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2014 Draft
Defensive Ends
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1 Jadeveon Clowney DE 1 South Carolina Jr 6052 266 1st

Combine Forty: 4.53...Julian Peppers-like combo of size, speed, athlticism...rockets off the edge and must be game-planned. USA Today gushes that "if only his flashes were graded, you would think he was from another planet."...pretty durable (foot injury in 2012)...maturing...work ethic has improved...no off-the-field issues...raised mostly by mom (Dad was in jail for 12 years)...Outstanding pass rushing and run defending skills, versatility, instincts and motor...As a pass rusher he has it all - length, torso flex, closing burst, natural instincts, COD, speed to power skill, inside out move...natural knee bender...makes plays down the line...Best at RDE but can play multiple positions in multiple fronts...confident, relentless, tough..only knocks on him concern his tendency to play high, endurance issues and sloppiness in technques...

Pro Day - Stood on combine numbers...looked very good in position drills and solidified position as a top 3 pick...

Combine (DL04) - Arm: 34 1/2; BP: 21: VJ: 37.5; BJ: 124; 3C: 7.27; ....

3 Stephon Tuitt DE 40 Notre Dame Jr 6050 304 1st

Est. Forty: 4.89...Ideal as 5-technique in a base 3-4...Long arms...muscular upper body...durable...USA Today calls him: "Country Strong."...uses technique and guile to set the edge...needs to become quicker and more explosive off the ball and add additional moves to his pass-rush arsenal...Mom is a deputy sheriff who raised him "old school" (i.e. he walked 10+ miles to lifting sessions when mother couldn't drive him....volunteers to bale hay for free in order to become "country strong)...Respectful person...As a pass rusher, he lacks explosiveness...inconsistent pad-level vs. run...average COD skills...strong upper body and heavy hands...Questionable flex and explosion to be effective on the edge in a 4-3...Tough/won't back down...a fighter regardless of whether game is winnable...

Pro Day - Had surgery March 1 and didn't work out, but did run forties the day before surgery and posted 5.00 and 5.03...

Combine (DL50) - Arm: 34 3/4; BP: 31; ......

7 Trevor Reilly OLB/DE 82 Utah rSr 6050 245 1st-2nd

Est. Forty: 4.65......Good speed for DE (& for that matter OLB)...Lean lower half...Durability concern (Torn ACL in 2012)...More lunch-pail than elite athlete...Fringe quicks and explosiveness...Outgoing/well-liked/leadership qualities...As an OLB he has average instincts. range vs. run and 3rd down skills, above average take-on skills and below average tackling ability...a split late locating the ball...OK at POA/adept at setting the edge/powerful intitial punch. Average range vs. run....not a knock-back tackler/becomes more vulnerable as space increases...Good pass rusher (good length/adequate 1st-step)...quick hands but needs refinement...

 

 

 

Pro Day - Still rehabbing from minor knee surgery that kept him all but out of the combine. Here, he could only run straight ahead without cutting. Forty: 4.52 & 4.54...VJ: 35"; BJ: 9-11"; BP: 21 reps....Looked good catching the football and has come from out of nowhere to be a possible 7th rounder or priority UDFA according to Brandt

 

 

Combine (LB24) - Arm: 32 1/4; Hand: 9 1/2; BP: 26; ......

 

2 Kony Ealy DE 20 Missouri rJr 6040 273 1st-2nd

Combine Forty: 4.92...Prototypical height and weight and decent speed for size...Durable...Played TE and DE in HS...family issues in Spring 2013...Better than average pass rush skills, run defense, versatility and instincts/motor...Very quick 1st step...quick-twitch, sudden, explosive athlete for size....good closing burst...sometimes charges too high...active vs. run...strong at POA....but lunges too often...can play multiple line positions...needs to add strength and improve hands...very good motor - notably in backside pursuit......plays a bit high/could improve fundamental strength...could play with more physicality...

Pro Day - Forty: 4.69 & 4.70; VJ: 32"; BJ: 10-0"; Brandt says he had a good but not excellent workout and that, although he shot up the charts this year, his pro day did not enhance is chances to get drafted in the 2st round (Ed Note - That's not what I'm heaing from the Mayocks, McShanes, Kipers etc. - the impression is that in a thin year for outstanding DE's, he may benefit from the short supply/long demand dynamic....

Combine (DL08) - 34 1/4; BP: 22; VJ: 31.0; BJ: 114; 3C: 6.83;...

14 Chris Smith DE 154 Arkansas Sr 6010 266 2nd

Combine Forty: 4.71...Average size...remolding body...High character despite traffic violation...High energy and intense athlete...As a pass rusher - Good but not elite 1st step quickness...just ordinary speed...average run defender bit with room to improve...more powerful than explosive vs. the run...upper body is stronger than lower body...leaves feet too often...projects as a DE in a 4-3 but could also be a stand-up OLB in a 3-4...Has special teams skill set and mentality...short for a DE (& for that matter OLB)..above average motor...decent though not off the wall intensity...

Pro Day - Stood on combine numbers except for 3C where he posted a 7.37. Worked out only as a LB by Eagle's LB coach...

Combine (DL43) - Arm: 34 1/8; BP: 28; VJ: 37.0; BJ: 121; 3C: 7.55;...

15 Dominique Easley DE/DT 165 Florida xx 6020 288 2nd

Est. Forty: 5.0...Built like a fireplug...below average top-end speed, but sudden and explosive off the ball...Durability concern (ACL)...Immature as a freshman...reportedly has matured in last year...strong leader on defense...works hard...coachable...As a pass rusher, subpar athleticism neutralizes high effort and perfected techniques....a bit over-eager vs. the run and will miss tackles...Has played inside or outside in 4 and 3 -man fronts, Best fit is as a 3-technique DT in a 4-man front or a 5-technique in a 3-man front....Tweener - undersized/gets rag-dolled too much as a DT but a bit short for DE...Impressive motor/high effort/plays with an edge....learns from mistakes...

Pro Day - Didn't want to get weighed and didn't work out - will try to do a full workout just prior to Draft Day.....

Combine (DL09) - 32 7/8; BP: 26...

13 Scott Crichton DE 149 Oregon State rJr 6030 273 2nd-3rd

Combine Forty: 4.84...His strength seems to be high-effort and knowing how to play the position more than pure athletic skill...Prototypical numbers...Shoulder surgery a year ago...strong work ethic...self-evaluator...leadership skills...Quick off the balll. Better than average rushing the passer and vs. the run...average 1st step quicks...excellent leverage...explosive power in upper body...active and heavy hands... effective transitioning from speed to power...average torso flex but can dip and bend the edge....stout with good core strength vs. run...consistently sets the edge...adequate lateral agility...strong tackler/finishes plays...Solid motor...physical/plays with an edge/consistent second effort...loves to chase...

Pro Day - Stood on combine numbers...worked out both as a hand on the ground pass rusher and as a LB in space...described as a very good competitor and projected to be a high 2nd round pick..

Combine (DL06) - Arm: 32 3/4; BP: 24; VJ: 31.5; BJ: 108; 3C: 7.19;........

6 Jackson Jeffcoat DE 78 Texas Sr 6030 247 2nd-3rd

Combine Forty: 4.63...Surprising top-end speed.Good height but a bit slender in the lower half and could add bulk...average speed for size...durability concerns (ankle, pec-surgery caused him to miss 7 games in 2012)....Maturing and developing leadership skills...Football family...above average pass rush skills - good initial quicks, good leverage, uses hands well, can dip off edge; effective inside swim move...Average anchor - will sometimes get engulfed by larger blocker..Quick enough to play RDE in a 4-3, but can also convert toa 3-4 OLB - athletic enough to cover in underneath zone scheme...tough with good fight at POA...plays a bit high/needs to work on hand usage...good motor/makes plays from back side, plays thru to the whistle...

Pro Day - Stood on combine scores and worrked out out as a 4-3 DE and 3-4 LB...looked better as a DE than he did as a LB (where he didn't look very smooth dropping into space)....

Combine (DL19) - Arm: 33 7/8; BP: 18; VJ: 36.0; BJ: 123; 3C: 6.97......

15+ Josh Mauro DE 196+ Stanford rSr 6060 271 7th

Combine Forty: 5.21....High effort DE, but lacks fundamental quickness and (according to USA Today) is a one-speed player who must play with perfect technique to overcome athletic limitations....Pro Day - Forty: 5.21 & 5.23; VJ: 31"; 20S: 4.50; BP: 29; strained hamstring and couldn't do the 3C drill...Projects as a Day 3 pick..

Combine (DL30) - Arm: 33; BP: 21; VJ: 32.0; BJ: 116; 3C: 7.43;.....

4 Kareem Martin DE 52 North Carolina Sr 6060 272 2nd

Combine Forty: 4.72...Moving up the charts...Tall and lean (long arms/big hands), but adding bulk...(Taller and longer-armed than pre-combine estimates)...Durable....Consistent/hard worker...Better vs. run than as a pass rusher (but ironically gives more effort rushing the passer than he does defendng the run)....Uses hands well in pass rush...seems to understand the techniques but only has average athletic skills in the pass rush...Outstanding vs. the run but must keep his pad-level down...lacks pursuit speed...good diagnostics...lacks bulk to be a 34 DE and not good enough in space to be a 3-4 OLB but projects as a 4-3 LDE who can slide inside to rush the passer...Aggressive/doesn't back down...needs to focus on techniques rather than fall back on natural athletic ability...will wear down in games...

Pro Day - Said to have "boosted stock"...Stood on combine numbers...looked good in DE drills and has probably moved up into mid-to-high 2nd round consideration......

Combine (DL29) - Arm: 35; BP: 22; VJ: 35.5; BJ: 129; 3C: 7.20;......

8 Jeoffrey Pagan DE/DT 91 Alabama xx 6030 310 3rd-4th

Prototypical 5-technique DT in the 3-4 who also projects as classic "big DE" in 3-4 scheme...Picture you get from write-ups is: "very athletic but fairly new to the game and, therefore, "raw" - the good news being that he's got an intriguing upside. Est. Forty: 4.83....strong. well-proportioned frame...still developing muscle mass...above average durability (knee ligaments in HS)...heavily recruited out of HS..below average pass rusher (Raw)..., average instincts/motor and above average versatility and as run defender...must work on maintaining lower pad-level and escape being velcro'd to blocks....

Pro Day - Didn't do any drills.......

Combine (DL36) - Arm: 33.......

15+ George Uko DT/DE 196+ USC rJr 6030 284 7th/UDFA

Combine Forty: 4.99....Rangy, fairly long-armed and athletically talented but consistently underperforms, given his potential...a bit mechanical - can too often get overpowered inside...

Pro Day - 20S: 4.57; 3C: 7.47; BP: 22 reps; had a very good workout and projects as a Day 2 pick.....

Combine (DL51) - Arm: 33 1/4; BP: 18; VJ: 29.5; BJ: 110;.....

15+ Aaron Lynch DE 196+ South Florida rSoph 6050 249 4th-5th

Est. Forty: 4.75...A bit lean and light but has a good frame...above average durability...Left ND for South Florida and said to be unaccountable and undisciplined when he knew he wouldn't play last year...Has matured under new SF coach...but still knocked by some as an underachiever...Above average 1st step quicks vs. run but lacks great lower body flex...can bend back inside though...bats down passes...needs more variety of moves and to iprove setting up OL's...Outstanding vs. run though inconsistent hand fighter...Stout anchor...good range for DE...Ideal LDE in a 4-3 but could slide inside to rush passer...Has closing burst and athleticism to transition to a 3-4 OLB...would have to bulk up to play DE in a 3-4.. Plays with an edge/won't back down...will run hot and cold pursuing ballcarriers and will take plays off when not challenged...needs more leverage, strength and explosiveness at POA...

Pro Day - Forty: 4.69; (Really good 10yd split of 1.52); VJ: 29; BJ: 9-9"; Worked out both as a DE and OLB...Nice arm length...

Combine (DL26) - Arm: 34; BP: 18; ......

15+ Ed Stinson DE 196+ Alabama rSr 6030 287 6th-7th

Est. Forty: 4.85...Projects as a lunch-pail run-defense specialist who'll come out on passing downs...Well-built/thick trunk and extremities...Good functional strength...Csn play DE in a 3-4 or DT in a 4-3...OK durability...high reps guy but takes well to coaching and has good football character...tough family background (financially challenged)...below-average pass rush skills (lacks agility, quickness or flex)...can be a disruptive pass rusher but needs to finish plays...could shed and get into pursuit quicker...better than average against the inside run but an average tackler and a bit slow in pursuit...Projects best as 3-4 DE but has played DE in 3 and 4-man fronts and even a little bit at DT and NT...Plays hard, strong motor, physical and tough...

Pro Day - BP: 27 reps...did position drills (no comments posted)..

Combine (DL46) - Arm: 33 3/4.......

12 James Gayle DE 141 Virginia Tech rSr 6040 259 5th

Combine Forty:4. 70...Excellent top-end speed, but slower than on film...above average size...average durability (ankle problems)...Team awards earlier in college career ...for lifting/conditioning and as defensive newcomer...average pass rusher who appears to lack the body control and agility to go with his speed...above average instincts. motor, versatility and run defending skills....more mobile than tough...can play hybrid DE/OLB role...pretty good in underneath coverage but best suited for 4-3 LDE or edge rusher in a 3-4...needs to develop assortment of counter-moves (has no answer when first move doesn't work)......tough but quiet...excellent motor...rlentless pass rusher and run-chaser...

Pro Day - Forty: 4.60 & 4.62; VJ: 34"; 20S: 4.49...Brandt says he looks a bit like a straight line runner who will have to be a DE because he lacks the athleticism to play OLB in the pros..

Combine (DL15) - Arm: 32 3/8; BP: 26; VJ: 37.0; BJ: 122; 3C: 7.19;......

10 Taylor Hart DE 118 Oregon rSr 6060 281 5th-6th

Est. Forty: 5.0...Thick lunch-pail kind of guy...Ideal measurables for a 5-technique in a base 3-4 front...Average top-end speed...Durable...Well respected by coaches and teammates...Mentally tough - can take hard coaching...Excellent work-ethic...Below-average pass rush skills (Power rusher with above average length. Only average 1st step quicks...heavy hands and powerful upper body)...above average vs. run with long arms and above-average anchor...Space-eater - can anchor down as a -gap defender....average range...Ideal for 5-technique in a 3-4. Can reduce to one-gap interior player...Can also play LDE in a 4-4...PLays with a blue collar mentality...Tough/Fights at the POA. Loves to chase and hustles in pursuit...

Pro Day - Forty: 4.87 & 4.86; VJ: 30"; BJ: 8-9"; 20S: 4.61; 3C: 7.42; BP: 23 reps; Impressed in position drills conducted by the Indy defensive line coach...worked out both at DE and OLB....

Combine (DL17) - Arm: 32 3/4; BP: 21;......

11 Marcus Smith DE/OLB 138 Louisville Sr 6030 251 5th-6th

Combine Forty: 4.68...Could be a one-trick spot edge rushing specialist in the pros...Outstanding pass rush skills but lacks COD athleticism and can be slow to shed...Struggles in man coverage...

Pro Day - Eagles showing interest...Skipped running the forty....said to have demonstrated athleticism that would project him to be 9th best DE and could end up playing 3-4 OLB- SB Nation...According to NFLDraftTracker, Bridgewater wasn't the most talented Louisville player on the pro day; "Marcus Smith has that honor"......

Combine (DL44) - Arm: 34; BP: 23; VJ: 35.0; BJ: 121; 3C: 7.48;......

15+ Ben Gardner DE 196+ Stanford rSr 6040 277 6th

Est. Forty: 5.15...High effort lunch-pail player who tore pec in Game #8 this past season..."Stanford Smart" (plays with sound technique) but injury may keep him from working out and undermine his draft rating...

Pro Day -.Considered by CBSports to be a "combine-snub" who made good...Forty: 4.83; 3C: 6.78; VJ: 39.5"; BJ: 10-2"...workouts validated athleticism he demonstrated on tape...Described as a tweener (in a good sense - i.e. gritty enough to play on the DL but with enough fluidity and instinctiveness to be a LB)......

5 Larry Webster DE 56 Bloomsburg rSr 6060 252 2nd/3rd

Combine Forty: 4.58...Small school sleeper moving up the charts...Tall dude but raw as rain (transitioned from basketball a few years ago) and needs to improve core strength....Good speed for size...Nice length with room to add bulk...Flashed in early all star game...

Pro Day - Worked out as a DE, TE and LB...Brandt describes him as a top performer in his posititon group at the combine.......

Combine (DL53) - Arm: 33 1/2; BP: 17; VJ: 36.5; BJ: 123; 3C: 7.29;.....

9 Will Clarke DE/OLB 91 West Virginia rSr 6060 271 3rd

Combine Forty: 4.77....Tall and rangy...Huge wingspan...Can play DE in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4...Must learn how to avoid being velcro'd to blocks and to use his hands better...Flashed in one of the smaller all stsr contests...

Pro Day - 20S: 4.50; worked out as a pass rushing DE and as an OLB...looked best as a pass rusher with his hand on the ground according to G Brandt...

Combine (DL03) - Arm: 34 5/8; BP: 22; VJ: 32.0; BJ: 112; 3C: 7.26;......

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