| Authored by Jeff Risdon - 15th April, 2009 - 11:15 am
 This is a group that lacks top-end studs beyond B.J. Raji and Peria Jerry, and even those two lack the sizzle of the top-shelf prospects from recent years (Dorsey, Ellis, Okoye, Ngata).
There is a distinct division in the talent pool this year, featuring the nose tackle candidates and a group that fits best as a 3-4 end, a position of growing demand. With the move away from Tampa 2 base schemes, the market for undersized, quick interior tackles is waning quickly.
1. B.J. Raji, Boston College. 6'2", 334.
Positives: Consistently dominant 1-gap tackle with rare burst for his size. Good functional strength and bulk, can anchor against most double teams and not surrender his ground. Uses his arms and hands very well to maintain a position of strength and keep blockers at bay, has a devastating initial punch. Almost impossible to move -- gets leverage and has incredible balance. Has good instincts to locate the ball and is not fooled by misdirection or play action. Has a variety of moves, not just raw power. Dominated a very good G/C class at the Senior Bowl.
Negatives: Not very quick after his initial surge. Shorter arms than ideal. Weight has fluctuated, and his conditioning and stamina are highly questionable. Has had some issues with maturity, though he has interviewed well. Not a real sound tackler for such a powerful guy; his arm length doesn't allow him to wrap a carrier around his large midsection. Offers almost nothing outside the tackle box. Averaged less than three tackles per game for his career, more of a space-eater than a playmaker.
NFL Comparison: Pat Williams, a less-dynamic Shaun Rogers
Forecast: Surefire 1st rounder, likely in the top 15 picks. Best fit is probably as a 0-technique 3-4 NT, but he can handle a 1-technique scheme as part of a rotation.
2. Peria Jerry, Ole Miss. 6'2", 290.
Positives: Real quick off the snap, and he explodes with both speed and power. Very adept at hitting the gaps before the OL closes it. Stays balanced and keeps his feet moving well. Decent initial punch, generally establishes leverage. Closes quickly on the ball in the backfield. A hustler who never stops chasing the ball. Can make plays outside the tackle box. Has consistently played through pain and injuries without much impact. Was largely unblockable during Senior Bowl week. Has a whole host of football in his blood and is driven by that.
Negatives: Not as physically strong as most of his peers. Not real muscular, soft around the middle. If he doesn't succeed with his initial surge he's in trouble, can get overwhelmed by aggressive guards. Greatly improved as a senior, has to prove it was no fluke. Overaged, will be 25 when the season starts. Has battled through a host of injuries, including a tweaked groin at the Combine.
Forecast: An agile under-tackle with a similar style to Glenn Dorsey from last year, though Dorsey packs more power. His dominance at the Senior Bowl and strong senior year are tempered by his age, which limits his upside. 1st rounder, likely in the 11-20 overall range.
3. Evander "Ziggy" Hood, Missouri. 6'2.5", 300.
Positives: Athletically gifted gap-shooter. Extremely quick feet and sound footwork. Strong upper body with a good initial punch. Extends his arms and can still explode and move laterally while extended. Gets off the snap and into the gap with a rare quickness. Does a great job of staying in front of the ball and closing quickly in the backfield. Generally stays low and hard to engage. Stunts and twists like a 10-year vet. Very well-liked and respected in the locker room.
Negatives: Relies almost exclusively on his superior quickness. Much more weight-room strong than functionally strong. Does not get off blocks well. Will whiff on tackles by lunging and not wrapping. Appears to get frustrated easily if he doesn't have early success in games. Has shown he plays to the level of competition.
Forecast: Appears to be best-suited as a 3-4 RDE, though he can play the 3-technique in quickness-based 4-3 schemes. Late 1st rounder with more risk in that range than many teams like to assume.
4. Fili Moala, USC. 6'4", 305.
Summary: Wide-bodied plugger with consistency issues. At times he plays with great passion, using a strong initial surge to drive into the backfield and disrupt plays. Other times he seems content to just hold ground in the middle and occupy blockers. When he's on his game he has shown he can dominate for multiple drives. Utilizes a barrage of power moves and has very strong hands and shoulders. Doesn't abandon his gap on cutbacks and misdirections, an underappreciated attribute. Commands double teams. Played with a great deal of talent around him that helped mask his iffy effort and got him less blocking attention. Carries himself with a quiet intensity that some coaches perceive as apathy. Not real quick out of his stance, surrenders leverage to quicker blockers on run plays. Will jump the snap count, though he can quickly fall back onsides.
Forecast: There are questions how well he'll fare away from basically a college all-star team like he played with at USC, but Moala has the strength and polish to contribute right away. Could handle playing 3-4 DE. Late 1st-Mid 2nd round.
5. Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State. 6'5", 288.
Summary: Incredible athletic prowess for a man his size. Very quick burst off the line. Has the strength and length in his arms to stay off blocks, knows how to use his hands properly. Good play recognition, isn't fooled by play action or draws. Great lateral quickness and agility for the position. Closes on the ball with authority and has some pop to his hits. His dad played in the NFL, which speaks to his football upbringing. Can be effectively neutralized when the blocker gets to his pads, does not have the strength of most tackles to unlock. Loses his leg drive and gets upright when engaged. Not a strong run anchor. Some observers question his fight; has not always held up against nasty mauler-types. Could be a tweener; best fit is probably at 3-4 RDE but he's not physical enough for most teams who employ that scheme, and he's too light (and he plays light) for a 3-technique 4-3 scheme.
Forecast: Regardless of whether you believe the YouTube video of him jumping out of the pool, the fact that it's credible speaks to just how physically gifted Gilbert is, and he dominated in postseason bowl workouts. A draft board riser who will come off the board in the 25-45 range, though there is considerable risk.
6. Ron Miller, Texas. 6'1", 310.
Summary: A funny thing happens when NFL people watch Longhorns tape to evaluate Brian Orakpo - this fireplug in the middle of their line jumps off the screen. Undersized and not real fast, but Miller is a master of getting leverage quickly and he understands how to use it to his advantage. Very physically strong and can anchor against anyone. Plays tough and nasty. Adept at shooting the gap and getting blockers off balance. Solid tackler. Uses his hands real well to disengage. Very good in the 3 gap, but once his initial surge is spent he simply holds his ground. Makes very few plays outside the guard box. More of a space eater than a dynamic interior force, though he can and does control his area better than most bigger guys.
Forecast: 3rd-4th round and climbing. Reminds me a lot of Domata Peko of the Bengals, an active, stout plugger who makes his linemates better by effectively doing the dirty work, but can make enough plays that he justifies the attention.
7. Ron Brace, Boston College. 6'3", 331.
Summary: Classic space-eating nose tackle a la Casey Hampton, though not as dynamic or athletic. Real quick off the line for his size and has powerful leg drive. Has a very strong hand punch and shoulder drive. Has shown some ability to shoot the gap and get into the backfield. Strong tackler, really sinks and drives his hips through the carrier. Lacks sustained burst and stamina, often faded badly later in games. Struggled to shed blocks. Brace is not going to chase down anyone who wasn't already going to run into him. Was the last player on the field every day at Senior Bowl practice and he skipped his turn in the rotation a few times for no apparent reason. He was aided by playing next to B.J. Raji, which took double-teams away from him and gave him more room to operate.
Forecast: Late 2nd-3rd rounder who fits well for a team looking to get bigger up front.
8. Mitch King, Iowa. 6'2", 283.
Summary: High effort scrapper who has an innate nose for the ball. Quicker than fast but has good speed for the position. A quick study on his opponents who can adapt his style on the fly. Great feet. Quickly establishes leverage and shows the ability to pop and then flow to the ball or the QB. Great leadership and character, leads by example and isn't afraid to drive his teammates. Lacks physical strength and is a DE/DT tweener. Not comfortable in space despite his good ability to close to the ball all over the field. Can be driven back even when he has leverage. Needs to work on pass rushing moves and countermoves.
Forecast: Won't be drafted higher than about the 4th round because of concerns about his size and lack of position, but King's effort, intensity, and savvy should earn him a spot as a 3-4 DE or a rotational 4-3 3-technique.
9. Alex Magee, Purdue. 6'3", 288.
Summary: Long-armed and very agile. Has played all 4 line spots at Purdue. Very good at flowing to the ball and finishing plays. Exceptional lateral agility for a tackle and good for an end. Uses his hands very well. Good at setting up his moves and using countermoves as a pass rusher. Impressed with his speed and quick feet at the Senior Bowl. Plays tall and tends to explode upright from his stance instead of attacking the blocker. Lets blockers get into his pads too readily in run defense. Lacks base anchor strength. His effort and intensity have been questioned. Can be slow to react to the ball, particularly when he played outside.
Forecast: 3rd-4th round, with his versatility a selling point.
10. Sen'Derrick Marks, Auburn. 6'1", 301.
Summary: Widebodied, active junior who explodes off the snap and has surprising quickness for his build. Very good at shooting the gap and getting into the backfield. Flows laterally better than most in this class. Has a nice initial punch and extends his arms quickly. Good natural knee bend. Career marred by inconsistency and various injuries. Demonstrably lacks physical strength, particularly upper body. That is due in part to being prohibited from lifting weights for an extended period due to hernia surgery, but he has never made up for lost time. Can get wrapped up in fighting the blocker and not searching for the ball. Soft-bodied.
Forecast: Could go in the mid 2nd based on potential, but could just as easily drop to the 4th because of injury and strength concerns.
Others, in some sort of order:
Dorrell Scott, Clemson:
Ideal frame and strength with good quickness and sound technique. Doesn't always play with a strong base and lacks instincts. Too easily blocked and moved, though he flashes the ability to make all those negatives look stupid. Could blossom with a coach that reaches him, has the athletic potential to be a real good 1- or 3-technique DT. 4th-5th round.
Vance Walker, Georgia Tech:
Traditional nose tackle type with very strong arms and giant hands. Faster than his fat-guy physique would indicate, and he's got good football instincts. Gaining momentum as the draft approaches, perhaps as high as the bottom of the 3rd round, but more likely in the 4th-5th.
Corey Irvin, Georgia:
Late-blooming worker with great quickness. Opened some eyes during Senior Bowl week, but he's still an athletically limited project who will make it on effort and attitude. 4th-5th round.
Sammie Lee Hill, Stillman:
Small school giant (6'4", 332) who amazingly lined up at DE, often outweighing the tackle by 75 pounds. Pretty quick on his feet and he closes well on the ball, but he plays very tall and didn't consistently assert his physical will on the inferior competition. Looked a little out of his element at the East-West game, but has potential with his size and athleticism. 5th-6th round.
John Faletoese, Cal Davis:
Real quick, athletic small-school wonder. Brings added value with his proclivity for blocking kicks. Looked good during East-West week but demonstrably lacks physical strength and really struggled to get off blocks. 6th-7th round.
Terrance Taylor, Michigan:
The latest Wolverine nose tackle with weight and conditioning issues. Not nearly as talented as Alan Branch or Gabe Watson, neither of whom has met expectations in Arizona, though Taylor has more snarl than either. 6th round.
Ricky Jean Francois, LSU:
Overhyped gap shooter with amazing quickness and good strength, but runs very hot and cold. His teammates have not helped his case and his immaturity and combative persona will not be missed in Baton Rouge. Has flashed just enough (see 2008 Ohio State game) to merit a 4th round pick. Caveat draftor.
Chris Baker, Hampton:
Talented and versatile, but was expelled from Penn State for a whole host of legal problems. 3rd round talent, but it's probably 50/50 he gets drafted based on character concerns.
Myron Pryor, Kentucky:
Injury-prone prized recruit who never realized his potential. His amazing physical strength and one-time potential might get his name called by the end of the 6th round.
Terrance Knighton, Temple:
Has lots of physical potential, and he flashed enough know-how at a terrible program that some NFL team will take a 7th round flier on developing him.
Terrill Byrd, Cincinnati:
Highly productive DE/DT tweener who lacks strength and bulk inside, speed and ability to play in space outside. Has some potential as a nickel package 3-technique rusher.
--Jeff Risdon is RealGM's senior football writer and draft expert. He may be reached at Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com |
