2016 NFL Draft: Edge Defenders

[kccrow]

Post your scouting reports and thoughts on edge defenders (3-4 OLB/4-3 DE) here.

[kccrow]

Correa is a compact player for the defensive end position but will fit in well as an outside or inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL. Sports an explosive first step and excellent burst to get into defenders quickly. Maintains good balance and uses his hands extremely well to fight off lineman. Can jolt lineman backwards on initial contact. Excellent closing speed to the ball-carrier. Very good recovery speed and change of direction ability to make second effort plays. Great lateral quickness to make plays away from his area. Can get skinny and slip past blockers. Plays the run very well, especially for his size. An impact pass rusher. Sports the athletic ability to also make a move inside, similar to Jaime Collins in New England. Size, competition, and a deep draft along the defensive front may be the only reasons Correa may slip in this draft.

[kccrow]

Schobert is a compact player as an EDGE defender and should continue to fit there as a situation player, but might be best as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL unless he can bulk up. Sports a solid first step and good burst to get into defenders quickly. Maintains good balance and uses his hands extremely well to fight off lineman, great hand placement off the snap. Adequate punch but doesn't jolt lineman backwards on initial contact. Good, not elite, closing speed to the ball-carrier. Good recovery speed and change of direction ability to make second effort plays. Sports enough lateral quickness to make plays away from his area. Can get skinny and slip past blockers. Plays the run relatively well, especially for his size, but can get washed out at times based purely on his size. An impact pass rusher. Sports the athletic ability make a move inside, similar to Jaime Collins in New England. Shows enough ability to cover Tight Ends and Running Backs in space. Needs to get stronger, especially in his upper body. Made big plays against two of the better O-lines in college football in Alabama and Iowa. Former walk-on that needs to continue adding weight and muscle, but the desire and abilities are there.

Not too many differences between Correa and Schobert in my opinion, although I think Correa can make more of an impact at OLB as a rookie.

[kccrow]

I'm not going to do a full-on write up of Robinson but I do want to mention him. He's a guy I see more as a 4-3 WOLB than a 3-4 OLB simply due to his size. At 6'3" 239, he's similar to Schobert of Wisconsin. He brings alot of the same attributes to the table as Schobert and, likewise, I see his best chance in a 3-4 as a SILB. One thing that will benefit Robinson is that he was dropped into coverage quite a bit more as a Senior. Just a guy to keep an eye on in the process.

[Wilson8]

I really liked Victor Ochi a lot from the Shrine practices and game. His size of 6'2" and 256 is a problem but he can really motor and get to the QB. He also has long arms, 33 inches, that help him in his battles with the OT and his reach for the QB.

I really liked him for a later round pick to be used as a pass rusher and special teams player, but unfortunately his draft stock may have risen so much that he is no longer a bargain.

[Saccopoo]

They'll have to bolster it in the later rounds due to the expenditure on Ford and Houston's contract. Zombo also had a good season. However, they do need someone in there that starts pushing Ford to get him to ramp up his game and to see if they can improve on the athleticism, or lack thereof, of Zombo. Moses is a jag.

Everyone was really high on Ochi, though I've never seen him. Absolutely love Tyrone Hughes from Montana. Absolutely relentless with a high level of athleticism.

[O.city]

Minnesota DE josh Gordan. Can he play olb

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by O.city

Minnesota DE josh Gordan. Can he play olb

DeVondre Campbell of Minnesota as well. Dude had a very nice year as a senior and is prototype in terms of size/length. (92 tackles from the OLB position in 2015.)

Just starting to scratch the surface IMO after starting his college career at Hutchinson JC.

He was one of the standouts during the Shrine game week.

A tall, athletic linebacker who could cover the field and make plays, Campbell was like a ptyedactyl. He could rush the passer, stop the run and drop into coverage. He finished third on the team with 92 tackles, including six-and-a-half tackles-for-loss with a team-high four sacks. Campbell also broke up three passes to go along with an interception and forced fumble.

[jonzie04]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-...ter-Tamba-Hali

Pretty sweet. Oh Tamba is getting old.

[kccrow]

I've talked about Ronald Blair a bit in a couple of previous off-season plans, but now its time to start talking about this guy a whole bunch because he's starting to rise up boards. If he follows in the lines of guys I've tabbed in previous years, such as Jamie Collins (now LB for NE) or Shea McClellin (now LB for CHI), then he's going to see a meteoric rise come draft day. Some people are already talking that way:




All the twitter mumble-jumble aside, I love me some Ronald Blair. This is a guy with a pro-read frame at 6'3" 272. He has a good step off the line and bends off the edge well, balanced. Explosive once he gains the edge and in pursuit to the ball carrier. Long arms. Uses his hands extremely well for a collegiate player, and will only get better. Stout run defender, can stack and shed. Gets good leverage. Plays off blocks laterally. Splits gaps, makes himself small, and has a developed swim move. Good field awareness, locates the ball carrier quickly. Physical and powerful defender, strong tackler that can lay the lumber. Has a non-stop motor and makes plays across the field. Leader.

Reminds me of a young Tamba Hali. Was great against Clemson in one of his few showings against strong competition. Great game tape overall. Currently projected round 4-5. I have him as a 3rd at this point. might rise further if he has great workouts.

[kccrow]

not sure why my twit embed didn't work... anyhow this was it:

Late night draft thought: #AppState DE Ronald Blair is one of the top-40 talents in this draft class. His tape is the real deal. - Dane Brugler


https://twitter.com/dpbrugler/status/698018839137660928

[Saccopoo]

App State had a really great defensive backfield. It will be interesting to see Blair's numbers from the combine. I wonder if he's a product of the coverage or the coverage defense was considered so good because of Blair.

[Saccopoo]

And I see Blair more of a 43 DE than a 34 OLB.

If we are going small school edge rusher, I think I'd rather see Montana's Tyronne Holmes at OLB than Blair. Holmes is faster and longer and was a bit more productive. Won the FCS Defensive Player of the Year.



Also, Southern Utah's James Cowser, who is 6'3", 245 lb., was an absolute sack machine for his college career and owns the FCS career sacks and tackle for loss records. (And while Holmes won FCS Defensive Player of the Year, Cowser, who was third in that voting, won their Conference (Big Sky) Player of the Year honors - intradesting.)

Has a high*-end motor that never stops. FCS Defensive Player of the Year. Active pass rusher with quick hands and well*timed hand swipes at the top of his rush. Rushes from both ends and has a tight, basketball spin move from either direction that puts him in position to win. Quick second and third steps for darting inside moves. Sheds with proper timing to make the tackle. Studious in classroom and film room.

When it comes to production, there is nobody better in FCS history than Cowser who owns the all¬time records in sacks (43) and tackles for loss (80). Cowser's above average hand usage, diversity of attack and relentless motor were the keys to his FCS success, but he has to prove he is athletic enough and strong enough to become a productive NFL starter as a 3-4 outside linebacker. At worse, Cowser is a backup and special teams ace.

Both would be better fits at the 34 OLB spot than Blair IMO - even though both Houston and Hali sport larger frames/heavier. If you look at Ford, I think that's the Dorsey Decision Lens profile you get versus Hali, who has managed to remain at the OLB spot through his dedication, tenacity and professionalism despite the lack of "protoypical" physical attributes that you want in a 34 OLB.

[kccrow]

I'll be surprised if Holmes even gets drafted. Maybe, late in the 7th.

As for Blair, he's prototype 34OLB material. He should run pretty damn well.

[kccrow]

Edit: Wrong spot, moved to ILBs.