midwestpatsfan
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
- Messages
- 1,364
- Reaction score
- 615
I had him on my pre-season watch list because of his size and watched a few games of his during the college season and came away with one thought-ehhhh:confused2:
Then, about a week or 2 ago, his name started popping up everywhere as "the" guy that was rocketing up boards, so I went back and watched again, and I have to say, I still am not sure I get the hype.
Here is what I came away with:
Positives: Freakish size, with long arms and legs. Ht. WT. Spd that the Patriots seem to covet. Shows some upper body strength and uses his hands reasonably well. Plays past the whistle and consistently is down field to assist on plays that have gone away from his side. Has some raw pass rush ability. Seems to set the edge well and is a good run stopper.
Negatives: I do not see the burst needed to be an elite pass rusher. Always seems to be a split second slow off the snap. Is not as fast as his timed speed. Pass rush moves are very limited. Legs are awfully skinny(crable esc?) Not sure he can drop into coverage to play the 3-4 OLB and not sure he has the lower body strength to play the 5-tech on the line. See him more as a pure 4-3 DE (which the Patriots do play a lot of) but I just do not see the fit for the pats scheme.
What am I missing here? I am hearing he could go top 10 now and go ahead of Coples.
Then, about a week or 2 ago, his name started popping up everywhere as "the" guy that was rocketing up boards, so I went back and watched again, and I have to say, I still am not sure I get the hype.
Here is what I came away with:
Positives: Freakish size, with long arms and legs. Ht. WT. Spd that the Patriots seem to covet. Shows some upper body strength and uses his hands reasonably well. Plays past the whistle and consistently is down field to assist on plays that have gone away from his side. Has some raw pass rush ability. Seems to set the edge well and is a good run stopper.
Negatives: I do not see the burst needed to be an elite pass rusher. Always seems to be a split second slow off the snap. Is not as fast as his timed speed. Pass rush moves are very limited. Legs are awfully skinny(crable esc?) Not sure he can drop into coverage to play the 3-4 OLB and not sure he has the lower body strength to play the 5-tech on the line. See him more as a pure 4-3 DE (which the Patriots do play a lot of) but I just do not see the fit for the pats scheme.
What am I missing here? I am hearing he could go top 10 now and go ahead of Coples.