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

[LittleD]

This guy was on the radio with DC.com draft room and was ready to start breaking necks. He's mean, nasty and wants to hurt people. If he can back up his talk, we got something there we haven't had for years. That's one big hog ready to
root.

 

[Nexx]

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.

difference maker in the 5th round... oxymoron

 

[Captain-Crash]

While demonstrating impressing upper body strength, Ridgeway doesn’t always show good lower body power. He struggles to anchor against more powerful offensive linemen. As a result, he can be forced backward from the line of scrimmage more regularly than you’d like to see.

Ridgeway showcases a high motor and some lateral agility. Despite this, he has some athletic limitations. The Arkansas DT doesn’t have the fast footwork of some of his contemporaries at the position in this 2022 NFL Draft class. Furthermore, he doesn’t possess the versatility of some DTs in the class. His experience is effectively limited to the nose tackle position.

not bad

 

[blueblood70]

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.

that wresting background helped Osi, so im very interested in this pick..them 2 in the middle side by side ..man..wwe look out!

 

[blueblood70]

difference maker in the 5th round... oxymoron

so no one ever passed the 3rd round are good ever or later rounds like Tom brady..how about UDFA in the HOF i guess you so called experts dont realize you can find gems late..so just morron for you..you need oxi to calm the flip down..

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Bohanna doesn't play with strength or power, he uses speed and quickness. Bo is a big bodied 3tch, IMO. But you pare those guys together and we'll definitely be better against the run up the middle.

 

[ChuckA1]

you trying to tell me OSi and Gallimore were NEVER doubled and never created middle pressure, I say you are dead faced liar. i saw they both did that plenty last year..? Ridgeway will not be 3rd down pass guy so that moot if hes run stopper..

I never said that in my post

 

[blueblood70]

I never said that in my post

you insinuated it for sure.. ridgeway wont be on the field many pass plays so your statement while holds validity wont happen often,.OSI and Gallimore are our #1 interior DL on pass plays..thats fact so this pick is a run stopping NT not middle pushing qb funneling player as you did state.

 

[fivetwos]

they will both make it we need beef inside and this is a rotational era and im not giving up on BO but heard Ridgeway way more developed and is better player.

Yep, Ridgeway means no Urban returning.

Watkins and Bohanna are ahead for now.

 

[ChuckA1]

you insinuated it for sure.. ridgeway wont be on the field many pass plays so your statement while holds validity wont happen often,.OSI and Gallimore are our #1 interior DL on pass plays..thats fact so this pick is a run stopping NT not middle pushing qb funneling player as you did state.

The quote came straight out of his review posted by the OP. Normally, I'll come straight out and state something rather than insinuate it. Far less confusion that way

 

[Nexx]

so no one ever passed the 3rd round are good ever or later rounds like Tom brady..how about UDFA in the HOF i guess you so called experts dont realize you can find gems late..so just morron for you..you need oxi to calm the flip down..

cool story bro

 

[blueblood70]

The quote came straight out of his review posted by the OP. Normally, I'll come straight out and state something rather than insinuate it. Far less confusion that way

not for our team that blanket statement of truth ie generality of the nfl

im saying we have those guys and that wont be Ridgeways job..can i now be clearer of why i corrected your post? Hes not a SUH type at all.

 

[Rayman70]

this guy is exactly what we needed. He is a bad man. A big alpha dawg. Hes been underestimated by many but wont be after camp.

 

[Rayman70]

I saw a few experts mock him as early as rd 3. We stole him. He will have a 10 year career. He plays with violence.

 

[Whyjerry]

Second best pick of the draft.

 

[manster4ever]

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.

CORRECT.....absolutely the truth. They're just not that hard to find. If they were, more would go in the top of the draft. With that being said, what he does and how he does it are still important. I'm liking what I'm reading and seeing about him

 

[RJ_MacReady]

Another fat nose tackle for the team. I'll allow it.

After years and years of Marinellis light in the butt, quick-twitch, high-motor, 1-gap shooting 1DTs getting abused in the running game....I'm glad we've come around the past few years on needing some fat, hard to move, lane-cloggers.

 

[starfan1]

From my hometown hopefully this bloomington ends up better than the last one. The kid from central catholic who was drunk driving some years back. The name eludes me atm

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Here ya go...

 

[rags747]

Natural Strength always outweighs Weightroom Strength, imo of course!