Another "OMG Sleeper!" Thread: Cameron Vaughn

[Inkana7]

Okay. We have a linebacker problem. Right? Right. Looking at our roster, it looks like we need help. But then I came upon this interesting fella. Cameron Vaughn played every LB position at LSU, and has tremendous size at 6-4, 240 and he ran a 4.7. I've been looking around trying to find his strenghts, weaknesses, etc., and I got this little blurb fron Scout.com:

STRENGTHS
Instincts
Tackling Technique

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Change of Direction
Speed

Possessing solid size/speed numbers, Vaughn was mildly productive throughout his college career but never took his game to the next level. Has the underlying skills to play in the NFL if picks up his play in all areas.

SI.com had this to say:

BIO: Three-year starter who led the team in tackles as a senior with 83/6.5/1. Junior numbers included 63/2/2. Used at weak side and middle linebacker in college.

POSITIVES: Productive linebacker who is best in the box. Intelligent, displays a good head for the game and is effective in run defense. Quickly fills gaps up the field, jolts ball carriers at the point and squares into tackles. Hard-hitting and goes for the knockout blow. Gets depth on drops, flashes skill in zone and takes excellent angles to the action.

NEGATIVES: Lacks speed in pursuit. Mostly works in a straight line and slows considerably when he must alter his angle of attack.

I don't know, he seems interesting. Quality wise, he seems a lot like Zach Thomas. And we know what he did with Bates.

Thoughts?

[cutthemdown]

Haven't really got a chance to see him play. He wasn't active for any games that I remember.

[BigPlayShay]

Haven't really got a chance to see him play. He wasn't active for any games that I remember.
He was on the practice squad

[WoodMan]

He was excellent at LSU. Spent last year on the Broncos practice squad. I think that he has what it takes to be solid in the NFL. Wilsons release provides him a great opportunity to step up. I think he will. Whether he is Shanahan's "ace in the hole", I have no idea. I do think that someone has his confidence. Vaughn, Louis Green, Nate Webster, or someone new? We will find out on draft day.

[Dedhed]

I liked what I saw from Vaughn in the pre-season last year. I thought he looked better than Green, and he added a nice bit of size to our LB corps.

[Rascal]

I'd rather play Vaughn at SLB then have Green or Webster out there.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Quality wise, he seems a lot like Zach Thomas. And we know what he did with Bates.

Thoughts?
:puff:

[Inkana7]

:puff:

Trait wise. Big, imposing guy, not that spectacular in coverage, good tackler. That kind of thing.

[eddie mac]

Whether it's Vaughn, Green, Webster or Moore, someone or two of those players are going to have to step up and improve their game this season because unless we draft Willis I dont fancy throwing another rookie LB into the starting line-up from Day 1. Shanahan very rarely does that, infact DJ is the only drafted rookie in the last 5 years to start in his regular NFL season debut. Mike Bell did but RB has always been a completely different matter for the Broncos.

[azbroncfan]

Okay. We have a linebacker problem. Right? Right. Looking at our roster, it looks like we need help. But then I came upon this interesting fella. Cameron Vaughn played every LB position at LSU, and has tremendous size at 6-4, 240 and he ran a 4.7. I've been looking around trying to find his strenghts, weaknesses, etc., and I got this little blurb fron Scout.com:

STRENGTHS
Instincts
Tackling Technique

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Change of Direction
Speed

Possessing solid size/speed numbers, Vaughn was mildly productive throughout his college career but never took his game to the next level. Has the underlying skills to play in the NFL if picks up his play in all areas.

SI.com had this to say:

BIO: Three-year starter who led the team in tackles as a senior with 83/6.5/1. Junior numbers included 63/2/2. Used at weak side and middle linebacker in college.

POSITIVES: Productive linebacker who is best in the box. Intelligent, displays a good head for the game and is effective in run defense. Quickly fills gaps up the field, jolts ball carriers at the point and squares into tackles. Hard-hitting and goes for the knockout blow. Gets depth on drops, flashes skill in zone and takes excellent angles to the action.

NEGATIVES: Lacks speed in pursuit. Mostly works in a straight line and slows considerably when he must alter his angle of attack.

I don't know, he seems interesting. Quality wise, he seems a lot like Zach Thomas. And we know what he did with Bates.

Thoughts?

I wish everyone would get off of comparing every LB to Zach Thomas now that Bates is the DC.

[Inkana7]

Whether it's Vaughn, Green, Webster or Moore, someone or two of those players are going to have to step up and improve their game this season because unless we draft Willis I dont fancy throwing another rookie LB into the starting line-up from Day 1. Shanahan very rarely does that, infact DJ is the only drafted rookie in the last 5 years to start in his regular NFL season debut. Mike Bell did but RB has always been a completely different matter for the Broncos.

To be fair, how many of those drafted players were either projects or just flat out sucked? Al Wilson started right away, didn't he? I'm not sure about Gold, but I know he started games his rookie season.

If we were to draft a Patrick Willis or a Paul Posluszny, he would easily start.

Vaughn is just interesting, I guess. If he steps it up, he could be a starter.

[eddie mac]

To be fair, how many of those drafted players were either projects or just flat out sucked? Al Wilson started right away, didn't he? I'm not sure about Gold, but I know he started games his rookie season.

If we were to draft a Patrick Willis or a Paul Posluszny, he would easily start.

Vaughn is just interesting, I guess. If he steps it up, he could be a starter.

Gold didn't start right away and I'm not sure about Wilson.

[chaz]

Trait wise. Big, imposing guy, not that spectacular in coverage, good tackler. That kind of thing.

zach thomas is 5'11" 228 lbs....not that physically imposing...and doesnt compare very well to 6'4" 240....

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Wilson did not start right away. He played, but didnt start if i recall. I remember he had a big hit on opening day (against Miami), but i dont believe he started.

[Odysseus]

I'd rather play Vaughn at SLB then have Green or Webster out there.

This guy was a college stud who strikes me a good long term prospect. I don't know if this is his year at SLB but I hope this guy gets time to develop there.

[Requiem]

I've been saying since we got him as a undrafted FA he could have a nice impact for the Broncos down the road. I still think he has a year of development to go before he starts. Needs special teams experience first before you even put him as a starter.

[Play2win]

all I know is that we need to find our new TJ, DS49, ATWATER, BIG AL or dear I say ROMO...

[Broncoman13]

all I know is that we need to find our new TJ, DS49, ATWATER, BIG AL or dear I say ROMO...

Say what you want about Romo, the intensity and can't lose attitude he brought here was huge for us. That dude was a machine... steroid abusing machine maybe, but a machine none-the-less!

[Inkana7]

zach thomas is 5'11" 228 lbs....not that physically imposing...and doesnt compare very well to 6'4" 240....

Really? Geez, whenever I see him I just think "That's a big dude..." He looks a lot bigger than that.

[youcandoit1687]

Yeah, he was doing pretty good in camps this summer according to the OM crew. He was a pretty good blitzer in college if I remember correctly. He obviously has great size but it's his hips and acceleration that are the problem I think.

[cutthemdown]

Say what you want about Romo, the intensity and can't lose attitude he brought here was huge for us. That dude was a machine... steroid abusing machine maybe, but a machine none-the-less!

I consider Romo one of my favorite Broncos. I don't care about him being dirty steroid abuser. I only care if players get suspended. He didn't so I don't care. He was a great SSL for Broncos. If we could find someone to bring the nastiness he did we would be set.

[ScottXray]

Vaughan is my adopted Bronco....so I paid particular attention to him last pre-season. After doing so I was surprised he even made the practice squad.
He does have the size needed but he really needs to increase his speed. Maybe it is hesitation and he can overcome that. But it is hard to develope speed that late.

He has very good instincts as to where the play is going and he moves to the hole well...but he was almost always late to the point of attack and therefore out of position to make the play, or blocked out. The few times he was in position he showed great tackling ability. Stayed low and squared up on the carrier, and went for the legs at the thigh/knee. Wrapped up well.

If he can improve on his "hesitation' (maybe with experience and coaching) he could be a good backup. But he gets caught out of position too many times and ends up chasing the play. His speed is only so-so, so he can't catch up once behind.

I hope he proves me wrong, but I don't think he's an answer for us.

[Odysseus]

Like Requiem said....I wonder what the Broncos are going to do in the undrafted linebacker department?