Drafted by Cowboys 5th Round - Pick 178 - DT John Ridgeway (Arkansas)

[BrAinPaiNt]

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Meh, folks will get excited because they recognize the name but he's a limited athlete. Basically doubled up on Q. Bohanna

 

[RS12]

Hard to move run stuffer that they need. Can push the pocket.

 

[marchetta]

https://www.thehuddlereport.com/blog/?p=2373

John Ridgeway DL/DT Arkansas
by Drew Boylhart • March 1, 2022

STRENGTHS
John is a big, strong, powerful, long arm Defensive Lineman. He has that natural strength that most offensive linemen will struggle to match no matter how many times they can lift 225 lbs in a workout. John has the ability to easily shed a block make a tackle between the hash marks because of his long arms. He uses excellent hand techniques to defeat the offensive lineman he is up against. John shows the good solid feet and the balance needed to push the pocket and that means he demands a double team on just about any down and distance. If you don’t double team him he will make a play. He will either make a tackle or disrupt the rhythm of the play or knock the pass down because of his height and long arms.

CONCERNS
John will collapse the pocket and QB’s hoping to move up in the pocket on passing downs will find him sitting there waiting for them. Otherwise, he is not going to give you much of a pass rush. He has excellent quickness but not much footspeed outside of the hash marks but then again, isn’t that why there are ten other players on the field? John will be pigeonholed as a Nose Tackle and that might affect his draft status. Nevertheless, he can play either tackle position and impact in any defensive front because you still will need to double team him.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.03
Defensive Linemen who can collapse the pocket and stop the run between the hash marks are as much value to a Defense as a good center is to an offense. Since I consider offensive center as one of the skill positions, I’m guessing you might guess what I think of the tackle position on Defense. That’s right I consider it as one of the skill positions for the defense. You will not have a consistent pass rush unless your team has a defensive tackle that demands the double team. Double-teaming John will allow your Edge Rushes to go one on one on the outside. Usually, players who will be rotated, and not used on third downs to rush the passer, will not be valued as high as I value them. All I can say to that is…if you want to get the other team’s offense off the field on third down then John will have to be on the field. The minute a good offensive coordinator see’s that John is not on the field on third downs then you get bet, on third and eight, he will call a play that runs the ball up the middle. Or on third and eight he will call for the deep pass because the QB can step up in the pocket, giving him more time to extend the play and complete the deep pass. Rotating Defensive linemen does keep them fresh but, it also gives the play-caller more options on third and long downs.

 

[freemanjc19]

Meh, folks will get excited because they recognize the name but he's a limited athlete. Basically doubled up on Q. Bohanna

You don't know what you're talking about!

 

[BobSacamano]

He’s Travis Frederick fast.

 

[TWOK11]

Meh, folks will get excited because they recognize the name but he's a limited athlete. Basically doubled up on Q. Bohanna

There are only three kinds of players this late in the draft:

Players with injury or character concerns
Good football players with limited athleticism
Good athletes with raw football skills

You aren’t going to find a healthy, well rounded splayed in the fifth round.

 

[DallasEast]

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/john-ridgeway/32005249-4433-4254-703d-fca6e7bb2ee9

Overview

College nose tackle with the size and length for consideration along the interior or as an odd front defensive end. Ridgeway is more wrestler than gap-eater when taking on blocks as a nose. He's likely to be coveted by traits-based evaluators eager to develop the physical ingredients into a more polished product. While most of his experience has come at nose tackle, the sum of his parts might make more sense as a 3-4 defensive end, where his long arms and natural power would become more beneficial as an edge-setter. Regardless of position, he won't offer much help as a pass rusher, so rotational lineman with upside is likely to become his tag as a Day 3 prospect.

Strengths

• Impressive physical measurements.
• Long arms and big hands.
• State champion wrestler with core strength and lean mass.
• Room for marked improvement with additional technique work.
• Adequate pad level into double teams.
• Better reactive athleticism than expected when runner tests his gaps.
• Push rusher but seeks out early access to blocker's edge.

Weaknesses

• Lumbering get-off as pass rusher.
• Rarely see rush counters and secondary rush falls flat.
• Knocked off of his base by down blocks.
• Failed to defend gaps effectively against Georgia's physical front.
• Ends up on the ground too often.
• More mauler than technician with hand usage.

 

[beware_d-ware]

He's our normal JAG-ey 1 tech. You've got to keep a stockpile of Carlos Watkins and Justin Hamilton type guys around, and Ridgeway will do that, but I really wish we'd pick a difference maker some year.

 

[reddyuta]

dont care about his athletic ability,if Ridgeway can stop the run on early downs then our D will take the next step.

 

[KJJ]

Hard to move run stuffer that they need. Can push the pocket.

We’ll see about that this summer and during the season if he even makes the team.

 

[ItzKelz]

 

[Loso86]

Meh, folks will get excited because they recognize the name but he's a limited athlete. Basically doubled up on Q. Bohanna

Nah he's alot harder to move

 

[KJJ]

We’re drafting the positions we need we just have to wait and see if any of these players turn out to be any good.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Most one techs aren't difference makers. Meaning they're not going to fill up the stat sheet. That's why drafting a guy like Jordan Davis in the 1st makes no sense to me. If they played equal downs Davis' and Ridgeway's stats would look very similar.

 

[Sheepherder]

There are only three kinds of players this late in the draft:

Players with injury or character concerns
Good football players with limited athleticism
Good athletes with raw football skills

You aren’t going to find a healthy, well rounded splayed in the fifth round.

Really! Did you not know dallas drafted Leon Lett in the seventh round.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Meh, folks will get excited because they recognize the name but he's a limited athlete. Basically doubled up on Q. Bohanna

John Ridgeway!!!!!!!!

 

[darthseinfeld]

 

[IceStar-D7]

I looked way back into Dallas lore...Could this guy be Danny Nonan 2.0??? Hopefully alot better.

 

[RS12]

We’ll see about that this summer and during the season if he even makes the team.

All things being equal and everybody healthy, I d say Bohanna less likely to the team than Ridgeway.