Overall
One of the biggest Boom or Bust prospects in the 2012 Draft, Zach Brown has the potential to be a Perennial Pro-Bowl player, but also the potential to be out of the league in 5 years. Brown is truly a special athlete. He competed on the Track team at UNC, and runs his 40 in the 4.3 range, which is just insane for a guy who is 230-240 Pounds. Brown flies around on the football field in pursuit, getting from sideline-to-sideline in the blink of an eye, closing in on the ball carrier as quickly as any linebacker in the nation. To go with it Brown is 6-2 230 pounds, so he has the size to hold his own in the N.F.L In college, he flashed the ability to put it all together, and when he was using his size and weight properly, he looked like a Top 10 pick. However, that is the tease with Brown. He has the talent and ability to be a dominant linebacker, and sometimes plays like one, but too often he doesn't use his size, and in my opinion, plays kinda soft. Brown often tries to just get by with pure athleticism, trying to run around blocks, go for the big play, getting out of position. He also doesn't disengage from blocks very well, doesn't use his hands well, and will get too easily hung up, getting washed out of the play. Brown needs to be taught a lot in gap integrity, how to use his hands, technique, and also needs to hit the weight room. If he could develop those things, which all can be taught, you are looking at an elite linebacker in the N.F.L. If he doesn't develop some, or any of those things, he will be a complete liability against the run, and won't be able to play in the league. Brown is a high risk, high reward pick, and should go early in the 2nd round.
