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The Grand Poobah
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Haloti Ngata
DT, Oregon
War Room analysis
Against the run: Has a wide, massive build; is unmovable at the line of scrimmage. Possesses freakish strength; can maintain the point of attack against double- and triple-teams. Doesn't just occupy blockers; can disengage and bring down ball carriers despite double teams. Sometimes relies too much on power and doesn't use proper technique. Needs to maintain base. Grade: 8.4.
Pass rush: Shows initial quickness, size and power to collapse the pocket as an interior bull rusher. Doesn't utilize hands to beat opponents cleanly; relies on brute strength to overpower them on way to the passer. Doesn't project to be much of an NFL pass rusher. Grade: 7.8.
Initial quickness: Has impressive agility and athleticism and gets a great initial jump off the ball. Changes directions well and even drops back into coverage in zone blitz schemes. Grade: 8.5.
Run/pass recognition: Can anticipate double teams. Struggles to throw pass-rush moves after coming off the ball expecting run. Has trouble sniffing out draws and screens. Grade: 8.0.
Pursuit/tackling: Is surprisingly active in pursuit. Has good lateral movement. Never gives up on plays and has surprising closing speed when trailing plays from behind. Is a powerful tackler. Has trouble breaking down and making plays in open field. Grade: 8.4.
Bottom line: Ngata is the most dominant inside presence in the draft. He has the perfect body type for a nose tackle in a 3-4, but he also has the athleticism to play either tackle in a 4-3. He will need to develop better technique -- his pure strength alone won't cut it -- but he is a rare talent and likely will be the first defensive tackle off the board.
News
Ngata said Jan. 6 that he will leave school early to enter the '06 draft. Ngata, a junior, was a first-team All-America selection this season. He said financial concerns and his mother's poor health led him to the decision.
"I just want to help my family out," Ngata said. "My mom's going to be in and out of the hospital."
Ngata had three sacks and nine tackles for loss this season. He ranked sixth on the Ducks in total tackles with 61, including 32 unassisted. He made a season-high 11 tackles against Cal.
Ngata was the Pacific-10 Conference's co-defensive player of the year and the Ducks' MVP, becoming the team's first defensive lineman in 18 years to earn the honor. He also was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top lineman. Minnesota center Greg Eslinger won the award.
While he hasn't hired an agent, Ngata understood from an NFL report that at worst he would go in the middle of the second round of the draft. He said he was interviewing agents.
Ngata, speaking by telephone from his home in Utah, said his mother has kidney problems and is facing dialysis. Olga Ngata had surgery "a couple of days ago," he said.
Olga Ngata was in the hospital in Los Angeles when Ngata was playing in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 29.
"I was thinking about her that week," he said.
Oregon went 10-2 this season, with a regular-season loss to Southern California and a 17-14 loss to Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl. The Ducks finished ranked No. 12.
Ngata, who set an Oregon record with seven blocked kicks during his career, took a low block during the loss to Oklahoma and tweaked his right knee. An MRI this week showed a sprain and a bone bruise. He said if he had torn a ligament, he likely would have returned to Oregon for his senior year. He made the final decision on Thursday at home in Salt Lake City.
--Associated Press
DT, Oregon
War Room analysis
Against the run: Has a wide, massive build; is unmovable at the line of scrimmage. Possesses freakish strength; can maintain the point of attack against double- and triple-teams. Doesn't just occupy blockers; can disengage and bring down ball carriers despite double teams. Sometimes relies too much on power and doesn't use proper technique. Needs to maintain base. Grade: 8.4.
Pass rush: Shows initial quickness, size and power to collapse the pocket as an interior bull rusher. Doesn't utilize hands to beat opponents cleanly; relies on brute strength to overpower them on way to the passer. Doesn't project to be much of an NFL pass rusher. Grade: 7.8.
Initial quickness: Has impressive agility and athleticism and gets a great initial jump off the ball. Changes directions well and even drops back into coverage in zone blitz schemes. Grade: 8.5.
Run/pass recognition: Can anticipate double teams. Struggles to throw pass-rush moves after coming off the ball expecting run. Has trouble sniffing out draws and screens. Grade: 8.0.
Pursuit/tackling: Is surprisingly active in pursuit. Has good lateral movement. Never gives up on plays and has surprising closing speed when trailing plays from behind. Is a powerful tackler. Has trouble breaking down and making plays in open field. Grade: 8.4.
Bottom line: Ngata is the most dominant inside presence in the draft. He has the perfect body type for a nose tackle in a 3-4, but he also has the athleticism to play either tackle in a 4-3. He will need to develop better technique -- his pure strength alone won't cut it -- but he is a rare talent and likely will be the first defensive tackle off the board.
News
Ngata said Jan. 6 that he will leave school early to enter the '06 draft. Ngata, a junior, was a first-team All-America selection this season. He said financial concerns and his mother's poor health led him to the decision.
"I just want to help my family out," Ngata said. "My mom's going to be in and out of the hospital."
Ngata had three sacks and nine tackles for loss this season. He ranked sixth on the Ducks in total tackles with 61, including 32 unassisted. He made a season-high 11 tackles against Cal.
Ngata was the Pacific-10 Conference's co-defensive player of the year and the Ducks' MVP, becoming the team's first defensive lineman in 18 years to earn the honor. He also was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top lineman. Minnesota center Greg Eslinger won the award.
While he hasn't hired an agent, Ngata understood from an NFL report that at worst he would go in the middle of the second round of the draft. He said he was interviewing agents.
Ngata, speaking by telephone from his home in Utah, said his mother has kidney problems and is facing dialysis. Olga Ngata had surgery "a couple of days ago," he said.
Olga Ngata was in the hospital in Los Angeles when Ngata was playing in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 29.
"I was thinking about her that week," he said.
Oregon went 10-2 this season, with a regular-season loss to Southern California and a 17-14 loss to Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl. The Ducks finished ranked No. 12.
Ngata, who set an Oregon record with seven blocked kicks during his career, took a low block during the loss to Oklahoma and tweaked his right knee. An MRI this week showed a sprain and a bone bruise. He said if he had torn a ligament, he likely would have returned to Oregon for his senior year. He made the final decision on Thursday at home in Salt Lake City.
--Associated Press
