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LB Coach James Laurinaitis (2x B1G DPOY, 2006 Nagurski, 2007 Butkus, 2008 Lott, 3x All-American, OSU HOF)

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he did an interview on Bubba the love sponge a few weeks back that was awesome, such a good kid, i wish nothing but the best of luck for him. (and i hope that he ends up in the NFC some place - i dont want to see him that often :) )
 
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5. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, ILB: A "throwback" MIKE (middle) linebacker who excels within the tackle-to-tackle box. Laurinaitis shows outstanding instincts as a run defender and works quickly off blocks to fill the lane. Though he doesn't consistently attack the line of scrimmage to create negative plays, Laurinaitis is a productive tackler who acts as the "thumper" in the middle of the defense. While some scouts cite his pursuit angles and missed tackles as concerns, his production outweighs those negatives. Laurinaitis shows good instincts, ball skills and athleticism as a pass defender. He covers a lot of ground in his drops and flows quickly to receivers while keying the quarterback's eyes. Additionally, Laurinaitis flashes some skills as a rusher. He lacks polish with his moves, but is an active and athletic blitzer who finds a way to get to the quarterback. With several teams intrigued by his combination of athleticism, instincts and skills, Laurinaitis rates as a late first round prospect as a 4-3 middle 'backer.
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Trojans Maualuga, Cushing, Matthews headline linebacker prospects - Bucky Brooks - SI.com
 
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Ohio State football: Projecting James Laurinaitis in the NFL Draft
by Doug Lesmerises
Thursday February 19, 2009

medium_LaurSOLOFIX.jpg

D.L.
James Laurinaitis during workouts at Ohio State last week.I bet a friend during spring football a year ago that James Laurinaitis would be a top 10 pick in this year's NFL Draft. I have already paid off that bet.

But Laurinaitis still has many ideal landing spots in this draft, with nine mock drafts landing him anywhere between pick No. 14 and pick No. 29.

The most interesting spots to me: his hometown Minnesota Vikings at No. 22, the team that he grew up following; New England at No. 23, a team that supposedly liked him a year ago as a possibility with its top 10 pick; and Miami at No. 25, where he would seem an ideal fit with the Bill Parcells football model.

We'll be back later with more from Laurinaitis on his preparation for the NFL Combine. The linebackers report to Indianapolis to start their combine experience on Friday.


James Laurinaitis
Projections

Pro Football Weekly - No. 14 to New Orleans

NFL.com - No. 17 to New York Jets

Scout.com - No. 20 to Detroit

National Football Post - No. 20 to Detroit

Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com - No. 22 to Minnesota

Draftcountdown.com - No. 23 to New England

Don Banks, SI.com - No. 25 to Miami

Todd McShay, ESPN.com - No. 25 to Miami

Mel Kiper, ESPN.com - No. 29 to New York Giants
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Ohio State football: Projecting James Laurinaitis in the NFL Draft - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball Blog (OSU) - cleveland.com

Who will emerge as the top middle linebacker after the combine? Rey Maualuga may pass on the positional drills, and that could hurt his status on draft day. Meanwhile, James Laurinaitis seems like he has a gigantic chip on his shoulders. In a news broadcast this week in Columbus, Laurinaitis said he wants to shock scouts and coaches with his athleticism. He feels some people label him a smart player with limited upside.
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http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/019792.html

McShay- top 5 under most pressure to perform

4. James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
Scouts were anything but impressed with Laurinaitis' decision to not play in the Senior Bowl, so now he's playing catch-up. First, he needs to convince NFL decision-makers he had a good reason not to attend the all-star game. Then he needs to exceed what are mediocre expectations throughout the physical portion of the four-day interview. Even if he does both, Laurinaitis likely would secure a spot only in the bottom half of the first round.
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3916418
 
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Ohio State football: How will James Laurinaitis test at the NFL Combine?
by Doug Lesmerises
Friday February 20, 2009

large_LaurSprintFIX.jpg

D.L.
James Laurinaitis working out at Ohio State last week.

Even Ohio State linebackers coach Luke Fickell isn't expecting James Laurinaitis to blow away NFL talent evaluators at the NFL Combine as the linebacker group reports to Indianapolis today.

"If you're just looking at straight numbers, I don't think he'll test as well as maybe Marcus (Freeman) will," Fickell said. "But help him or hurt him, I think it's going to help him. He won't be down the charts by any means. He's going to test good. I don't think he'll jump off the charts at them, but for him, I don't think it's about that. You can't put on film and see anything negative. So I don't think he could hurt himself."

In fact, Laurinaitis, with three years of college football as a consensus All-American, has established a reputation as a guy who maybe isn't the most athletic linebacker in the world. Mock drafts so far are already using that reputation. NFL people know what they think, so if Laurinaitis doesn't dominate the tests, that won't be a surprise. But maybe he can do better than expected, and move himself up among the inside linebackers.

"People aren't going to expect me to be athletic, but when they see what I can do with no pads on running around, I think I'll surprise some people," Laurinaitis said.

"There are stereotypes across the board. You look at guys like Paul Posluszny, they said he's not athletic and he's played well for Buffalo. Same thing with Dan Connor. Maybe it's something with Big Ten linebackers. But it's something you have to deal with. We're prepared to deal with those questions and I have nothing to hide. I'm going to go out and show them."
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Ohio State football: How will James Laurinaitis test at the NFL Combine? - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball Blog (OSU) - cleveland.com
 
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JL comes in at #2 behind Maualuga in CFn's rating of inside LBs.

cfn

2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State 6-2, 240
Positives: An all-timer of a producer - A leader. Doesn't make mistakes and is always around the ball - Fantastic athlete who doesn't miss a tackle.
Negatives: Has to get a bit bigger to play inside - Became quiet. The stats were there, but it didn't always seem like it - Can get erased by big blockers.


Cont'd....
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Combine: Why Laurinaitis skipped the Senior Bowl

We had heard that James Laurinaitis chose not to participate in the Senior Bowl last month on the advice of his agent, which some other projected first-round picks have done before.

Then Laurinaitis said he didn't go because he was sick.

The truth, we learned today at the combine, was some of both -- with a twist. It was coach Jim Tressel, not an agent, who advised Laurinaitis to skip the game.

I find that a much more interesting scenario.

Here's the transcript of what Laurinaitis said:

QUESTION: Why did you not play in the Senior Bowl?

ANSWER:

"Initially, I got the invite from the Senior Bowl, and I went and asked coach Tressel, `What do you think about this?? and he said, `I think you have three years of full film and I think there?s a high risk of injury, and if I was you, I wouldn?t play.?

"And I respect coach Tressel, I listened to him for four years and it worked out, so I said, ?OK, I respect your opinion,? so I didn?t (go). And as the game got closer, I got kind of excited and caught up and I called my agent and I said, ?Hey, is there any way you can get me into this game because I want to play. People are saying that I?m afraid to play, I want to go, let?s do it.?

And literally, that Monday before (Senior Bowl week) I got sick, I had the flu until about Thursday my temperature got to 103.2 -- I had one of those CVS thermometers and they are accurate. I tried to go work out Friday and run and I just felt weak, I?m like, `You know what? I?m not going to go out and try to compete with these guys if I?m not going to be at my best.?

So I called and said, `I?m sorry, I know it?s like a tug of war: What?s going on, who?s he listening to?? but the truth is I really did get sick."


QUESTION: So that was the Friday before the Senior Bowl week?

ANSWER:

"I really tried to test it out and run. If you don?t believe me, you can ask Malcolm (Jenkins) and them, they were like, `Dude, just go home and lay down,? so I think I might have got a few other guys sick by doing that."


Posted by Ken Gordon on February 21, 2009 3:26 PM | Permalink
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Combine: Why Laurinaitis skipped the Senior Bowl (Blogging the Buckeyes)
 
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Laurinaitis ready to pin down first-round selection
By Dan Arkush
Feb. 21, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS ? The karma just seems right for Ohio State LB James Laurinaitis as he wrestles with his football future.

Blessed with what he considers "unique genes" courtesy of his father, Joe, a former professional wrestler who was nicknamed the "Road Warrior Animal," and his mother, Julie, a professional bodybuilder, Laurinaitis is considered by many draft experts to be a surefire first-round pick.

Considering his hereditary ties to both the highs and lows of the professional wrestling culture ? Joe Laurinaitis was also an admitted steroids user ? one can?t help but make a comparison to Mickey Rourke, who is widely considered the front-runner to win best actor in this year?s Academy Awards for his riveting performance in the movie ?The Wrestler.?

James Laurinaitis has yet to see that movie.

?But I really want to,? he told the national media Saturday afternoon at the Combine. ?(Fellow Ohio State LB Aaron) Freeman is a big wrestling freak, and he wants me to go with him to see it.?

But what Laurinaitis wants to see even more is his name being mentioned prominently on ESPN the first day of the NFL draft after becoming a No. 1 pick for any team willing to take a chance on him.

Measuring in at 6-1 7/8, 244 pounds, and sporting a spiffy Marine-style haircut, he feels confident that he can excel in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

?I feel like I can play in both systems,? he said. ?I think I can handle all three positions in the 4-3 and both inside positions in the 3-4.?
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NFL Draft - NFL draft preview and analysis from Pro Football Weekly

Laurinaitis comfortable in the spotlight
Posted: Combine | Jason Feller |

Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis has spent time around cameras his entire life. His father was famed professional wrestler Animal, one half of The Road Warriors (Legion of Doom) tag team and two of his uncles were also involved in pro wrestling.

Laurinaitis met with the media on Saturday and looked comfortable and polished in front of all the cameras, giving articulate answers to every question.

He said his favorite wrestler growing up was “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and explained that his exposure to the media from a young age helped him deal with the spotlight of being a star football player at Ohio State and now at the combine.

“It’s helped a little bit, to be honest. I don’t get shy among the cameras. I mean when you’re backstage with dad and you see him doing live promos and all this stuff, you’re like OK, that was just life as a kid,” Laurinaitis said.

“It was an awesome childhood. You get a chance to see a lot of cool things.”

Laurinaitis also explained his decision to return to Ohio State for his senior season, even though he was projected as a possible Top-10 pick in last year’s draft.

He pointed out that “a free scholarship is something I think too many guys take for granted,” and seemed sincerely touched by his experience as a Buckeye.

“I think I owed it to Ohio State. They gave me a chance. I was only recruited by two schools out of high school — Minnesota and Ohio State — and they offered me a scholarship and a free chance to go to school, get my education and play football at a place like that. I felt I owed them that fourth year.”
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http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/21/laurinaitis-comfortable-in-front-of-the-cameras/
 
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NFL Network LB discussion...Billick likes JL

NFL Video Galleries

There was no player I listened to during Saturday's interview session that impressed me more than Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis. Reporters gave him every chance to say he regretted not coming out in the draft as a junior last year, when he was more highly rated. He didn't just refuse to play along with that thinking, he explained why with a rare level of maturity and perspective.

"I was only recruited by two schools out of high school, Minnesota and Ohio State,'' he said. "I think when a team offers you a scholarship and a free chance to go to school and get an education and play football at a place like that, I felt I owed them that fourth year. I was going to stick to that commitment.''
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NFL teams panning for gold in spread offenses - Don Banks - SI.com

Vikings notebook: Laurinaitis tries to explain away an absence
By Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Last update: February 21, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis received criticism for skipping the Senior Bowl, and his claim that he was sick was met with skepticism.

But the former Wayzata High School standout got a chance to explain the situation Saturday as he met with the media at the NFL scouting combine. Laurinaitis said that he initially decided to skip the Senior Bowl after Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel warned him that playing could lead to injury. However, he later changed his mind and was going to play.

"As the game got closer I got kind of excited and competitive and I called my agent and said, 'Hey, is there any way you can get me into this game because I want to play? People are saying I'm afraid to play,'" Laurinaitis said.

Laurinaitis' health soon became an issue.

"That Monday before [the game] I got sick; I had the flu until Thursday," he said. "My temperature got up to 103.2. ... I went and tried to work out Friday and run and everything up at the facility and I just felt weak. I was like, 'You know what? I'm not going to go out and try to compete with these guys if I'm not going to be at my best.' ... The truth is I really did get sick."

Laurinaitis also expressed no regrets that he stayed in school for his senior season, despite the fact his draft stock might have fallen slightly because of the quality of the linebacker class. He won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker as a junior. "I knew with coming back there were going to be guys that stayed that there would be more competition," said Laurinaitis, who is expected to be a first-round pick. "I'm not one to shy away from competition. That never bothered me."
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Vikings notebook: Laurinaitis tries to explain away an absence
 
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a team offers you a scholarship and a free chance to go to school and get an education and play football at a place like that, I felt I owed them that fourth year. I was going to stick to that commitment.''
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i am not naive to believe it but great job in front of the press.... great words James.
 
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