SI: Tape backs up Easley hype

mayoclinic said:

Agreed. I think Easley would have been top-5 worthy, but who knows if he would have actually gone top 5. I think Chicago at 14 and Dallas at 16 would have been his floor, so the Pats for a top 15 caliber pick at 29. It's certainly not inconceivable that Oakland at 5 or Atlanta at 6 would have fallen in love with him, but who knows.

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Right, his realistic healthy floor makes it a risk worth taking for me. Anything above that - and I've heard multiple non Patriot fan opinions that he would have gone in the top ten - is gravy. We all know we don't get a lot of chances to get a Top 15 stud type pick picking where we always pick so it's great to have that shot.

I do not really watch college ball and with life getting in the way don't watch as much of the combine as I would like so names don't mean much to me when the pats draft a player. Reading about Easley here I assumed this was a redshirt him future pick that I was not overly excited about. Did not hate it and understand the thinking and agree with the practice. Just watched the highlights from the Tenn. game which if I recall correctly was widely regarded as the best o-line in collage football last year and all I can say is Holy $%*^, wow, damn what a player! He was a one man wreaking crew that from play one jumped off the tape. Every play he was 5 yards in the backfield and the most impressive part was he wasn't in the same position going against the same player every snap. He was inside outside out wide and NO ONE could block him. On top of that I heard the comparisons to warren sapp so expected a smaller quick guy beating people with moves. At least 3 times I saw him jack the center off his feet and throw him into the play. The best part? 4th quarter he is dancing and wasting energy in the olines face like yup I am still coming just as strong you can't keep up with me. If he can return to that.....wow am I excited

Rob0729 said:

I am holding out hope for DROY honors. Why are you shooting so low in June? You make that type of statement if Easley starts the summer on the PUP and is not contributing off the bat.

He certainly has the talent to compete for DROY honors. The question will be is he ready healthy wise to compete for DROY honors.

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DROY is a stats-driven award. Ndomakung Suh is the only DT to win the award since 1994, and only a handful of DTs had won it previously. Suh had 10 sacks in 2010, which is a significant total for any DT, never mind a rookie.

Are we talking about Easley netting 10 sacks in 2014? It's unlikely in a defense in which he is likely to rotate with WIlfork, Kelly, Silega, Armstead, Jones and Ninkovich. More likely, the DROY goes to Khalil Mack, CJ Mosley, or some LB who starts from day 1 and amasses 100 tackles.

pazrul72 said:

The best part? 4th quarter he is dancing and wasting energy in the olines face like yup I am still coming just as strong you can't keep up with me.

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I saw an interview with him talking about being in better shape than his opponents and how he considers it an "honor" when his opponents put their hands on their knees for him (as if they're bowing down to him).

patchick said:

He's an unusual type of player, and it's rarer still to have two of roughly that type (Easley and Donald) in a single draft. I'm trying to think of a veteran comparison...Geno Atkins, maybe? Who else?

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Marqui said:

Justin Smith?

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patchick said:

Hmm...Smith strikes me as closer to the prototypical DE, a lot longer and leaner. Easley and Donald have the squatter DT frame but in miniature (<6'2", <290 lbs), and achieve their position flexibility via quickness and athleticism, especially their initial burst.

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AzorianPats said:

I've heard Geno Atkins and John Randle.

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I think that Donald and Easley aren't quite the same - "roughly the same" is about right. Both are undersized explosive DTs, but Easley's combination of disruptiveness with his versatility and experience rushing from so many gaps makes him absolutely unique in my experience. Donald has better ball and situational awareness right now, but Easley may be even more disruptive than Donald. John Randle, Warren Sapp, La'Roi Glover and Geno Atkins are the obvious prototypes and gold standard for quick, penetrating UTs. Two of those guys are in the HOF, and comparing any rookie to a HOF-er is a stretch. Seattle DC Dan Quinn (who coached Easley for 2 years at Florida) used Atkins as a comparison, but I'd say that Easley reminds me of a fusion of Atkins and Dwight Freeney in terms of his explosiveness and ability to blow up plays, inside or off the edge.

stinkypete said:

DROY is a stats-driven award. Ndomakung Suh is the only DT to win the award since 1994, and only a handful of DTs had won it previously. Suh had 10 sacks in 2010, which is a significant total for any DT, never mind a rookie.

Are we talking about Easley netting 10 sacks in 2014? It's unlikely in a defense in which he is likely to rotate with WIlfork, Kelly, Silega, Armstead, Jones and Ninkovich. More likely, the DROY goes to Khalil Mack, CJ Mosley, or some LB who starts from day 1 and amasses 100 tackles.

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Sheldon Richardson won last year. Although a DE, he was a 3-4 DE which has a lot of similarities to a 4-3 DT. And Richardson only had 3.5 sacks last year. From a stats standpoint, Richardson did not stand out. He was a disruptive force though.

Watch this interview with him in 2012 after the LSU game and you will fall in love.

"The whole game of football is about breaking a man's will right in front of you."

mayoclinic said:

I don't think it's nuts at all. We discussed this in detail on the Draft Board prior to the draft:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../my-blueprint-for-the-defense.1097184/page-46

See posts #918, 921, 923, 926 and the related discussion. The Pats used some 5-2 fronts last year according to Reiss' snap analysis (see post #926), and the Seahawks used it a fair amount against power teams like SF.

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Did I tell you of the old 5-2? The NT slowly moved off the line so the DTs could protect him and he could react to run plays and evolved to be the MLB. (Keep in mind this was the early '50s and a 250 pound guy was huge. All the D line and O line were about the size of LBs. Picture Wilfork being Mayo sized and not being obscenely undersized.)

In passing situations, sure. With it becoming a passing league... But you'd be begging for a fullback type who can get 3 yards and if he breaks through 1 out four runs...(Any team with a decent TE could line him up as a RB and have the right personnel - not the ideal personnel, but 'twill serve.)

A 5-1-5 with 3 safeties? Maybe in situations that seem to be occurring more often, but talk about begging to be run on.

Easly as a pass rushing LDT with Kelly (or whomever) a pass rushing RDT and a run stuffing two gapping NT Wilfork? Am I nuts?

I'm tempted to give myself a disagree.

mayoclinic said:

I think that Donald and Easley aren't quite the same - "roughly the same" is about right. Both are undersized explosive DTs, but Easley's combination of disruptiveness with his versatility and experience rushing from so many gaps makes him absolutely unique in my experience. Donald has better ball and situational awareness right now, but Easley may be even more disruptive than Donald. John Randle, Warren Sapp, La'Roi Glover and Geno Atkins are the obvious prototypes and gold standard for quick, penetrating UTs. Two of those guys are in the HOF, and comparing any rookie to a HOF-er is a stretch. Seattle DC Dan Quinn (who coached Easley for 2 years at Florida) used Atkins as a comparison, but I'd say that Easley reminds me of a fusion of Atkins and Dwight Freeney in terms of his explosiveness and ability to blow up plays, inside or off the edge.

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This is what i love about this pick, I think Easely gives them both a DT and a DE and he can get after the QB out of either position. They have now added Chandler Jones, Collins, and Easely to their pass rush over the past 3 drafts, and that's goes a long long way to dealing with the pass rushing issues we have been begging them to address. While they aren't done rebuilding this defense they are getting real close, especially if they get Revis and McCourty re-signed, in which case they will really just be looking at possibly adding a bigger safety next year and the continued rebuild of their interior DL.

Ivan said:

This is what i love about this pick, I think Easely gives them both a DT and a DE and he can get after the QB out of either position. They have now added Chandler Jones, Collins, and Easely to their pass rush over the past 3 drafts, and that's goes a long long way to dealing with the pass rushing issues we have been begging them to address. While they aren't done rebuilding this defense they are getting real close, especially if they get Revis and McCourty re-signed, in which case they will really just be looking at possibly adding a bigger safety next year and the continued rebuild of their interior DL.

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Depending on how things shake out this season, I'd like to see Hightower eventually move up on the line, and draft a mobile LB/S hybrid to play in a 4-2-1-4 base. Someone like Shaq Thompson, Eric Striker, or Cody Prewitt.

I am excited for the prospect of having these young explosive players, one player I am high on is Buchanan; look at his metrics compared to Jason Pierre-Paul –

Jason Pierre-Paul
Height: 6046
Weight: 270
40 Yrd Dash: 4.71
20 Yrd Dash: 2.69
10 Yrd Dash: 1.65
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 19
Vertical Jump: 30 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'07"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.67
3-Cone Drill: 7.18

Michael Buchanan
Height: 6053
Weight: 255
40 Yrd Dash: 4.71
20 Yrd Dash: 2.67
10 Yrd Dash: 1.65
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 22
Vertical Jump: 33
Broad Jump: 09'05"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.44
3-Cone Drill: 6.91

Imagine if he and Armstead play to their talent levels in 2014, we could have this sub package in passing situations.

LDE – Buchanan
LDT – Armstead
RDT – Easley
RDE – Jones
MLB – Mayo
WLB – Collins
LCB – Revis
RCB – Browner
Slot CB – Dennard
SAF – Ryan
SAF – McCourty

Ivan said:

This is what i love about this pick, I think Easely gives them both a DT and a DE and he can get after the QB out of either position. They have now added Chandler Jones, Collins, and Easely to their pass rush over the past 3 drafts, and that's goes a long long way to dealing with the pass rushing issues we have been begging them to address. While they aren't done rebuilding this defense they are getting real close, especially if they get Revis and McCourty re-signed, in which case they will really just be looking at possibly adding a bigger safety next year and the continued rebuild of their interior DL.

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I agree, I think Easley is a disruptive Red Bryant who can lineup at LDE in a 4-3 under and then move inside to DT in a sub package, I also think Armstead offers that same versatility.

Rob0729 said:

Sheldon Richardson won last year. Although a DE, he was a 3-4 DE which has a lot of similarities to a 4-3 DT. And Richardson only had 3.5 sacks last year. From a stats standpoint, Richardson did not stand out. He was a disruptive force though.

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It was the 32 QB hurries and 12 tackles for a loss, combined with a ridiculous 78 total tackles from an interior DL position.

Brady6 said:

It was the 32 QB hurries and 12 tackles for a loss, combined with a ridiculous 78 total tackles from an interior DL position.

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I was responding to a post that said Easley would need 10 plus sacks to get the award. I probably should have clarified that better. Although I guess I didn't realize his other stats were so high.

But then again, if the Pats adopt an attack style defense, ten sacks by Easley isn't out of the question if he is ready to go for the start of training camp. I wouldn't bet on it, but he will be rushing from all over the line if they use him as expected. Meaning it is certainly a possibility.

I like him a lot but I see some flaws. One that stands out is that he doesn't use his hands as well as he should, especially on stunts and in space. This takes a lot of work and is part of the growing process with exceptional OL/DLs because they are so talented comparatively that small skills lag. That won't cut it in the NFL.

Rob0729 said:

I was responding to a post that said Easley would need 10 plus sacks to get the award. I probably should have clarified that better. Although I guess I didn't realize his other stats were so high.

But then again, if the Pats adopt an attack style defense, ten sacks by Easley isn't out of the question if he is ready to go for the start of training camp. I wouldn't bet on it, but he will be rushing from all over the line if they use him as expected. Meaning it is certainly a possibility.

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I was not actually disagreeing with anything you said, sorry if it came across that way, I was just piggybacking your post and expanding on what you said about Richardson.

I love all the excitement for Easley, but the guy slid all the way to the Patriots for a very good reason. I am cautiously optimistic about the pick, but this talk about being a possible number 1.....That is nonsense. If he was seen as that good, even despite the injuries, he would have been drafted much earlier.

Brady6 said:

I was not actually disagreeing with anything you said, sorry if it came across that way, I was just piggybacking your post and expanding on what you said about Richardson.

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B6, where do you go to get those "hurries" stats? just wondering.

One of the better things about Easley is he can play DE and DT on passing downs. He'll essentially have the freedom to roam the defensive line until they can find a mismatch or a weakness along the OL that he can exploit.

patfanken said:

B6, where do you go to get those "hurries" stats? just wondering.

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