While at one of the Niner mini camp sessions I was waiting for the players to emerge. One did, and sat on the bench next to me. I didn’t recognize him, but did see the name BRIGGS on a piece of masking tape across the front of his helmet. I introduced myself to him, and he did the same. He is Diyral Briggs, free agent from Bowling Green. What a nice, polite and composed young man. He was a star defensive end at BGSU, and a two time all MAC conference player. The MAC is a highly under rated conference in terms of football talent, so Mr. Briggs has not played against a bunch of patsies. But, at 6′4″, 230 pounds, he’s not exactly the proto-type NFL defensive end. He explained that he would have to make the transition to outside linebacker to have any chance to play on Sunday. He also understood the challenge this would involve, and pretty much knew that is why he probably didn’t hear his name called on April 25th in New York City.
Take a look at one scouting service had to say about Mr. Briggs in the fall of 2008…………………
Last year South Florida’s defensive end George Selvie burst onto the national scene after just two games into the 2007 College Football season when he led the country in sacks and tackles for loss (TFL). Now it’s safe to say that if Selvie enters the 2009 NFL Draft as a junior he will certainly be a first round pick.
Now I am not saying senior defensive end Diyral Briggs has the same draft potential as Selvie, Briggs is only about 6’ 4” 230 pounds, so he will probably be converted to outside linebacker, but Briggs is in the same elite company this season after the first two games. He currently leads the nation with 5 sacks and is ranked 2ndin the nation with 5.5 TFLs with an additional 3 quarterback hurries after only two games. He did this against some solid teams, he recorded 2 sacks in Bowling Green’s stunning upset over Pitt in week one andlast weekend against Minnesota he recorded 3 more sacks. So his stats are not inflated by playing against some non division-one powder puffs. Briggs is very strong and explosive and is definitely a sleeper pick and someone to keep an eye on for the 2009 NFL Draft.
Last season (2007), Briggs was a first-team All-MAC selection, played in 12 games and led Bowling Green with five sacks. His seven tackles for loss ranked him second on the team.
In 2006 as a sophomore he played in all 12 games and started the final six, he totaled 69 total tackles, including 10.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. He was named MAC Player of the Year following the game at Ohio and tallied double digit tackles in back-to-back games against Eastern Michigan (10) and at Central Michigan (11).
As a freshman in 2005 he played in all 11 games and had five TFLs, recorded 4.5 sacks for a loss, recovered three fumbles and had 11 QB hurries.
High School: Chose Bowling Green but was heavily recruited by Miami, Maryland, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Pitt, South Carolina and Illinois. He went to the Virginia Tech Nike Camp after high school and this is what his high school Coach (Commins) said. “I took him there and he did extremely well there. It was about 45 degrees outside and raining and he ran a 4.68 on the grass, so he’s probably a solid 4.6 right now. So he’s looking really good.”
It would sure be nice if the Niners have found a hidden gem in Diyral Briggs. I will tell you this, he’s a “first rounder” from a personal perspective.
MN
Defense expects to be among the league’s elite
June 8, 2009 by hookedonninersThis was a headline in the June 8th San Francisco Chronicle in the “49ers Beat” area, penned by Niner “beat” reporter John Crumpacker. Well of course it’s indeed a worthy objective to strive for an elite defense, but “expecting” to “doing” are quite different things altogether. That’s not to say the Niner defense could not be very good in 2009, but in my small mind there remain many questions for this happen. First and foremost the announced front three of Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, and Justin Smith are not exactly a sack attack. The entire Niner DL contingent produced 10 sacks in 2008, 7 of which were recorded by one player, Justin Smith. The new and improved 2009 strategy to rush the passer is apparently going to be the duo of Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson playing a huge role in supporting the pretty benign DL. Haralson showed last year that he can definitely get after the QB. He played a lot of stand up DE/LB in college at Tennessee and clearly has learned a lot about chasing down QB’s, both there, and in the NFL. Lawson was billed as a QB killer coming out of N.C. State as a number one pick, but has yet to fulfil that legacy. A serious injury in 2007 evaporated that season for him and he was slow to return to form in 2008. Can Lawson be the player the Niners need/want at the outside LB position? The jury is certainly still way out on this. The defensive backfield needs to make a whole lot more plays in 2009, especially the safeties, where a ball has not been intercepted since Reagan was in the White House. Well, not exactly, but the safety position needs to make way more contributions to the defense in 2009 to make the whole thing roll. Mark Roman goes to the bench (thank gawd), and Dashon Goldson now has his chance to be a playmaker. Michael Lewis has been adequate since his arrival from Phily and perhaps with Roman not boat anchoring the safety position, can be more productive. I liked Walt Harris’ savvy and experience at one DB, but he is gone to a season ending injury and perhaps was vulnerable to lose his job anyway? Dre’ Bly or Tarell Brown playing opposite Nate Clements will probably be OK. So, lots of questions, and lots of ifs. It will be interesting to see how they all play out and whether the Niners can field a defense that can really help make them a contender.
MN
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