Honestly, does Lester make the team?

[DaveThePanther2008]

He played and started for the Crimson Tide last season, who could have arguably beat many NFL teams. I think he'll land a spot.

I wish people would stop saying this. The is NOT ONE College team EVER that could beat an NFL team.

Many years ago they used to have a College vs Pros game. The college teams go slaughter and they stopped playing the game. This was college all-stars. As bad as some of these teams are. They still are made up of the best of the best from College. Plus many of these college players are barely past being a boy.

Alabama was a good team. But they would not touch an NFL team.

[La Pantera]

Of the UDFA He is probably has the best chance of making the team. Mostly because Safety position is open to anyone.

DJ Campbell should not be over looked if I remember correctly Rivera was very high on this guy not only because of talent but football smarts.

Melvin White will make a better safety than Lester. And I think he beats Lester out, IF one of them makes the team.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Melvin White will make a better safety than Lester. And I think he beats Lester out, IF one of them makes the team.

As long as they are better than what we have on the roster now. I am good.

[Riverboat Ron]

Wouldn't surprise me if we grab a safety during training camp cuts and he becomes the starter.

 

Lester just doesn't seem to be a natural fit at safety. When I look at tape of Lester he seems to always be a step behind his teammates and doesn't seem to react quickly to the QB. It seems like Lester regressed as the years went by, but I believe it has more to do with teams being able to test his weaknesses. I don't foresee Lester starting or making the roster. 

 

Nakamura can't be trusted to cover anymore after several whiffs in 2012. I see Naka as a special teams player who can step in if absolutely necessary.

 

DJ Campbell did an average job last year when he stepped in. I saw some good things in DJ but he did have some glaring blown coverages. Perhaps his problems can be fixed and could end up being the starter.

 

From what I can discern from both the Raiders board and stats for Mitchell, he seems to be pretty bad in coverage when it comes to WR's, but decent in covering TE's. He seems to bring intensity to a locker room while having a bit of a reputation as a hard hitter and blitz guy. I try to keep my expectations low when analyzing former Al Davis picks like Bruce Campbell and Louis Murphy, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Mitchell wins the starting job.

 

I'm not sure about special teams ace Colin Jones, could surprise us and win the job but he really hasn't shown anything in that reguard.

 

To me the obvious choice is for JR to use those fat stacks he makes from Bojangles to clone a young Ed Reed and Jack Tatum giving us the best safety duo in the league.  

[MHS831]

I don't think there's any way Lester could carry that much extra weight like Davis could.

I am thinking 10-15 pounds, -he is not that thick and weighs 225.

[Ruff]

The thing is, though, that Charles Godfrey is playing FS this year. Our SS is going to be the guy that can come up in the box and hit the hardest. Honestly, to me, that's either going to be Mitchell or Lester.

[tiger7_88]

I am thinking 10-15 pounds, -he is not that thick and weighs 225.

 

He's currently listed at 211.  I assume that was his Combine weight.

 

He would need to gain about 30 pounds.

[FreeArmanti]

He's currently listed at 211. I assume that was his Combine weight.

He would need to gain about 30 pounds.

Yeah and like you said previously, he doesn't have the body frame to be able to add 30 pounds. Atleast not cleanly.

[InnocentBystander]

Guys actually said he won't make the roster?  Wow...........go check out the old highlights.

 

He's not a beast, but he's not a dud either.

[FreeArmanti]

Guys actually said he won't make the roster? Wow...........go check out the old highlights.

He's not a beast, but he's not a dud either.

Don't get me wrong he's made some nice plays during his career at Bama. But you could go and look at a highlight package of almost anyone not named Naka and could take positives from it. Go and watch a couple of games and you will see some of his mistakes as well.

[Miaoww]

He played and started for the Crimson Tide last season, who could have arguably beat many NFL teams. I think he'll land a spot.

Who is making an argument that a college football team could beat an NFL team?

 

Mainly so I know who to block.

 

Dumb.

[MHS831]

Lester, like any other undrafted free agent, is a longshot to make the team.   Playing for Alabama is no more of a strength than it is a weakness.  With a studly front 7 and some pretty strong CBs, I could have played SS. 

 

Lester is a one-dimensional SS.  While that was OK for us when we started Chris Harris, the league has evolved and if you cannot cover TEs, you cannot play SS.  Heck, many SS cover the slot WR.  Lester never demonstrated the ability to do that.

 

Maybe he is a gem, but more than likely, he is a second or third SS and a special teamer.

[thunderraiden]

I am not impressed..

Maybe in a couple of years.

Not saying he will be good, but didn't the wr corp he faced in that game go in the first 40 picks of the draft?

[Yaboychris28]

I think this sums up Lester as a pro and in a lot of his season in 2012-13

WEAKNESSES - Lester is a tweener that lacks the growth potential to switch to LB and the athleticism needed to cover in space as a safety. In man coverage he is continually exposed on the break, as he is stiff in transition and lacks the acceleration needed to recover once he loses a step. He struggles to change directions fluidly, and does not have the speed to stay with faster TE's down-field. He also struggles to close on outside runs effectively, and has to take very conservative angles of pursuit. He must become more physical and aggressive when faced with man press situations.

SUMMARY - Robert Lester does not have a natural NFL position and is unlikely to ever make a final roster. He is a slow-twitch athlete that looks stiff changing directions, and does not possess the acceleration needed to recover once beaten or close from off the ball. His poor speed and change of direction limits his effectiveness against faster TEs, making him a liability in all forms of coverage. Despite being an aggressive, physical run defender, he struggles to make plays on the boundary and looks physically maxed out at 220 lbs., making him very undersized for the LB position. While a 43 team could attempt to convert him to a WILL, his athletic limitations even for this position will likely make him a practice squad player.

Ouch. Hopefully he can prove his doubters wrong