CCBoy
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Profile: Is Texas DT Hassan Ridgeway the hidden gem Cowboys need?
http://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/201...-hassan-ridgeway-the-hidden-gem-cowboys-need/
After taking a redshirt year as a freshman in 2012, Ridgeway played in 12 games in 2013, logging 13 tackles (one for loss). The following season, he had his best season as a collegian, playing in all 13 games and tallying 46 tackles (9.5 TFLs) and 6 sacks. His production dipped in 2015, however; Ridgeway played in only 11 games and, slowed by various ailments (shoulder, back, ankle), finished with 36 tackles (6.5 for loss), adding 3.5 sacks, sufficient to receive honorable mention All-Big 12 notices.
Ridgeway boasts an impressive combination of power and athleticism. Not only can he anchor and stand his ground against the run, he also can win with quickness, detaching himself from blockers and quickly finding the ball. He also flashes ability as a one-gap penetrator. He does a nice job staying off the ground and keeping himself in the play. That said, he’ll need a lot of technique and conditioning work to approach his athletic ceiling at the NFL level.
6'3: 303
http://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/201...-hassan-ridgeway-the-hidden-gem-cowboys-need/
After taking a redshirt year as a freshman in 2012, Ridgeway played in 12 games in 2013, logging 13 tackles (one for loss). The following season, he had his best season as a collegian, playing in all 13 games and tallying 46 tackles (9.5 TFLs) and 6 sacks. His production dipped in 2015, however; Ridgeway played in only 11 games and, slowed by various ailments (shoulder, back, ankle), finished with 36 tackles (6.5 for loss), adding 3.5 sacks, sufficient to receive honorable mention All-Big 12 notices.
Ridgeway boasts an impressive combination of power and athleticism. Not only can he anchor and stand his ground against the run, he also can win with quickness, detaching himself from blockers and quickly finding the ball. He also flashes ability as a one-gap penetrator. He does a nice job staying off the ground and keeping himself in the play. That said, he’ll need a lot of technique and conditioning work to approach his athletic ceiling at the NFL level.
- Versus the Run: Big, thick and country strong, Ridgeway is a load to move up front. Can eat up space as a two-gapper but also can get off blocks and make plays when he locates the ball in time (ball recognition is inconsistent). Explodes into O-linemen with initial contact, and then shows the lower-body strength to drive them backward. Does not lose many one-on-one matchups. Has adequate range against the run when healthy. He flashes some surprising suddenness and change-of-direction skills, but his stamina leads to inconsistent range.
- Pass Rush Skills: Overwhelming power as a bull rusher. Does a good job of standing O-linemen up with his long arms, and then using his lower body cause disruption in the backfield. Explosive finisher when he gets home. Not going to win many battles with quick penetration or sudden double moves. Needs to be more consistent with his hands.
- Quickness (hands/feet): Fires out of his stance with solid quickness for his size and usually jars blockers with initial contact. Good athlete for his size. His upper body is strong, but he does not have violent hands and will be slow to disengage at times, as a result.
- Toughness/Motor: Physical tone setter in the middle. Battles against double teams. If he gets knocked down to a knee, he works his way back up. Doesn’t take many plays off on tape. He shows good effort when he’s on the field, but he burns through fuel quickly. Conditioning and weight gain will always be concerns...
6'3: 303