DEPTH APPEARS PLENTIFUL ON DEFENSIVE LINE
After 5+ hours of defensive linemen running, jumping, leaping & several pad drills, I have to say my opinion of the defensive linemen was validated. When watching these big guys in games, it's often difficult to form an opinion as to their overall athletic ability. But put them in gym shorts & T-shirts, get several coaches to put them thru their drills & it's easy to see everything. Their balance, flexibility, quickness & fundamental technique is fairly obvious. It isn't the 'end all' demonstration determining if they will become productive defensive linemen, watching them in games is a better barometer of that, but now you know what a coaching staff has to work with from day one. Have they prepared for this day by staying in shape since their season ended? Does the guy you're most interested in pass the eyeball test at the weigh-in? What kind of effort does he expend during the combine? Does he do well during the interview process? I've always found quarterbacks & defensive linemen the toughest to analyze. Both are very difficult positions to play for very different reasons. Quarterbacks have to know where everyone is & where they're going. The throws he is required to make are so difficult less than 30 people on the planet can truly do it well. The defensive lineman's job doesn't take a lot of natural talent, but you are required to carry the absolute most weight possible on your frame & still be able to move quickly. People hit you from every direction, you get held, punched, gouged, tripped, double-teamed & thru it all you have to make plays. Get to the QB, tackle the ball carrier, hold your ground against blockers in the run game, diagnose screens & draws & get your hand in the QB's face. Go till you here the whistle, wait 30 seconds & then do it again. It's a brutal position.
This year's draft looks to have excellent depth on the defensive line led by the two players I believe are the best overall prospects at any position. I also believe Ndamakong Suh of Nebraska & Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma are quite a bit better than any other players with one notable exception, safety Eric Berry. No one else comes close to this trio. All three have been superior producers for their programs, all three can literally take over any game they're playing in by dominating their opposition. There are so many quality D-linemen this year, let's get going.
Ndamakong Suh--6' 4" 307
Father from Cameroon & a Jamaican mother, both serious athletes, both educators, who named their son Ndamakong, which means "House of Spears" in dad's native language. Best college D-lineman I've seen since Reggie White came out of Tennessee in '84. Plays every snap like it's his last. Has been unblockable in Big-12 play the past two seasons. Completely dominating in every phase of the game. In the Big-12 Championship, Texas knew they had to account for Suh on every play & he still had 4 tackles, 3 for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble & he batted down a pass. He also drug Colt McCoy to the ground 5 other times just after the ball was released. Makes everyone around him better. I see absolutely no weakness in his game & nothing questionable about his effort, Suh always plays to the whistle. He can play any defensive line position except weak side end in a 4-3. Extremely versatile.
Gerald McCoy--6' 4" 295
Just a tad behind Suh overall, he might be quicker but Suh is more powerful. McCoy goes as hard as he can from snap to whistle & doesn't come out of the game too often like many other big guys do. McCoy had little help on the OU line but still made plays. McCoy is also the more polished pass rusher(14.5 career sacks), he blows up plays in the backfield with his quick penetration shooting gaps, 33 tackles for loss. McCoy goes by offensive linemen before they can get into position to block him. One thing I might say about McCoy is he could use some weight room work after only doing 23 reps at the combine. He has a wonderful personality & almost always has a smile on his face. Like Suh, he's very smart. McCoy can play any defensive line position except nose tackle in a 3-4.
Derrick Morgan--6' 3" 266
Excellent overall skills & effort, gets after the passer, sets the edge against the running game. Morgan has long arms, a quick first step when rushing the passer & can run(4.72). This Georgia Tech grad is extremely intelligent & learns quickly. He can start immediately. A 4-3 defensive end & should be a mid 1st round pick.
Jason Pierre-Paul--6' 5" 270
Only played one season at South Florida after two seasons in junior college. He can play right now on passing downs. He will need time in the weight room to add the muscle needed in defending the run. Long 35" arms he uses to keep pass blockers off of him. Every time I saw him this past season, he had a new pass rush move. Great closing speed when a QB is in his sights. Very quick first step rushing the passer. How athletic is Paul? I watched a 6' 5" 270-pound kid do 13 consecutive back hand springs on the field Monday, it was unreal. Never been injured. He will require a lot of coaching but because of his huge upside, I'm ranking him 4th amongst D-linemen & he's a certain top-10 pick.
Dan Williams--6' 2" 327
This prospect wasn't even on my radar before the season began. But Williams improved every time I saw him play. He has obviously responded well to coaching, the week at the Senior Bowl was pretty amazing. He looked better daily & it became apparent Williams could play with the big boys. A run-stuffing wide body, he stays low, uses his hands well & is very tough to block. Never been injured. Williams can play any interior position including nose tackle & should be gone in the top-20 selections of the first round.
Brian Price--6' 1" 302
Very quick interior penetrating tackle with great strength & a killer instinct. Price had 44.5 tackles for loss while at UCLA plus 20.5 sacks, huge totals for a college tackle playing in a quality conference. Can play any of the interior spots even might be tried on the nose. Super productive player who can play right now. First round selection to be sure.
Jared Odrick--6' 5" 305
Odrick is the best Penn State D-lineman in a long time. He needs work but his motor runs all the time & his frame can carry another twenty pounds. He'll need some more weight room work & he needs to play lower, but I like his effort & his ability to disrupt offenses with penetration, he uses his hands well to shed run blockers. His pass rush could be improved with better technique, I'll never question his motor. Can play either DE in a 3-4 or either DT in a 4-3. Late first round.
Carlos Dunlap--6' 6" 277
All the natural ability in the world plus ideal size but this kid is simply overrated. I doubt I could pull the trigger to draft him before the third round even tho some team will stick their neck out to pick him in the first. Too many red flags for me to get too excited about this Florida Gator. Was suspended for the BCS Championship game after being arrested for DUI the week before the game. You know what else sucks about this arrest? In his combine interviews teams say he doesn't take much responsibility for his stupidity. He hasn't done much since the SEC Championship game, he looked winded & somewhat inflexible. He only did 21 reps in the bench press & gave an inconsistent effort in all of the bag drills. He seems to do just enough to get by & may never realize his tremendous potential.
Everson Griffen--6' 3 1/2" 273
This former USC Trojan plays the run as well as any defensive end in this draft. He can cover a lot of ground as well(ran 4.66). He doesn't have much of a pass rush but he looked extremely fluid for a man of his size in every drill I saw him run. Good hand technique too. Strongside end in a 4-3 would be ideal for Griffen & if he can learn a better pass rush, his upside is big. Second round prospect.
Tyson Alualu--6' 3" 295
A candidate for DE in a 3-4 scheme, this former Cal Bear doesn't have any serious flaws. Gives tremendous effort, plays low with a very strong lower body, uses his hands well & is a good run defender. Not much more than a bull rusher vs. the pass but he's tough to block in the run game & that's the primary responsibility of a 3-4 DE. Played in every game as a collegian. Second round prospect.
Alex Carrington--6' 5" 285
Pretty much the same story as Alualu, but Carrington has developed a little better pass rush. Played against lesser competition at Arkansas State but he certainly held his own at the Senior Bowl practices. His lack of big game experience is the only reason I'm ranking him behind Alualu. Second round prospect.
Lamarr Houston--6' 3" 305
Another player who has been on the rise since the end of the regular season. Had an outstanding game in the BCS Championship, a good Senior Bowl week & a solid combine. Plays the run extremely well with 22 tackles for loss in '09 alone plus 8 quarterback sacks, excellent numbers for an interior lineman. Plays sideline to sideline, always goes to the whistle. Houston also has good anticipation rushing the passer as he batted down 12 passes in his Longhorn career. Late second round to early 3rd.
Cam Thomas--6' 4" 330
This former Tar Heel had nose tackle written all over him, but his performance at the combine raised a few questions. Thomas looked too winded too often, he's had a problem keeping his weight in check, but he's been playing at this weight for 2 seasons. He is probably not in shape, doesn't show great discipline right before your biggest job interview to date. When I saw him play, he looked the part, stayed low, tough to block not only because of his girth, but he has very long arms, making it tough for centers & guards to get into his frame. Did 31 reps in the bench press but I still think he can get stronger with work. Early third round talent.
Terrence Cody--6' 4" 354
Also known as Mount Cody, this former Alabama product lost 20 pounds between the Senior Bowl & the Combine. He needs to lose another 10 pounds & shape up, he looked really sloppy with his shirt off during the weigh-in. Reminded me of another Alabama player from last year, Andre Smith. Both need a whole lot of discipline & a sports bra. When either of them run, their jerseys looks like 2 raccoons wrestling in a burlap bag, way too much going on there. Like Thomas, Cody is a prime candidate to play on the nose of a 3-4 defense. He is the consummate wide body run stuffer. If he can get in better shape so he can play more snaps, Cody could be a first round pick. But since we've seen nothing to indicate that is going to happen, I think he'll continue sliding down draft boards league-wide.
Earl Mitchell--6' 3" 285
On the small side for an interior player but his quickness can't be ignored. He ran two sub-4.8 forty yard dashes & his speed translates to every drill I saw him perform. Very quick first step & even quicker acceleration. Mitchell did himself a world of good at the combine, possibly pushing himself into the third round.
Now that's 15 prospects in just the first three rounds, could be more too, I'm not including the 8-10 guys who could play down as defensive ends in a 4-3 or up as linebackers in a 3-4. They'll be ranked seperately with the linebackers. Defensive line is very deep in this draft.
Two prospects who have fallen dramatically all season & even more leading up to the combine, didn't do themselves any favors in Indianapolis. DE Greg Hardy & DT Arthur Jones have slipped from first round consideration before the season began to at best, late 3rd round consideration. Jones has an excuse in that he suffered a knee injury early on last season. He has recovered but chose to not compete at the combine, bringing into to question his decision making. Hardy was a highly touted defender from Ole Miss & he did little in his senior season, he's put on weight & is obviously out of shape running a pathetic 4.95 on Monday. I would loved to be a fly on the wall during his personal interviews, I'm certain teams interrogated him extensively as to what has happened to his opportunity to play at the next level.
Linebackers will be reviewed tomorrow.
This year's draft looks to have excellent depth on the defensive line led by the two players I believe are the best overall prospects at any position. I also believe Ndamakong Suh of Nebraska & Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma are quite a bit better than any other players with one notable exception, safety Eric Berry. No one else comes close to this trio. All three have been superior producers for their programs, all three can literally take over any game they're playing in by dominating their opposition. There are so many quality D-linemen this year, let's get going.
Ndamakong Suh--6' 4" 307
Father from Cameroon & a Jamaican mother, both serious athletes, both educators, who named their son Ndamakong, which means "House of Spears" in dad's native language. Best college D-lineman I've seen since Reggie White came out of Tennessee in '84. Plays every snap like it's his last. Has been unblockable in Big-12 play the past two seasons. Completely dominating in every phase of the game. In the Big-12 Championship, Texas knew they had to account for Suh on every play & he still had 4 tackles, 3 for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble & he batted down a pass. He also drug Colt McCoy to the ground 5 other times just after the ball was released. Makes everyone around him better. I see absolutely no weakness in his game & nothing questionable about his effort, Suh always plays to the whistle. He can play any defensive line position except weak side end in a 4-3. Extremely versatile.
Gerald McCoy--6' 4" 295
Just a tad behind Suh overall, he might be quicker but Suh is more powerful. McCoy goes as hard as he can from snap to whistle & doesn't come out of the game too often like many other big guys do. McCoy had little help on the OU line but still made plays. McCoy is also the more polished pass rusher(14.5 career sacks), he blows up plays in the backfield with his quick penetration shooting gaps, 33 tackles for loss. McCoy goes by offensive linemen before they can get into position to block him. One thing I might say about McCoy is he could use some weight room work after only doing 23 reps at the combine. He has a wonderful personality & almost always has a smile on his face. Like Suh, he's very smart. McCoy can play any defensive line position except nose tackle in a 3-4.
Derrick Morgan--6' 3" 266
Excellent overall skills & effort, gets after the passer, sets the edge against the running game. Morgan has long arms, a quick first step when rushing the passer & can run(4.72). This Georgia Tech grad is extremely intelligent & learns quickly. He can start immediately. A 4-3 defensive end & should be a mid 1st round pick.
Jason Pierre-Paul--6' 5" 270
Only played one season at South Florida after two seasons in junior college. He can play right now on passing downs. He will need time in the weight room to add the muscle needed in defending the run. Long 35" arms he uses to keep pass blockers off of him. Every time I saw him this past season, he had a new pass rush move. Great closing speed when a QB is in his sights. Very quick first step rushing the passer. How athletic is Paul? I watched a 6' 5" 270-pound kid do 13 consecutive back hand springs on the field Monday, it was unreal. Never been injured. He will require a lot of coaching but because of his huge upside, I'm ranking him 4th amongst D-linemen & he's a certain top-10 pick.
Dan Williams--6' 2" 327
This prospect wasn't even on my radar before the season began. But Williams improved every time I saw him play. He has obviously responded well to coaching, the week at the Senior Bowl was pretty amazing. He looked better daily & it became apparent Williams could play with the big boys. A run-stuffing wide body, he stays low, uses his hands well & is very tough to block. Never been injured. Williams can play any interior position including nose tackle & should be gone in the top-20 selections of the first round.
Brian Price--6' 1" 302
Very quick interior penetrating tackle with great strength & a killer instinct. Price had 44.5 tackles for loss while at UCLA plus 20.5 sacks, huge totals for a college tackle playing in a quality conference. Can play any of the interior spots even might be tried on the nose. Super productive player who can play right now. First round selection to be sure.
Jared Odrick--6' 5" 305
Odrick is the best Penn State D-lineman in a long time. He needs work but his motor runs all the time & his frame can carry another twenty pounds. He'll need some more weight room work & he needs to play lower, but I like his effort & his ability to disrupt offenses with penetration, he uses his hands well to shed run blockers. His pass rush could be improved with better technique, I'll never question his motor. Can play either DE in a 3-4 or either DT in a 4-3. Late first round.
Carlos Dunlap--6' 6" 277
All the natural ability in the world plus ideal size but this kid is simply overrated. I doubt I could pull the trigger to draft him before the third round even tho some team will stick their neck out to pick him in the first. Too many red flags for me to get too excited about this Florida Gator. Was suspended for the BCS Championship game after being arrested for DUI the week before the game. You know what else sucks about this arrest? In his combine interviews teams say he doesn't take much responsibility for his stupidity. He hasn't done much since the SEC Championship game, he looked winded & somewhat inflexible. He only did 21 reps in the bench press & gave an inconsistent effort in all of the bag drills. He seems to do just enough to get by & may never realize his tremendous potential.
Everson Griffen--6' 3 1/2" 273
This former USC Trojan plays the run as well as any defensive end in this draft. He can cover a lot of ground as well(ran 4.66). He doesn't have much of a pass rush but he looked extremely fluid for a man of his size in every drill I saw him run. Good hand technique too. Strongside end in a 4-3 would be ideal for Griffen & if he can learn a better pass rush, his upside is big. Second round prospect.
Tyson Alualu--6' 3" 295
A candidate for DE in a 3-4 scheme, this former Cal Bear doesn't have any serious flaws. Gives tremendous effort, plays low with a very strong lower body, uses his hands well & is a good run defender. Not much more than a bull rusher vs. the pass but he's tough to block in the run game & that's the primary responsibility of a 3-4 DE. Played in every game as a collegian. Second round prospect.
Alex Carrington--6' 5" 285
Pretty much the same story as Alualu, but Carrington has developed a little better pass rush. Played against lesser competition at Arkansas State but he certainly held his own at the Senior Bowl practices. His lack of big game experience is the only reason I'm ranking him behind Alualu. Second round prospect.
Lamarr Houston--6' 3" 305
Another player who has been on the rise since the end of the regular season. Had an outstanding game in the BCS Championship, a good Senior Bowl week & a solid combine. Plays the run extremely well with 22 tackles for loss in '09 alone plus 8 quarterback sacks, excellent numbers for an interior lineman. Plays sideline to sideline, always goes to the whistle. Houston also has good anticipation rushing the passer as he batted down 12 passes in his Longhorn career. Late second round to early 3rd.
Cam Thomas--6' 4" 330
This former Tar Heel had nose tackle written all over him, but his performance at the combine raised a few questions. Thomas looked too winded too often, he's had a problem keeping his weight in check, but he's been playing at this weight for 2 seasons. He is probably not in shape, doesn't show great discipline right before your biggest job interview to date. When I saw him play, he looked the part, stayed low, tough to block not only because of his girth, but he has very long arms, making it tough for centers & guards to get into his frame. Did 31 reps in the bench press but I still think he can get stronger with work. Early third round talent.
Terrence Cody--6' 4" 354
Also known as Mount Cody, this former Alabama product lost 20 pounds between the Senior Bowl & the Combine. He needs to lose another 10 pounds & shape up, he looked really sloppy with his shirt off during the weigh-in. Reminded me of another Alabama player from last year, Andre Smith. Both need a whole lot of discipline & a sports bra. When either of them run, their jerseys looks like 2 raccoons wrestling in a burlap bag, way too much going on there. Like Thomas, Cody is a prime candidate to play on the nose of a 3-4 defense. He is the consummate wide body run stuffer. If he can get in better shape so he can play more snaps, Cody could be a first round pick. But since we've seen nothing to indicate that is going to happen, I think he'll continue sliding down draft boards league-wide.
Earl Mitchell--6' 3" 285
On the small side for an interior player but his quickness can't be ignored. He ran two sub-4.8 forty yard dashes & his speed translates to every drill I saw him perform. Very quick first step & even quicker acceleration. Mitchell did himself a world of good at the combine, possibly pushing himself into the third round.
Now that's 15 prospects in just the first three rounds, could be more too, I'm not including the 8-10 guys who could play down as defensive ends in a 4-3 or up as linebackers in a 3-4. They'll be ranked seperately with the linebackers. Defensive line is very deep in this draft.
Two prospects who have fallen dramatically all season & even more leading up to the combine, didn't do themselves any favors in Indianapolis. DE Greg Hardy & DT Arthur Jones have slipped from first round consideration before the season began to at best, late 3rd round consideration. Jones has an excuse in that he suffered a knee injury early on last season. He has recovered but chose to not compete at the combine, bringing into to question his decision making. Hardy was a highly touted defender from Ole Miss & he did little in his senior season, he's put on weight & is obviously out of shape running a pathetic 4.95 on Monday. I would loved to be a fly on the wall during his personal interviews, I'm certain teams interrogated him extensively as to what has happened to his opportunity to play at the next level.
Linebackers will be reviewed tomorrow.
Comments