Espenesa as a 3 Technique

[CATCH17]

Any chance this would work?

I just look at this guy and don't see him as a Right end in a 4-3.. He just gets stuck on blocks..

He plays hard and he is big.. That is really most of what he has going for him.

Maybe as a 3 tech he could provide a better pass rush inside but in this Iowa games i'm watching they do kick him inside some and I still don't see a player that has pass rush great traits for that position either.

To me his best position looks like a 4-3 Left End or a 3-4 DE.

 

[805BoysInBlue]

I think he only weighs 250 or 260. That wouldn't work

 

[CATCH17]

I think he only weighs 250 or 260. That wouldn't work

I've seen him listed at 280.

 

[beware_d-ware]

If he checks in at 280, that means he'll be playing about 30 pounds lighter than your average guard. If you guys thought Collins and Crawford were light in the britches, you're really not going to like Epenesa at 3T.

I think his best base position is as a 4-3 left end, but he can play pretty much technique on the line except NT. 3 through 7, I think he's got that. You don't want him banging around with guards on 20 run plays a game at 3T, but he can rush them on 3rd on 8. He'll be at his best if he's on the move - similar guys with a tweener frame like his such as Crawford, Bennett, Cam Jordan, etc have done that and succeeded.

And as far as "big and plays hard is all he's got going for him", have you seen how heavy his hands are, dude? I don't even like him, but he's got some of the best upper body strength I've seen from a DE in a while.

 

[Future]

Why can't he just play RE? It's not like you have to be a Robert Quinn type speed rusher to be effective there in today's game.

If his problem is that he gets stuck on blocks, moving him inside won't help anything.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Why can't he just play RE? It's not like you have to be a Robert Quinn type speed rusher to be effective there in today's game.

If his problem is that he gets stuck on blocks, moving him inside won't help anything.

Speed definitely help at both DE spots. If you can't beat tackles with speed, they will just sit on your bull rush, and most of them are pretty strong dudes themselves.

Crawford was a zero rushing from DE because he didn't have the speed, although he was strong enough to hold up to them in run defense. When they knew what was coming, he didn't have any more tricks in his bag.

He did have a good enough first step to get by guards though, and so he could be a pretty effective pass rusher on the inside. The problem was then that teams could hit him with combo blocks that he couldn't hold up to at 6'3" 285 and he'd get washed out if you ran straight at him. Classic tweener.

So IMO, a good tweener is when you have traits that can win at both spots. Cam Jordan is quick and powerful enough to deal with tackles, and way too fast to stop on the inside. Bennett is ridiculously explosive at both spots, so even though he's a liability at run defense, you kick him inside on obvious pass plays and tell guards to have fun trying to block him. With Epenesa, the question is does he have traits that can win at both spots, or is he going to be an Adrian Clayborn or Tyrone Crawford type who's just going to be mediocre.

 

[Sydla]

He's Tyrone Crawford II IMO.

 

[CATCH17]

Why can't he just play RE? It's not like you have to be a Robert Quinn type speed rusher to be effective there in today's game.

If his problem is that he gets stuck on blocks, moving him inside won't help anything.

Maybe, but I don't really see him bending the edge and getting off blocks either.

I would love to have him on our team but a first rounder seems rich for what he provides.


I do struggle evaluating big D End's so I could be off on this player but I think the Tyrone Crawford comparisons are spot on.

 

[Future]

Maybe, but I don't really see him bending the edge and getting off blocks either.

I would love to have him on our team but a first rounder seems rich for what he provides.


I do struggle evaluating big D End's so I could be off on this player but I think the Tyrone Crawford comparisons are spot on.

Right, but I don't think "bending" is necessarily a disqualifier.

He's a lot more violent than Crawford. The thing they have in common is being kind of a tweener, but he's got a higher ceiling.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I get the Crawford comparison, but man he just looks so much stronger and disruptive to me. His hands look like he's swinging clubs. I think he's a 4-3 RDE and a good one.

 

[CATCH17]

I get the Crawford comparison, but man he just looks so much stronger and disruptive to me. His hands look like he's swinging clubs. I think he's a 4-3 RDE and a good one.

Do you have a particular game you like of his?

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

Just the ones I watched, I don't pretend to watch film of players. He was dominant in both the 2019 vs. Minnesota and @ Nebraska games. I admittedly have a bit of a thing for Iowa players. They just always seem to pan out.

 

[KDM256]

Other than Bull Rush, What other moves Espenesa has to get in the backfield? Because looking at the film that is all I see from him.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

We aren’t doing this again. I don’t care what scheme what position blah blah. Give me some quality lineman. We passed on watt because of this none sense if they do it again I’ll lose my mind. Epenesa is instant your 2nd best lineman if we get him. We had SCRUBS last year.

 

[1LoyalCowboyFan]

He's Tyrone Crawford II IMO.

woah now that’s a vivid image that will shake me if he’s there and he’s the pick. Everyone has been so high on him. If he was comparable to TC that would suck lol

 

[Alexander]

It could. He has strong hands and power he can use. I don't know if it was you, but somebody compared him to Crawford. I like that comp. It is not a negative. That kind of player could become what Hatcher was in his glory year.

 

[dallas72]

I get the Crawford comparison, but man he just looks so much stronger and disruptive to me. His hands look like he's swinging clubs. I think he's a 4-3 RDE and a good one.

Reggie White had 0 bend..

 

[Carson]

It could. He has strong hands and power he can use. I don't know if it was you, but somebody compared him to Crawford. I like that comp. It is not a negative. That kind of player could become what Hatcher was in his glory year.

I like the comparison as well. My only gripe is that Crawford and Hatcher were third rounders and played well. I hope at 17 we can find an impact guy. But solid, guys who produce are never bad players to draft

 

[CATCH17]

I like the comparison as well. My only gripe is that Crawford and Hatcher were third rounders and played well. I hope at 17 we can find an impact guy. But solid, guys who produce are never bad players to draft

I don't like drafting solid players in the 1st round.. I like to try and strike gold with that pick..

Give me great athlete/good or great football player in round 1. Then in round 2 I will take good athlete / Great football player.

I want upside.

Give me LVE / Byron Jones freak athlete types that you can coach up.