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Feb. 28—INDIANAPOLIS — J.D. Bertrand believes he can play in any role the NFL might ask of him.
And the former Notre Dame linebacker credits his experience under head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden for making that possible.
“I feel pretty comfortable kind of all over,” Bertrand said Wednesday during the NFL Scouting Combine. “I’ve ran multiple defenses, mainly 4-2-5. A lot of the NFL’s going to kind of a 4-2-5, and I think those two off-the-ball linebackers, they’re pretty similar. In order to play in a true 4-2-5, you have to know both.”
As NFL offenses continue to evolve, the role of interior linebackers continues to be debated. There will always be a place for a bruiser who can shut down an opponent’s run game, but today’s linebackers need the athleticism to cover pass catchers and the speed to run sideline to sideline.
Bertrand is seen in the more traditional mold of a hard-nosed, physical linebacker who will punish opponents with brutal hits.
When on-field drills begin Thursday, he’ll try to prove to league evaluators he also has the athletic traits to excel at the next level.
“I liked Bertrand as a player,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said during a conference call last week. “I don’t think it’s a great linebacker class. I think that helps him. He kind of plays downhill. He is aggressive. He has some range, not a lot of finesse to his game. He is a little bit tight as well, just sees the field really, really well.”
Bertrand is projected as a Day 3 pick (Rounds 4-7) with upside on special teams and as a situational defensive player.
Former Irish teammate Marist Lifau is believed to be a better all-around athlete but is seen in a similar light at the next level.
Liufau finished with 44 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery during his final season in South…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/combine-notebook-irish-linebackers-project-232000671.html
Author : The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
Publish date : 2024-02-28 23:20:00
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