Originally Posted by :
Bolton played in all 13 games as a true freshman (22 tackles, one sack) after earning Dallas Morning News first-team all-state honors at Lone Star High School (130 tackles, 16 for loss, five interceptions). He went from promising youngster to SEC star in 2019, earning first-team all-conference honors after leading the league with 8.9 tackles per game (107 total, 7.5 for loss), intercepting two passes and breaking up eight others in 12 starts. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC and a Butkus Award finalist in 2020, leading his defense with 95 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks), while breaking up five passes in 10 starts. Bolton's father, Carlos, played football at Louisiana Tech. -- by Chad Reuter
Overview
When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter. Strengths
Very tough with a physical edge.
Plays with demeanor teams look for in the middle.
Field-savvy with instincts to diagnose misdirection.
Identifies and communicates.
Heavy hands with good pop to take on blocks.
Pursues ball-carrier with patience and leverage.
Fluid alterations to his pursuit angles.
Excellent feel for attack timing downhill.
Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole.
Strikes like he's trying to send a message.
Great awareness and ballhawking as spot dropper.
Has enough man-cover talent to play on all three downs.
Thrived on kick- and punt-cover teams early in his career.
Weaknesses
Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
Top-end speed appears below average.
Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.
Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic:
Yeah, I am a Jayhawk, and I love this pick. He is just a football player. He doesn't care what his 40 time is, or his shuttle time, etc. He just makes tackles, and then makes more tackles, and then blows someone up, and goes back to making tackles.
I think he is going to be a big favorite, if not by mid-season, surely by the end of the season. In a couple of years when he is leading the team in tackles and is running the defense, people here will be claiming that they always knew he would turn out so well.
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I can't wait to see Bolton destroying running backs. We have sucked against the run, he should help a lot. [Reply]
Originally Posted by R Clark:
Damn veach to hell what was he thinking drafting this guy? He better pull his head out of his ass and get this draft business figured out. Bolton is going to make someone feel pretty foolish by yrs end
Probably because our LBer core fucking sucks and Bolton was the best in the SEC. Check out his highlights sometime. [Reply]
Watched every Mizzou game & this dude was the most dominant player on the field. I fully expected him to go in the top half of the first round. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KChiefs1:
Watched every Mizzou game & this dude was the most dominant player on the field. I fully expected him to go in the top half of the first round.
Originally Posted by Halfcan:
I can't wait to see Bolton destroying running backs. We have sucked against the run, he should help a lot.
DJ wasn't the best linebacker, but he really had a knack for hitting a gap and taking out a ball carriers legs. He could never really cover anyone out of the backfield or a TE, but he was just a tackling machine.
I feel like Bolton is going to fill the vacancy that's been there since DJ left. I have read some articles talking about how smart he is, and that he can pick up a defensive scheme quickly, and I hope that's the case, and he can help Gay understand what's going on too.
I wasn't born until 1971, but I have watched a lot of old games, and we have never really had a dominant linebacking duo since Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell. While Bolton and Gay will obviously never be on that level, I am hoping that they can develop together under Spags and be considered very good players together.
Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic:
DJ wasn't the best linebacker, but he really had a knack for hitting a gap and taking out a ball carriers legs. He could never really cover anyone out of the backfield or a TE, but he was just a tackling machine.
I feel like Bolton is going to fill the vacancy that's been there since DJ left. I have read some articles talking about how smart he is, and that he can pick up a defensive scheme quickly, and I hope that's the case, and he can help Gay understand what's going on too.
I wasn't born until 1971, but I have watched a lot of old games, and we have never really had a dominant linebacking duo since Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell. While Bolton and Gay will obviously never be on that level, I am hoping that they can develop together under Spags and be considered very good players together.
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Looks like we will have 2 Landlords collecting rent- one in the backfield and then Bolton on the line. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
The Devin Bush comparison is an interesting and apt one... if you say he's Devin Bush minus the elite-elite athleticism (so about 80-85 percent of Devin Bush).
He's a smart LB who will QB the defense, defend the run well, handle short area pass defense adequately against most targets, and in general be an above-average contributor.
In all, that's a pretty good player and a solid get in the second round.
Just heard a very interesting comparison: Lavonte David
I can definitely see that comparison too. Similar size, athleticism and play style. Ironically David was drafted in the 2nd rd at pick 58 like Bolton.
If this kid is anything close to David it’s a great pick [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Just heard a very interesting comparison: Lavonte David
I can definitely see that comparison too. Similar size, athleticism and play style. Ironically David was drafted in the 2nd rd at pick 58 like Bolton.
If this kid is anything close to David it’s a great pick
Statistically speaking, Lavonte David has easily been the best 4-3 LB over the last 10 years, which is impressive considering he's played alongside guys like Bobby Wagner and Luke Keuchly.
A player like him could transform our defense. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
God I can imagine Veach, Andy, Spags and the rest of the staff watching this shit 3 months ago and saying..holy shit we have to get a LB.
Sorenson and Neimann as our backers was a disaster, no matter the down
I suspect the Broncos will incorporate more gap blocking into the 2021 offense. pic.twitter.com/idJrYXT2yX
EVERY LB is going to struggle with pulling OL in their face. Keep your eyes off the LB's and watch fucking KPass get completely stoned 1-on-1 by a tight end.
