Honing In On Heeney
March 30th, 2015
The star linebacker performer at the NFL Scouting Combine was a guy who played for a dreadful football team at the University of Kansas.
Heck, where Ben Heeney was a tackling machine the past four years, 2-14 may not seem so bad.
Per Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Heeney has a private workout with the Bucs upcoming.
Heeney was an All-Big-12 selection last year, and led the NCAA with an average of 7.3 solo tackles per game. The guy can wrap up. He showed various feats of athleticism at the combine, including 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which led all linebackers this year. (For those wondering, Lavonte David ran 4.65 at his Combine). Heeney also led all linebackers in various shuttle runs and the three-cone drill.
But there are loads of knocks on Heeney. He’s too short, allegedly, just six feet tall. Various other scouting reports claim he needs a lot of coaching and is relying too much on raw athleticism.
CBS Sports projects him as a fourth-round pick.
It’s no surprise the Bucs are interested. Lovie Smith is adamant that he cares little about weight and size, and much more about speed and quickness. Certainly, Heeney has the talent to excel in pass coverage, if he can be coached up.
Lovie likes to rely heavily on his linebackers for special teams, and Heeney definitely has the skill to fill those roles.
Joe would prefer to see the Bucs draft offensive linemen in the middle rounds, but Joe definitely could see the Bucs going after a linebacker if they like the value.
March 30th, 2015 at 10:37 am
This draft (After QB with first Pick) will be ALL Defense (Maybe One OT or OG)
March 30th, 2015 at 10:37 am
The Fort Scott Community College transfer is undersized but able to overcome that through his instincts and speed. He has enormous tackle production throughout his two years @ The university of…….
Sound familiar?
March 30th, 2015 at 10:42 am
We MUST to hit on our first two picks. Imo we have no room for st players in this draft. I would go w qb, de and Oline the rest of the way. Use the waiver priority to find some gems to provide depth and st assistance. Plus we have Russell Shepard killing it on coverage.
March 30th, 2015 at 10:46 am
@Panhandle Buc who?
I have the feeling that Heeney is going to be drafted higher than the 4th. With Lavonte David and CJ Mosley showing to be absolute tackling machines as well as being able to show talent in coverage, short, fast linebackers are soon to be the trend, if not already. Would love if the Bucs were to snag this guy though.
March 30th, 2015 at 10:59 am
After further review – this kid is no st player. He looks like that lb from Carolina but with better hands. Anytime you can find a lb that can cover sideline to sideline it’s a good thing. He looks good but where do you draft him? We signed carter and we still have lemon who is not too shabby. We need 5 oline men. How many picks do we have?
March 30th, 2015 at 11:07 am
Should be interesting to see what they do with their LBs. The fact that our approach to LBs is largely different from what other teams are looking for should give us a chance to get a good value on someone that other teams are not interested in because of size and scheme fits. I wonder if they would jump on Gregory if he starts slipping to the latter part of the first round. He seems to be that guy that Lovie was talking about as someone that is a tweener between a 4-3 DE and a 3-4 LB.
March 30th, 2015 at 11:11 am
@BucsFanInChina
LVD!!!
I am not saying he will be as good, but the bucs have history with “undersized” LB’s…..Brooks and LVD!
March 30th, 2015 at 11:25 am
We need starters with our first 3 picks……QB, DE/Olline…..after that…..LB is fine, WR/KR/PR…..
March 30th, 2015 at 11:46 am
Sounds like the second coming of Barrett Ruud to me.
March 30th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Joe(s) –
hanks for this spot on Heeney ! I am big LB guy and I really think the Bucs should draft Eric Kendricks in round 2. But given other variables – a) they may think that Carter “will do” as a MLB, and b) their lack of OL and pass-rushing DE – I do think Heeney would be a good 3rd or 4th round pick….. goo attitude, good skills… and IS an experienced MLB.
Thanks again Joe for giving this critical Tampa-2 position more well-needed exposure !
March 30th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Just looked this kid up, and he is absolute beast in this game…reminds me of a faster kuechly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNi1LYn_1lM
March 30th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
At what point did we see the Bucs’ ability to coach, teach, or put a player in a position or scheme to succeed?
March 30th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
I like the taking the best defensive player from a doormat team. They get allot of work. I seem to remember finding 2 pretty good Mlb from crappy Vanderbilt teams. If the kid played at TCU/OSU people would pencil him into the 1st round.
March 30th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Joe I just read that Mason Foster signed in Chicago for the league minimum. Wow we must have really thought low of him, especially because he at least knew he system and could teach other players what he learned in his first year. Oh well too bad, this Heeney kid could be a perfect fit at MLB then put Bruce Carter at strong side, the position he thrived at last year. That leaves Lansanah as the odd man out though. Maybe he could be getting replaced because he broke a team rule last year. We saw what happened last year when Lovies rules get broken, people get sent packing.
March 30th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
I doubt Lansanah will be going anywhere if someone else took his starting job, you have to have good backups as well.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:27 am
Damn, never seen him – couldn’t stomach UK ball at all. Dudes got real speed. Plus what I love is he looks to have some nasty to him. Plays chippy. You know our LB corps could use a little of that.
Like someone else mentioned, it really serves us well that were one of the only teams that runs an almost-Tampa 2. Small, fast LB come at great value.