Chase Thomas Scouting Report LB Stanford Cardinal

This is our Chase Thomas scouting report. Thomas is a linebacker prospect for the Stanford Cardinal. Thomas is a player  who has had a pretty good season and has a little bit of a buzz about him this year in large part because of his large tackle for loss numbers. For all of our other scouting reports check out our scouting report page

Measurables

6’4 239 pounds

(combine numbers will be posted when they become available)

Stats

2011:

2010:

Pros:

long arms, versatile moves around a lot rushes from the Left side, right side, and with his hands on the ground…good closing speed on the quarterback…quick off the snap, heady…uses his long arms to disengage from blockers…makes a lot of hustle plays…usually plays with pretty good leverage…productive and durable…

Cons:

Really not a great  tackler,  especially in the open field…could stand to get stronger…will definitely need to improve his drops into coverage, at his best moving forward attacking the line of scrimmage and the quarterback…over pursues at times…doesn’t play sideline to sideline a lot because he’s asked first and foremost to attack, I would like to see more of his sideline to sideline speed

Player comparison: Poor Man’s Clay Matthews

I’ll come up with a better player comparison, I don’t like this one that much. I’m having difficulty coming up with one because he’s taller and leaner than a lot of guys I want to compare him to. Matthews is and was much stronger functionally and a better athlete than Thomas

Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

Thoughts:

As teams look to find pass rushers in this relatively weak pass rusher class. Thomas’s biggest asset is clearly is length and initial quickness off the snap. He gets off the snap in a hurry and does a pretty good job keeping the linemen’s hands off of him with his long arms. He does a really good job of attacking the line of scrimmage and the quarterback, but can be fooled on draw plays because he gets up the field in a hurry. I also think that while he can be in the right position in the field on coverage that he’s better at that in the short to intermediate range than he is going to be able to turn and run down the field with a tight end. Thomas plays with pretty good leverage when he’s rushing the passer and he needs to because I don’t think he’s functionally strong right now and will need to get stronger in the N.F.L. if he wants to do better against the run (though he’s been better against the run this year). I think he has trouble tackling the elusive type of running backs in space, but tackles well in tight quarters. He has a good motor, doesn’t take plays off and get rush the passer so there’s definitely a place for him in the league and he will probably be drafted before the end of the third round.  I also think he’s a better athlete than he gets credit for even though I question his sideline to sideline speed.

Bio:
AT STANFORD: Returning starter at the “sam” linebacker position where he flourished in 2010 in Stanford’s 3-4 defensive scheme…played a key role in the resurgence of Stanford’s defense a year ago…has totaled 104 tackles, including 14.5 sacks, over the last two seasons after redshirting the 2008 season.

2010 (SOPHOMORE): Honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection…started 13 games at the outside “sam” linebacker position in Stanford’s 3-4 defensive alignment…ranked as the team’s second- leading tackler with 70 stops, including a team high 11.5 for loss…shared (Skov) the team lead in sacks with 7.5 sacks, which were the most by a Stanford player since Jon Alston registered 10 in 2004…also had one interception and two fumble recoveries…ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in sacks per game (0.62) and tied for 13th in tackles for loss (0.88

Video:

vs Duke (Jmpasq on youtube visit www.draftbreakdown.com)

2010 Season TMBDraft on youtube