKillop also has limited downside risk to his game." All he did was lead the country in tackles in 2007 with 155, then added 137 more last year. If that's not great "upside" then what is?
Nonethless, McKillop appears to have landed in a good spot with the 49ers as the heir apparent to Takeo Spikes as one of the team's starting inside linebackers alongside Patrick Willis. Their starting outside LBs are bothvery unproductive but Willis is excellent.
This is from a 49ers blog:
Inside Linebackers the Heart of 49ers Defense
After examining the 49ers' defensive linemen, it's time to look at the group playing behind them. We'll start with the inside linebackers, who, of course, are headlined by two-time Pro Bowler Patrick Willis. Look for the 49ers to keep four, maybe five, inside linebackers.
<UL done52="4" done54="4" done56="4" done58="4" done53="27" done55="27" done57="27" done59="27" done18="4" done28="4" done30="4" done37="4" done39="4" done41="4" done43="4" done45="4" done47="4" done49="4" done19="27" done29="27" done31="27" done33="136" done38="27" done40="27" done42="27" done44="27" done46="27" done48="27" done50="27"><BR nodeIndex="1">
<LI nodeIndex="2">Scott McKillop. 6-1, 244. The 49ers have been searching for two years for a future "Ted" linebacker to be the Robin to Willis' Batman. After finding McKillop in the fifth round of the draft, they could hardly contain themselves. Of all the team's draft picks - a list that includes Michael Crabtree, mind you - team officials were most jazzed about McKillop, perhaps because he projects as the perfect complement to Willis. I was on hand for all the Senior Bowl practices this year. A typical running play went something like this: Hand off to the back. Big pile after two yards. Players get up and McKillop is at the bottom with his arms around the runner's ankles.
A former wrestler, McKillop definitely has the grit for one of the more blue-collar positions on the team. What he showed this spring is perhaps more athleticism than he was given credit for entering the draft. As Takeo Spikes proved last year with three interceptions, the "Ted" linebacker has plenty of pass-coverage duties and can be a big playmaker in the passing game. At least early on, McKillop has shown he can keep pace with running backs and tight ends downfield.
The bottom line is that Willis has shown he has Hall of Fame potential. To reach that summit, he needs to play a long time and he needs to have good players around him. McKillop won't play a lot on defense this year unless Spikes gets injured. But he certainly looks like the long-term answer at the position.
</LI>[/list]http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/2009/06/inside-lbs-the.html?mi_atom=49ers%20Blog%20and%20Q&A
Edited by: Don Wassall
Nonethless, McKillop appears to have landed in a good spot with the 49ers as the heir apparent to Takeo Spikes as one of the team's starting inside linebackers alongside Patrick Willis. Their starting outside LBs are bothvery unproductive but Willis is excellent.
This is from a 49ers blog:
Inside Linebackers the Heart of 49ers Defense
After examining the 49ers' defensive linemen, it's time to look at the group playing behind them. We'll start with the inside linebackers, who, of course, are headlined by two-time Pro Bowler Patrick Willis. Look for the 49ers to keep four, maybe five, inside linebackers.
<UL done52="4" done54="4" done56="4" done58="4" done53="27" done55="27" done57="27" done59="27" done18="4" done28="4" done30="4" done37="4" done39="4" done41="4" done43="4" done45="4" done47="4" done49="4" done19="27" done29="27" done31="27" done33="136" done38="27" done40="27" done42="27" done44="27" done46="27" done48="27" done50="27"><BR nodeIndex="1">
<LI nodeIndex="2">Scott McKillop. 6-1, 244. The 49ers have been searching for two years for a future "Ted" linebacker to be the Robin to Willis' Batman. After finding McKillop in the fifth round of the draft, they could hardly contain themselves. Of all the team's draft picks - a list that includes Michael Crabtree, mind you - team officials were most jazzed about McKillop, perhaps because he projects as the perfect complement to Willis. I was on hand for all the Senior Bowl practices this year. A typical running play went something like this: Hand off to the back. Big pile after two yards. Players get up and McKillop is at the bottom with his arms around the runner's ankles.
A former wrestler, McKillop definitely has the grit for one of the more blue-collar positions on the team. What he showed this spring is perhaps more athleticism than he was given credit for entering the draft. As Takeo Spikes proved last year with three interceptions, the "Ted" linebacker has plenty of pass-coverage duties and can be a big playmaker in the passing game. At least early on, McKillop has shown he can keep pace with running backs and tight ends downfield.
The bottom line is that Willis has shown he has Hall of Fame potential. To reach that summit, he needs to play a long time and he needs to have good players around him. McKillop won't play a lot on defense this year unless Spikes gets injured. But he certainly looks like the long-term answer at the position.
</LI>[/list]http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/2009/06/inside-lbs-the.html?mi_atom=49ers%20Blog%20and%20Q&A
Edited by: Don Wassall