McShay: The loaded 2015 pass-rusher class

[Plankton]

Danielle Hunter is a freakish specimen. I wouldn't mind the team grabbing him at 27 if they think Marinelli can unlock that potential.

With a first? No way. The guy had literally no production at LSU.

 

[reddyuta]

With a first? No way. The guy had literally no production at LSU.

like other LSU pashrushers.i dont trust these guys at all.just stay away from LSU players all together.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Gutty little BruWINS, 3 going on 4 now BTW. Josh Shaw, good numbers 4.4. You would think there was a kid drowning somewhere to get him to run that fast.

If only there were some handicapped parking spots close by he could illegally park in...

 

[Risen Star]

With a first? No way. The guy had literally no production at LSU.

Yeah but, ......Rod Marinelli.

 

[xwalker]

With a first? No way. The guy had literally no production at LSU.

like other LSU pashrushers.i dont trust these guys at all.just stay away from LSU players all together.

Yes, LSU players worry me.

Hunter is a project, IMO. He is the opposite of what you would expect looking at this measurable(s). He is stout against the run but is a mess as a pass rusher.

If he were available later in the draft he would be interest as a developmental player, but the 2nd is too early for him IMO.

 

[Plankton]

Yeah but, ......Rod Marinelli.

LOL

Hunter looks like a great athlete, and has some speed and quickness, but when an offensive lineman gets his hands on him, it's over.

 

[jcollins28]

If only there were some handicapped parking spots close by he could illegally park in...

Wow, you went way back for that...fortunately I never have to go to far back to find a Trojan doing something stupid or illegal....lol

 

[btcutter]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...sley-loaded-2015-class-pass-rushers-nfl-draft

There was an impressive group of edge rushers on display during the workouts Sunday at the 2015 NFL combine, but the biggest standout was Clemson's Vic Beasley.

The biggest question for him on tape is whether he has the strength to set the edge against the run. He still isn't a sure thing in this regard, but his measuring in at 6-foot-3, 246 pounds (up from 220 pounds in the spring) and bench-pressing 35 reps were positive signs.

Moreover, he proved that he has that one elite skill you need to overcome size and strength issues as an NFL pass-rusher, with his exceptional straight-line speed (4.53 40-yard dash and 1.59 10-yard split, the latter of which is the stuff of elite edge rushers and a predictive measure for NFL success) that matches the quickness we see from him on tape.

I think his performance solidifies him as a first-round pick, somewhere in the top 25. He's unlikely to be there when the Dallas Cowboys pick at No. 27, but he makes a lot of sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 22.

Here's a look at how the rest of the top edge rushers, interior defensive linemen and linebackers fared on Sunday (note, Missouri's Shane Ray didn't work out due to an injury):


Bud Dupree, Kentucky: He has been a little inconsistent on tape from one game to the next, but he has really good natural tools and a lot of potential to develop, and he verified that with his workout Sunday. At 6-4, 269 pounds, he ran a 1.60 10-yard split on a 4.56 40-yard dash, both of which are good, and posted a ridiculous 42-inch vertical jump and 11-foot, 6-inch broad jump. He won't get a first-round grade from us based on the inconsistency of his tape, but it won't shock me if a team takes a chance on his potential in the first.

Randy Gregory, Nebraska: Coming in we thought he could be the first pass-rusher drafted, and we still believe that to be the case based on his speed and explosiveness (he verified it with his 4.64 40, 1.60 10-yard split and outstanding 4.16 short shuttle), but he will need to convince NFL teams that he'll be able to add bulk at the pro level without losing his speed and explosiveness. He is just 235 pounds, which is lean for someone 6-5, and while his 24 bench press reps with long, 34-inch arms is good, he didn't display a lot of power to his game on tape. His ceiling is the highest of all the pass-rushers in this class, but the team that picks him will have to feel good about his being able to improve his power.

Dante Fowler Jr. Florida: He put together a good overall workout. At 6-3, 261 pounds his 4.60 40 and 1.56 10-yard split are exceptional, but his explosion drills -- bench press, vertical jump, broad jump -- were below average. That's something we'll have to study further on tape.

Eli Harold, Virginia: He really helped his stock Sunday. He's raw, and I have him as more of a second-round guy, but there's a lot of ability here. In the drills most predictive of success for pass-rushers, the 40-yard dash, the 10-yard split and short shuttle, he delivered excellent results: 4.6, 1.56 and 4.16, respectively. The Titans, Bears, Steelers and Cowboys would all make sense for him in the second round.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA: He's more of a left defensive end type at 6-4, 267 pounds. He looks the part, with huge hands and long arms; he's completely shredded. He doesn't have elite explosiveness, and that was on display with his runs, but his vertical and broad jumps were both very good. He should go in the second-round range.


Notes on the defensive tackles

Leonard Williams is the best player in the draft

When you look at this class, there are a lot of defensive linemen who are exceptional at one thing, particularly the edge rushers. But Williams is the most dominant and complete player in this class, at any position. He's really big at 6-5, 302 pounds, and his 34 5/8-inch arms are essential for the 5-technique defensive end position in a 3-4 alignment (his best projection, in my opinion, although he has the versatility to play all over the line), and for him to run a 4.97 40-yard dash at that size is just silly. I don't think he'll end up as the No. 1 overall pick, because the Bucs will likely take a quarterback, but he's in the mix for the Titans at No. 2 or the Jaguars at No. 3.

Four other interior D-linemen stood out

Oregon's Arik Armstead, Texas' Malcom Brown, Washington's Danny Shelton and Mississippi State's Preston Smith all performed well Sunday. Shelton's 40 time was bad but I thought he showed really good movement skills in the position-specific drills.


Notes on the linebackers

Alexander and McKinney helped themselves

LSU's Kwon Alexander is your classic Will linebacker at 6-1, 227 pounds, and the most important measurable for that position is the 40-yard dash; and Alexander ran an excellent 4.55. Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney only did 16 bench reps, which is disappointing, but he was outstanding in the rest, including a 40.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump at 6-4, 246 pounds. I don't think he's a first-rounder based on his tape, instead giving him a second-round grade, but I know some teams like him more than others and it wouldn't surprise me if he snuck into the late first.

Questions for Perryman and Thompson

I love the tape of Denzel Perryman from Miami, and he's probably going to be this year's Chris Borland as a guy who is a great football player and succeeds in the NFL despite having less-than-ideal measurables. But there will be some concern from NFL teams over his below-average scores in the vertical (32 inches) and broad (9-5) jumps.

There are many different opinions on Washington's Shaq Thompson. We have him as a linebacker, which is where he says he wants to play, and many teams agree. Others project him as an NFL safety while others think his best position might be running back, where he played some for the Huskies. His 4.64 40 time and 33 bench reps were good for a linebacker, but his jumps weren't great. For teams looking at him as a running back, that 40 time is a bit of a red flag.

I listened to Talkin Cowboys and Brodus feels that there maybe a deep group of rushers but quality is lacking. He think Demarcus Larence would have easily be top 20 pick in this year's draft.


Is that just homerism? Or got some legs?

 

[AzorAhai]

@btcutter I don't know about the Lawrence being a top 20 pick this year part, but he is right about the edge rushers. Top 15 picks could have 5 players who are edge guys taken. Outside of those guys the pickings for Edge Rusher is severly lacking. Most guys after those are projects, strong side guys or much lower rated prospects. The strength in the 2nd-4th Rds is definitely DT, RB, CB, WR and LB(not in any particular order).

 

[AsthmaField]

LOL

Hunter looks like a great athlete, and has some speed and quickness, but when an offensive lineman gets his hands on him, it's over.

Some guys simply aren't good football players, no matter the measurables.

Hunter is one of those guys IMO.

 

[TheFinisher]

With a first? No way. The guy had literally no production at LSU.

He led all SEC defensive lineman in TFLs, how is that no production?

 

[TheFinisher]

Some guys simply aren't good football players, no matter the measurables.

Hunter is one of those guys IMO.

Yea, leading all SEC lineman in TFLs at 19 years old... just not a good football player.

 

[Plankton]

He led all SEC defensive lineman in TFLs, how is that no production?

The guy had 4.5 sacks in 3 years, along with 52 solo tackles. That's terrible production. Yes, he had 13 TFL this year, but I watched a fair number of LSU games, and never walked away thinking the guy was a difference maker. The stats bear that out.

 

[LatinMind]

Gamble pick. Strictly a roll of the dice. Boom or bust. I'm not sure we are in a position to be so risky.

For what Dallas needs Odighizuwa would be a solid pick at 27. But i think they will pick one of the RBs at 27

 

[TheFinisher]

The guy had 4.5 sacks in 3 years, along with 52 solo tackles. That's terrible production. Yes, he had 13 TFL this year, but I watched a fair number of LSU games, and never walked away thinking the guy was a difference maker. The stats bear that out.

It was 2 years, he played in like 1 game as a freshman. 21 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 8 PDs in 2 seasons at 18 and 19 years old, respectively, is not terrible production.

Part of evaluation is projecting where players will be 2-3 years down the line. This kid has elite physical tools, he's hasn't even scratched the surface on his potential. If the goal was to get finished products we would have never drafted Tyron Smith in 2011.

 

[Plankton]

It was 2 years, he played in like 1 game as a freshman. 21 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 8 PDs in 2 seasons at 18 and 19 years old, respectively, is not terrible production.

Part of evaluation is projecting where players will be 2-3 years down the line. This kid has elite physical tools, he's hasn't even scratched the surface on his potential. If the goal was to get finished products we would have never drafted Tyron Smith in 2011.

Tyron Smith was a far more accomplished player when he was drafted than Danielle Hunter likely ever will be. Hunter's production is not good at all, no matter which way you slice it. A pass rusher who gets 4.5 sacks in 3 seasons is not a producer.

 

[big dog cowboy]

For what Dallas needs Odighizuwa would be a solid pick at 27. But i think they will pick one of the RBs at 27

Taking Odig at 27 would make me nervous. I could easily see us doing that. If not, do you really think they go RB there because I just don't see that.

 

[LatinMind]

Taking Odig at 27 would make me nervous. I could easily see us doing that. If not, do you really think they go RB there because I just don't see that.

They aren't going to resign Murray, idk if Peterson will be avail. If those two things don't happen and either Gurley or Gordon are there at 27 you don't see them drafting one of them? Really?

 

[AsthmaField]

Yea, leading all SEC lineman in TFLs at 19 years old... just not a good football player.

I'm not crazy about the guy as a player. But I've been wrong before so maybe you're right and he turns into something.

 

[xwalker]

It was 2 years, he played in like 1 game as a freshman. 21 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 8 PDs in 2 seasons at 18 and 19 years old, respectively, is not terrible production.

Part of evaluation is projecting where players will be 2-3 years down the line. This kid has elite physical tools, he's hasn't even scratched the surface on his potential. If the goal was to get finished products we would have never drafted Tyron Smith in 2011.

Yes, he has very good physical tools, but he seems very underdeveloped as a football player. He would be interesting as a project at some point in the draft, but not the 2nd round.