From now until the 2019 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#16 Sione Takitaki/LB BYU/6’2 230 lbs
The Good:
- Smart player in space
- Diagnoses quickly in coverage, knows where to be
- High motor, plays with a lot of emotion and passion
- A one-man wrecking crew when he processes quickly
- Versatile, can play middle or outside linebacker
- Comfortable moving in space
- Can drop into coverage
- Short area quickness
- Leadership
The Bad:
- Lacks elite strength, can get overpowered by linemen on second level
- Instincts can be inconsistent
- Can be vulnerable to over pursuing
- Struggles to wrap up when he over pursues
- Needs to do better at playing under control
- Usually the second player to the football
- Lacks elite athletic traits such as change of direction skills
Bio:
- 2018: 119 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks
- Career: 241 total tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks
- Late invite to 2019 Senior Bowl
- 2019 East West Shrine Game Invite
- 2019 NFLPA Game Invite
- 2018 Team Captain
- Record double digit tackle totals six times during 2018 season
- 2017 BYU Defensive Player of the Year
Tape Breakdown:
BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki hit the trifecta this winter, playing in all three major pre-draft Bowl games. Takitaki’s senior campaign in which he recorded 119 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and four sacks did not go un noticed as he was invited to the NFLPA game. He was not done there as he was then invited to the East West Shrine game where he had a very productive week. Takitaki benefited off his performances in the NFLPA and Shrine game, earning a late invite to the Senior Bowl in the process. A rather unknown name before the pre-draft process, Takitaki has now picked up some steam as of late.
It is easy to see from just watching tape that Takitaki loves football. He is an emotional player that plays with a lot of passion and intensity. When it comes to technical skill, the BYU linebacker is very comfortable in space and has the range and hustle to be a sideline to sideline defender. Takitaki has a high motor and always gives his all on a play.
Another valuable aspect of Takitaki’s game is his positional versatility. The BYU defender can play inside linebacker, outside linebacker and even has experience playing along the defensive line. Here he is lined up as an outside linebacker where he wraps up the ball carrier for a loss in the backfield. Takitaki has exceptional short area quickness as getting to the ball carrier is no problem for him. With his versatility, the BYU linebacker is more than capable of playing as a 3-4 inside linebacker or 4-3 weakside linebacker.
Now one reason why Takitaki really failed to get much attention until he shined during week leading up to the Shrine game is that he does have many flaws in his game. The BYU linebacker really needs to do a better job at playing under control, as too often he comes flying in hot and completely whiffs on his target. He has missed tackles sprinkled all over his tape, making him a liability at the next level.
In the box score, Takitaki is credited with a tackle on the play above. To everyone watching though, he is not given any significant credit for a few reasons. First, it is evident that he is not a quick processor as he pauses for a brief second, perhaps because he is a slow processor or he still does not have the natural feel to trust his own instincts. While he is still given credit for recording the tackle, he does not reach the ball carrier until he is way past the line of scrimmage.
Now Takitaki is not a complete mess at processing plays, a fairer assessment would be to say that he is inconsistent. When he does trust what he is seeing and pursues aggressively, he is a one-man wrecking crew. Watch the play above and notice how Takitaki strafes the line of scrimmage before beating the running back to the hole and wrapping him up for no gain. If Takitaki can find a way to keep himself under control (to lessen the amount of missed tackles) and play more instinctively (though this is a natural trait more often than not), he could be an effective linebacker at the next level.
Takitaki is not setting the world on fire but after a hat trick of impressive performances during the pre-draft process, his name is picking up some steam. His film work reveals a lot of holes in his game and he will need to finish his pre-draft process with almost perfect scores. The next test on his report card will be the NFL Combine, if Takitaki can show better athleticism than expected, he could continue to slowly build his draft stock while a poor athletic showing would be disastrous to his draft potential. The BYU linebacker will likely have to work his way up through special teams before he can ever think of seeing the field in any significant situations.
Projection: Late Day Three
Games Watched: vs Wisconsin, vs Washington, vs California, vs Utah State
