2019 was already going to be the year of the defensive linemen. Now, Tony Pauline has highlighted another first round candidate — LA Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson:
“Graded as a potential first round pick entering the season, he’s considered one of the best pass rushers from the senior class but has rounded out his game this season and developed into a terrific run defender. For the season Ferguson has totaled 59 tackles while amassing 23.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. Though I have my concerns about his instincts there’s no denying Ferguson’s tape is impressive and will push him into the early part of the draft.”
Before today I hadn’t studied Ferguson, which was a mistake. He leads the country in sacks and is second for TFL’s. He should’ve been on the radar.
I found one game on Youtube plus some highlights videos. It’s not enough to make a firm projection but it is enough to see the potential.
He isn’t Marcus Davenport. There’s a reason why the Saints spent two first round picks to get him. Davenport absolutely dominated at a small school level, looking like a grown man playing a bunch of High School opponents. Ferguson still flashes though. He’s incredibly quick lining up in a wider position and sprinting to the QB. He has a knack for forcing the ball out (six FF’s in the 2016 & 2018 seasons combined). He has quality length and ideal size. He can work in space with the agility and footwork to read a play and make a difficult tackle (handy in the modern NFL with all the sweeps and motions).
There was one snap where he did a tremendous job bending the arc with perfect lean and balance to straighten and get to the quarterback. Quickness off the snap, the athleticism to turn the corner and explosion to finish. It was a big time play. On another snap he beat the right tackle with ease, just shimmying past him to get into the backfield and recover a fumble. There’s evidence of a neat push/pull move. Sometimes he’ll lock-on and control an offensive tackle to seal the edge. There’s plenty of power in his punch.
There are areas he needs to improve too. His reading of certain plays is poor. There are times when he’s too aggressive. You seem him slam into the left tackle with a thunderous punch — but he ends up battling with the LT in a wrestling match instead of using the jolt to disengage and look for the ball carrier. His gap discipline suffers because of his aggression. Sometimes he gets his head down and tries too hard to attack a gap, even when the play doesn’t call for it. Then at times he seems a little bit hesitant — an odd contrast to the times he’s a little too aggressive. On one occasion in the game I watched (vs FAU) he was easily handled 1v1 by a running back.
On first viewing there’s plenty of potential here. Ideal size, great power, some hints at top-end quickness and twitch. There are technical flaws that need fixing. As always, his combine will be interesting. Can he copy another LA Tech D-liner Vernon Butler and have a great Senior Bowl to secure a day one grade?
Ferguson is another name to add to the list of possible first rounders.
And it’s a truly ridiculous list.
All of the following could easily go in round one:
Nick Bosa, Ed Oliver, Clelin Ferrell, Quinnen Williams, Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis, Derrick Brown, Rashan Gary, Dexter Lawrence, Jachai Polite, Zach Allen, Josh Allen, Brian Burns, Dre’Mont Jones, Jerry Tillery.
I think there’s at least a fair chance D’Andre Walker (a personal favourite) and Austin Bryant find a home in the first frame too. There are likely other names who could come into contention. Miami’s Joe Jackson for example — or Gerald Willis. Or Florida’s Jabari Zuniga. I wouldn’t even completely eliminate Alabama’s Christian Miller as a possible top-50 alternative.
It’s remarkable really. In a year with so little in the way of quarterbacks, cornerbacks, offensive tackles and other positions too — there’s this enormous list of quality defensive linemen.
Wherever the Seahawks pick — and it’ll be no earlier than #21 overall if they make the playoffs — they should be able to identify someone they like. And after the last few weeks, it’s clear the defense needs some help in 2019. Whether it’s an athletic EDGE, a monster at defensive tackle or an inside/out rusher — the options are there.
It’s always possible they’ll trade down, of course. After all they only own four picks.
I’m not just going to hammer the D-line point home for the next five months and never consider any other alternatives. So here’s one today. If they trade down aggressively and perhaps miss out on the top defensive linemen, is Oklahoma’s Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown an option?
For years people have talked about Seattle’s lack of (or need for) a big target for Russell Wilson. They flirted with it when they traded for Jimmy Graham. Then they spent two years trying to make him a complete tight end, before reducing his role to basically ‘red zone specialist’. Aside from that, Wilson has always seemed more comfortable with a dynamic, quicker receiver than a jump-ball specialist.
Wilson is naturally quite conservative as a thrower. He picks his moments. He’s not a gunslinger. The offense calls for a point guard and Wilson handles the role very well. He’s explosive and can make the big plays — he merely endeavours to do it at opportune moments.
He’s never really been one to throw multiple targets to a well-covered big receiver and let them go and make the play. It doesn’t mean he never takes those chances. It just feels like he prefers to see clear daylight in coverage or an obvious mismatch. Just look at the success he’s had with Doug Baldwin — adept at getting open and creating separation.
Have the Seahawks noted and identified this? Perhaps. Carroll himself has admitted his love for a dynamic big target. He’s even more or less suggested he’s been hunting for one in the past. Yet look at their draft history over the years:
2013 — traded for Percy Harvin
2014 — drafted Paul Richardson with their first pick
2015 — drafted Tyler Lockett with their second pick
There’s a trend. Harvin, Richardson and Lockett were all smaller, dynamic and sudden receivers. Playmakers.
When Richardson departed in free agency this year, they went out and replaced him with Jaron Brown. At the Clemson pro-day in 2013, Brown ran a 4.40 and had great numbers in the vertical (35.5 inches) and broad (10-4). He’s a bit bigger (6-2) but in the same ballpark. Quick, lean and sudden.
If the Seahawks add another receiver it could easily be another smaller, extremely dynamic target. At the end of the day, the Seahawks want to run the ball but they also want explosive plays in the passing game. Downfield shots — major yardage. Receivers like Marquise Brown provide that.
John Schneider attended the Oklahoma vs West Virginia game on Friday.
If you’re averaging 150 yards a game with the run and you’ve got two dynamic downfield threats at receiver — plus the brilliance of Baldwin and David Moore — that’s a good looking offense.
And having planted that thought in your brain, I’ll finish with this. Their priority should still be to improve the defense. They tried to close the circle with their running game this year. The defense is keeping the circle open. Too many explosive plays conceded, inconsistent run defense, not enough pass rush. It’s been too easy for opponents in some games.
Improving the defense has to be the priority in the off-season. This draft is set up for doing just that. I like Brown but he’d be a luxury with the defensive needs.
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