Jake Bequette

[gimmesix]

I'm reading an article on his performance at the combine and wonder if he might be a linebacker to look at after the first round or so if Dallas brings back Spencer.

Bequette didn't have a great 40 time (4.82), but his 20-yard shuttle (4.07) was better than all DLs and LBs except Bruce Irvin (4.03).

His three-cone drill (6.9) was third-best among DLs.

He also backs that with production (23 1/2 career sacks) and has been Arkansas' top DL the past couple of years.

If we spend to bring back Spencer (instead of actually getting someone who can consistently rush the passer), we obviously won't be using a premium pick on the position, so would this be an OK way to go?

 

[Deep_Freeze]

You mention Spencer here, I do see Bequette more as a tweener. He could bulk up just a little and play DE or stay the same and be a OLB, depending on team needs. He is a very solid run defender, and he had solid production as far as sacks are concerned.

He was pretty much the only real pass rusher the Hogs had, so he frequently was doubled, and still put up sacks. Probably the best thing about him is his high motor, intelligence, and being a hard worker as really a self made player.

He would be a great pick later in this draft under the radar, and probably fits exactly what JG would want on this team.

 

[RS12]

I think they are interested in Bequette. The reports I read felt he could play 3-4 DE. He can play and had some nice numbers in the top conference in college football. One scout compared him to Ryan Kerrigan FWIW.

 

[Eskimo]

I'd be happy with Bequette in the draft somewhere around the late second or early third round.

I'd actually rather go with Bequette than re-sign Spencer as I think the cost-benefit balance is better with Bequette and he may end up being a better pass rusher and run defender than Spencer.

 

[Eskimo]

I think they are interested in Bequette. The reports I read felt he could play 3-4 DE. He can play and had some nice numbers in the top conference in college football. One scout compared him to Ryan Kerrigan FWIW.

I think he is a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 DE. He'd have to gain 30 pounds to play 3-4 DE. He clearly moves really well in space so I don't see the point of making a player like that two-gap as a 5-technique.

 

[realtick]

Yes, there was reported interest of Bequette by the Cowboys at the Senior Bowl. I believe they were talking to him about bulking up to play DE.

 

[Fletch]

Yes, there was reported interest of Bequette by the Cowboys at the Senior Bowl. I believe they were talking to him about bulking up to play DE.

Awesome, then he won't be able to run at all. I love it.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Yes, there was reported interest of Bequette by the Cowboys at the Senior Bowl. I believe they were talking to him about bulking up to play DE.

Yeah, OLB would be a huge adjustment for him as he has never been in coverage before. Now we have converted them before, but I believe he would be a much better DE without having to gain too awful much weight. He does give you the flexibility to covert him to OLB though, if need be depending on what the staff thinks.

Best thing about him is his huge motor, and he is also very solid against the run. His pass rushing skills are just a bonus. Kerrigan was mentioned and his numbers compare favorably to him, although Kerrigan was much faster in the 40, Bequette was much better in the 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone drill.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I think he is a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 DE. He'd have to gain 30 pounds to play 3-4 DE. He clearly moves really well in space so I don't see the point of making a player like that two-gap as a 5-technique.

Yeah either way he will have some developing to do, which is why I called him a tweener in the 3-4. Either he would have to learn how to be in coverage at OLB or gain some weight to be a DE.

I figure he could do either, he is definitely smart enough to learn to be an OLB, or he could put on the weight for DE. Only problem is keeping that agility and gaining the weight, btw I don't think he has to gain 30 pounds, he is already 274. JJ Watt is only 288, our DEs are just fat, I wouldn't use them as an example.

 

[gimmesix]

Yeah, OLB would be a huge adjustment for him as he has never been in coverage before. Now we have converted them before, but I believe he would be a much better DE without having to gain too awful much weight. He does give you the flexibility to covert him to OLB though, if need be depending on what the staff thinks.

Best thing about him is his huge motor, and he is also very solid against the run. His pass rushing skills are just a bonus. Kerrigan was mentioned and his numbers compare favorably to him, although Kerrigan was much faster in the 40, Bequette was much better in the 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone drill.

He's been getting a lot of testing as a linebacker. I don't know how that's going, though.

His weight is around 271, so he'd have to put on 20-plus pounds to move to 3-4 DE.

 

[gimmesix]

Glad to see that even with the possibility of re-signing Spencer, Dallas seems to be looking hard at pass rushers. (I can stomach the re-signing much better if the Cowboys show a commitment to improving the pass rush.)

We've got to find ways to put more pressure on opposing QBs.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

He's been getting a lot of testing as a linebacker. I don't know how that's going, though.

His weight is around 271, so he'd have to put on 20-plus pounds to move to 3-4 DE.

Well I'm not going to argue over 3 pounds, but he did weigh in at the combine at 274. Like I said in the next post, JJ Watt is 288, really all Bequette needs is a good 15 pounds to play the position, our current guys are just too fat really which is a little of the reason why they never get penetration.

He is versatile, and has the brains to learn anything, so he would be of great use to a creative guy like Ryan.

 

[LowTech]

Jake's father, Jack, also played at Arkansas. Football runs in the family.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Jake's father, Jack, also played at Arkansas. Football runs in the family.

And it runs a bit deeper than that. Yes his father played for the Hogs, but also his little brother is on the team right now, and his uncle and grandfather played for the Hogs. That's genes from way back.

I mentioned he was intelligent, he got his degree in 3 years, got accepted for law school but deferred his admittance for football. Getting his masters right now and plans to go back to law school after football. Kinda think he could learn how to play OLB, if need be.

 

[gimmesix]

Well I'm not going to argue over 3 pounds, but he did weigh in at the combine at 274. Like I said in the next post, JJ Watt is 288, really all Bequette needs is a good 15 pounds to play the position, our current guys are just too fat really which is a little of the reason why they never get penetration.

He is versatile, and has the brains to learn anything, so he would be of great use to a creative guy like Ryan.

Watt's a good weight for Wade Phillips' 3-4. Phillips wanted his front seven smaller, quicker to attack their gap.

I think Ryan's more traditional in wanting his linemen around 300 so they can occupy blockers. That's not saying he doesn't want them to be able to beat one-on-one blocking, but simply that the base defense is a two-gap scheme.