Opinion between Aaron Donald and Jernigan

[garyv]

What is your opinion between Aaron Donald and Timmy Jernigan ?

 

[texbumthelife]

Seriously? There are at least two threads already dedicated to this.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Donald is a great pass rusher and not so great run stuffer.

Jernigan is a crappy pass rusher but a great run stuffer.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Donald is a great pass rusher and not so great run stuffer.

Jernigan is a crappy pass rusher but a great run stuffer.

Completely disagree that Donald is a "not so great" run stuffer. Don't be fooled by him being 285 lbs. A lot more to playing the run than being heavy alone.

Anyway, Jernigan is better v. the run straight at him, while I believe Donald is the better "chaser" when the run isn't through his gap. Donald is elite as a pass rusher when it comes to DT's, while Jernigan is far less refined, but shows incredible natural power while being fairly athletic for his size too. There's some upside there.

Honestly, if we sign Melton, Jernigan is the better fit. Donald the far superior 3T candidate, while Jernigan can likely play 1T and 3T.

 

[starfrombirth]

Completely disagree that Donald is a "not so great" run stuffer. Don't be fooled by him being 285 lbs. A lot more to playing the run than being heavy alone.

Anyway, Jernigan is better v. the run straight at him, while I believe Donald is the better "chaser" when the run isn't through his gap. Donald is elite as a pass rusher when it comes to DT's, while Jernigan is far less refined, but shows incredible natural power while being fairly athletic for his size too. There's some upside there.

Honestly, if we sign Melton, Jernigan is the better fit. Donald the far superior 3T candidate, while Jernigan can likely play 1T and 3T.

Very good analysis. I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[BAT]

Completely disagree that Donald is a "not so great" run stuffer. Don't be fooled by him being 285 lbs. A lot more to playing the run than being heavy alone.

Anyway, Jernigan is better v. the run straight at him, while I believe Donald is the better "chaser" when the run isn't through his gap. Donald is elite as a pass rusher when it comes to DT's, while Jernigan is far less refined, but shows incredible natural power while being fairly athletic for his size too. There's some upside there.

Honestly, if we sign Melton, Jernigan is the better fit. Donald the far superior 3T candidate, while Jernigan can likely play 1T and 3T.

Agree with your analysis but disagree with your conclusion. Even if Melton is signed, Donald is the better fit and value (even if just a rotation guy first year) if available at 16. Donald has next great 3 tech written all over him. Jernigan has better size but not nearly as explosive or productive.

Melton is not only coming off significant leg injuries but even at 27 he is not the future, especially if not 100% this season. Melton will be on the wrong side of 30 when this rebuild is done. Good rule of thumb, always take the best playmaker on the board, especially at a position of need. Taking a versatile guy who can be good at multiple positions over a guy who could be GREAT at one position, especially the crucial 3T spot in a 4-3 under D, is not the path to a great defense.

 

[supercowboy8]

What is your opinion between Aaron Donald and Timmy Jernigan ?

Jernigan is a 1 tech in this scheme and Dallas will not draft a 1 tech. jernigan is very good vs the run and has a good motor the collapse the pocket but just isn't what marinelli looks for in a 3 tech. Jernigan is another Shariff Floyd. A good player but just not for this scheme as a 1st round pick.
Below are the comparisons and watching both on film look alot alike.
Remember Jernigan vs ACC; Floyd vs SEC.

Jernigan
6-2 299 31 5/8 arms
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/timmy-jernigan?id=2543461
2012 8 takles for loss and 1.5 sacks
2013 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/timmy-jernigan-1.html

Floyd
6-3 297 31 3/4 arms
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sharrif-floyd?id=2540150
2011 6.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks
2012 13 tackles for loss and 3 sacks
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/shariff-floyd-1.html


Donald is a complete freak. He has amazing quickness and power. Far faster and stronger than Floyd or Jernigan and is the perfect ft for this scheme and the under tackle spot. But don;t think this guy can only player one scheme. He played the NT in a 3-4 last year at Pitt. So that shows he can hold his ground with his strength and leverage vs the run.

I don't care what people say about jernigan, I just do not see it. I don't see the fire off the ball, he stands straight up and then fights his way into the pocket. Donald is your true "rushman" as Marinelli would say. He fires off quick and splits his gap and makes plays in the back field.
Remember Donald also played in the ACC vs same teams as Jernigan with far less great talent around him.Donald isn't a one year wonder either. He has been doing this since 2011 as a Sophmore.

Donald
2011 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks
2012 as a NT in a 3-4 18.5 tackles for a loss 5.5 sacks
2013 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/aaron-donald-1.html

production speaks for itself

 

[supercowboy8]

Donald is a great pass rusher and not so great run stuffer.

Jernigan is a crappy pass rusher but a great run stuffer.

wrong about Donald. the guy played NT in a 3/4 in 2012 and was great vs the run

 

[AsthmaField]

Agree with your analysis but disagree with your conclusion. Even if Melton is signed, Donald is the better fit and value (even if just a rotation guy first year) if available at 16. Donald has next great 3 tech written all over him. Jernigan has better size but not nearly as explosive or productive.

Melton is not only coming off significant leg injuries but even at 27 he is not the future, especially if not 100% this season. Melton will be on the wrong side of 30 when this rebuild is done. Good rule of thumb, always take the best playmaker on the board, especially at a position of need. Taking a versatile guy who can be good at multiple positions over a guy who could be GREAT at one position, especially the crucial 3T spot in a 4-3 under D, is not the path to a great defense.

Yeah, I agree with this.

For me it simply comes down to this: Donald, IMO, is a rare talent, and Jernigan isn't.

I like Jernigan but you could find a DT about like him in just about any draft. He's strong and fast, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Donald, on the other hand, has a first step that is elite and you don't usually find a DT with a first step like that. His quickness, mobility, etc. are like a LB... not a DT. You can go several drafts and not find a DT that moves like Donald. If you actually do, then he probably doesn't have Donald's football smarts and his instincts. And, if you are lucky enough to find someone with his quickness and his smarts, then he probably wouldn't have his high motor and work ethic.

To find all that in one package is what makes Donald such an elite prospect for a 43 defense.

 

[AsthmaField]

Jernigan is a 1 tech in this scheme and Dallas will not draft a 1 tech. jernigan is very good vs the run and has a good motor the collapse the pocket but just isn't what marinelli looks for in a 3 tech. Jernigan is another Shariff Floyd. A good player but just not for this scheme as a 1st round pick.
Below are the comparisons and watching both on film look alot alike.
Remember Jernigan vs ACC; Floyd vs SEC.

Jernigan
6-2 299 31 5/8 arms
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/timmy-jernigan?id=2543461
2012 8 takles for loss and 1.5 sacks
2013 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/timmy-jernigan-1.html

Floyd
6-3 297 31 3/4 arms
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sharrif-floyd?id=2540150
2011 6.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks
2012 13 tackles for loss and 3 sacks
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/shariff-floyd-1.html


Donald is a complete freak. He has amazing quickness and power. Far faster and stronger than Floyd or Jernigan and is the perfect ft for this scheme and the under tackle spot. But don;t think this guy can only player one scheme. He played the NT in a 3-4 last year at Pitt. So that shows he can hold his ground with his strength and leverage vs the run.

I don't care what people say about jernigan, I just do not see it. I don't see the fire off the ball, he stands straight up and then fights his way into the pocket. Donald is your true "rushman" as Marinelli would say. He fires off quick and splits his gap and makes plays in the back field.
Remember Donald also played in the ACC vs same teams as Jernigan with far less great talent around him.Donald isn't a one year wonder either. He has been doing this since 2011 as a Sophmore.

Donald
2011 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks
2012 as a NT in a 3-4 18.5 tackles for a loss 5.5 sacks
2013 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/aaron-donald-1.html

production speaks for itself

Very well said.

 

[DoctorChicken]

wrong about Donald. the guy played NT in a 3/4 in 2012 and was great vs the run

I know. I didn't say he's awful - but he doesn't excel in the run game like he does pass rushing. I'd take Donald in a heartbeat.

 

[AsthmaField]

I know. I didn't say he's awful - but he doesn't excel in the run game like he does pass rushing. I'd take Donald in a heartbeat.

He is pretty damn effective against the run. He's strong as hell and with his height, he usually has the leverage. He's hard to move out of there.

But he is such an amazing pass rusher from the DT spot, that it overshadows his run defense. He is very good at both though.

 

[kiheikiwi]

Donald 1 Jernigan 1A. But for differant reasons. We have all heard by now that Dallas wont take a 1-tech in the first, and that may be true still. But who thought they would just cut Ware and Hatch. Doesn't Dallas always hold onto players too long ? Not this year. So, if they do pick up Melton, I would still go after Donald first in the draft. Put him at the 3-tech and Melton has enough size to rotate at both the 3 and the 1. Good middle. Or, if Donald goes to Chicago or something, take Jernigan and plug him in besides Melton. Get strong in the front first. Just a thought ...

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Agree with your analysis but disagree with your conclusion. Even if Melton is signed, Donald is the better fit and value (even if just a rotation guy first year) if available at 16. Donald has next great 3 tech written all over him. Jernigan has better size but not nearly as explosive or productive.

Melton is not only coming off significant leg injuries but even at 27 he is not the future, especially if not 100% this season. Melton will be on the wrong side of 30 when this rebuild is done. Good rule of thumb, always take the best playmaker on the board, especially at a position of need. Taking a versatile guy who can be good at multiple positions over a guy who could be GREAT at one position, especially the crucial 3T spot in a 4-3 under D, is not the path to a great defense.

You know what... I agree with you. Very persuasive argument. You and Asthma. I'd rather have Donald to rotate with Melton and use them both on obvious passing downs then pass on a potential rare player simply because Jernigan would "fit" better or play more snaps. The combination of McClain/Hayden/maybe Crawford will be just fine at 1T.

 

[TheFinisher]

Not just a 2 horse race, Ra'Shede Hageman is also a worthy 1st Round option. Outside of Clowney, probably the biggest freak on the defensive side of the ball.

Might be the next Kevin Williams.

 

[Floatyworm]

Donald is a much better athlete. Was shocked seeing Jernigan @ the combine run his 40. Plus he struggled in position drills. He just didn't look very fluid. Was expecting a much better athlete. If Donald is gone @ 16...And Jernigan is there...I still pass. I think he could bust.

 

[DuDa]

Don't want Jernigan in the first round. He's a splash player that coasts an awful lot during games.

 

[dbonham]

Watch Donald against GA Tech if you want to see him perform against the run

 

[jblaze2004]

donald will be long gone by 16 folks. I mean I wish there was a raji or star lotulelei in this draft to push him down to us but i think he will be long gone by 16. I think the bears, rams and remember giants love to draft dlineman in the first round.

I would love to get donald though. But i think we will have to trade up to get him. We traded up to get claiborne who so far shown he wasn't worth it. Especially when we could of had brockers and wagner.

I can't wait til draft day to see how this all plays out. I hate that roger g is making the draft longer and further away smh. Why is the draft so late this year? This is exactly what we need to have the draft picks come in even later and have less time to learn what they need to learn to be ready for the season.

 

[TheFinisher]

Don't want Jernigan in the first round. He's a splash player that coasts an awful lot during games.

That's pretty inaccurate.