Round 2, Pick 4: Barrett Ruud

Barrett Ruud
ILB | (6'2", 247, 4.75) | NEBRASKA
Scouts Grade: 87

Ruud is a solid pick, he's a producer with countless tackles at Nebraska.

I obviously give a huge benefit of the doubt to the scouting and coaching staff when discussing draft picks, but I am concerned that Ruud is built like a traditional middle linebacker, not a speedy Bucs-style tweener. Is he fast enough for our defense? Can he get down the field and "mike the pipe" quick enough?

One of the best parts about our defense is that we get GREAT value on tweeners who work perfectly in our system because noone else really wants them or values them as highly as we do. Would we have been better off getting good value on a tweener later in the draft?

Clearly the brain trust didn't think so, and hopefully Ruud turns into a solid starter at MLB. It looks like they're putting him as a SLB right now, so he doesn't have to call the defensive plays early as a rookie.

St. Petersburg Times:
4.24: Husker Likes His New Colors
5.1: Ruud Awakening (see 2nd item)

Tampa Tribune:
4.24: Ruud Knows He's In Good Hands