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Didn't see this posted yet.
Top 3-4 Edge Rushers?
http://www.draftdaddy.com/prospects/34edge.cfmMike Mici takes a closer look
last updated: 4/08/07
There are at least 10 NFL teams that use some form of the 3-4 in their defense. The playmakers on the 3-4 are the linebackers and what these 3-4 teams want most is an edge rushing outside linebacker. The undersized college defensive end has long been a target for 3-4 teams. Now that the field of 3-4 teams has expanded, the number of potential edge rushing prospects has as well. 3-4 teams are not only looking at college defensive end's for their outside linebacker positions. They are also scouting college linebackers who they feel project well to their defenses. With that in mind, Here's a look at some of the prospects who project well to the outside in the 3-4:
GAINES ADAMS 6' 5" 260 CLEMSON
Adams is well touted and will be a likely top 10 pick. He has the ideal size to assume the edge rusher role in the 3-4 defense. He will most likely play for a 4-3 team, but his skill set is also well suited for what most 3-4 teams do. He has the athletic ability and overall talent for the spot.
DAN BAZUIN 6' 3" 265 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
This prospect is comparable to former 1st round pick Jason Babin, except he did "not" have the great post-season workouts Babin did in 2004. Bazuin, who played well against B.C.S. opponents during his career, was an academic All-American and team leader. So the intangibles are there. He is strong, smart and agile. He can rush from the outside, but is a huge question mark as an everydown linebacker. He needs work. He's a clear projection.
JUSTIN HICKMAN 6' 1" 254 UCLA
Tweener, college defensive end who clearly projects to linebacker in the pros. A late bloomer who had a huge 2006 campaign (12.5 sacks). 3-4 teams will take a long look at him. He does not have ideal height or strength, but he's worth a look.
QUENTIN MOSES 6' 5" 250 GEORGIA
Was considered the best edge rusher in college football, before a poor senior season. His stock has been falling ever since. I am personally not as down on this player as most have become. He sat for a couple of years in college, stepped up a bit as a sophomore backup and delivered big as a junior. So much was expected of him as a senior and he did not deliver to expectations. But if you watched him closely, you know he was a self made player who always worked very hard. I see him as a player who should not be a permanent down lineman. He's got a good build with long arms and would be better suited standing up as an edge rusher. Moses was part of the the All-SEC academic honor roll. He's instinctive and has good character.
JARVIS MOSS 6' 6" 251 FLORIDA
Will be drafted high and could go in the 15 to 25 range. He could be the 2nd best pure pass rusher in the draft. Excellent agility off the edge. Still developing. Lanky player who projects well to the 3-4. He has a big upside as a pass rusher, but is a question mark against the run. More of a finesse player than a power player. Has a lot of work to do.
BRIAN ROBISON 6' 2" 266 TEXAS
Can play multiple positions. Started at inside linebacker and defensive end at Texas. Two sport athlete who played several positions in high school as well. Has value on special teams where he blocked 6 kicks in college. He has the lower body strength to take on blocks. He could even lineup at 3-4 defensive end if you need him to. Robison was an honor roll student in high school and in college. He doesn't have ideal height or pass rushing skills, but he has the intangibles to stick and develop.
ANTHONY SPENCER 6' 3" 266 PURDUE
Comes from a school that has produced edge rushing prospects like Rosevelt Colvin, Shaun Phillips and Akin Ayodele. Has the perfect size and frame to play the edge as a stand up rusher. He had a monster senior season. Spencer became an all around player in 2006. He's a great effort player and played with a lot of discipline last year. If he continues to work hard and improve, he can be as good of a pro as the guys who came before him. Very good athlete at his size.
LAMARR WOODLEY 6' 1" 265 MICHIGAN
The college resume for Woodley is extremely impressive. He became the first Wolverine to win the Lombardi Award (top lineman) and Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end) in 2006. He was a consensus first-team All-American and was named Rivals.com National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a team captain at Michigan, so why isn't Woodley considered a top defensive prospect?.....There are several reasons: He does not have ideal size and does not measure up as an athlete speed wise. Teams don't know if he can project to being an everydown starter as a pro. Is he too small to play end and is he too slow to play in space as a linebacker?... That's why he will most likely be a second round pick. I am in Woodley's corner. Lamarr started at both defensive end and outside linebacker at Michigan and played in 3-4 sets. So I think he can play inside and outside at linebacker or even put his hand down on passing downs and rush the passer. The question with him is, can he cover and play in space?
STEWART BRADLEY 6' 4" 266 NEBRASKA
Can play defensive end and outside linebacker. Played in 3-4 sets in college. A smart, instinctive leader type who was also an all academic honor roll student. Position versatility and strong character, which could interest teams like the Jets and Patriots. My question with him is speed and I see him as more an inside linebacker type than an edge pass rusher. He was not really a big playmaker at Nebraska, but he could improve in that area if he can put his college injuries behind him.
TIM SHAW 6' 1" 235 PENN STATE
Multiple position player, who has flown on to the radar the last two months. Was a tailback and played special teams as a freshman. Backed up Larry Johnson. Then redshirted a season and eventually became a starter at middle linebacker. He went through a lot of adversity and change early on in his college career. As a senior (2006) at 235 pounds, Shaw was moved to defensive end in the 3-4!.....He played pretty well, notching 7 sacks as a senior. He then steals the show at the Combine and puts up impressive numbers. He's on the radar now. The intangibles are there. This is a tough, athletic player, who has all the work ethic and desire that is needed to become a pro. Shaw has proven that he can be a valuable and selfless member of a team, the real question is can he be an important enough player to be taken high. What type of upside does he have?
PAUL POSLUSZNY 6' 1" 237 PENN STATE
The star defender at Penn State. One of the most acclaimed defensive players in college, period! He's a former Bednarik and Butkus Award winner. Team captain for the Nittany Lions. Highly productive, team leader type. Athletic and strong. He can play over the tight end and is very intelligent. He has 3-4 experience and has the ability to play inside or outside. A very tough player who battled through injuries and graduated college in just 3 years. So we know he's got all the intangibles a lot of teams look for. I don't see Posluszny as a difference making pass rusher. He had 9 career sacks at Penn State. I do think that he can be a big time Pro Bowl inside linebacker in that Tedy Bruschi type mold, if he can stay healthy. He's had some issues there and it wouldn't hurt him if he added more muscle to his frame.
JAY MOORE 6' 4" 276 NEBRASKA
College defensive end, who many scouts feel may be better suited as an edge rusher in the 3-4. Moore had 6 sacks and 17 tackles for loss a senior and followed that up with a nice week at the Senior Bowl and a three sack performance in that game. Moore did not play a natural defensive end spot at Nebraska. He played from a more open stance and was allowed to freelance at the position. Moore is another all academic player who was self made.
ZAK DEOSSIE 6' 4" 256 BROWN
Has NFL pedigree thanks to his Dad Steve who played in the pros for over a decade. Very smart leader type who can play inside or outside. Looks like a day two pick. He can also longsnap. But he's so talented as a defender, that we doubt he'll do much long snapping (which Steve DeOssie mostly did in the NFL) early in his career.
IKAIKA ALAMA-FRANCIS 6' 4" 252 HAWAII
Get your scrabble game out. Francis is a very raw player who some feel may eventually add another 20 pounds to his frame. He has the size and speed to play on the edge in the 3-4. This son of a 1950's Green Bay Packers draft pick is a very raw prospect who needs more development.
JASON TRUSNIK 6' 4" 249 OHIO NORTHERN
This is a good sleeper prospect. College defensive end who will have to make the transition to outside backer in the pros. Had a very impressive pro day earlier this month. 4.6 40 guy who graded well in his agility drills also. Dominated Division III competition. Notched 43 career sacks and should get late round consideration as a developmental prospect.
MARQUES MURRELL 6' 1" 240 APPALACHIAN STATE
If I am going to mention small school sleepers, then I can't forget to mention Adrian Murrell's little brother Marques. Murrell was a dominator at A.S.U. He was a pass rushing beast on the I-AA level. He has two pro days coming up. He put up some big sack totals and was among the nation's leaders in that category the last few years.
JACOB FORD 6' 3" 245 CENTRAL ARKANSAS Very raw pass rush specialist type, who shined at the all star games when asked to play linebacker and in space. Day 2 prospect who projects well to the pros. 4.6 speed guy. There are several other prospects who project as "edge rushers"... Here are some other additional names to keep track of who could fit into that category. Antwan Barnes (F.I.U.), Darrell Burston (F.S.U.), Martin Jackson (Alcorn State), Abraham Wright (Colorado), Marquies Gunn (Auburn), Victor DeGrate (Oklahoma State), Brian Smith (Missouri).
Top 3-4 Edge Rushers?
last updated: 4/08/07
There are at least 10 NFL teams that use some form of the 3-4 in their defense. The playmakers on the 3-4 are the linebackers and what these 3-4 teams want most is an edge rushing outside linebacker. The undersized college defensive end has long been a target for 3-4 teams. Now that the field of 3-4 teams has expanded, the number of potential edge rushing prospects has as well. 3-4 teams are not only looking at college defensive end's for their outside linebacker positions. They are also scouting college linebackers who they feel project well to their defenses. With that in mind, Here's a look at some of the prospects who project well to the outside in the 3-4:
GAINES ADAMS 6' 5" 260 CLEMSON
Adams is well touted and will be a likely top 10 pick. He has the ideal size to assume the edge rusher role in the 3-4 defense. He will most likely play for a 4-3 team, but his skill set is also well suited for what most 3-4 teams do. He has the athletic ability and overall talent for the spot.
DAN BAZUIN 6' 3" 265 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
This prospect is comparable to former 1st round pick Jason Babin, except he did "not" have the great post-season workouts Babin did in 2004. Bazuin, who played well against B.C.S. opponents during his career, was an academic All-American and team leader. So the intangibles are there. He is strong, smart and agile. He can rush from the outside, but is a huge question mark as an everydown linebacker. He needs work. He's a clear projection.
JUSTIN HICKMAN 6' 1" 254 UCLA
Tweener, college defensive end who clearly projects to linebacker in the pros. A late bloomer who had a huge 2006 campaign (12.5 sacks). 3-4 teams will take a long look at him. He does not have ideal height or strength, but he's worth a look.
QUENTIN MOSES 6' 5" 250 GEORGIA
Was considered the best edge rusher in college football, before a poor senior season. His stock has been falling ever since. I am personally not as down on this player as most have become. He sat for a couple of years in college, stepped up a bit as a sophomore backup and delivered big as a junior. So much was expected of him as a senior and he did not deliver to expectations. But if you watched him closely, you know he was a self made player who always worked very hard. I see him as a player who should not be a permanent down lineman. He's got a good build with long arms and would be better suited standing up as an edge rusher. Moses was part of the the All-SEC academic honor roll. He's instinctive and has good character.
JARVIS MOSS 6' 6" 251 FLORIDA
Will be drafted high and could go in the 15 to 25 range. He could be the 2nd best pure pass rusher in the draft. Excellent agility off the edge. Still developing. Lanky player who projects well to the 3-4. He has a big upside as a pass rusher, but is a question mark against the run. More of a finesse player than a power player. Has a lot of work to do.
BRIAN ROBISON 6' 2" 266 TEXAS
Can play multiple positions. Started at inside linebacker and defensive end at Texas. Two sport athlete who played several positions in high school as well. Has value on special teams where he blocked 6 kicks in college. He has the lower body strength to take on blocks. He could even lineup at 3-4 defensive end if you need him to. Robison was an honor roll student in high school and in college. He doesn't have ideal height or pass rushing skills, but he has the intangibles to stick and develop.
ANTHONY SPENCER 6' 3" 266 PURDUE
Comes from a school that has produced edge rushing prospects like Rosevelt Colvin, Shaun Phillips and Akin Ayodele. Has the perfect size and frame to play the edge as a stand up rusher. He had a monster senior season. Spencer became an all around player in 2006. He's a great effort player and played with a lot of discipline last year. If he continues to work hard and improve, he can be as good of a pro as the guys who came before him. Very good athlete at his size.
LAMARR WOODLEY 6' 1" 265 MICHIGAN
The college resume for Woodley is extremely impressive. He became the first Wolverine to win the Lombardi Award (top lineman) and Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end) in 2006. He was a consensus first-team All-American and was named Rivals.com National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a team captain at Michigan, so why isn't Woodley considered a top defensive prospect?.....There are several reasons: He does not have ideal size and does not measure up as an athlete speed wise. Teams don't know if he can project to being an everydown starter as a pro. Is he too small to play end and is he too slow to play in space as a linebacker?... That's why he will most likely be a second round pick. I am in Woodley's corner. Lamarr started at both defensive end and outside linebacker at Michigan and played in 3-4 sets. So I think he can play inside and outside at linebacker or even put his hand down on passing downs and rush the passer. The question with him is, can he cover and play in space?
STEWART BRADLEY 6' 4" 266 NEBRASKA
Can play defensive end and outside linebacker. Played in 3-4 sets in college. A smart, instinctive leader type who was also an all academic honor roll student. Position versatility and strong character, which could interest teams like the Jets and Patriots. My question with him is speed and I see him as more an inside linebacker type than an edge pass rusher. He was not really a big playmaker at Nebraska, but he could improve in that area if he can put his college injuries behind him.
TIM SHAW 6' 1" 235 PENN STATE
Multiple position player, who has flown on to the radar the last two months. Was a tailback and played special teams as a freshman. Backed up Larry Johnson. Then redshirted a season and eventually became a starter at middle linebacker. He went through a lot of adversity and change early on in his college career. As a senior (2006) at 235 pounds, Shaw was moved to defensive end in the 3-4!.....He played pretty well, notching 7 sacks as a senior. He then steals the show at the Combine and puts up impressive numbers. He's on the radar now. The intangibles are there. This is a tough, athletic player, who has all the work ethic and desire that is needed to become a pro. Shaw has proven that he can be a valuable and selfless member of a team, the real question is can he be an important enough player to be taken high. What type of upside does he have?
PAUL POSLUSZNY 6' 1" 237 PENN STATE
The star defender at Penn State. One of the most acclaimed defensive players in college, period! He's a former Bednarik and Butkus Award winner. Team captain for the Nittany Lions. Highly productive, team leader type. Athletic and strong. He can play over the tight end and is very intelligent. He has 3-4 experience and has the ability to play inside or outside. A very tough player who battled through injuries and graduated college in just 3 years. So we know he's got all the intangibles a lot of teams look for. I don't see Posluszny as a difference making pass rusher. He had 9 career sacks at Penn State. I do think that he can be a big time Pro Bowl inside linebacker in that Tedy Bruschi type mold, if he can stay healthy. He's had some issues there and it wouldn't hurt him if he added more muscle to his frame.
JAY MOORE 6' 4" 276 NEBRASKA
College defensive end, who many scouts feel may be better suited as an edge rusher in the 3-4. Moore had 6 sacks and 17 tackles for loss a senior and followed that up with a nice week at the Senior Bowl and a three sack performance in that game. Moore did not play a natural defensive end spot at Nebraska. He played from a more open stance and was allowed to freelance at the position. Moore is another all academic player who was self made.
ZAK DEOSSIE 6' 4" 256 BROWN
Has NFL pedigree thanks to his Dad Steve who played in the pros for over a decade. Very smart leader type who can play inside or outside. Looks like a day two pick. He can also longsnap. But he's so talented as a defender, that we doubt he'll do much long snapping (which Steve DeOssie mostly did in the NFL) early in his career.
IKAIKA ALAMA-FRANCIS 6' 4" 252 HAWAII
Get your scrabble game out. Francis is a very raw player who some feel may eventually add another 20 pounds to his frame. He has the size and speed to play on the edge in the 3-4. This son of a 1950's Green Bay Packers draft pick is a very raw prospect who needs more development.
JASON TRUSNIK 6' 4" 249 OHIO NORTHERN
This is a good sleeper prospect. College defensive end who will have to make the transition to outside backer in the pros. Had a very impressive pro day earlier this month. 4.6 40 guy who graded well in his agility drills also. Dominated Division III competition. Notched 43 career sacks and should get late round consideration as a developmental prospect.
MARQUES MURRELL 6' 1" 240 APPALACHIAN STATE
If I am going to mention small school sleepers, then I can't forget to mention Adrian Murrell's little brother Marques. Murrell was a dominator at A.S.U. He was a pass rushing beast on the I-AA level. He has two pro days coming up. He put up some big sack totals and was among the nation's leaders in that category the last few years.
JACOB FORD 6' 3" 245 CENTRAL ARKANSAS Very raw pass rush specialist type, who shined at the all star games when asked to play linebacker and in space. Day 2 prospect who projects well to the pros. 4.6 speed guy. There are several other prospects who project as "edge rushers"... Here are some other additional names to keep track of who could fit into that category. Antwan Barnes (F.I.U.), Darrell Burston (F.S.U.), Martin Jackson (Alcorn State), Abraham Wright (Colorado), Marquies Gunn (Auburn), Victor DeGrate (Oklahoma State), Brian Smith (Missouri).
