DE - Kenrick Ellis Texas vs The Nation Play by Play

[TheCount]

1st Half

1. Blocked one on one, walks his man into the backfield on a bull rush. Incomplete pass.
2. Blocked one on one again, starts to go inside, reads the run outside and does a good job of shedding the block to flow to the play.
3. 3rd and Long, looks like they pulled him to get a pass rusher in there. Bobbled snap, controlls it and throws it deep, touchdown to Tennessee receiver Moore.

Well that was ridiculous. Returner gets hit and coughs the ball up, Texas recovers and will be back on O.

1. 1st and Goal. Ellis looks liuke a man among boys, he's huge. Fires off and is blocked, runs goes away from him.
2. Rolls inside but the QB rolls out and throws to the flat.
3. 3rd Down, they take him out again to get a rusher in there. This time the pass rushing DT fires through and gets the sack, looks like they've committed to using Ellis strictly on two downs.

Texas up 10 - 0, but the Nation gets a huge run (72 Yards) from Damian Berry (from Miami) for a TD so it's 10 - 7. Already a much better game than the Senior Bowl, certainly more exciting.

1. Looked a little slow off the ball in that play, his blocker does a good job of keeping his feet moving and neutralizes him.
2. Extended his arms to keep the guard off him but seems content to read and react, waits for the pass and then chases after the play.
3. Double teamed for the first time, interesting. He fights but doesn't make much progress, short pass for the first down. He pretty much got too high and tried to finesse his way around the double team instead of using his size to overwhelm the blockers.
4. Taken out for the folowing 1st down.
5. Off the field for the 2nd down as well
6. 3rd down so no point putting him in now I guess, incomplete pass, 4th down punt coming up

1. Ellis still out after Texas picks off UNC's QB, guess they are roating guys.
2. Okay he's back in, back to single blocking, pretty much neutralized. Got off balance with his shoulders facing the sideline for whatever reason.
3. Double teamed again, fighting but not making much progress.
4. Fakes inside and gets pass his man with quickness but then hesitates as he's worried about containing the QB. He had a free run there, perhaps he was a little overly cautious.
5. Taken off for the next play.
6. Out a couple more plays then back in on a 3rd down no less, double teamed but actually does a good job of penetrating with strength this time and stays low, helps put pressure on the QB who throws it away. Texas will kick a FG.

1. Absolutely mauls the lone man blocking him, pushing him 7 yards up field, QB gets the pass of though and Ellis turns immediately to chase the play.
2. Fires off and beasts his man again, reaches a big paw around to latch onto the QB, it's a sack but they blow the play dead to save the QB from any damage before he actually makes it to the ground.
3. They leave him in on 3rd down this time for sure, starts upfield but reads the pass and turns around after the release to try and chase the play down but it's incomplete.

Best series of the game for him so far.

1. Ellis off the field to start the next defensive series, giving some other guys some time.
2. Doesn't get a chance to see the field this series, punt coming up.

1. He's in to start the next series. Double teamed and then the second guy slides off to block upfield for a run, Ellis ends up on the ground.
2. Fires off and gets some penetration to close a hole, RB has to improvise and goes the opposite direction for a short gain.
3. Stunts with the DE next to him and gets a clear path to the QB but the QB passes it quickly for a completetion.
4. Off the field on the next play, minute and a half left in the half.
5. Back in a few plays later, quick dump off pass for a completion.
6. Double teamed and doesn't make much progress, seems to be going back to finesse after strength of leverage worked so well for just a little while ago.
7. Some nice handwork but another quick completion.
8. He's out again and the QB gets sacked.

End of the half.

1. He's out to start the half.
2. Texas comes out running, two good runs to start off the half. Ellis still on the bench.
3. Ellis back in, makes the tackle on a 3rd rushing attempt for a short loss.
4. Drives his man back but doesn't disengage, incomplete pass.
5. Ellis out, 1st down completion.
6. Some more nice hussle from Ellis, disengages and chases after a run that was away from him, he looks almost like a LB chasing after the ball. Very nimble for his size.
7. Plays rolls away from him but he's still fighting to get after it. Nowhere for the QB to go with the ball, 4th down coming up, kicker misses, naturally.

Good series for him, every play he was in, he hustled and tried to affect the outcome with some success.

1. Neutralized at the line by the guard, tries to get his hands up to deflect the pass, it's a wild throw and incomplete.
2. Stunts with the DT next to him, QB attempts to dump it off but the throw was awful
3. 3rd and 10, Ellis in. Fumbled snap, Ellis walks his man 8 yards back and then tosses him like a child, a team mate falls on the ball and Nation has it.

• Another missed FG, gives Texas back the ball. Ellis out to start the next defensive series and Texas gets a nice run.
• Ellis back in after a deep incompletion. Gets great penetration but thinks it was too easy and turns around to look for the screen, QB still has the ball and completes a nice pass to the sideline for 15 or so.
• Uses strength to get some penetration, sees the run going away from him and spins to the opposite side to tackle the RB for a 3 yard loss.
• A little slow off the ball, extends hands to keep guard off him but doesnt do much else. QB throws deep, receiver wide open but they don't connect.
• He's off the field for third and long, pass rushers in and they come up with a sack. Punt coming up.

Powe's in this game too and I have been mostly unimpressed, but of course as soon as I say that he somehow gets a free release and makes a tackle for a loss. LeGree in this game as well but only saw him once giving a team mate a low five.

1. Ellis out to start next defensive series.
2. After a huge catch and run by Auburn RB Mario Fannin (he's a gamer), Ellis is finally in. Stays low, holds his ground and the shifts off to help tackle the RB on 1st and goal.
3. Gets caught in trash, but his team mates swarm to make the stop for a loss. (Legree sighting! Celebrating after making the tackle for loss.)
4. Ellis lined up over the center and crushes him right at the snap even though he also gets double teamed by the guard, perhaps forcing the bobbled snap, ball is rolling around before a Texas player takes the initiative to run in there and fall on it.
5. Kick gets blocked, Nation on offense. Well technically the kicker kicked it into the back of an offensive lineman's head. Damn near knocked him out.

1. Sheds a block and flows with the play to help make a tackle for no gain on a running play
2. Double teamed and doesn't make much progress before the pass is quickly dumped off for a small gain.
3. Texas tries a run up the middle but Ellis already has his guy 5 yards upfield and the play crumbles, maybe a 1 yard gain.
4. Ellis out on 2nd and 9, first down completion.
5. He's out for the rest of the series which leads to an eventual punt.

That's pretty much game as Powe actually ends up being the one to take part in the biggest stop of the game. Nation went for a run up the middle on 4th and Powe and Eddie Jones combine to for an immoveable wall. Texas wins 13 - 7.

Overall I think he had a very good game, he needs to be coached up but all the tools are there. Pretty sure he's a 3rd round pick at worst, at this point. Might slip further if he botches interviews because of all his background nonsense, but after the combine workouts, he's probably going to need one heck of a terrible interview to lower his stock much.

I was pretty underwhelmed by Powe for the most part, but he certainly looks the size and has good strength.

 

[Woods]

Thanks Count.

I was hoping for Taylor at NT, but Ellis seems interesting. Wonder if he's going to even be on the Cowboys board given his background stuff?

But I think we could use at least one big NT on the roster for certain defensive looks.

 

[TheCount]

Not a problem. I'm actually thinking Ellis would make a great 3-4 DE for us, I think he may have an issue with leverage as a NT.

 

[Woods]

Not a problem. I'm actually thinking Ellis would make a great 3-4 DE for us, I think he may have an issue with leverage as a NT.

The DL from Temple, Wilkerson, also looks interesting as a 34 DE, as you mentioned in one of your posts.

I guess I'm still leaning towards C Jordan at DE assuming we stay at 9 and no other player drops that the Cowboys would prefer.

I have a feeling that since the Cowboys were really interested in Alualu (sp?) from the Jags last year, they make like Jordan even more.

From what I've been reading, he seems to be an even better prospect coming out of school.

 

[The Realist]

Ellis is going to look great in a Bengals uniform.

More failed drug tests than sacksn in his career.

 

[TheCount]

Ellis is going to look great in a Bengals uniform.

More failed drug tests than sacksn in his career.

Thanks for your contribution.

 

[The Realist]

Thanks for your contribution.

When's the last time the Cowboys drafted a guy with a drug issue?

We wouldn't draft Moss.

Why would we draft a guy who got kicked out of SC after multiple suspensions for drugs? On top of that he gets suspended at Hampton too.

Hampton has a wannabe who is total boom or bust seemingly every year.

 

[TheCount]

When's the last time the Cowboys drafted a guy with a drug issue?

We wouldn't draft Moss.

Why would we draft a guy who got kicked out of SC after multiple suspensions for drugs? On top of that he gets suspended at Hampton too.

Hampton has a wannabe who is total boom or bust seemingly every year.

You're not really bringing any new info here, not sure what you expect me to say. I didn't spend all that time logging his plays because I'm ignorant of his past.

Just to clarify, he was suspended once for the supposed failed drug tests and once for fighting.