This DSFL scouting report I will be focusing on the defensive tackle class. I will be scouting the top 11 defensive tackle prospects for the upcoming NSFL draft. This is what we scouts look for in a top tier defensive tackle.
Agility and Athleticism
One of the first things you notice on film about a player is his athletic ability. No matter if you're watching in the stands, in the press box or in the film room, chances are you will first notice a player because of some athletic feat. Athletic ability can be overrated like the 40-yard dash but football is an athletically based sport, and the bigger, stronger, faster player is likely to be more effective. The one thing that can change that is technique.
Technique Good technique can be the difference between a short and long career. There have been numerous athletes at the defensive tackle position who flashed on film and dominated in workouts but couldn't grasp the technical side of the game. That leads to a short, and frustrating, NSFL experience. Watching DSFL players requires patience, as our goal is to identify what skills they have currently and what skills can be coached or taught. Some players come out of DSFL ready to assault the NSFL, while others are a trait or two away from being a complete player.
1. Quickness: It is helpful to have an NSFL standard to hold DSFL prospects up against. When looking at a player's quickness off the line and ability to explode into the offense. Being quick may seem like an obvious quality, but a player's ability to explode off the line does more than help him get to the quarterback quickest. A quick defensive tackle can eliminate double-teams with a dominant first step, and if you're the first guy off the line, you better your chance of getting into a gap before an offensive lineman can get his feet set and his hands on you.
Judging quickness isn't done with a 40-yard dash, but instead by watching a player's game film to see how successful he is at beating offensive linemen off the ball. A slow first step could be due to a limited athlete, poor concentration or poor anticipation skills. All three are dangerous for a defensive tackle
2. Strength: Bench-press reps are impressive and a fun drill to watch, but translating weight-room strength to the football field is the key. If you can push around a barbell loaded up with 225 pounds, can you push around offensive linemen? Strength is necessary for stopping the run, making tackles, clogging rushing lanes and defeating double-teams to get to the quarterback. This is especially important for nose tackles or any defensive tackle who will play inside of a 3-technique regularly. On the inside, a player must be strong enough to hold guards and centers in line, preventing them from getting through the defensive line to the second level of the defense. If a guard or center breaks free of the defensive line and gets to the linebackers, the chances are the offense won the snap. Given the choice between a strong player and a fast player, I would go for speed, but there is a good argument to be made for strength over speed. My theory is that strength is easier to develop than speed.
3. Hand use: Breaking free of a double-team requires quickness and strength, but a defender must also be able to use his hands to combat the blocks of offensive linemen. Hand use is a skill that few DSFL defenders have conquered by the time they enter the NSFL draft. Those who do effectively use their hands to disengage from blockers find themselves ready for battle on the inside of the defensive line, where the tackle is batting away the blocks of guards and centers coming at his frame. Using your hands to beat an offensive lineman may sound complicated, but it's really not in theory. Look for a defender who doesn't lock his hands on the base of an offensive lineman, instead keeping distance between himself and the blocker and using his hands to bat away the blocks of the offensive player.
4. Leverage: The key behind a great bull rush, or a goal-line stand, is strength and leverage. Being physically strong is fantastic, but knowing how to use that strength and size makes the difference. Leverage for a defensive lineman means playing with a low pad-level and keeping his strength and weight in his base as opposed to the upper body. You see defensive linemen playing out of control, with all their weight in their upper body, and often that defender is losing his battle with a blocker. Leverage allows the defender to control the one-on-one situation with an offensive player.
Read and react
You hear people talk about "football IQ," and it's one of the most underrated aspects of scouting.
The ability to read and react to what the offense does is the most important aspect to playing defensive tackle. A complete defensive tackle must be quick, strong and smart. How do you scout this? Watch to see what the defensive tackle does when the offensive line gets up-field for a screen pass. Does he pull the chain and go after the quarterback or drop and get depth to eliminate the pass (which is what we want)? How does the defender react to play-action passing or draw running plays? You want an aggressive defender, not someone paralyzed by analysis, but you also want a smart player who can adjust on the fly both physically and mentally.
So without further ado let me introduce to you the season 22 defensive tackle class. (Ranking is in order from top to bottom based on TPE)
Phat Boi (259 TPE, Interior rusher, Kansas City) at 6’1” and 300 lbs. Good bend in his hips to play low off the snap. Athletic big man who improved his quickness this year. Began to impose his will more frequently late in the season. Excels once he reaches a lineman's edge. Flashes power and control in his hands. Discards blockers when ready as a read-and-react defender and uses a punch to keep himself clean and scrape down the line after ball carriers. Eyes stay glued on ball carrier no matter what battle is in front of him. Can recover and improve positioning if he is losing early in snap. Light on his feet and diagnoses very quickly. Hard defender for offensive linemen to cross-face. Too athletic and talented to consistently single block. Weaknesses: Despite size and frame, not consistently physical at the point of attack. Has average power in his lower body and struggles to hold his ground against double teams. Looking for secondary motor as rusher. Effort level stalls when his pass rush stalls. Is in need of a more polished counter move as a pass rusher. Would benefit from improved strength and ability to vary game from penetration to power. Plays hard but scouts do not consider him a "glass-eater."
Magnus Rikiya (216 TPE, Nose tackle, Norfolk) at 6’3” and 310 lbs. Body beautiful for an interior lineman. Well-proportioned with powerful, tree trunk legs make it tough to move her off the spot. Has boom in her punch and dislodges guards and centers if they try and wait on her. Pure power to toss a one-on-one block aside. Athletic enough to give reasonable chase to the ball. Well-schooled in using length to stuff cut blocks. Has frame and length to eat blocks and allow linebackers to run free. Heavy tackler. Running backs do not break her tackles and she rarely fails to finish when she’s locked in on her target. Able to generate pocket push when she gets it cranked up as a pass rusher. Boss man in the locker room and in practice helping to hold teammates accountable. Has brute force to match NSFL power immediately. Weaknesses: Pad level is her arch enemy. Plays too upright when asked to move. Looks to have flexibility to drop her pads, but doesn't do it enough. Should be more consistent against double teams. Doesn't impose her will as often as she could. Basic pass rusher without a winning, go to move or effective counter. Straight liner who cranks up initial push as bull rusher, but stalls out due to leverage loss. Needs to play with wider base to improve balance and base. Able to get up-field as an edge rusher, but rarely turns corner. Too content to lay on blocks when rush stalls rather than spin underneath or unleash a club move. Doesn't play with the quickness or forward lean to threaten edges and win in the gaps.
Octavio Clemente (216 TPE, Interior rusher, Myrtle beach) at 6’5” and 310 lbs. Plays with tremendous natural power. Has strength in his hands and upper body to shed blockers without much effort when it’s time. Made to stymie downhill rushing attacks. Can battle through wash down blocks and work his way back into a tackle. Uses quick feet and shoulder turn to leverage him into gaps for disruption. Flashes some occasional "quick win" hand work as pass rusher. Has talent and strength to do what he wants on some snaps. Can generate a heavy pocket push when he gets some knee bend going. Sure fire tackler with vision and agility to scrape down line of scrimmage and clean up runners working through line of scrimmage. Weaknesses: Will lockout his long legs on too many snaps. Upright play style limits his leverage and balance against down blocks. Motor will run out of gas if he's forced to chase after play for very long. Average ball instincts. Change of direction can be inconsistent due to pad level. Flashes pass rush talent, but too content to lay on blockers when early rush fizzles.
Deshun Jones (212 TPE, Run stuffer, Dallas) at 6’5” and 310 lbs. Able to pack plenty of strength into his well-built frame. Plays with bend, leverage and plus core power. Two-gap machine who can eat blocks and come back for more. Rarely beaten at point of attack by single blocks. As an edge setter, grows roots and prevents running lanes from developing in gaps. Has catcher’s mitts for hands. Arms are a little short for the position but his hand quickness into blocker’s frame and instant arm extension make his arm length irrelevant. Engages, controls and slides down the line looking to finish the run before it gets started. Great vision and instincts to find ball quickly. Reads running back’s lane choice and discards blocker with excellent timing. Weaknesses: Is a little late out of his stance off the snap. Must learn to consistently fire hands out as weapons. Slow to transition from run stopper to pass rusher when teams throw on first down. Pad level rises and legs straighten out as pass rusher. Base will narrow, slowing momentum and limiting full potential of his bull rush. Hasn't learned to set up offensive linemen or string together pass-rush moves yet. Doesn't always play to capacity and pursuit is lacking when play heads away from him. Still very raw. Wins with physical tools over skill.
Mo “Mamba” Magic (201 TPE, Balanced, Minnesota) at 6’ 3” and 305 lbs. Can come off the snap with low pad level and make initial penetration with leverage into the gap. Is a different player when his motor is right. Shows some disruptive qualities when he commits to the attack. Rushes passer with head fakes and stutter steps that create uncertainty in blockers. Bends well for a big man and has ability to play with leverage. Space-eater who is able to maintain good positioning against double teams. Consistently gets his hands inside offensive linemen first. Controls, sees it and sheds to make tackles. Surprising ability to swat cut blocks and chase stretch plays laterally. Has the strength and athleticism to dominate in the running game. Weaknesses: Despite girth and leverage potential, can be a little inconsistent at getting push off snap. Dominates lesser centers but doesn't seem to look nearly as dominant against more talented centers.
Big Edd (190 TPE, Interior rusher, Dallas) at 6’ 5” and 310 lbs. Supremely gifted interior lineman with length, athleticism and elite power. Lined up just about everywhere along the line at one point or another. Able to jolt offensive linemen with powerful hands and is extremely hard to redirect for offensive linemen once he gets going downhill. Explosive hip snap to leverage blockers and is rarely moved from his gap. Often a read-and-react two-gapper and plays peek-a-boo with running backs while discarding blockers at will when he's ready to tackle. Too much play strength for zone blockers to cross-face him. Fires out with low pad level when playing the run and is difficult to submarine on short yardage. Has feet and brute force to recover and get back into a play after being beaten early. Dangerous pass rusher from twist game, showing big closing burst. Effort rusher who will eventually get home if single-blocked. Beginning to develop spin move as pass-rush counter. Showed intriguing potential as a pass-rushing end in space. Frame able to hold more weight and muscle. Weaknesses: Plays with inconsistent technique. Base can get too wide, causing false steps and issues bracing up against power in run game. May be a bit erratic as there are rumors that he would like to be traded or switch to running back during the middle and end of the season.
Nuniq Annastesia (159 TPE, Interior rusher, Kansas) at 6’ 3” and 306 lbs. Quick off the snap. Natural leverage. Gets under pads and into gaps. Good foot athlete -- redirects well and can work the edges and loop and stunt. Flexible enough to zone drop in short area. Plays with awareness and consistently locates the ball. Closes hard and fast. Keeps working to the ball. Disruptive penetrating ability. Tough and competitive. Team captain with terrific personal and football character. Weaknesses: Marginal height and frame is nearly maxed out. Hands are more active than strong could play with more pop and power. Overpowered in the run game and ground up by double teams. Gets snared and controlled by bigger, longer blockers. Not a two-gap player. Lacks ideal length and bend to play outside.
Hank Steel (146 TPE, Run stuffer, Portland) at 6’ 5” and 310 lbs. Long and well-proportioned. Intriguing height-weight-speed ratio and natural athleticism. Flashes the ability explode off the ball, jolt blockers and disrupt the backfield. Terrific movement, flexibility and range. Loose ankles. Can work the edges. Able to redirect and chase athletically. Fierce tackler. Rare leaping ability for his size. Disrupts passing lanes. Has a "wow" factor at his best. Has immense upside. Weaknesses: Wide gap between physical ability and performance on tape. Green eyes, instincts and understanding of blocking schemes. Motor idles. Too often lets his pads rise and exposes his frame. Does not play to his length. On skates vs. double teams. Hand use needs work. Unsophisticated counters and pass-rush moves. Aimless pass rusher in need of a plan. Still learning to convert speed to power. Does not dominate single blocking. Needs more glass in his diet. Could require simple assignments.
Tristan Gronlie (108 TPE, Nose tackle, London) at 6’5” and 300 lbs. Quick, lateral footwork for plus penetration. Active hands create separation from blockers against the run and help him gain advantage as pass rusher. Rarely gives offensive linemen a static target to strike and it's hard to land a solid, sustained punch on him. Times snap well and fires off the ball. Has ability to sync quickness of hands and feet for early wins along the line of scrimmage. Can transition fluidly from playing the run to rushing passer against play-action. Played defensive tackle and defensive end. Weaknesses: Lacks pure power at point of attack. Must win with hands or he can get pushed off his spot. Pad level rises at times when he's penetrating. Lacks true core strength to maintain base when being redirected by offensive linemen. Gets run around the arc as pass rusher rather than countering back underneath. Lack of length affects ability to finish tackle opportunities.
Claude Miller II (105 TPE, Interior rusher, London) at 6’4” and 301 lbs. Agile and athletic. Can get off snap quickly and has length to fluster interior blockers if coached up. Active interior pass rusher who uses head fakes and foot quickness to open doors to a guard’s edge. Able to string together pass rush moves and counters. At his best on the move. Can be tough to reach and secure for offensive linemen thanks to lateral quickness. When rush has stalled, will gather himself and look to get his hands in the passing lane. Plus change of direction talent and can hound a runner who tries to bounce it outside. Adequate power at the point of attack and has experience as both a one and two gap defender. Productive tackler with extended tackle radius to get in on the action. Will win if consistently single blocked. Weaknesses: Thin from his knees down. Pad level stays high. Looks top-heavy in his play. Upright movements limit effectiveness in twists. Doesn’t own his spot in the grass consistently enough thanks to leverage issues. Needs added strength in lower half and to play with wider base to improve balance.
Godrick Fallstrum (79 TPE, Nose tackle, Norfolk) at 6’ 4” and 308 lbs. Plays with a wide, strong base. Has power in his lower half. Able to brace up against double teams and eat up blocks. Uses good pursuit angles and has adequate lateral quickness against the run. Plays with effort and was part of an aggressive defense. Weaknesses: Legs straighten out and his pad level rises too often at contact. At times he's too locked in on backfield rather than handling the task at hand especially on stunts. Poor pass-rush skills. Uses just a bull rush and will stall out if he isn't winning within the first couple of seconds of the snap. Hand usage and placement aren't where they need to be.
Tristan Gronlie (108 TPE, Nose tackle, London) at 6’5” and 300 lbs. Quick, lateral footwork for plus penetration. Active hands create separation from blockers against the run and help him gain advantage as pass rusher. Rarely gives offensive linemen a static target to strike and it's hard to land a solid, sustained punch on him. Times snap well and fires off the ball. Has ability to sync quickness of hands and feet for early wins along the line of scrimmage. Can transition fluidly from playing the run to rushing passer against play-action. Played defensive tackle and defensive end. Weaknesses: Lacks pure power at point of attack. Must win with hands or he can get pushed off his spot. Pad level rises at times when he's penetrating. Lacks true core strength to maintain base when being redirected by offensive linemen. Gets run around the arc as pass rusher rather than countering back underneath. Lack of length affects ability to finish tackle opportunities.
Claude Miller II (105 TPE, Interior rusher, London) at 6’4” and 301 lbs. Agile and athletic. Can get off snap quickly and has length to fluster interior blockers if coached up. Active interior pass rusher who uses head fakes and foot quickness to open doors to a guard’s edge. Able to string together pass rush moves and counters. At his best on the move. Can be tough to reach and secure for offensive linemen thanks to lateral quickness. When rush has stalled, will gather himself and look to get his hands in the passing lane. Plus change of direction talent and can hound a runner who tries to bounce it outside. Adequate power at the point of attack and has experience as both a one and two gap defender. Productive tackler with extended tackle radius to get in on the action. Will win if consistently single blocked. Weaknesses: Thin from his knees down. Pad level stays high. Looks top-heavy in his play. Upright movements limit effectiveness in twists. Doesn’t own his spot in the grass consistently enough thanks to leverage issues. Needs added strength in lower half and to play with wider base to improve balance.
Godrick Fallstrum (79 TPE, Nose tackle, Norfolk) at 6’ 4” and 308 lbs. Plays with a wide, strong base. Has power in his lower half. Able to brace up against double teams and eat up blocks. Uses good pursuit angles and has adequate lateral quickness against the run. Plays with effort and was part of an aggressive defense. Weaknesses: Legs straighten out and his pad level rises too often at contact. At times he's too locked in on backfield rather than handling the task at hand especially on stunts. Poor pass-rush skills. Uses just a bull rush and will stall out if he isn't winning within the first couple of seconds of the snap. Hand usage and placement aren't where they need to be.
Agility and Athleticism
One of the first things you notice on film about a player is his athletic ability. No matter if you're watching in the stands, in the press box or in the film room, chances are you will first notice a player because of some athletic feat. Athletic ability can be overrated like the 40-yard dash but football is an athletically based sport, and the bigger, stronger, faster player is likely to be more effective. The one thing that can change that is technique.
Technique Good technique can be the difference between a short and long career. There have been numerous athletes at the defensive tackle position who flashed on film and dominated in workouts but couldn't grasp the technical side of the game. That leads to a short, and frustrating, NSFL experience. Watching DSFL players requires patience, as our goal is to identify what skills they have currently and what skills can be coached or taught. Some players come out of DSFL ready to assault the NSFL, while others are a trait or two away from being a complete player.
1. Quickness: It is helpful to have an NSFL standard to hold DSFL prospects up against. When looking at a player's quickness off the line and ability to explode into the offense. Being quick may seem like an obvious quality, but a player's ability to explode off the line does more than help him get to the quarterback quickest. A quick defensive tackle can eliminate double-teams with a dominant first step, and if you're the first guy off the line, you better your chance of getting into a gap before an offensive lineman can get his feet set and his hands on you.
Judging quickness isn't done with a 40-yard dash, but instead by watching a player's game film to see how successful he is at beating offensive linemen off the ball. A slow first step could be due to a limited athlete, poor concentration or poor anticipation skills. All three are dangerous for a defensive tackle
2. Strength: Bench-press reps are impressive and a fun drill to watch, but translating weight-room strength to the football field is the key. If you can push around a barbell loaded up with 225 pounds, can you push around offensive linemen? Strength is necessary for stopping the run, making tackles, clogging rushing lanes and defeating double-teams to get to the quarterback. This is especially important for nose tackles or any defensive tackle who will play inside of a 3-technique regularly. On the inside, a player must be strong enough to hold guards and centers in line, preventing them from getting through the defensive line to the second level of the defense. If a guard or center breaks free of the defensive line and gets to the linebackers, the chances are the offense won the snap. Given the choice between a strong player and a fast player, I would go for speed, but there is a good argument to be made for strength over speed. My theory is that strength is easier to develop than speed.
3. Hand use: Breaking free of a double-team requires quickness and strength, but a defender must also be able to use his hands to combat the blocks of offensive linemen. Hand use is a skill that few DSFL defenders have conquered by the time they enter the NSFL draft. Those who do effectively use their hands to disengage from blockers find themselves ready for battle on the inside of the defensive line, where the tackle is batting away the blocks of guards and centers coming at his frame. Using your hands to beat an offensive lineman may sound complicated, but it's really not in theory. Look for a defender who doesn't lock his hands on the base of an offensive lineman, instead keeping distance between himself and the blocker and using his hands to bat away the blocks of the offensive player.
4. Leverage: The key behind a great bull rush, or a goal-line stand, is strength and leverage. Being physically strong is fantastic, but knowing how to use that strength and size makes the difference. Leverage for a defensive lineman means playing with a low pad-level and keeping his strength and weight in his base as opposed to the upper body. You see defensive linemen playing out of control, with all their weight in their upper body, and often that defender is losing his battle with a blocker. Leverage allows the defender to control the one-on-one situation with an offensive player.
Read and react
You hear people talk about "football IQ," and it's one of the most underrated aspects of scouting.
The ability to read and react to what the offense does is the most important aspect to playing defensive tackle. A complete defensive tackle must be quick, strong and smart. How do you scout this? Watch to see what the defensive tackle does when the offensive line gets up-field for a screen pass. Does he pull the chain and go after the quarterback or drop and get depth to eliminate the pass (which is what we want)? How does the defender react to play-action passing or draw running plays? You want an aggressive defender, not someone paralyzed by analysis, but you also want a smart player who can adjust on the fly both physically and mentally.
So without further ado let me introduce to you the season 22 defensive tackle class. (Ranking is in order from top to bottom based on TPE)
Phat Boi (259 TPE, Interior rusher, Kansas City) at 6’1” and 300 lbs. Good bend in his hips to play low off the snap. Athletic big man who improved his quickness this year. Began to impose his will more frequently late in the season. Excels once he reaches a lineman's edge. Flashes power and control in his hands. Discards blockers when ready as a read-and-react defender and uses a punch to keep himself clean and scrape down the line after ball carriers. Eyes stay glued on ball carrier no matter what battle is in front of him. Can recover and improve positioning if he is losing early in snap. Light on his feet and diagnoses very quickly. Hard defender for offensive linemen to cross-face. Too athletic and talented to consistently single block. Weaknesses: Despite size and frame, not consistently physical at the point of attack. Has average power in his lower body and struggles to hold his ground against double teams. Looking for secondary motor as rusher. Effort level stalls when his pass rush stalls. Is in need of a more polished counter move as a pass rusher. Would benefit from improved strength and ability to vary game from penetration to power. Plays hard but scouts do not consider him a "glass-eater."
Magnus Rikiya (216 TPE, Nose tackle, Norfolk) at 6’3” and 310 lbs. Body beautiful for an interior lineman. Well-proportioned with powerful, tree trunk legs make it tough to move her off the spot. Has boom in her punch and dislodges guards and centers if they try and wait on her. Pure power to toss a one-on-one block aside. Athletic enough to give reasonable chase to the ball. Well-schooled in using length to stuff cut blocks. Has frame and length to eat blocks and allow linebackers to run free. Heavy tackler. Running backs do not break her tackles and she rarely fails to finish when she’s locked in on her target. Able to generate pocket push when she gets it cranked up as a pass rusher. Boss man in the locker room and in practice helping to hold teammates accountable. Has brute force to match NSFL power immediately. Weaknesses: Pad level is her arch enemy. Plays too upright when asked to move. Looks to have flexibility to drop her pads, but doesn't do it enough. Should be more consistent against double teams. Doesn't impose her will as often as she could. Basic pass rusher without a winning, go to move or effective counter. Straight liner who cranks up initial push as bull rusher, but stalls out due to leverage loss. Needs to play with wider base to improve balance and base. Able to get up-field as an edge rusher, but rarely turns corner. Too content to lay on blocks when rush stalls rather than spin underneath or unleash a club move. Doesn't play with the quickness or forward lean to threaten edges and win in the gaps.
Octavio Clemente (216 TPE, Interior rusher, Myrtle beach) at 6’5” and 310 lbs. Plays with tremendous natural power. Has strength in his hands and upper body to shed blockers without much effort when it’s time. Made to stymie downhill rushing attacks. Can battle through wash down blocks and work his way back into a tackle. Uses quick feet and shoulder turn to leverage him into gaps for disruption. Flashes some occasional "quick win" hand work as pass rusher. Has talent and strength to do what he wants on some snaps. Can generate a heavy pocket push when he gets some knee bend going. Sure fire tackler with vision and agility to scrape down line of scrimmage and clean up runners working through line of scrimmage. Weaknesses: Will lockout his long legs on too many snaps. Upright play style limits his leverage and balance against down blocks. Motor will run out of gas if he's forced to chase after play for very long. Average ball instincts. Change of direction can be inconsistent due to pad level. Flashes pass rush talent, but too content to lay on blockers when early rush fizzles.
Deshun Jones (212 TPE, Run stuffer, Dallas) at 6’5” and 310 lbs. Able to pack plenty of strength into his well-built frame. Plays with bend, leverage and plus core power. Two-gap machine who can eat blocks and come back for more. Rarely beaten at point of attack by single blocks. As an edge setter, grows roots and prevents running lanes from developing in gaps. Has catcher’s mitts for hands. Arms are a little short for the position but his hand quickness into blocker’s frame and instant arm extension make his arm length irrelevant. Engages, controls and slides down the line looking to finish the run before it gets started. Great vision and instincts to find ball quickly. Reads running back’s lane choice and discards blocker with excellent timing. Weaknesses: Is a little late out of his stance off the snap. Must learn to consistently fire hands out as weapons. Slow to transition from run stopper to pass rusher when teams throw on first down. Pad level rises and legs straighten out as pass rusher. Base will narrow, slowing momentum and limiting full potential of his bull rush. Hasn't learned to set up offensive linemen or string together pass-rush moves yet. Doesn't always play to capacity and pursuit is lacking when play heads away from him. Still very raw. Wins with physical tools over skill.
Mo “Mamba” Magic (201 TPE, Balanced, Minnesota) at 6’ 3” and 305 lbs. Can come off the snap with low pad level and make initial penetration with leverage into the gap. Is a different player when his motor is right. Shows some disruptive qualities when he commits to the attack. Rushes passer with head fakes and stutter steps that create uncertainty in blockers. Bends well for a big man and has ability to play with leverage. Space-eater who is able to maintain good positioning against double teams. Consistently gets his hands inside offensive linemen first. Controls, sees it and sheds to make tackles. Surprising ability to swat cut blocks and chase stretch plays laterally. Has the strength and athleticism to dominate in the running game. Weaknesses: Despite girth and leverage potential, can be a little inconsistent at getting push off snap. Dominates lesser centers but doesn't seem to look nearly as dominant against more talented centers.
Big Edd (190 TPE, Interior rusher, Dallas) at 6’ 5” and 310 lbs. Supremely gifted interior lineman with length, athleticism and elite power. Lined up just about everywhere along the line at one point or another. Able to jolt offensive linemen with powerful hands and is extremely hard to redirect for offensive linemen once he gets going downhill. Explosive hip snap to leverage blockers and is rarely moved from his gap. Often a read-and-react two-gapper and plays peek-a-boo with running backs while discarding blockers at will when he's ready to tackle. Too much play strength for zone blockers to cross-face him. Fires out with low pad level when playing the run and is difficult to submarine on short yardage. Has feet and brute force to recover and get back into a play after being beaten early. Dangerous pass rusher from twist game, showing big closing burst. Effort rusher who will eventually get home if single-blocked. Beginning to develop spin move as pass-rush counter. Showed intriguing potential as a pass-rushing end in space. Frame able to hold more weight and muscle. Weaknesses: Plays with inconsistent technique. Base can get too wide, causing false steps and issues bracing up against power in run game. May be a bit erratic as there are rumors that he would like to be traded or switch to running back during the middle and end of the season.
Nuniq Annastesia (159 TPE, Interior rusher, Kansas) at 6’ 3” and 306 lbs. Quick off the snap. Natural leverage. Gets under pads and into gaps. Good foot athlete -- redirects well and can work the edges and loop and stunt. Flexible enough to zone drop in short area. Plays with awareness and consistently locates the ball. Closes hard and fast. Keeps working to the ball. Disruptive penetrating ability. Tough and competitive. Team captain with terrific personal and football character. Weaknesses: Marginal height and frame is nearly maxed out. Hands are more active than strong could play with more pop and power. Overpowered in the run game and ground up by double teams. Gets snared and controlled by bigger, longer blockers. Not a two-gap player. Lacks ideal length and bend to play outside.
Hank Steel (146 TPE, Run stuffer, Portland) at 6’ 5” and 310 lbs. Long and well-proportioned. Intriguing height-weight-speed ratio and natural athleticism. Flashes the ability explode off the ball, jolt blockers and disrupt the backfield. Terrific movement, flexibility and range. Loose ankles. Can work the edges. Able to redirect and chase athletically. Fierce tackler. Rare leaping ability for his size. Disrupts passing lanes. Has a "wow" factor at his best. Has immense upside. Weaknesses: Wide gap between physical ability and performance on tape. Green eyes, instincts and understanding of blocking schemes. Motor idles. Too often lets his pads rise and exposes his frame. Does not play to his length. On skates vs. double teams. Hand use needs work. Unsophisticated counters and pass-rush moves. Aimless pass rusher in need of a plan. Still learning to convert speed to power. Does not dominate single blocking. Needs more glass in his diet. Could require simple assignments.
Tristan Gronlie (108 TPE, Nose tackle, London) at 6’5” and 300 lbs. Quick, lateral footwork for plus penetration. Active hands create separation from blockers against the run and help him gain advantage as pass rusher. Rarely gives offensive linemen a static target to strike and it's hard to land a solid, sustained punch on him. Times snap well and fires off the ball. Has ability to sync quickness of hands and feet for early wins along the line of scrimmage. Can transition fluidly from playing the run to rushing passer against play-action. Played defensive tackle and defensive end. Weaknesses: Lacks pure power at point of attack. Must win with hands or he can get pushed off his spot. Pad level rises at times when he's penetrating. Lacks true core strength to maintain base when being redirected by offensive linemen. Gets run around the arc as pass rusher rather than countering back underneath. Lack of length affects ability to finish tackle opportunities.
Claude Miller II (105 TPE, Interior rusher, London) at 6’4” and 301 lbs. Agile and athletic. Can get off snap quickly and has length to fluster interior blockers if coached up. Active interior pass rusher who uses head fakes and foot quickness to open doors to a guard’s edge. Able to string together pass rush moves and counters. At his best on the move. Can be tough to reach and secure for offensive linemen thanks to lateral quickness. When rush has stalled, will gather himself and look to get his hands in the passing lane. Plus change of direction talent and can hound a runner who tries to bounce it outside. Adequate power at the point of attack and has experience as both a one and two gap defender. Productive tackler with extended tackle radius to get in on the action. Will win if consistently single blocked. Weaknesses: Thin from his knees down. Pad level stays high. Looks top-heavy in his play. Upright movements limit effectiveness in twists. Doesn’t own his spot in the grass consistently enough thanks to leverage issues. Needs added strength in lower half and to play with wider base to improve balance.
Godrick Fallstrum (79 TPE, Nose tackle, Norfolk) at 6’ 4” and 308 lbs. Plays with a wide, strong base. Has power in his lower half. Able to brace up against double teams and eat up blocks. Uses good pursuit angles and has adequate lateral quickness against the run. Plays with effort and was part of an aggressive defense. Weaknesses: Legs straighten out and his pad level rises too often at contact. At times he's too locked in on backfield rather than handling the task at hand especially on stunts. Poor pass-rush skills. Uses just a bull rush and will stall out if he isn't winning within the first couple of seconds of the snap. Hand usage and placement aren't where they need to be.
Tristan Gronlie (108 TPE, Nose tackle, London) at 6’5” and 300 lbs. Quick, lateral footwork for plus penetration. Active hands create separation from blockers against the run and help him gain advantage as pass rusher. Rarely gives offensive linemen a static target to strike and it's hard to land a solid, sustained punch on him. Times snap well and fires off the ball. Has ability to sync quickness of hands and feet for early wins along the line of scrimmage. Can transition fluidly from playing the run to rushing passer against play-action. Played defensive tackle and defensive end. Weaknesses: Lacks pure power at point of attack. Must win with hands or he can get pushed off his spot. Pad level rises at times when he's penetrating. Lacks true core strength to maintain base when being redirected by offensive linemen. Gets run around the arc as pass rusher rather than countering back underneath. Lack of length affects ability to finish tackle opportunities.
Claude Miller II (105 TPE, Interior rusher, London) at 6’4” and 301 lbs. Agile and athletic. Can get off snap quickly and has length to fluster interior blockers if coached up. Active interior pass rusher who uses head fakes and foot quickness to open doors to a guard’s edge. Able to string together pass rush moves and counters. At his best on the move. Can be tough to reach and secure for offensive linemen thanks to lateral quickness. When rush has stalled, will gather himself and look to get his hands in the passing lane. Plus change of direction talent and can hound a runner who tries to bounce it outside. Adequate power at the point of attack and has experience as both a one and two gap defender. Productive tackler with extended tackle radius to get in on the action. Will win if consistently single blocked. Weaknesses: Thin from his knees down. Pad level stays high. Looks top-heavy in his play. Upright movements limit effectiveness in twists. Doesn’t own his spot in the grass consistently enough thanks to leverage issues. Needs added strength in lower half and to play with wider base to improve balance.
Godrick Fallstrum (79 TPE, Nose tackle, Norfolk) at 6’ 4” and 308 lbs. Plays with a wide, strong base. Has power in his lower half. Able to brace up against double teams and eat up blocks. Uses good pursuit angles and has adequate lateral quickness against the run. Plays with effort and was part of an aggressive defense. Weaknesses: Legs straighten out and his pad level rises too often at contact. At times he's too locked in on backfield rather than handling the task at hand especially on stunts. Poor pass-rush skills. Uses just a bull rush and will stall out if he isn't winning within the first couple of seconds of the snap. Hand usage and placement aren't where they need to be.