Michigan State's Malik McDowell is the latest 30-visit revealed

[LatinMind]

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-corner-blog/article145118004.html


I was wondering if the team was interested in Malik, glad that they are.

He's got a huge ceiling and is still only 20 years old. They gotta be looking at him as a 3T right?

Guy is lazy. And he hasn't proven anything. Would rather have Brantley. McDowell is all hype without the production.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

One of the few D-lineman in this draft that can be a "war daddy" based on physical talent... Just looking at his tape, the physical ability is there -- much like Irving -- to play any position on the DL and get pressure. Right now, he has only one pass rush move -- a slap and swim -- and uses it almost every time. With some technique coaching by Marinelli, he could really improve. I would be fine with him at 28 because of his versatility, upside, and amazing ability against the run.

 

[TheFinisher]

McDowell is an absolute beast at times. He said in the combine media interview that he had a bunch of nagging injuries that maybe he shouldn't have played through in 2016. Could either be an excuse or the truth and would explain why his motor wasn't always on. The coaches/scouts will have to determine where the truth lies in that. Makes sense that he's in for a visit because if we can get the best out of him consistently he will be a steal at 28. I don't care where the pressure comes from, we just need more of it.

That's what I'm saying... playing injured towards the end of a lost season is tough on the psyche of any player. He's getting killed way too much for that by media types.

 

[TheFinisher]

Guy is lazy. And he hasn't proven anything. Would rather have Brantley. McDowell is all hype without the production.

Turn on the tape and you'll see he's proven plenty

 

[marchetta]

This is a guy that can line up anywhere along your DL and dominate

Malik McDowell DE/DT Michigan State

TALENT
ROUND 1

STRENGTHS
Malik has as much athletic talent as Jadeveon Clowney. He has the length that you look for in a pass rusher and the size and strength you look for in a defensive lineman who can play any position in multiple style of defenses. For a tall player he attacks opponents with good leverage and good pad level. Malik has the foot speed and agility to turn the corner and sack quarterbacks. His height, long arms and legs make it easy for him to knock passes down and his strength in his lower body makes it easy for him to use any move to free himself to make impact plays and be disruptive around the LOS and in the backfield. With all of Malik’s natural athletic talents I suspect his workouts to be outstanding and be the talk of this draft if his injury is healed.

CONCERNS
Malik plays like a ghost. By that I mean he seems to be caught between the plane of existence of a Defensive Nose Tackle in a 3/4 defense and a pass rushing Defensive End in a 3/4 or 4/3 defense. This has caused him to have very poor techniques to free himself up when switching back and forth between positions and to look very sloppy. Not using the correct techniques for each position makes him look like he is not consistent and disappears during games and then all of a sudden appears when he does use the correct techniques. The key for me is there is never a lack of effort when he struggles to appear or when he disappears. Another concern is Malik's end-of-season ankle injury, and if it will prevent him from working out.

BOTTOM LINE
Here’s the key… on every play Malik is doubled and or tripled teamed. It doesn’t matter in what front (and this defense plays them all) Malik is the defensive player the Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive line coach has too game plan for. There is no doubt about the fact that Malik’s techniques are poor and sloppy. Nevertheless there is also no doubt about his effort on every play and his athletic talent and finally there is also no doubt that when he does use the correct techniques that he is pretty much unstoppable. Add all that together with the fact that he plays all the defensive line positions in any style front and could even play some coverage as a pure linebacker and I think the fact that he does disappear and then reappears during games can only be because of his poor techniques.If your team needs a defensive lineman, and the General Manager passes on selecting Malik, it will haunt him.

Drew Boylhart (The Huddle Report) [PARAPHRASED]

BTW, Malik is tied for Drew's #6 Rated Player in Draft... tied with TJ Watt.

 

[fishspill]

Malik McDowell DE/DT Michigan State

TALENT
ROUND 1

STRENGTHS
Malik has as much athletic talent as Jadeveon Clowney. He has the length that you look for in a pass rusher and the size and strength you look for in a defensive lineman who can play any position in multiple style of defenses. For a tall player he attacks opponents with good leverage and good pad level. Malik has the foot speed and agility to turn the corner and sack quarterbacks. His height, long arms and legs make it easy for him to knock passes down and his strength in his lower body makes it easy for him to use any move to free himself to make impact plays and be disruptive around the LOS and in the backfield. With all of Malik’s natural athletic talents I suspect his workouts to be outstanding and be the talk of this draft if his injury is healed.

CONCERNS
Malik plays like a ghost. By that I mean he seems to be caught between the plane of existence of a Defensive Nose Tackle in a 3/4 defense and a pass rushing Defensive End in a 3/4 or 4/3 defense. This has caused him to have very poor techniques to free himself up when switching back and forth between positions and to look very sloppy. Not using the correct techniques for each position makes him look like he is not consistent and disappears during games and then all of a sudden appears when he does use the correct techniques. The key for me is there is never a lack of effort when he struggles to appear or when he disappears. Another concern is Malik's end-of-season ankle injury, and if it will prevent him from working out.

BOTTOM LINE
Here’s the key… on every play Malik is doubled and or tripled teamed. It doesn’t matter in what front (and this defense plays them all) Malik is the defensive player the Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive line coach has too game plan for. There is no doubt about the fact that Malik’s techniques are poor and sloppy. Nevertheless there is also no doubt about his effort on every play and his athletic talent and finally there is also no doubt that when he does use the correct techniques that he is pretty much unstoppable. Add all that together with the fact that he plays all the defensive line positions in any style front and could even play some coverage as a pure linebacker and I think the fact that he does disappear and then reappears during games can only be because of his poor techniques.If your team needs a defensive lineman, and the General Manager passes on selecting Malik, it will haunt him.

Drew Boylhart (The Huddle Report) [PARAPHRASED]

BTW, Malik is tied for Drew's #6 Rated Player in Draft... tied with TJ Watt.

I honestly never looked at the kid because I heard he was lazy and then he bombed his interviews. After watching those videos and getting a sense of where he was last year and how young he is, I have to admit I think he could be a homerun in Dallas. In Dak's locker room with guys just a little older and vets both working hard and showing him the way? I think I'm starting to feel I found the guy.

He's 20. Surrounding him with all these RKGs can be a life-altering influence.

 

[dasander]

I hope Marinelli/ Garrett surprises us and drafts this guy to play DE. Not your classic Charles Haley-type Right end, but a potential "War-Daddy" on the D-line.

 

[Kaiser]

I just don't see a DT at 28. In rounds 4 - 6 I think we draft one for sure, but not at 28.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I like him. There are definitely some moments where he disappears but he can also be dominant. Wouldn't hate him at 28, would much rather have him than Charles Harris. Plus, he goes to a great school.

@GloryDaysRBack

 

[Hardline]

I would only take him at 28 if Marinelli is certain he can be coached up.

 

[fishspill]

I would only take him at 28 if Marinelli is certain he can be coached up.

I wouldn't be surprised if 90% of his visit was spent with Rob.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I just don't see a DT at 28. In rounds 4 - 6 I think we draft one for sure, but not at 28.

I think we would draft him to play DE. He played NT and DT by necessity at Mich St. But he has frame and athletic ability to play DE.

 

[Gaede]

I think we would draft him to play DE. He played NT and DT by necessity at Mich St. But he has frame and athletic ability to play DE.

Yeah, he's a DE here for sure.

The position flexibility is probably a huge plus for Marinelli

 

[xwalker]

This is a surprise,I would have thought he would not fit the mould of a high motor RKG types we like,I really dont know if he would even fall to us at 28.I remember Mkendichi(sp) last year had similar effort questions last year and he ended up being benched by Arizona.

They use some visits to see if questionable work ethic types are really lazy or if it's an unfounded reputation.

They don't need a visit from some players that they're already sold on.

 

[TheFinisher]

Yeah, he's a DE here for sure.

The position flexibility is probably a huge plus for Marinelli

See I think he's a 3T all the way here... line him up on the slant over a guard and just let him ruin someone's day. He's 6'6 295 and only 20 years old... with his frame he can easily carry 310+...

When you look up his physical comparisons to previous prospects, the 2 names he's most similar to... Leonard WIlliams and John Henderson

 

[TheFinisher]

LE - Irving, Crawford
3T - Collins, McDowell
1T - McDowell, Paea, Thornton
RE - Lawrence, Mayowa, Moore, Tapper (Gregory)

We can work with that!

 

[JBell]

His combine #'s are very underwhelming. We've been hitting home runs with our first rounders so if they pick him at 28 I'll trust the process.

 

[chicago JK]

You can be impressed with those highlights but you also need to factor in the games where he was a non factor.

Every year there is a guy like this in the draft. It is usually a DT who is a physical freak who popped as a Sophomore and was dominant in a big conference. They enter their junior year knowing this is their last year in college and know all teams gameplan and double and triple team this guy. It is hard work and if the season gets off to a slow start or they don't want to get injured they sort of coast a little. I would think this is pretty common and I could see myself doing the same path if I was in this position.

The question is if this is a guy you can motivate and if he will enjoy a pretty dirty, and tough job playing a DT in the NFL. Some of these guys wind up as pro bowlers while others turn out to massive disappointments.

 

[TheFinisher]

Factoring in this kid's age, physical traits and ceiling he reminds me of the defensive version of Tyron Smith coming out of SC. He's already a good player because he's such a freak athlete, but is raw as heck and will need to refine his technique because he won't get away with some of those bad habits at the next level.

If we take him we all need to realize that we're not drafting him for what he is right now, it's what he'll be 3,4,5 years down the line... and what he can be is an absolute gamewrecker along the interior. I watch film on him and he's manhandling double teams against Wisconsin, ND, Michigan and Indiana... with a little seasoning Malik will be a nightmare. You see the raw power and strength, the bend and flexibility is freakish for his size, and the burst/quickness is exceptional.

 

[chicago JK]

Also, certainly not the end all but Daniel Jeremiah has him out of his top 50. I believe he was barely in the top 50 in early rankings but now he is out.