My ongoing random college analysis:

[starfrombirth]

Ok so blame dantheman for bringing this site to my attention: draftbreakdown.com .... I thought i would try and dip my toe into the analysis waters and give my admittedly inexperience view of the players that we've been talking about. This will be ongoing so feel free to check back and give your own inputs. Please try and be civil.

Louis Nix III: http://draftbreakdown.com/?s=louis+nix This is big man with monster strength driving blockers into the backfield. Has a good motor but not great as he will continue to track the play as long as it's in his area but doesn't chase down the field. I expect that would change with marinelli. Oddly, what should be his greatest strength seems to be a weakness: He doesn't hold up against the run well at all. He is much better going forward often driving double teams 3-4 yards deep. Also, he doesn't keep his feet well. That's something that must change at the next level... remember to keep it clean.

 

[xwalker]

Ok so blame dantheman for bringing this site to my attention: draftbreakdown.com .... I thought i would try and dip my toe into the analysis waters and give my admittedly inexperience view of the players that we've been talking about. This will be ongoing so feel free to check back and give your own inputs. Please try and be civil.

Louis Nix III: http://draftbreakdown.com/?s=louis nix This is big man with monster strength driving blockers into the backfield. Has a good motor but not great as he will continue to track the play as long as it's in his area but doesn't chase down the field. I expect that would change with marinelli. Oddly, what should be his greatest strength seems to be a weakness: He doesn't hold up against the run well at all. He is much better going forward often driving double teams 3-4 yards deep. Also, he doesn't keep his feet well. That's something that must change at the next level... remember to keep it clean.

Keep in mind that a DT that is trying to penetrate into the backfield will sometimes be vulnerable to getting blown back by double-teams. If Nix was only trying to hold the point his technique would be different and he would probably be less likely to get pushed back.

Also keep in mind that the reason Nix is highly rated is because he has excellent quickness for his size. A big but slow guy like McCullers is not going to be rated highly even if he is difficult to move in the running game.

Having said that, see if you think that Justin Ellis is very similar to Nix in terms of quickness for his size.

 

[starfrombirth]

Keep in mind that a DT that is trying to penetrate into the backfield will sometimes be vulnerable to getting blown back by double-teams. If Nix was only trying to hold the point his technique would be different and he would probably be less likely to get pushed back.

Also keep in mind that the reason Nix is highly rated is because he has excellent quickness for his size. A big but slow guy like McCullers is not going to be rated highly even if he is difficult to move in the running game.

Having said that, see if you think that Justin Ellis is very similar to Nix in terms of quickness for his size.

Justin Ellis: Wow! What a great find. They are very similar. Nix is a little stronger but Ellis has quicker feet. I can't help but think this might be due to Notre Dame having a better weight training program than LA Tech. He still has really good strength tho and a good motor at least trying to stay involved with the play.He needs to get better with his hands but that can be coached. I wouldn't mind getting him in the 2nd or 3rd at all. Marinelli could help him reshape his body and he would be a really good 1tech at 320 lbs. He also seems to carry his weight better than Nix. Nix looked like a sumo wrestler whereas Ellis just looked like a big guy with a beer gut. All in all I would like him actually more than Nix. Donald in the first and Ellis in the 2nd.... sign me up for that!

 

[casmith07]

I think Louis Nix has monumental bust potential. Notre Dame's front got absolutely dominated by Alabama and Pittsburgh that year. That's problematic to me.

 

[xwalker]

Justin Ellis: Wow! What a great find. They are very similar. Nix is a little stronger but Ellis has quicker feet. I can't help but think this might be due to Notre Dame having a better weight training program than LA Tech. He still has really good strength tho and a good motor at least trying to stay involved with the play.He needs to get better with his hands but that can be coached. I wouldn't mind getting him in the 2nd or 3rd at all. Marinelli could help him reshape his body and he would be a really good 1tech at 320 lbs. He also seems to carry his weight better than Nix. Nix looked like a sumo wrestler whereas Ellis just looked like a big guy with a beer gut. All in all I would like him actually more than Nix. Donald in the first and Ellis in the 2nd.... sign me up for that!

Good analysis.

 

[starfrombirth]

Stephon Tuitt
PositionDESchoolNotre Dame
Height6' 5"Weight304 lbs
ClassJuniorNumber7

If it's a choice between him and Nix folks, you take Tuitt all day long. He's a much better athlete than Nix. Although he doesn't have the sheer raw power of Nix, he is plenty strong holding his ground against some of the better lines in the country. Against Stanford he was rarely moved unless he wanted to go that way. Does a great job shedding blockes and splitting double teams. Sets the edge very well but often loses track of the ball and runs himself away from the play. This can be coached folks. He has tremendous potential. We could do much worse than taking him. Is he elite? No, not yet but he can quickly become a very good player in the NFL.

 

[starfrombirth]

I think Louis Nix has monumental bust potential. Notre Dame's front got absolutely dominated by Alabama and Pittsburgh that year. That's problematic to me.

That was one of the games I saw and Nix repeatedly pushed his two blockers into the backfield but on run plays as I said he didn't seem to hold up too well BUT... please see xwalkers comments. What he says makes sense. He's not Vince Woolfork no.... but then who is. Vince is a borderline HOF'r. Nix does have boom or bust potential. It's all about what's between his ears. He has the physical tools to be good. It's just a matter if he has the "want to".

 

[Fredd]

for the cowboys needs, I would agree that Tuitt is a better fit....but not by much...either in the 2nd round would be a great pick and either would be a reach @ #16...I am a Notre Dame fanatic and would love seeing some ND players on Dallas, but I would prefer a better team than one where I like where they hail from

 

[tm1119]

I think you can even go further into the draft and find big guys with good feet. Ken Bishop, Zack Kerr, Khyri Thornton, and Shamar Stephen all can be had in the 5th or later and would be really good fits for us. I think people are going to be surprised at how long we wait to take a DT to be honest. Unless it's Donald in the 1st, I don't see us taking any other DT before the 4th.

 

[starfrombirth]

for the cowboys needs, I would agree that Tuitt is a better fit....but not by much...either in the 2nd round would be a great pick and either would be a reach @ #16...I am a Notre Dame fanatic and would love seeing some ND players on Dallas, but I would prefer a better team than one where I like where they hail from

I have to tell you Tuitt and Ellis are some of the better overall prospects I've looked at this year. I like both of them better than the idea of taking Barr on trying to make him fit. Barr is a really good linebacker but as a DE he lacks strength. Barr is :

Anthony Barr
PositionOLBSchoolUCLA
Height6' 4 7/8"Weight255 lbs
ClassSeniorNumber11

Barr has good speed with the frame to add another 15-20 obs of muscle. He could be a good DE someday but not right now. He lacks strength and doesn't play with leverage at all. He was routinely blocked by tight ends and he was never doubled... ever. This would be a huge reach in the 1st if you expect him to play DE every play.

 

[starfrombirth]

Kony Ealy
PositionDESchoolMissouri
Height6' 4"Weight273 lbs
ClassRS JuniorNumber47

I believe I did a write up on him in someone else's post but I can't find it so I went back and watched him again to get a fresh perspective. I reeeeaaallly wanted to find something positive about him because I keep hearing his name in conjunction with us. Boys and girls, children of all ages.... I can't find much. He has pretty good speed for a man his size. Coming into the NFL at 273 lbs, he has prototypical size for the position but he lacks strength. Now I know that an NFL weight training program will help but he doesn't play with it yet. He only did 22 reps on the bench press which is not a lot for someone with his size, I don't believe. Taking him in the 1st is a mistake unless we absolutely have no one else. To be honest, I would take Attouchu, Ellis, or Tuitt before him.


NFL.COM ( http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/kony-ealy?id=2543484) says this:
STRENGTHS
Is long and has a big, projectable frame with room for added bulk. Quick off the snap. Loose athlete -- moves like a linebacker. Plays on his feet. Runs the arc -- dips his shoulder, bends the corner and gets home. Closes fast on the quarterback. Can spin off blocks, redirect and chase the quarterback. Crashes down the line and ranges in pursuit. Flexible and coordinated to zone-drop. Has upside ----I don't agree with the bolded part at all.

WEAKNESSES
Needs more time in the weight room. Still developing positional instincts and awareness to blocking schemes. Pad level is too high. Exposes his frame and gets locked up. Does not convert speed to power. Unrefined hand use, counters and pass-rush moves. Needs to learn to use his length advantageously. Does not provide enough resistance at the point of attack. Crumbles vs. double teams. --- this is pretty spot on with what I said.

 

[starfrombirth]

Ken Bishop DT 6'1/2" 312 lbs

This is a little more difficult for me because there are only youtube highlights with really bad focus. But in my opinion and I stress opinion he dominated his level of competition playing with both strength, leverage, and speed for a man his size. He showed a good awareness for the ball always being around it and making the play. Bear in mind it's his highlight film. He showed very good penetration being able to use his hands to fight off the offenses hand grabs to penetrate the gap. Showed good lateral quickness often making the play down the line away from him or down the field. Needs to transform some of his chub into muscle but is a good project with one of our 42 7th round selections.

 

[xwalker]

Stephon Tuitt
PositionDESchoolNotre Dame
Height6' 5"Weight304 lbs
ClassJuniorNumber7

If it's a choice between him and Nix folks, you take Tuitt all day long. He's a much better athlete than Nix. Although he doesn't have the sheer raw power of Nix, he is plenty strong holding his ground against some of the better lines in the country. Against Stanford he was rarely moved unless he wanted to go that way. Does a great job shedding blockes and splitting double teams. Sets the edge very well but often loses track of the ball and runs himself away from the play. This can be coached folks. He has tremendous potential. We could do much worse than taking him. Is he elite? No, not yet but he can quickly become a very good player in the NFL.

Be sure to watch Tuitt in both 2012 and 2013. He was much better in 2012 from what I saw. He was injured prior to 2013 and played a bit heavy and a little out of shape in 2013.

They played in different schemes, but compare Tuitt in 2012 to Hageman in 2013. I think they have similar ability.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I love both guys from ND. I have seen nothing from Ealy that I thought justified a 1st round (16) selection from us.

 

[xwalker]

Kony Ealy
PositionDESchoolMissouri
Height6' 4"Weight273 lbs
ClassRS JuniorNumber47

I believe I did a write up on him in someone else's post but I can't find it so I went back and watched him again to get a fresh perspective. I reeeeaaallly wanted to find something positive about him because I keep hearing his name in conjunction with us. Boys and girls, children of all ages.... I can't find much. He has pretty good speed for a man his size. Coming into the NFL at 273 lbs, he has prototypical size for the position but he lacks strength. Now I know that an NFL weight training program will help but he doesn't play with it yet. He only did 22 reps on the bench press which is not a lot for someone with his size, I don't believe. Taking him in the 1st is a mistake unless we absolutely have no one else. To be honest, I would take Attouchu, Ellis, or Tuitt before him.

I'm going to disagree with you just a little on this one.

I'm not worried about his strength. He appears to get double-teamed, especially on running plays more than most DEs. Second, his technique often puts him in a position to get pushed around. He will let his pad level get too high or he'll get pushed around when he has his body turned trying to squeeze through gaps. His technique and strength will get better in the NFL.

He played a lot of 3-tech DT which is an indication that he has some strength. You wouldn't see Barr playing that position.

Based on his size and frame I think he projects to get stronger in the NFL. I would be much less worried about his ability to develop NFL strength than some of the smaller pass rushers.

The issue that I have with Ealy is that he does not have elite quickness. I don't want to draft a DE in the 1st unless they have elite quickness.

 

[Sydla]

I think Louis Nix has monumental bust potential. Notre Dame's front got absolutely dominated by Alabama and Pittsburgh that year. That's problematic to me.

Putting that much stock in two games is kind of silly. For one, that Alabama OL dominated everyone that year. Georgia had a talented front seven and got mauled by Bama too. And ND didn't play well against Pitt but they beat up a good Stanford OL that year as well.

Personally, I'd take Nix but only if we traded down to later in the first round and picked up another pick. If we are to take any ND player at 16, it should be Martin. That's it.

 

[casmith07]

Putting that much stock in two games is kind of silly. For one, that Alabama OL dominated everyone that year. Georgia had a talented front seven and got mauled by Bama too. And ND didn't play well against Pitt but they beat up a good Stanford OL that year as well.

Personally, I'd take Nix but only if we traded down to later in the first round and picked up another pick. If we are to take any ND player at 16, it should be Martin. That's it.

I can agree with you. I wouldn't be that upset if Nix just got stone-walled by them, but when I say dominated, look at the game tape...man it was not pretty at all. It was embarrassing.

 

[casmith07]

Stephon Tuitt
PositionDESchoolNotre Dame
Height6' 5"Weight304 lbs
ClassJuniorNumber7

If it's a choice between him and Nix folks, you take Tuitt all day long. He's a much better athlete than Nix. Although he doesn't have the sheer raw power of Nix, he is plenty strong holding his ground against some of the better lines in the country. Against Stanford he was rarely moved unless he wanted to go that way. Does a great job shedding blockes and splitting double teams. Sets the edge very well but often loses track of the ball and runs himself away from the play. This can be coached folks. He has tremendous potential. We could do much worse than taking him. Is he elite? No, not yet but he can quickly become a very good player in the NFL.

I agree with this assessment too -- Tuitt is by far the better player.

 

[Alexander]

The issue that I have with Ealy is that he does not have elite quickness. I don't want to draft a DE in the 1st unless they have elite quickness.

If the "quick twitch" thing disqualified Sharif Floyd to be our selection last year, we should do the same with Ealy in the first round this year if we are consistent in our philosophy.

 

[Sydla]

I can agree with you. I wouldn't be that upset if Nix just got stone-walled by them, but when I say dominated, look at the game tape...man it was not pretty at all. It was embarrassing.

One thing to also note about that game............ Nix had a knee injury late in 2012 that flared up again in that game. If it wasn't the NC game, it was said that Nix would have sat the game out after reaggravating it.

I am never a fan of putting a lot of stock into one game here or there. If you look at the totality of his career, Nix was a very, very good interior DL and has as much raw talent as most of the other interir DL in this draft.

Although I actually agree with what was said above - I think Tuitt might end up being the better NFL player when all is said and done.