Re: Official 2007 NFL Draft 4th Round Discussion
OVERVIEW
The team's 2006 Defensive Player of the Year came into his own as a senior, his first season as a full-time starter. Part of the defensive tackle rotation during his first three years at Miami, Brown proved more than capable of chasing down opposing ball carriers and quarterbacks during his final season, registering 11 sacks to go along with 16 pressures. Three of those pressures resulted in interceptions.
Brown's 11 ½ sacks in 2006 are the second most by a Hurricane defensive tackle in a season. His total of 20 ½ sacks for his collegiate career also rank second among Miami defensive tackles on the school's all-time record charts.
At Norland High School, Brown was a standout two-way lineman, competing as a defensive end and offensive tackle. He was forced to sit out his senior season due to age requirements, but earned All-Dade County honors and was his team's Defensive MVP as a junior, adding Prep Star All-American honors.
Brown was rated the 77th-best prospect overall in Florida by Super Prep and rated the best defensive lineman in the state by Florida Prep Football. He also placed seventh on the Miami-Dade Top 20 list compiled by the Miami Herald. He earned "All-Camper" Awards at the Louisiana State and Michigan State camps and added Red Zone Player of the Year honors in 2000.
As a junior, Brown recorded 121 tackles (74 solos) with 17 sacks, one interception, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was also a standout in basketball, as he averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game during his career.
Brown enrolled at the University of Miami in 2002, choosing the school over offers from Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan State and Louisiana State. He played as a 255-pound defensive tackle on the scout team that year, joining the tackle rotation in 2003. Playing behind Orien Harris in 11 games, Brown started once that year against Tennessee at right tackle. He finished the season with 23 tackles (eight solos), four sacks and nine quarterback pressures.
Part of the team's rotating unit that consisted of Harris, Santonio Thomas and Baraka Atkins in 2004, Brown earned a starting assignment at right tackle against North Carolina. He produced 28 tackles (eight solos) with a sack, six stops for losses and six pressures. He had a fumble recovery that he returned 20 yards and also caused a fumble in 12 games.
Brown was the key reserve at both tackle positions in 2005, starting for an injured Atkins at left tackle against Clemson. In 12 contests, he came up with 46 tackles (28 solos), 4 ½ sacks and 8 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage. He recovered two fumbles, returning one 20 yards for a touchdown. He also caused a fumble and broke up six passes.
Brown earned team Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and was a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference choice in 2006. He started nine of 13 games at left tackle, recording a career-high 60 tackles (38 solos). He ranked 14th in the nation and second in the ACC with a career-high 11 sacks, adding 12 ½ stops for losses and 16 pressures. He also batted away a pass and caused a fumble.
In 48 games at Miami, Brown started just 12 games, but ranks 11th overall and second among Hurricanes interior linemen all-time with 20 ½ sacks for minus-109 yards. He made 157 tackles (82 solos) with 33 ½ stops for losses of 132 yards and 37 quarterback pressures. He recovered three fumbles for 40 yards in returns, including a touchdown and caused three others. He also came up with eight pass deflections.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has good muscle development, a thick, but hard frame, adding more than 45 pounds of bulk since arriving on campus as a freshman … Has long arms and big hands to punch and extend in attempts to defeat reach blocks … Natural space eater who will generally be occupied by multiple blockers, but is still capable of making plays in the short area … More of a pocket pusher, as he lacks pass rush moves but has the initial quickness and burst, along with hand punch, to ride the offensive lineman back into the pocket and seal the deal … Hard worker who puts in extra hours in the training room, evident by his improved upper body strength that he took advantage of to toss blockers aside the second half of 2006 (really stepped up his intensity level and showed better hand placement the last seven games of his career) … Smart player who easily takes the plays from the chalkboard to the playing field … Plays with good intensity and passion (coaches call him a pleasure to work with) … Lacks suddenness coming off the snap, but has become more combative with his hands in attempts to split double teams … Lacks an ideal feel for the flow of the ball, but showed better blocking scheme recognition the second half of 2006 than in the past … Still developing a feel for grabbing and dragging blockers to the ground, but has enough short-area speed and change of direction agility to chase down the ball along the line … Better at defeating blocks now, thanks to more active hands, but needs to use those hands better to avoid cut blocks … Better making plays from behind or at the line of scrimmage, but has the functional lateral mobility to get through trash with the intent and desire to get to the ball … Once he wraps his long arms around the ball carrier, that runner will struggle in attempts to escape … Makes tackles on sheer second effort, as he will not throttle down when not involved in the action … Best when making tackles in the gaps than on the edge, making him a better tackle prospect than an end … Lacks ideal rush moves, but knows how to use his size, long arms and forward body lean to push the pocket … Showed late in 2006 a much better hand slap and arm rip in his thrust to the quarterback … Has enough short-area burst to close on the quarterback and even when he fails to make the play, his pocket pressure will force the quarterback to move out of his protection area.
Negatives: Is classroom smart, but will struggle to track the ball at times … Slow off the snap and needs room to build to top speed … Needs to keep his pads down, as he's a bit high-cut and gets too tall in his stance, which allows blockers to get into his exposed chest, lock on and wall him off … Gets pushed around too much when he fails to sink his weight and anchor … Susceptible to cut blocks, as he lacks the ball location skills to sense when blockers are about to attack his feet … Best when tackling along the line, as he labors some when having to go long distances in order to make the play … Has strong hands to punch, but needs better placement and must keep them active in attempts to disengage … Good bull rusher, but outside of an effective rip move, he lacks the technique or array of moves you expect in a pass rusher.
Compares To: Vonnie Holliday, Miami … Holliday is much quicker than Brown, but both are quite effective at pushing the pocket and applying pressure from the inside. Brown may slide a bit on draft day, mostly because he chose to not compete in the agility tests at the Combine and then had a poor showing on Miami's Pro Day. His 5.39 and 5.41 40-yard dash clockings were a big disappointment, as everyone knows he was far from a finished product anyway. But the pros all thought he was quicker than the stopwatch indicated. He needs to get a better feel for diagnosing the play and must improve his speed and hand technique, along with developing better pass rush moves. But he is good at occupying multiple blockers and has room on his frame to add more bulk. He plays too tall in his stance to be a nose guard, but shows enough lateral movement to make plays down the line.
INJURY REPORT
No injuries reported.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 5.39 in the 40-yard dash … 1.81 10-yard dash … 4.71 20-yard shuttle … 7.49 three-cone drill … 365-pound bench press … 545-pound squat … 305-pound power clean … 27-inch vertical jump … 8'5" broad jump.
Combine: 26 ½-inch vertical jump … 8-foot broad jump … Chose not to participate in the remainder of the workout.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Norland (Miami, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach Nigel Dunn … Standout two-way lineman, competing as a defensive end and offensive tackle … Was forced to sit out his senior season due to age requirements, but earned All-Dade County honors and was his team's Defensive MVP as a junior, adding Prep Star All-American honors … Rated the 77th-best prospect overall in Florida by Super Prep and rated the best defensive lineman in the state by Florida Prep Football … Placed seventh on the Miami-Dade Top 20 list compiled by the Miami Herald … Earned "All-Camper" Awards at the Louisiana State and Michigan State camps and added Red Zone Player of the Year honors in 2000 … As a junior, Brown made 121 tackles (74 solos) with 17 sacks, one interception, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Also a standout in basketball, as he averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game during his career.
PERSONAL
Criminology major … Son of Lera and Granville Brown … Born Kareem Alexander Brown on Jan. 30, 1983 … Resides in Miami, Florida.
