Scouting Blog
Defensive Linemen Scouting Notes
By: Ed Hunt
Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State #1 DE
-strong bend
-draws double teams
-nice rip move that he uses often
-sometimes gets overpowered in run game
-needs a little flexibility on dip
Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson #2 DE
-good first step
-nice bend
-uses his spin move a lot. He uses it well.
-persistent in the run game
-has a good dip for a guy his size
Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State #3 DE
-quick around edge
-has some trouble getting off blocks
-brings regular pressure
-good pass rusher
-speed rusher
-good wingspan, but needs to build strength
Jaylon Ferguson, Edge, Louisiana Tech DE #4 DE
-needs to pass rush in a lower stance
-good open field tackler
-decent pass rusher
-moves well and can function in coverage
-is a persistent pass rusher
LJ Collier, DE, TCU (underrated) #5 DE
-violent hand movement
-brings more pressure than sacks
-has good power and bull rush
-quick first step
-only a 4-3 DE
Oshane Ximines, Edge, Old Dominion (underrated)
-brings regular pressure
-rushes too upright
-tall with long arms
-good hand fighter
-average run defender
Chase Winovich, Edge, Michigan (overrated)
-needs to be quicker
-good hand fighter
-good bull rush
-has some potential getting off blocks but this is a weakness
-not a good open field tackler
Joe Jackson, Edge, Miami (Overrrated)
-sets the edge
-needs to be quicker on the pass rush
-does well on inside stunts
-gets off blocks well
-needs to get stronger as a pass rusher too
Cece Jefferson, Edge, Florida (Sleeper)
-uses a mix of pass rush moves
-brings regular pressure
-quick first step
-needs to get off blocks better
-high motor player
Ed Oliver, 3-4 DE, Houston #1 3-4 DE
-Violent Hand Fighter
-Gets off blocks well
-able to penetrate the line of scrimmage
-relentless motor
-excellent speed for a defensive lineman
-good punch
-brings interior pressure as pass rusher
Zach Allen, DE, Boston College 3-4 DE #2 (underrated)
-uses his hands well
-pushes the pocket on run plays
-good motor
-gets his hands up to tip on a pass
-moves well for a defensive lineman
-reads the run
Jerry Tillery, 3-4 DE, Notre Dame 3-4 DE #3
-good getting off blocks in run defense
-persistent as a pass rusher
-guy who has moves as a pass rusher
-drew double teams at times
-decent hand fighter
-character concerns and said to be a bad teammate
Rashan Gary, 3-4 DE, Michigan 3-4 DE #4
-good run stopper!
-rushes from both sides
-speed rusher
-needs better bend
-uses his hands well
-gets off blocks well!
-more of a 3-4 defensive end
Daniel Wise, 3-4 DE, Kansas (underrated) 3-4 DE #5
-played 3-4 DE at Kansas
-good pass rusher off the edge
-reads the run well
-quick off the line of scrimmage
-physical rusher
Kingsley Keke, 3-4 DE, Texas A&M (Sleeper)
-gets interior pressure
-good motor
-good awareness to run to football
-good technique
-needs to build up his core strength a bit
Dre’Mont Jones, 3-4 DE, Ohio State (Overrated)
-has a spin move
-Gets overpowered a lot
-more the athletic type
-good hand fighter
-more of the pass rushing type
Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama #1 DT
-wins his battles
-pushes the pocket on passes
-good hand fighter
-sometimes loses his balance
-gets off blocks well
-draws double teams
-can get caught with cadence issues
-has a nice swim move
-plugs the holes in the running game
-played the zero tech at Alabama
Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State DT #2
-has a torn ACL
-video of him in a street fight with a woman
-gets off blocks well
-good hand use in pass rush
-drew double teams in pass rush
-fills the gaps in run defense
-needs to read the run better
Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson DT #3
-can play 5 to 0 tech
-a lot of power rushing to the inside
-was asked to drop into coverage, a tough task for such a big guy
-needs to get lower and play with more leverage
-his upper body strength is strong
-can push the line back, even tackles
Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida (underrated) #4 DT
-quick getting off LOS
-gets penetration through the LOS
-runs to the football
-physical in his battles against linemen
-good speed for a defensive lineman
Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
-good moves to get into the backfield
-good pass rusher
-gets off blocks well
-didn’t play in a great conference
-hustles to the football
Demarcus Christmas, DT, Florida State (Overrated)
-doesn’t read the run that well
-gets off blocks late
-needs more pass rush moves
-has a good bull rush
-good power but lacks athleticism
Albert Huggins, DT, Clemson (Sleeper)
-played behind Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence
-decent pass rusher
-runs to the football to help in tackling
-needs to get stronger
-average at holding the point of attack in the run game
Dexter Lawrence, NT, Clemson #1 NT
-wins the line of scrimmage
-would like to see him hustle to the football
-not a top tier athlete
-what to like about him is his power.
-good hand fighter
Daylon Mack, NT, Texas A&M (underrated) #2 NT
-hold the point of attack
-has some athleticism at a pass rusher
-quick off the line of scrimmage
-good run defender
-can be a guy who occupies blockers
Ed Alexander, NT, LSU (underrated) #3 NT
-very good run defender
-moves well for his size
-reads the run well
-average pass rusher
-a guy who could stay on the field in the nickel in an odd front
Ricky Walker, NT, Virginia Tech #4 NT
-pushes the pocket in pass rush
-plays with good balance on his feet
-decent pass rusher for his size
-doesn’t read the run well
-can get off blocks and make plays in run defense
Dontavious Russell, NT, Auburn #5 NT
-has a nice punch
-needs lower pad level
-smart player in reading the play
-hot and cold in terms of getting off the LOS
-holds the point of attack
PJ Johnson, NT, Arizona (Overrated)
-gets blown off the line in the run game
-can really show physical strength pass rushing
-needs a stronger core/base
-can draw double teams
-very hot and cold in terms of motor
Greg Gaines, NT, Washington (Overrated)
-needs to play with better leverage
-doesn’t hold the point of attack
-needs to get off blocks better
-plays better when his job is to clog the middle
-has nose tackle size
Olive Sagapolu, NT, Wisconsin (Sleeper)
-needs to stay on his feet better
-strong enough to push the pocket
-gets pushed off the line in run defense
-gets penetration on the line in run defense
-huge frame, 346 pounds
Carl Granderson, Edge, Wyoming
-looks overmatched in pass rush
-competent in stunts
-needs to reform his technique
-looks capable of dropping into coverage
-violent hand fighter
-charged with sexual assault
Jalen Jelks, Edge, Oregon
-gets overpowered by linemen
-needs longer arms
-plays with some agressiveness
-can get off blocks
-doesn’t have the upper body strength to be a good pass rusher
Austin Bryant, Edge, Clemson
-quick first step
-not as strong as a run defender
-gets regular pressure
-has dropped into zone some
-benefitted from playing on a talented line
Ben Banogu, Edge, TCU
-gets overpowered in the run game
-can get off blocks
-not impressed with him as a pass rusher
-his primary move is his bend
-needs to become more proficient with his hands when pass rushing
Porter Gustin, Edge, USC
-persistent pass rusher
-gets blown off the line in run defense
-not the quickest pass rusher
-has surprising upper body strength
-used to rushing standing up
Sharif Miller, DE, Penn State
-not a good run defender
-needs better bend
-good hands as a pass rusher
-converts speed to power well
-much more of a 4-3 DE
Jesse Aniebonam, Edge, Maryland
-good vision in run defense
-needs to be quicker to the edge
-needs more moves as a pass rusher
-best move is a rip move
-pass rushed standing up
Anthony Nelson, DE, Iowa
-average getting off blocks
-reads run well
-very good bull rush
-needs better bend
-average hand use when pass rushing
Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan
-interviews well
-gets overpowered by run blocks
-athletic enough to get penetration at the line
-decent bend
-needs more pass rush moves
Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas
-explosive first step
-brings pressure
-needs to work on his bend
-strong core/base
-only a 4-3 DE
Jordan Brailford, DE, Oklahoma State
-quick first step
-can move in space better than most defensive linemen
-good at shedding blocks
-needs more pass rush moves especially a counter move
-a little undersized
Tim Ward, DE, Old Dominion
-needs a quicker first step
-combine warrior
-below average pass rusher
-reads the play well
-decent run supporter
Jonathan Ledbetter, DE, Georgia
-lined up on the inside and outside of the d-line
-needs to get off blocks better
-gets overpowered in the run game
-doesn’t bring pressure
Byron Cowart, DE, Maryland
-gets off blocks well
-excellent in run defense
-shoots the gaps into the backfield
-has a nice swim move in pass rush
-might be more of a 3-4 DE
Corbin Kaufusi, DE, Brigham Young
-needs a stronger bull rush
-needs to be quicker to the edge
-needs a stronger base when taking on run blocks
-needs to bring more pressure on the QB
-only a 4-3 end
Amani Bledsoe, DE, Oklahoma
-more of a 3-4 DE
-needs work as a pass rusher
-junior who probably came out a year too early
Chris Slayton, DT, Syracuse
-quick for a 300lb guy
-needs better moves as a pass rusher
-was a guy who drew double teams
-average run defender
-would like to see him be more physical with his hands
Terry Beckner, Jr, 3-4 DE, Missouri
-has a spin move in pass rush
-gets blown off the line in run defense
-does have some ability to create pressure
-shows some physicality with his hands
-quick burst off the line of scrimmage
Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State
-brings pressure in the pass game
-good bull rush
-not as strong in the run game
-sometimes drew double teams
-needs to work on his motor
Gerald Willis III, DT, Miami
-has some quickness off the line
-brings interior pressure
-has some trouble getting blown off the line in the running game
-good awareness to run to the football
-smart player
Isaiah Buggs, DT, Alabama
-played 3-4 DE at Alabama
-more of a DT
-needs to work on his punch
-doesn’t bring much interior pressure
-shows something on stunts
-has some nasty to his game
-well coached in interviews
-was a JUCO guy but made it to Alabama
-was hot and cold at the Senior Bowl
Kevin Givens, DT, Penn State
-gets off blocks decently
-good moves as a pass rusher
-some weakness in the run defense game
-moves well for D-lineman
-competent executing stunts
Khairi Clark, DT, Florida
-pushes the pocket as a pass rusher
-persistent pass rusher
-can make plays as a run defender
-big frame
-limited tape
