However, it is frustrating when it seems “obvious” the player should return for another year, and he doesn’t. The frustration I feel when I see this isn’t just for the fact that my team is missing out on a good player, it’s for the good of that player. We care a lot about these people we’ve never met, don’t we?

It’s easy for us to say a guy should stay. But we don’t know what his life is like. The NFL minimum is still a boatload of money for most people. Making it is a reasonable risk for a player to make in many cases.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not claiming any knowledge about how he will do in the pros. He could be a bust, ala Dan Wilkinson or Lorenzo Styles. All I’m saying is that he’ll be taken high. And like the rest, I think he should return, although for different reasons. I just think players should put the team first and set an example for the younger guys. Unless a player really needs the money to support his family, he should stay in school. I’ve never seen a football player really hurt his pro prospects by staying for his last year. Mike Doss and Will Smith were still taken very high in the draft. But I think Ashton Youboty really hurt himself by coming out early. And Antonio Pittman’s story is a sad one too.

Joe Fox: “Respectfully, predraft prognosticators are hardly effective judges of talent…….The way he plays on the field does not show me that he is a 1st-round talent. ”

It doesn’t matter what you or I or anyone else on this site thinks. It’s what the pro scouts think that matters. Obviously, things will be adjusted after combines and workouts. But at the moment, NFL scouts LOVE James Laurinaitis. That is what those draft sites are communicating. He’s ranked either #1 or #2 at LB by every draft ranking I have seen. There is no way he is going to last until the 6th round.

Also, LSU’s tight end lined as a tackle on one of the plays, then after making a block went out into space for a reception. So, it was not that anyone could not cover him, it was a lack of discipline and maintaining assignments and being aware of the unusal matchups that were going on. And assuming that someone else would cover the TE.

The Bucks lost, but it was not on JL’s account. It was a combination of things and the coaching staff did not prepare them enough to handle the variety of plays/formations that were coming at them. LSU was more mature, more prepared, and stronger at the Line of scrimmage for this game. The offensive play calling was impressive and kept Ohio St. off balance. The execution on the part of the players was great, and with amazingly few penalties, therefore, no surprise that LSU played the best game of their season. Plus, Jim Heacock, who, for the second straight season, came out and didn’t have a decent game plan for the defense and also took most of the game to make any adjustments.

Crowton is a superior play caller and Heacock did not have what it takes to match up against him.

Anyway, remember, part of the games where JL appeared to not stand out, was based on his assignment for that game. Case in point: Penn State. Dan Connor looked more impressive because he had more tackles, but that does not tell the truth of that game. Laurinaitis was told to protect the outside more than the middle in that game, which would account for the big tackle totals Marcus Freeman racked up that night. And, made his totals go down. Also, schemes to stop Laurinaitis give Freeman a chance to run wild. Michigan’s Shawn Crable was in on 10 tackles to Laurinaitis’ six. But defensive end Vernon Gholston destroyed the Wolverines, because a lot of attention was given to JL.

And as mentioned by Dan; the front four kept blockers off Laurinaitis last year, when he won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. But Quinn Pitcock and Jay Richardson are gone. So, it has been more difficult to play at a high level against better teams, not too mention his assignment for any given game.

Other than a 19-tackle (with nine solos) spree against Wisconsin, Laurinaitis has not shown the savagery of the others on the list of OSU’s best-ever linebackers. However, Laurinaitis was the Big Ten coaches’ Defensive Player of the Year, though. That carries some weight.

And, just because OSU’s defense was not playing as well as capable, doesn’t mean JL is that bad. JL did receive some double teams in that game. And, the NC is not indicative of how a college player will perform in the NFL. It is the overall body of work and the players attitude, work ethic, and ability to be coached. JL has the goods.

I agree JL needs some work, but he is not as bad as some of you make him out to be. Further, it does not matter what place I think he would get selected, what matters is what the real NFL scouts and coaches see in him. And, it sure looks like some NFL scouts/coaches are looking at JL as a first or second round pick at the latest.

Many players out of college have needed development and have gone on to succeed. JL can make himself into a great player through tons of practice and by being very dedicated in the film room. Most rookies do not come to the NFL with a pro bowl, or ready to play ability; they develop that through practice & film study. Football intelligence comes from experience. His style of play is based on good speed/pursuit and his hands. If a position requires mostly great strength & lateral quickness, then he is not the best for that style. But that is all about matchups for particular schemes and so on.