Assessing Possibilities: Nick Reed

We have established a 7 rd. layout of more or less what the Dolphins draft may look like, and we know that late in the draft they may be targeting a project hybrid defensive end/linebacker. Reed makes sense to fill this role for the Miami Dolphins.

In order to give a more accurate scouting report, I contacted Jeremy Conant from a great Ducks blog, Addicted to Quack, and he provided me with a great deal of information on Nick Reed and how he may or may not project to the NFL.

Nick Reed, DE/LB Hybrid, 6-1 248lbs.
At the Oregon Pro Day: 40 Time: 4.71/ Bench Press: 24

- Two-time Pac-10 leader in sacks (despite usually facing the opposition's best offensive tackle)
- First-team All-Pac-10 his junior and senior year
- First-team All-American for the 2008-09 season
- Two-time Academic All-American

Jeremy had this to say:

What we saw at Oregon was a good athlete with tremendous instincts and a knack for making big plays. Reed is fast. More importantly, he has a very quick burst at the snap - that is where he usually gains an advantage in his pass rush. Can he be a run stopper in the NFL? That's the million dollar question.

The motor is there, the intangibles are mostly in his favor. Reed plays with high intensity and, at Oregon, was a vocal leader on defense. It's a long-shot that Reed is the next Tedy Bruschi, but if some NFL team is smart enough to invest in his development it's not out of the question. Early on Reed would be a beast on special teams.

If Reed would have been invited to the combine at Indianapolis, Reed would have been very close to some of the top linebacker prospects in the draft. His 40 time was faster than Ray Maualuga (4.83), Brian Cushing (4.79). His bench press would have also been higher than Maualuga and Laurinitis, and "his cone and shuttle drills would have been within hundreths of a second if Laurinitis and Cushing."

In response to some of the questions I asked, Jeremy adds:

I don't recall seeing Reed in pass coverage, so I can't speak to that. That has to be a real question mark with the pro scouts. My gut tells me pass coverage would have to be an immediate focus area for Reed if he's to play inside linebacker. I believe he would be an effective situational blitzer. As a two-time Academic All-American, Reed should not have issues grasping an NFL playbook. I don't recall any compaints regarding his coachability or pressence in the locker room. I don't recall any off-the-field issues during his years at Oregon.

Bottom line with Nick Reed: He's just a great football player. He's the quintessential overachiever who's desire to succeed will overcome just about any obstacle. It would be a surprise to me and many other Duck fans if he doesn't make an NFL roster as a back-up linebacker, possibly contributing immediately on special teams.

I for one would not be at all oppossed to drafting Nick Reed with a 7th round pick and giving him a shot at making the team. With the great coaching staff down here at Miami, he may just become the next Tedy Bruschi, as much as I dislike him and his patsies!!.

I want to thank Jeremy for his thoughts on Nick Reed. I encourage all you Duck fans to drop by and add your thoughts about Nick Reed, and how you think he will fit not only in the NFL, but in Miami's 3-4 defense.