Adrian Taylor of Oklahoma ~ 6.4/300
"A tall, well-built athlete with good body control and overall get-off burst inside. Has played the nose for the most part over the course of his career, but has a body type that looks conducive to playing the three/five technique at the next level as well.
Does a nice job extending his arms and keeping his pad level down at the point of attack vs. the run game and displays a better anchor than his overall frame would indicate inside vs. the double team. Isn't dominant at the point, but has enough base strength to hold his ground vs. the double even when run at inside.
Also displays the kind of initial get off to shoot gaps inside, maintain a low pad level while surging up the field and create plays behind the line. However, he struggles to consistently break down on contact once he makes his way into the backfield and is too often pushed past the play once he gains a step.
Doesn't work his hands nearly as well as a pass rusher and is at his best using his athleticism to stunt and change directions inside. Gets caught with his pad level too upright when trying to laterally slip blocks and looks most effective when simply asked to one-gap or stunt inside.
Impression: Versatility might be the biggest attribute he has going for him. He's a long, rangy athlete who can make plays away from his frame and be stout at the point of attack. I think he could end up being a solid/average interior lineman at the next level, but I think his real calling could be as an athletic 3-4 defensive end."
Does a nice job extending his arms and keeping his pad level down at the point of attack vs. the run game and displays a better anchor than his overall frame would indicate inside vs. the double team. Isn't dominant at the point, but has enough base strength to hold his ground vs. the double even when run at inside.
Also displays the kind of initial get off to shoot gaps inside, maintain a low pad level while surging up the field and create plays behind the line. However, he struggles to consistently break down on contact once he makes his way into the backfield and is too often pushed past the play once he gains a step.
Doesn't work his hands nearly as well as a pass rusher and is at his best using his athleticism to stunt and change directions inside. Gets caught with his pad level too upright when trying to laterally slip blocks and looks most effective when simply asked to one-gap or stunt inside.
Impression: Versatility might be the biggest attribute he has going for him. He's a long, rangy athlete who can make plays away from his frame and be stout at the point of attack. I think he could end up being a solid/average interior lineman at the next level, but I think his real calling could be as an athletic 3-4 defensive end."
"Bio: Played in 10 games last season, totaling 12 tackles before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury late in the year. Full-time starter the prior two-years, totaling 37/7/3.5 as a junior and 26/6.5/4.5 as a sophomore. Suffered a severely dislocated ankle during Oklahoma's bowl game in December 2009.
Positive: One-time highly rated defensive tackle who's had a lot of injury problems lately. Fires off the snap with a nice first step, plays with good pad level, and works his hands throughout the action. Fluid changing direction, chases hard, and shows solid body strength. Keeps his feet moving up the field and gets a good amount momentum going in a straight line.
Negative: Can be turned from the action by a single blocker. Lacks playing balance. Easily knocked from the action by the first block. Has struggled to stay healthy for more than a year.
Analysis: Taylor looked like the next top tackle from the Oklahoma program but has been unable to stay healthy since the end of his junior season. At one time considered a potential first round pick, he presently grades as a medical risk."
Positive: One-time highly rated defensive tackle who's had a lot of injury problems lately. Fires off the snap with a nice first step, plays with good pad level, and works his hands throughout the action. Fluid changing direction, chases hard, and shows solid body strength. Keeps his feet moving up the field and gets a good amount momentum going in a straight line.
Negative: Can be turned from the action by a single blocker. Lacks playing balance. Easily knocked from the action by the first block. Has struggled to stay healthy for more than a year.
Analysis: Taylor looked like the next top tackle from the Oklahoma program but has been unable to stay healthy since the end of his junior season. At one time considered a potential first round pick, he presently grades as a medical risk."
"Positives: Good size... Heady... Athletic... Explosive... Good initial quickness... Good length... Can get penetration... Plays with reasonably good leverage... Good rip move... Does a nice job shedding blocks... Good initial punch... Good strength... Very solid power... Good flexibility and body control... Long arms... Uses his hands well... Good upfield player... Plays the run well... Stacks well... Solid anchor... Can occupy double teams... Good inside mobility... Tough... Hard worker... Good character, active in community service... Versatile, fits as UT in a 4-3 or defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.
Negatives: Plays too upright at times... Gets pushed off the LOS... Loses balance going down the line... Can be washed out of the play... Rotates a lot... Can wear down toward the end of games... Not much of an arsenal... Average closing speed... Played out of position at 4-3 NT for Oklahoma... Injury concerns, broke ankle in 2009 Sun Bowl, tore Achilles in mid-November and missed remainder of season... Did not make much of an impact in 2010, played on a bad ankle that did not heal 100 percent... Sleeper, was a third round prospect prior to injuries."
Negatives: Plays too upright at times... Gets pushed off the LOS... Loses balance going down the line... Can be washed out of the play... Rotates a lot... Can wear down toward the end of games... Not much of an arsenal... Average closing speed... Played out of position at 4-3 NT for Oklahoma... Injury concerns, broke ankle in 2009 Sun Bowl, tore Achilles in mid-November and missed remainder of season... Did not make much of an impact in 2010, played on a bad ankle that did not heal 100 percent... Sleeper, was a third round prospect prior to injuries."
"Overview: 2010: Hobbled early in the season from a dislocated ankle suffered in the Sun Bowl; made six starts before tearing an achilles tendon, ending his season. 2009: All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, All-Big 12 Academic Second Team.
Strengths: Big, thick and light on his feet. Athletic and strong, and is quick off of the ball. Keeps his feet, ties up blockers and stays alive on running plays; pushes the pocket on the pass rush. Long, strong arms and a big lower unit. Ideal NT or 4-3 DT, and still has room to grow and get stronger.
Weaknesses: Injured as of late; may raise red flags for NFL teams. Did not improve as a senior due to playing in pain and missing starts. Needs technique work, and didn't make as many plays pre-injury as his athleticism warranted, particularly on the pass rush.
Projection: Had he not been hurt, could have really moved up draft boards with the anticipated strong senior season, but it was not to be. May petition for another year of eligibility, but more likely will come out and be a solid choice in the fourth/fifth round area. If he stays healthy, is far too talented to not make a roster and should end up a starter down the road."
Strengths: Big, thick and light on his feet. Athletic and strong, and is quick off of the ball. Keeps his feet, ties up blockers and stays alive on running plays; pushes the pocket on the pass rush. Long, strong arms and a big lower unit. Ideal NT or 4-3 DT, and still has room to grow and get stronger.
Weaknesses: Injured as of late; may raise red flags for NFL teams. Did not improve as a senior due to playing in pain and missing starts. Needs technique work, and didn't make as many plays pre-injury as his athleticism warranted, particularly on the pass rush.
Projection: Had he not been hurt, could have really moved up draft boards with the anticipated strong senior season, but it was not to be. May petition for another year of eligibility, but more likely will come out and be a solid choice in the fourth/fifth round area. If he stays healthy, is far too talented to not make a roster and should end up a starter down the road."
"For nearly three years, Adrian Taylor has been an unheralded clog in the middle of the Oklahoma defense. After redshirting in 2006, Taylor did not make much of an impact as a freshman, but he did get noticeably better as the season progressed. He ended his freshman campaign with ten tackles, a tackle-for-loss and a sack. He even picked off a pass and broke up three others. The 2008 and 2009 seasons went pretty much as planned. Taylor increased his tackle totals and was more effective getting into the backfield. Even when Taylor could not make a play, he would often push the line back and break down the pocket.
Things started going bad at the end of the 2009 season. In the Sun Bowl against Stanford, Taylor dislocated his ankle early in the contest. Fighting back from that gruesome injury was admirable. He started off a little slow, but Taylor was starting to come back into his old form when another injury hit. Taylor tore his Achilles' tendon in his right leg against Texas Tech in early November.
Taylor's stock has dropped fast because of his injuries. It remains to be seen if he can come back from the latest injury and if he can stay healthy even if he does. That puts Taylor in a tough position. He has the talent to play in the NFL, but at best he will be drafted late by a team that is willing to take a chance on a sleeper defensive tackle who will need some time to regain his strength."
Things started going bad at the end of the 2009 season. In the Sun Bowl against Stanford, Taylor dislocated his ankle early in the contest. Fighting back from that gruesome injury was admirable. He started off a little slow, but Taylor was starting to come back into his old form when another injury hit. Taylor tore his Achilles' tendon in his right leg against Texas Tech in early November.
Taylor's stock has dropped fast because of his injuries. It remains to be seen if he can come back from the latest injury and if he can stay healthy even if he does. That puts Taylor in a tough position. He has the talent to play in the NFL, but at best he will be drafted late by a team that is willing to take a chance on a sleeper defensive tackle who will need some time to regain his strength."
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Adrian Taylor:
Adrian Taylor is a Late Round Project, because of his injuries and their lingering affects, but he's one who could pay off immensely, if he comes back all the way, as well he may.
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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