Broaddus Changing His Tune on Ealy...

[jterrell]

I mean what are you not buying? That his scheme didn't ask him to be a pass rusher 1st? It's the same thing with Jernigan, people get this misconception that they are slow and not pass rushers at all because they didn't fire off the ball with only getting to the QB in mind in college like someone like Donald. Just not the case in my opinion. Ealy's 3 cone time was elite and his 20 yard shuttle time was only .02 behind Clowney's. That's pretty hard to ignore and say he can't get up field and get after the QB just because it wasn't his primary job in college.

Lots of guys with great workout times are terrible on the field.
Remember Mike Mamula?

Guys train at these drills and can boss them. But they dont do them in pads and they don't do them with an OL between them and a ball carrier.

Ealy is a big and fast guy but he didn't show a power game really. And he didn't show elite get off.
Blockers regularly got to his pads and he would stand up with them then release and chase things down.
Not due to scheme but due to the way he played the game.

This is NFL.com analysis.

Analysis
Strengths
Is long and has a big, projectable frame with room for added bulk. Quick off the snap. Loose athlete -- moves like a linebacker. Plays on his feet. Runs the arc -- dips his shoulder, bends the corner and gets home. Closes fast on the quarterback. Can spin off blocks, redirect and chase the quarterback. Crashes down the line and ranges in pursuit. Flexible and coordinated to zone-drop. Has upside.

Weaknesses
Needs more time in the weight room. Still developing positional instincts and awareness to blocking schemes. Pad level is too high. Exposes his frame and gets locked up. Does not convert speed to power. Unrefined hand use, counters and pass-rush moves. Needs to learn to use his length advantageously. Does not provide enough resistance at the point of attack. Crumbles vs. double teams.

Draft Projection
Rounds 2-3

Bottom Line
Big, athletic, ascending, pass-rush talent with the size, burst and flexibility to pressurize the edge as a right defensive end. Is not a finished product, particularly as a run defender, but should only become more disruptive as his strength, technique and savvy catch up with his natural physical ability. Could also draw looks as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

 

[jterrell]

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/4/8/5566396/kony-ealy-scouting-report-2014-nfl-draft

Good, but harsh write-up by a former NFL DE.

 

[AsthmaField]

Decent target late in r1 IMHO.

Very late 1 IMO.

Honestly, I wouldn't want him anywhere in the first unless you're talking the last couple of picks. In the second, I would be interested, but I just don't like the guy a whole lot. I can think of guys that I'd much rather have that will be there late 1st - early 2nd.

 

[LatinMind]

Very possible the stance softening came after speaking with a Cowboys scout. He still has a buddy or two in the building.

Ealy's combine numbers are great but his film is no where near worth 16.

Decent target late in r1 IMHO. Slightly lesser Spencer. Might take 3 years to be a plus player.

Ealy got almost all the attention this yr and Sam reaped the rewards

 

[tm1119]

Lots of guys with great workout times are terrible on the field.
Remember Mike Mamula?

Guys train at these drills and can boss them. But they dont do them in pads and they don't do them with an OL between them and a ball carrier.

Ealy is a big and fast guy but he didn't show a power game really. And he didn't show elite get off.
Blockers regularly got to his pads and he would stand up with them then release and chase things down.
Not due to scheme but due to the way he played the game.

This is NFL.com analysis.

Analysis
Strengths
Is long and has a big, projectable frame with room for added bulk. Quick off the snap. Loose athlete -- moves like a linebacker. Plays on his feet. Runs the arc -- dips his shoulder, bends the corner and gets home. Closes fast on the quarterback. Can spin off blocks, redirect and chase the quarterback. Crashes down the line and ranges in pursuit. Flexible and coordinated to zone-drop. Has upside.

Weaknesses
Needs more time in the weight room. Still developing positional instincts and awareness to blocking schemes. Pad level is too high. Exposes his frame and gets locked up. Does not convert speed to power. Unrefined hand use, counters and pass-rush moves. Needs to learn to use his length advantageously. Does not provide enough resistance at the point of attack. Crumbles vs. double teams.

Draft Projection
Rounds 2-3

Bottom Line
Big, athletic, ascending, pass-rush talent with the size, burst and flexibility to pressurize the edge as a right defensive end. Is not a finished product, particularly as a run defender, but should only become more disruptive as his strength, technique and savvy catch up with his natural physical ability. Could also draw looks as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

You act like Ealy did nothing in college. He was pretty damn good actually.

Nfl.com doesn't like anybody. Ever read Donald's bio from there? Apparently they only think he's a rotational 3 tech. They actually gave Ealy a better grade than Donald

Scouts Inc compares Ealy to Robert Quinn and praises his burst with pro bowls in his future.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737527/kony-ealy

 

[xwalker]

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/4/8/5566396/kony-ealy-scouting-report-2014-nfl-draft

Good, but harsh write-up by a former NFL DE.

That was a good read.

 

[xwalker]

This guy Stephen White has some other good analysis of some draft prospects.

http://www.sbnation.com/authors/stephen-white

 

[AsthmaField]

For a while I felt like I was the only one not impressed by Ealy, so I'm glad to see some others who don't like him that much.

I wish I liked him because he is at a big-time position of need for Dallas, but I just don't think he's anything special on the football field. He's pretty big and athletic but I don't see it being translated on the football field.

Maybe Marinelli sees something that he likes in the guy, and he certainly knows how to get guys that fit his system... but if you asked me, I'd say second round player at best.

 

[supercowboy8]

I don't think he has a reversal on ealy. Just how he fits as a DT. He still doesn't like him as a DE but thinks his best fit is a 3 tech DT.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

All that means is that honestly, he is not that great at any one thing. I would not take a player like that at #16 overall. Now if he is around in the second, yes, he was productive enough to merit consideration.

Agreed. Any player that can play any of three defensive line positions is almost guaranteed not to be outstanding at any of them... And not worth picking at #16.

 

[Muhast]

If you watch the guy come of the line 5 times you can tell hes slow off the ball. Has no burst.

What I really like about Ealy is that he gets his arms up, and bats down balls. Sorta JJ Watt,Julius Peppers,JPP in that regard. Not as an all around player, but I do really like that.

 

[Alexander]

I say "no" to Ealy at 16. I'm a bit surprised it's even a consideration given the other possibilities.

If he is, it shows we have learned nothing about the value of drafting better. There is no way you could ever convince me that Kony Ealy is the 16th best player in this draft.

 

[TheFinisher]

Probably the one possible pick at 16 that I would absolutely hate.

 

[jterrell]

various:
It is absolutely a reversal on Ealy as he says (in twitter replies) he'd have to be considered at 16... which is completely different from him saying Ealy was a round 2/3 guy after studying the DL a month ago.
While it is just tea leaf reading to suggest he got info from inside the team, it isn't absurd and actually makes a lot of sense.
You don't take a r2 DL and bump him up a round because he can play some 3T in a pinch.
But if you are speaking to fans of a team you are paid to cover it makes sense to take closer looks at what those guys hand you.
Not gonna keep many scouting buddies if you bag on their pet cats before they are even drafted.

The analysis linked above isn't scouts inc it is rob rang of cbssports/nfldraftscout and what he talks about is the upside potential of Ealy. Same as everyone else.

Ealy's combine wasn't great or even good. He was a top performer in all of 1 drill. His 40 was almost terrible and well below Aaron Donald who is a pure 3T.
It was about Larry Allen level.

There is a lot to like about Ealy. He is big, has played in the highest levels of college football. Can get to the QB, if not with great technique.
But he isn't a top 20 pick in this insanely deep class IMHO. I think he is a 25-35 type guy. Probably not a starter year 1 and I'd compare him with Tyrone Crawford to be honest.

Crawford
6'4"
275
4.89 40
28 reps
33" vert

Ealy
6'4"
273
4.92 40
31 vert
22 reps

Ealy did have a tremendous 3 cone drill time.

 

[jterrell]

Ealy got almost all the attention this yr and Sam reaped the rewards

thats completely and patently untrue.

sam was simply a better rush end at missou.
which is why ealy played DT some and also dropped in coverage some.
sam simply rushed.

sam being gay doesnt change reality.

 

[LatinMind]

thats completely and patently untrue.

sam was simply a better rush end at missou.
which is why ealy played DT some and also dropped in coverage some.
sam simply rushed.

sam being gay doesnt change reality.

i dont know why u brought up the gay issue. i didnt mention it

Ealy played everywhere because he's that versatile. Because Sam couldnt. Thats why Ealy has a RD1 grade and Sam probably will be a 7th round pick if that.