We’ve talked about the off-field concerns with Frank Clark and they aren’t going away. You can’t ignore them. He may well have impressed teams during interviews at the combine — but we weren’t privy to those talks. Whoever drafts Clark, there’s going to be a portion of the fan base where this just doesn’t sit comfortably. And that’s totally understandable.
By discussing his tape against Northwestern here, we’re not endorsing his character. We’re not saying the Seahawks should draft him. We’re just talking about the football side of this debate. I want to make that clear.
With that in mind I’m going to say Clark provides the best possible opportunity to add an impact defensive player after the second round.
This is just a masterclass performance against Northwestern. He’s not a speed rusher at 6-3 and 271lbs and he only ran a 4.79 at the combine. Yet he finds ways to make an impact despite a lack of natural quick’s. He plays with a relentless motor, he shifts off blocks and knows when to rush the backfield or to hold position and try to tip a pass. Unlike Danielle Hunter — who seems like a tipped-pass specialist only — Clark gets a handful of TFL’s and splash plays in this game.
His ability to change direction is very impressive. He’s a thick, well set player but moves like a much smaller and nimbler athlete. You see that with the rest of his combine workout — a 38.5 inch vertical, a 7.08 three cone and an explosive 4.05 in the short shuttle. He’s never going to round the edge with a pure speed rush and beat NFL tackles. He can drive into the backfield with a nasty bull rush, dodge cut blocks, sell the outside rush before dipping inside and there’s evidence of a productive spin move.
He looks like a second round talent with an UDFA character flag. If you trust him — or if you can make yourself believe you can trust him — you’re going to get a guy who can play quickly, will excel against the run and make plays even as a rookie.
Look at the way he combats the read option or QB fake — he tracks down the ball carrier with ferocity and has the field IQ to diagnose plays quickly.
The Seahawks currently only have Cassius Marsh legitimately backing up Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. If they want an impact defensive player in this class — Clark could be a solution. With the obvious asterisk of the character and whether you can justify to yourself taking a player with his background.
Here’s a few key notes from the tape above:
0:23 — Shows to the outside before swimming inside, shedding the blocker and collapsing the pocket from the edge. Forces the QB to scramble for a short gain.
1:06 — pursues down the line, taking out one blocker and forcing the running back inside into traffic on third down (he doesn’t convert).
2:11 — Read option play. Notices the QB has it very quickly, leaps up and deflects the pass into the air for a near interception.
2:29 — Bull rushes the right tackle into his own quarterback for a big sack on third down. Pure power and he’s taking over the game.
2:50 — Explodes into the backfield and brushes off a terrible attempt at a block by the full back. The QB panics because he’s in his own end zone and throws straight at Clark who blocks his second pass of the game.
3:08 — Another dominating bull rush. He somehow manages to get his arm up to tip his third pass and this time it’s intercepted by a defensive tackle. Sensational play from Clark.
3:48 — Read option. Clark diagnoses that it’s a trick-play end-around and sees it all the way. He destroys the ball carrier, rag-dolling him to the ground for a big loss.
6:30 — Spin move to get away from the tackle, forces the QB to get the pass away too quickly. Incomplete.
The right tackle in this game was clearly over-matched but don’t take anything away from Clark’s performance. This was a thoroughly brilliant display.
Wow, we’re not seeing the same thing at all watching that video. I saw an edge rusher with no speed around the corner; only a moderately effective bull rush and an occasional spin move. A bigger, slower DE needs to be able to set that edge, but he was regularly moved out of the way on rushes and was even neutralized by #40, who looks to be about 230 pounds. It looks like he has good lateral agility and was good at making tackles in the open field. To me, he looks like a guy that might put on some weight and play as a 3-4 DE. I don’t see him finding a fit with the Seahawks unless he can play inside as well, which isn’t evident in the video here.
I agree. I’m not seeing anything that says “wow” to me. Nothing that jumps out at me that seems like someone who Seattle would go for or should go for…. when I watch Vic Beasley, he jumps off the youtube video almost every play. Yes he is a 1st round guy, but you would think Clark would flash more…. he looks a bit slow / non explosive to me. Appears to be slow out of the 3 pt stance on the snap.
On a side note, when they lined up in a 3-4 look, he looked better to me.
Rob, I don’ t think this game film is the most flattering. Perhaps it is the most accurate. He has a motor for sure, but not much technique to his pass rush. Just a bull rush that the OT stops pretty well on many plays.
Clark looks better here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuLnA1Ro5T4
But even in this shorter tape, he is not lightning fast. So after more careful thought, I don’t think he’s a rd. 2 or 3 prospect.
Frankly, this is not a great draft for pass rushers except in rd.1-2. Not much where the Hawks are, perhaps Kikaha if he falls, maybe Lorenzo Mauldin. Maybe Marcus Hardison, but he is more Bennett than a LEO. Which leaves lower round raw types and sleepers. Zach Hodges, Ryan Delaire, Obum Gwacham, etc. I’m not sure I see starting LEO material with these.
It is unfortunte they did not get a younger FA like Akeem Ayers or even Derrick Morgan. Could Spencer still be in play? Not a long term solution, but better than nothing.
Hand placement, the ability to fake the edge and stunt inside with fluidity, the pursuit — closing on a target and finishing. The range to combat the read option while also setting the edge. He has a repertoire from the swim to the spin move and bull rush. I didn’t see anyone combating his bull rush in this tape, he was very productive there.
I’m in the middle ground. Nothing spectacular but he does a lot of different things well. He pursues, chases in the backfield, beats his man with a variety of moves (spin, bull, head dip), and collapses the pocket and moves the quarterback off his spot. He’s looks like he diagnoses plays pretty well. He really lacks speed and get-off though.
Nothing spectacular and will be handled easily by the large tackles in the NFL. His best feature is he gets his hands up to bat down passes. Overall a meh pick. Not sure why draft defensive line is even a consideration when the Seahawks have already stockpiled twice as many players as they can keep. Dobbs is the latest free agent signed.
“His best feature is he gets his hands up to bat down passes”
He did it three times in this game but it’s not his best feature. He dominated the right tackle from start to finish, consistently got into the backfield and made numerous plays.
I agree rob, the only thing that held him back to me the system imo. Not that it held him back it’s just looked like protecting the edge and keeping the qb in front of him was their game plan. The qb looked mobile and a threat to run. His tape blows nate orchards tape away to me.
The stockpiling of DL players is likely an attempt to develop some depth for the day when Avril and Bennett have played out their contracts. When that happens, a good chunk of the cap will be allotted to RW, Sherman, Thomas, etc and to continue the run of success, they will by necessity have developed some low-cost talent in this area.
It’ll be an interesting exercise, since this FO has never really developed their own DL from the draft very well, rather inheriting players, finding low-cost quality and spending in FA.
Wonder if DL are to the NFL what pitchers are like to MLB, you just have to draft a pool and injuries and other attrition will separate the wheat from the chaff.
I don’t know about that cha. The Ravens seems to always find defensive linemen after the first round that way outplay their draft position. I don’t know what they do and if it’s unearthing gems in the draft or developing them, but they do a consistently good job of it.
If he had numerous spectacular plays every game we wouldn’t be talking about him as a potential mid-round value pick. Does he jump off the screen with ridiculous speed? No, but he’s versatile, has good size and his technique is more polished than the athletes like Danielle Hunter. We’ve stockpiled defensive linemen, but the likes of Dobbs and Rubin, and even Bane and McDaniel, are not long-term solutions. It would be a good idea to start finding young depth to add to the rotation now instead of later. I would be quite happy to consider Clark on day three. He’s got competition though.
“Not sure why draft defensive line is even a consideration when the Seahawks have already stockpiled twice as many players as they can keep.”
I don’t really see them having “stockpiled” anything but signing one run stuffer in Rubin. Outside of him it’s just re-signing a couple marginal guys from last year in Cohen who screams “camp body”, and Dobbs who in spite of obvious depth issues last year still only saw the field on 20% of the snaps and wasn’t all that great when he was. Dobbs is also 27 years old so it’s not like we can expect improvement from him like some fresh 23 year old rookie.
The DL still suffers from having ZERO guys in depth positions capable of bringing pressure. That’s why IMO it should be a very prominent consideration.
They might have better luck picking late round linebackers that can also blitz. They will need one to replace Irvin if they run out of money after signing Wilson and Wagner.
That’s a great idea and I would love if they could pick a sleeper linebacker that had that sort of ability. Their track record on doing that in the late rounds isn’t really encouraging though.
I’m kind of in love with Edmund Robinson, OLB/ILB, Newberry. Small school, late round pick. But good size and speed. I do not know a heck of a lot about him, but his athleticism was SPARQ average compared to other LBs in the NFL. He has the tools, would need some coaching up… however, he would have time to adjust, since he would not be expected to start.
I can’t locate any game film on Robinson, and what little there is is unreliable small school stuff. (I love the games played in venues that look like parking lots with cars going by.)
Interesting. Thanks for the tip.
Sorry, can’t help myself…
I agree that we could use another pass rusher but –
“Zero guys in depth…” – Irvin, Marsh, Avril, Hill and Bennett are 5 guys. That’s depth.
“Track record…” – Late round linebackers – K.J., KPL.
I’m kind in between on this point. There is depth, but going forward, it isn’t great depth if you consider that Irvin’s time is up soon, Marsh is untested (and I don’t think he’s that great anyway, just okay), and Hill is relatively new.
If you’re talking about edge and LEO, not interior DL rushers (which they will have plenty of), then they are dangerously thin. Just Irvin and Avril.
So they need two new edge rushers. One to replace Schofield, one to compete for Irvin’s role, in case Irvin won’t be resigned.
I’m totally with you. I don’t really consider Irvin “depth” since he’s the starting strong side backer who they’ll bring up to rush when they’re blitzing but seeing how rarely they rush more than 4 (assuming Richards will hew closer to Quinn than Bowles) I don’t really see him that way.
Hill is a starter at the 3 so I don’t consider him ‘depth’ either.
That leaves the untested Marsh.
That’s pretty damn thin.
And no doubt they need a LEO with edge rush capabilities to replace Schofield.
Yeah KJ would probably be the best late round linebacker even though I consider the 4th round a mid pick but they’ve got some of those to spare this year.
KPL hasn’t shown a whole lot yet, but I’ve got high hopes that he can provide depth at linebacker.
With Norton gone too, who I’m sure had a lot of input on drafting linebackers, makes me wonder. Lofa Tatupu is going to be a first time coach and I’d expect wouldn’t have near the experience of Norton is evaluating prospects.
Oh, and yeah. Obviously I don’t really count starters as ‘depth’. When I think of ‘depth’ I’m thinking of non-starters that will be in the DL rotation.
As impressive as he looks he still has room to grow. I would like to see more moves out of him. The bull rush is all you really see from him but when he used the spin it was quick and effortless. I wonder If the game plan was for him to hold the spot and protect the edge? He seemed to hold the edge til there was no threat the shove the line men out the way which look like he could do it at will. He’s definitely a ball hawking d linemen, always seemed to know where the ball was and went after it through the whistle. I could see him fitting right in here. Who cares about a slow 40 when you have a 4.05 short shuttle.
If he’s available in the later rounds (round 6 or 7), I’d definitely take a flyer on him.
If not, oh well. There’s an abundance of talent available in the mid-round range that takes precedence over a guy that has red flags like Frank.
I see something to work with. with added strength and technique,get him up into the 270 range and you may have something. Moveable chess piece? Fifth round comp is the highest I would go.
He is 270
Rob I saw exactly what you saw in the video and I liked that he is actually faster than Casius Marsh in the 40 with almost everything else being equal. I’m just not sure how the Hawks would use him. I don’t know.if he can put on more weight and push the pocket on passing downs. I do like his motor and ability to knock down passes.
There’s definitely some cross over with Marsh. I think CM is better suited to stunting inside or even lining up inside (like Bennett) but Clark has that same kind of power, technique and motor. He’s capable of collapsing a pocket from the edge without relying on speed. That’s vital. One of the big issues with speed rushers in college is it doesn’t translate when they take the next step against faster, more athletic tackles. They’ve relied on speed for so long, suddenly they need to counter. And they don’t know what to do.
Clark isn’t going to have that problem. He will be able to compete physically against those guys and he has enough lower body explosion to provide pressure with get off and movement (setting up a blocker before using the counter). It’s very hard to find effective pass rushers in the mid to late rounds. Clark has a shot.
Lower body power is what I noticed too – good bubble butt and thick thighs. These types of anger issues though….unpredictable.
Marsh is who I thought of as well
Rob, have you given your thoughts at some point on Hau’oli Kikaha? He’s a hard one for me to project to the pros, lacking in size/length and athleticism, but with great hand use/technique/motor and fantastic college production. Does that translate at the next level, and would you take a shot on him at the end of the 3rd if he falls (protected 2nd-3rd but I wouldn’t use #63…I can see him dropping a little if he’s viewed as a tweener)?
I think Kikaha is arguably the best pass rusher in this draft. Absolutely relentless. He has flaws in other aspects of his game, but he gets to the QB. Given the dearth of real pass rushers past rd. 1, I’d love to see the Hawks take him.
I think uw used him in a lot of ways. Not just as a pass rusher. He was responsible for following the screen and protecting the edge as well.
As you say great hands fighter and very productive. A warrior on the field. But the injury issues, lack of athleticism and size/length are going to be a major issue. Tony Pauline suggested he could be an UDFA and I think he has a point, especially if the injury issues are legit.
Yes, Kikaha would be a gamble in many ways. Boom or bust, and the boom depends on a team’s ability to use him as a situational pass rusher, and hide his other issues.
I have just taken another long look at the available LEO options in this draft, and I just don’t see them.
I have even looked at the infamous Josh Shirley, who went from being considered a first round talent to major disappointment, then dropping out of the UW program to UNLV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO7oFYpLfE8
There is a Seahawks connection. He was involved in the same UCLA theft ring with P-Rich.
Kikaha seems comparable to Jackson jeffcoat. Great college rusher but size questions lead to him being undrafted but the Hawks did bring him in…
Way more heart than Jeffcoat…
UDFA, that’s absurd!!!!
There couldn’t be more of a Hawk type player in this draft.
Well, he doesn’t have the length they like for the LEO (shorter arms) and he doesn’t have the speed or explosive athleticism they look for in a LEO. I like Kikaha’s warrior-like qualities and his college production, but he’s certainly not the type of player they’ve drafted or signed so far.
Rob,
Four players…
Player Ht Wt 40y 10ys ShSh 3co Vert BJ Bench
A 6’3″ 245 4.50 1.58 4.03 6.70 33.5″ 123″ 23
B 6’6″ 244 4.66 1.57 4.28 6.67 36″ 124″ 19
C 6’3″ 271 4.66 1.69 4.05 7.08 38.5″ 118″ 19
D 6’5″ 235 4.53 1.56 DNP DNP 36.5″ 125″ 24
A = Bruce Irvin, B = Shaquille Riddick, C = Frank Clark, D= Randy Gregory
I prefer Riddick to Clark, and here’s why.
Riddick is leaving WVU as a true senior, 4 years out of high school (I cannot find his age, but should be around 22-23 at the start of the season). He spent three years in FCS school Gardner Webb (graduated in three years), and only played one year at WVU (FBS) – where he was voted Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year.
Like Irvin’s last season in the same funky defense, Riddick was asked to play DT in a 3 man font (mostly 4T, with shading to 3T or 5T, but barely ever aligned wide 5/7/9). At 6’6″ and 240lbs, and a BMI of 28.2, he was asked to play DT! The average height and weight of DTs at the combine were approximately 6’3″ and 305 lbs for a BMI of 38.3 and the averages for EDGE rusher were about 6’3″ and 265, for a BMI of 33.1.
His tape is amazing to watch. For his height and weight, he should never maintain leverage against a 300+ lb tackle or guard, but he demonstrates the flexibility and functional athleticism to hold up to single blocks. His tape looks unimpressive in regard to his ability to flat out beat single blockers, but based on scheme he is a often a two gap defender and is supposed to absorb blockers so the defenders behind him can make tackles. His tape does show great discipline in gap control.
He played from 3 and 4 point stances quite a bit and was really able to sink his hips and bend at the knees helping his leverage, but on occasion, he would get tall and get trashed by his blocker. The talent/ability is there, it just needs polishing.
Against double teams, when he played with good technique, occasionally he could hold his position, which is just absolutely incredible given his weight at 240 lbs and facing 300 lbs X2. His assignment would be to occupy both blockers, and he showed unwavering effort on each play, and over the course of the game. Even when overwhelmed and turned by blockers so he was facing the wrong way or falling over backwards, he was still fighting to hold ground.
At 244 lbs, he was often asked to do the impossible. 100% effort on every play, even after losing 10 or 15 times to the double teams. Never gave up.
Despite playing run defense as a 3 man front DT, he didn’t tire. His balance and functional strength remained evident as the game progressed, despite facing constant weight/strength disadvantages and being on the field for a high number of snaps.
He produced 3 out of his 8.5 sack in the Baylor game (only tape that is available on draftbreakdown.com). Single game sack wonders are a cause for caution, but given his role as a DT, I am less concerned about sacks, TFL, and tackles numbers.
In addition to a proven ability to flex at the knees and sink his hips, he has an incredible natural fluidity to the way he moves. He’s got monstrously long arms, almost certainly 36+”, and disengages easily from single blocks at the college level. His opponents try to cut block him, but the combination of his long arms, core strength and flexibility, and insane balance make it almost impossible for a single blocker to cut him in space.
He looks slow when pursuing, but due to his great stride length and his 10 yard split and agility times, he is on the QB in a quick second. With a 10+” broad jump, 6’6″ height, 3′ arms, and large hands, he eats up the last 5 yards in an instant.
He gets off the ball well at the snap, having a decent sense of timing and good reflexes.
As for actually assessing him in a role as a pure EDGE rusher, it’s almost impossible to do from his one tape. There are not enough instances to judge him on hands technique or bull rush or pass rushing moves.
All of the building blocks are there though, and by all accounts, he has a chip on his shoulder – recently saying something to the effect of “schools didn’t recruit me out of high school, so I had to prove myself for 3 years. Then I didn’t get invited to the senior bowl and didn’t get invited to the combine, so I’ll just have to keep working.” His twitter feed shows strong loyalty and support of his hometown Akron and the WVU community and athletics. To my knowledge, no character/legal concerns with Riddick.
He’s a 1 year project/redshirt player – like Irvin, the coaches at WVU don’t teach their DTs technique on how to pass rush from the edge. But 1 year of developmental time coincides perfectly with replacing Avril’s contract with Irvin’s and bringing Riddick into a starting role.
He’s been rapidly moving up draft boards, and I’ve seen Evan Silva sending him to the Eagles in the 4th in a recent mock. Mock drafts tend to underestimate where “sleeper” picks will be drafted – see Bruce Irvin (you can argue whether or not he was the right pick at 17). A team will fall in love with this guy’s potential and work ethic, and it seems like the Seahawks are one of the teams that does go for players like this. He’s everything that you want in a Leo prospect, with proven solid play against the run, proven freakish athleticism, in game discipline/assignment correct, and a good head on his shoulders.
I know you are arguing for Clark as a mid round draft pick worth a 2nd round pick, but I’d rather spend a 2nd round pick on Riddick, who is a 1st round EDGE talent with UDFA tape (because he played DT).
JJ, nice information to consider about this specific player. Shaquille Riddick: On a scouting website he is listed as 6’5.7″ 236 pounds. I’m concerned with his weight, since 236 is too small for DE in the NFL. He might get up to 250-260 lbs, but I’m wondering if his frame can handle the extra weight. They are also listing him as a 5-6th round type of guy. If I’m swinging for the fences in the 5th or 6th round, I see a lot to like…. effort, willingness, chip on shoulder, and scheme flexibility.
Riddick is interesting for sure. As you say, there isn’t enough tape to assess him well.
The Hawks need a pure edge rusher, not the Bennett/interior/Marsh type. Where will this come from? They missed in FA, don’t see anyone else left in FA, and the draft frankly sucks for this. We’re down to these gambles, and it is disappointing.
Riddick is the pure edge rusher. He played DT in college, but he’s got Leo written all over him. Think Jevon Kearse, rookie sack record holder. Riddick doesn’t slate to be a starter his first year, but he’d be a great rotational player and you are drafting him to be the starting pure edge guy in 2016 and onward.
I think he’ll end up as one of the 5 most productive pass rushers in this draft.
Seattle favors guys who have scheme flexibility. Whether or not he is a true edge rusher, it is probably not that important. If they believe he can perform multiple jobs well, providing necessary depth at LEO (PASS), DE (PASS/RUN), DT (NASCAR/PASS)… then he will be a pick that could stick on the 53 man roster.
Versatility is fine, but when that is overdone, you wind up lots of JAGs.
he’s was 244 at his pro day, 6′ 5 7/8 inch. He’s slender for sure, but Jevon Kearse played most of his career at 6’4″ and 245-255. I don’t know for sure, but Riddick seemed to grow into his body late – basically a nonfactor for 2 years at FBS level, breakling out as a junior with 8.5 sacks and one out of every 3.5 tackles was for a loss playing DE. In senior year, he jumped from FCS to FBS (D2 to D1) and changed from DE to DT at 244 lbs. Think about it, he earned 10 starts in 11 games in a new scheme and at a new position and against a huge jump up in talent, and still won Big 12 newcomer of the year. The story just screams late bloomer.
244 is light, especially at 6’6″, but he played at 233 (only weight I could find) as a junior so he put on 10 lbs between age 21 and 22. Pretty sure he could add another 10-15 of good weight pretty easily. He already has most of the functional strength he needs to play edge rusher – he’s proven that at the D1 level against BCS conference competition.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Interesting read.
Hey Rob, I was wondering if you still think Danny Shelton is being overrated. Thanks for the great work on this and other stories.
I wrote a piece a couple of months ago noting how impressed I was with the Shelton tape vs Oregon and it changed my stance on him. I don’t think he’s the sure-fire top ten pick some made out a few weeks ago, but I think he’s a solid pick between 10-22. He isn’t Haloti Ngata (not even close athletically) but he can be a good nose tackle.
I have been beating the drum for Riddick a while now as well. I think we could get him with the 4th rounder we hot from N.O and I think he would be a steal in that range. I really believe in a year or two he will be a highly productive LEO in our system and fit perfctly in our rotation.
The Seahawks have 7 bullets in the first 5 rounds…. OL with 2 bullets, WR with 1 bullet, CB/S with 1 bullet.. leaving 3 other picks for BPA or project guys. Riddick might be worth a look, but I would be concerned he would not be able to make the team, unless they do some wheeling and dealing of players/picks. He most likely would not be able to make the PS.
That is not enough bullets for what they need. Only one WR? That won’t cut it.
I am really concerned there are no good pass rushers where they will be. They need Schofield’s replacement at the very least. A near immediate starter.
I am wondering if they would have to make a trade for somebody, wait for cutdowns. The disappointing option would be to make do with just Avril and Irvin, shoehorn Marsh into doing something, and taking a flier on some project who may not make the team.
63 is a bad spot for pass-rush. Not a lot of depth – some mid to late round guys that are interesting but probably aren’t day one impact guys.
Dannelle Hunter out of LSU is probably going in that late second range. This guy has Robert Quinn upside. Length + athleticism. Yet he doesn’t show it in games or on tape. But at the same time, if he showed it on gameday he’d be go number one. In fact, compare the workout numbers with last years first overall pick.
Hunter
HT: 6’5
WT: 252
40: 4.57
10 yard split: 1.58
vertical: 36.5
broad jump: 132 inches
shuttle: 4.47
3 cone: 6.95
Clowney
HT: 6’6
WT: 266
40: 4.53
10: 1.56
Vertical: 37.5
broad: 124 inches
shuttle: 4.43
3 cone: 7.27
I think 63 would be a reach, yet it’d be an intriguing pick.
Sorry, Hunter does not impress me at all.
Despite physicals like Jason Pierre-Paul, he yanks and claws, gets stood up, has almost no pass rush technique, no bend. It looks almost like they put him out there without any teaching.
I think Rob described him as “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane”. I have to agree.
The question with Hunter is, can he be molded into a polished player?
I don’t see anyone in the draft after high rd. 2 who is a starting LEO. I doubt Eli Harold or Randy Gregory would fall to #63.
Talking about trades… I wonder if J. Allen might get dealt/cut by the Bears. He had interest in Seattle last season, but wanted too much coin. Perhaps he might yet wind up playing in Seattle in 2015.
Allen is over the hill. So are Freeney, Kiwanuka, Umenyiora, Abraham. A very sad FA picture. We can’t even find a one year band aid. Anthony Spencer, not a great option either, still hasn’t signed but is making visits elsewhere.
The standout player from this pro day was Caushaud Lyons (6-foot-4 1/2, 284 pounds), a defensive lineman. He ran a 4.86 and 4.87 in the 40. He had a 30 1/2-inch vertical and a 10-foot broad jump. He had a 4.55 short shuttle and 7.51 3-cone drill. He has 34 1/8-inch arms and 24 strength lifts. ~ NFL.com
The Eagles appear to be very interested in him, but there are at least 5 other teams also interested, they were not listed. Not ranked as someone who will get drafted, but there is some smoke around him… perhaps rd 5-7 for the right team.
Possibly my favorite sleeper pass rusher is Ryan Delaire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=husVtfr9KeI
Granted, he’s small school, but he is dominant. A beast. He has moves, has bend, really quick, relentless. Sets a good edge and chases down runners cold. This is a guy I can see developing into a Jason Pierre-Paul/Aldon Smith type.
How big is he? His first step is amazing. His attitude seems good, and the basketball background is good for footwork.
Delaire is 6-4/254. Did well at the Senior Bowl. Pulled his groin at the combine, so no 40 time. Unless there is a pro day that he blows up between now and the draft, I see him rd.5 or all the way down into UDFA. I really haven’t seen many others with better film, and I hope he doesn’t wind up with a team like the Patriots.
On Football Savages, they interview Ty Sambrailo and he said, “I’ve had one team that I’ve sat in a formal interview with and the OLine coach looked at me and said, “You look like a center to me.”
Knowinig Cable likes to move players, it just seems like a Cable thing to say.
I was watching film on Nate Orchard, and I wind up finding tape that confirms how good Sambrailo is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYGh6ONAJ0o
Sambrailo owns Orchard, who does virtually nothing all game. I don’t know why Orchard is ranked so high. Orchard, Odiguzuwa, Hunter, Chickallo, Flowers are among the many DEs who aren’t great pass rushers. I’d pass on all of them.