Michael Pinckney has been a pillar of Miami’s stellar defense in the Manny Diaz era. The Jacksonville native earned a starting role as a true freshman and never relinquished it. The 4-year starter amassed 267 tackles to go along with 42 TFL and 15 sacks in a career that saw him attain post-season accolades every year. Pinckney was a 2016 Freshman All-American and earned 2017/2018 All-ACC Honorable Mention and 2019 All-ACC Second Team honors.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 235lbs
Arms: 32 3/8”
Hands: 10”
Strengths
Blitzing
Pinckney made plenty of splash plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is an excellent blitzer that knows how to get home, which was on full display in 2019 with his 12.5 TFL and 5 sacks as a senior. He has the ability to “get skinny” through the hole and finish in the backfield. Whether it's through the A gap or coming around the edge, he makes his presence felt and opposing offenses need to be aware of where the LB lines up before every snap. This ability will help him adapt to different schemes, whether as a weakside LB in a 43 or inside in a 34.
Tackling
You would be hard pressed to find instances of Pinckney missing tackles. He is fundamentally sound in his breakdown and wrapping, a testament to his coachability as Manny Diaz is a big advocate of the rubgy style tackling. Pinckney has no issue meeting a RB in the hole and will not shy away from contact, which allows him to be an emotional catalyst for his teammates. He will bring an aggressive and physical element to any defense.
Weaknesses
Coverage
Should Pinckney want to become an NFL contributor, his coverage ability must improve. He struggles in man to man coverage and tends to get lost in zone coverage. That will be a major concern as teams adjust to the changing NFL by taking linebackers off the field in favor of DBs earlier and earlier. Over the course of 49 career games, Pinckney only has 8 defended passes and notched 3 interceptions, so his actual ball skills are largely untested. Without the instincts to really make an impact in coverage, he could prove to be a liability.
Discipline
While an observer would often see Pinckney making plays in the backfield, he would also see, at times, RBs running free through the defense. He has a tendency to “guess” at times, leaving his gap unaccounted for. When he would put himself out of position, his average athleticism didn’t allow him to recover. For a player who profiles as a backup LB and special teamer, his ability to shift momentum with clutch tackles in the backfield may not make up for his tendency to give up big plays.
Draft Projection: 6th-7th Round
After his Freshman All-American campaign in 2016, expectations soared through the roof. However, the development never materialized, and his production stayed relatively linear over the next 3 years. For a LB that struggles in coverage and doesn’t standout athletically, Pinckney will struggle to make a roster in today’s wide-open NFL. He will need to make his mark on special teams, which is possible with the aggressive way that he approaches the game. Showing that he is coachable will be key.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 235lbs
Arms: 32 3/8”
Hands: 10”
Strengths
Blitzing
Pinckney made plenty of splash plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is an excellent blitzer that knows how to get home, which was on full display in 2019 with his 12.5 TFL and 5 sacks as a senior. He has the ability to “get skinny” through the hole and finish in the backfield. Whether it's through the A gap or coming around the edge, he makes his presence felt and opposing offenses need to be aware of where the LB lines up before every snap. This ability will help him adapt to different schemes, whether as a weakside LB in a 43 or inside in a 34.
Tackling
You would be hard pressed to find instances of Pinckney missing tackles. He is fundamentally sound in his breakdown and wrapping, a testament to his coachability as Manny Diaz is a big advocate of the rubgy style tackling. Pinckney has no issue meeting a RB in the hole and will not shy away from contact, which allows him to be an emotional catalyst for his teammates. He will bring an aggressive and physical element to any defense.
Weaknesses
Coverage
Should Pinckney want to become an NFL contributor, his coverage ability must improve. He struggles in man to man coverage and tends to get lost in zone coverage. That will be a major concern as teams adjust to the changing NFL by taking linebackers off the field in favor of DBs earlier and earlier. Over the course of 49 career games, Pinckney only has 8 defended passes and notched 3 interceptions, so his actual ball skills are largely untested. Without the instincts to really make an impact in coverage, he could prove to be a liability.
Discipline
While an observer would often see Pinckney making plays in the backfield, he would also see, at times, RBs running free through the defense. He has a tendency to “guess” at times, leaving his gap unaccounted for. When he would put himself out of position, his average athleticism didn’t allow him to recover. For a player who profiles as a backup LB and special teamer, his ability to shift momentum with clutch tackles in the backfield may not make up for his tendency to give up big plays.
Draft Projection: 6th-7th Round
After his Freshman All-American campaign in 2016, expectations soared through the roof. However, the development never materialized, and his production stayed relatively linear over the next 3 years. For a LB that struggles in coverage and doesn’t standout athletically, Pinckney will struggle to make a roster in today’s wide-open NFL. He will need to make his mark on special teams, which is possible with the aggressive way that he approaches the game. Showing that he is coachable will be key.
