A lot of the pass rush I saw from him was unblocked. Shit a lot of his great plays that I've seen have been giant lanes that he was able to run up and fill. I think offenses had a lot of respect for the Dline at Alabama and sort of made it easy for him. Even still 74 tackles just sort of makes me uncomfortable for a middle LBer. I just think he's being overhyped. I don't think I really want him until our second round pick.
Maybe I'm underselling him a bit on that. I just don't see the upside there. I've gone back and watched some of the blitzes. He actually does have a swim move and such. But I'd say a good half of those he just wasn't blocked. Or he was running around an OT who is just too slow in college football for a 230 pound guy.
Did you watch him against Clemson?
He had a strong game and showed a ridiculous inside spin to beat the RT that an off-ball LB should not be able to do.
I'm not enamored with him by any means, he's part of a very large group of guys who I'd really like if we can move down to 28 or so but who I'd be lukewarm about at 19. I don't love him at 19 but if he's the pick I'm ok with it.
Also, evaluating LB's can be difficult. Like check this one play at about 8:26 in the 2nd vs. Georgia, inside zone read option, he reads the play and attacks downhill immediately, helping stop the play for no gain. He doesn't have to take on a block but that's because he is able to react quick enough and takes an angle to the ball that allows him to avoid the RT who is climbing to the 2nd level. Now part of that play is the Alabama DL not getting blown off the ball, Evans doesn't have a OL in his face immediately which allows him to get downhill, and that can make it difficult because he's definitely benefiting from the DL play but he's also showing an ability to diagnose quickly and take proper angles.
Or at 9:20 in the 4th, it's an outside zone play, he doesn't have to take on a block but that's because he reads the play, doesn't hesitate, he knows what his gap assignment is, he works around the outside flank of the formation which is the TE combo-blocking the OLB with the LT, but that TE is supposed to climb to the next level as the play progresses outside but Evans shoots around him into the backfield before he is able to leave the OLB. He effectively takes away the edge of a play that is designed to work outside to his direction and the backside pursuit is able to finish it off for a loss. How much of that is the talent of the DL/OLB's to pursue backside? To hold the point frontside? How much of it is the TE not climbing quick enough?
Difficult to know but these are examples of play where he looks unblocked but in reality he's also showing traits that translate to success.
Overall I think he's aggressive and physical downhill when engaging, has very good range, he diagnoses quickly, especially on screens and is able to work into the backfield to blow it up, he seems to have good awareness in zone to feel routes developing around him and his athleticism looks fine as far as man coverage as long as you aren't asking him to cover elite TE's/RB's in single coverage all day.
My main concerns are the lack of INT's/PD's and the low tackle numbers, I think he could improve his tackling form a bit also but that's a relatively minor gripe, but when you watch the games he looks very impressive and seems to fly around. There's no way to really account for how much he benefits playing on such a talented defense, that's another concern you have to consider with Alabama guys, but you have guys like Mosley and Collins in recent years who are among the best in the league so you kind of just have to roll with that.