Bucky Brooks of NFL.com: Are one-year wonders Bowers, Newton & Fairley worth the risk

[cowboyjoe]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ders-bowers-newton-and-fairley-worth-the-risk

Fairley is also under scrutiny after exploding onto the scene in 2010. He completely dominated the SEC as an interior defender, and a quick look at the stat sheet reveals his tremendous impact. He finished with 11.5 sacks, 24 tackles for a loss and 60 tackles last season. Those numbers are impressive for a defender at any position, but even more remarkable when considering that Fairley faced double teams on a consistent basis from his three-technique spot.

Breaking down Fairley's game on film, he is best described as a big, physical playmaker with outstanding strength and power. He simply overwhelms blockers with his brute force, routinely finding a way to be disruptive in the backfield. He has a strong nose for the ball and has a knack for making timely plays.

Fairley shows exceptional first-step quickness as a pass rusher and his combination of speed and athleticism makes him difficult to contain in one-on-one matchups. He completely took over games against LSU, Alabama, South Carolina and Oregon, leaving little doubt about who was the most dominant player on the field.

 

[28 Joker]

Cam Newton will go number 1, I predict.

 

[kmp77]

Cam Newton will go number 1, I predict.

Depends....is the Panthers front office dumb or smart?

 

[dwmyers]

Joe,

Nice catch. When I think of one year wonders I think of Kris Jenkins. Great when he was healthy and on the field, but he's had plenty of dings and nicks and seasons lost due to injury. He only had one good year at Maryland and was very widely ranked (1st to 7th), but his measurables were unreal.

I wonder how Jenkins compared as a draft value to Marcus Stroud (Early first rounder, very powerful but kind of stiff). If someone were to come out with a stat like DVOA or "Win Shares" for football and do it for whole careers, I'd love to see Stroud mapped against Jenkins.

Do the PFF people do whole career stats?

back to point: I think Fairly could end up with a Jenkins-esque career. Bowers looks great if his body holds up, the measurables are there. Cam's *the* great question mark of the draft.

David.

 

[dbair1967]

It definitely has to be considered, along with everything else.

It would definitely be more a little more of a factor when considering 1 of them in the top 10. If you swing and miss there, it really hurts. You swong and miss on a guy in the 20's, not so much.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Broaddus was saying the other day there was some talk that Fairley could drop some because he definitely takes plays off. (I assume he means plays on the field and not plays where he's huffing and puffing on the sideline.)

He's said for months that there would be character concerns with this guy.

 

[AsthmaField]

Broaddus was saying the other day there was some talk that Fairley could drop some because he definitely takes plays off. (I assume he means plays on the field and not plays where he's huffing and puffing on the sideline.)

He's said for months that there would be character concerns with this guy.

I hope he falls to us because I'd take him in a second.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Joe,

Nice catch. When I think of one year wonders I think of Kris Jenkins. Great when he was healthy and on the field, but he's had plenty of dings and nicks and seasons lost due to injury. He only had one good year at Maryland and was very widely ranked (1st to 7th), but his measurables were unreal.

I wonder how Jenkins compared as a draft value to Marcus Stroud (Early first rounder, very powerful but kind of stiff). If someone were to come out with a stat like DVOA or "Win Shares" for football and do it for whole careers, I'd love to see Stroud mapped against Jenkins.

Do the PFF people do whole career stats?

back to point: I think Fairly could end up with a Jenkins-esque career. Bowers looks great if his body holds up, the measurables are there. Cam's *the* great question mark of the draft.

David.

thats why i wouldnt take either one, its like when parcells always said, how does the player produce on the field. Then parcells forgot his own criteria when scouts stood up on the table and told parcells not to take jacob rogers, was a injury prone player. Parcells didnt listen and rest is history.

You are what you are, and what you generally see on the field is the player,

so best way i look at it, if some teams take fairley, cam and bowers early, that will push hopefully a player down to us in 1st and 2nd round, so we can get some players to help this team immediately

 

[speedkilz88]

He finished with 11.5 sacks, 24 tackles for a loss and 60 tackles last season.

If that's taking plays off then what the heck would Fairly have done if he had a non stop motor?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Oh, I know. He was a dominant player. I'm sure the fear is that he has some Haynesworth in him.

 

[speedkilz88]

Oh, I know. He was a dominant player. I'm sure the fear is that he has some Haynesworth in him.

I think he would be a great fit with the Cowboys with Rat there to mentor him. I've already read that Rat has shown him some of his pass rush techniques that contributed to his success.

 

[realtick]

Depends....is the Panthers front office dumb or smart?

I'd put my money on dumb. This is the same organization that signed Jake Delhomme to an extension after coming off one of the worst playoff meltdowns in NFL history.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think he would be a great fit with the Cowboys with Rat there to mentor him. I've already read that Rat has shown him some of his pass rush techniques that contributed to his success.

Interesting, I didn't know that...

I seriously doubt we'd pass on Fairley if we got a chance. But I doubt he gets anywhere near us anyway.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Interesting, I didn't know that...

I seriously doubt we'd pass on Fairley if we got a chance. But I doubt he gets anywhere near us anyway.

Yeah, and I don't see how we could pass on him. He has shown when the 'lights are on' that he can be a game changer. Those are hard to find.

Something that is ignored on occasion is the guy that has another level. Sure the consistent guy that produces is always a good thing, but the guy that if you are in a tight spot in an important game situation who can really just take it to another level....can be priceless.

 

[UnoDallas]

Cam Newton will go number 1, I predict.

I predict P Petersen or Dareous

because they still don't know what the got in Clausen

and now they have a new D coach in Riveria

I say Cam falls to Washington - an of course they will pick him

 

[speedkilz88]

If that scenario were to happen, that would give the Cowboys two defensive linemen from Auburn, the other being three-time Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff, who is no stranger to Fairley.

Before the start of last season, Fairley said Ratliff not only came back to Auburn for a visit, but had some on-field teaching with the soon-to-be draft pick.

"He's not just a great guy, he's really a great player. He came back to Auburn last year for a little bit and he helped me a lot," Fairley said. "He was able to work with me on a lot of things - my hands, my feet. I think it really helped me last year."

Something must have helped Fairley, who went from having one sack and 28 tackles in 2009, to 12 sacks and 56 tackles last year while anchoring Auburn's stingy defense.

To get by, Ratliff has relied on his technique - something Fairley said was stressed often by Ratliff.

"Jay is the kind of guy who wants you to get better," Fairley said. "He worked with me on some moves and my technique. He's not really a huge tackle, but he plays that way. He has great technique to be able to play inside."

Wherever Fairley ends up in the April draft, he said he will continue to stay in touch with Ratliff.

"I consider him to be a good friend. The Auburn guys like to stick together," Fairley said. "A lot of guys come back every now and then. I've met him a few times. He's a good Auburn guy, for sure, and a friend."

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=A1ED7EE5-B3F1-E9B8-E7DE50C03C1215E5

 

[dbair1967]

I think he would be a great fit with the Cowboys with Rat there to mentor him. I've already read that Rat has shown him some of his pass rush techniques that contributed to his success.

I think he may end up a good player as long as he applies himself, but I dont see the fit here, or with anyone else that plays a 3-4 scheme most of the time.

He's a 4-3 DT and thats where he'd maximize his skills. I think he'd be road kill in the 3-4.

 

[speedkilz88]

I think he may end up a good player as long as he applies himself, but I dont see the fit here, or with anyone else that plays a 3-4 scheme most of the time.

He's a 4-3 DT and thats where he'd maximize his skills. I think he'd be road kill in the 3-4.

That's just silly. The guy shows dominant ability. He's similar size to Ratliff and will most likely get bigger. The steelers have Brett Keisel at end and he's only 285. Fairley is a guy that could play all three positions and make it difficult for teams to double him, Ware, and Ratliff.

 

[dbair1967]

That's just silly. The guy shows dominant ability. He's similar size to Ratliff and will most likely get bigger. The steelers have Brett Keisel at end and he's only 285. Fairley is a guy that could play all three positions and make it difficult for teams to double him, Ware, and Ratliff.

Could he play int he 3-4? Sure. Would it be the best fit for his talent, absolutely not.

 

[burmafrd]

He is not really big enough for the 3-4 at 291 these days. He would be like Rat and get worn down.