Mississippi Golden Eagles ~ 6025/304
Do you agree? I hope so, and propose to break them down into 2 simple Categories, so we know what we're taking about:
Grizzlies ~ Enormous and Powerful Defensive Tackles noted for taking up Multiple Blockers and dominating the Middle.
Wolves ~ Smaller and Athletic Defensive Tackles noted for penetrating the BackField and for their Range.
When evaluating all Defensive Tackles, these are the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
Power. Above all: Core Power. Upper body Strength is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game. And those Players who invest the time and effort to develop superior Core Power are far likelier to enjoy sustained good Health and stay on the Field.
Agility. Lateral Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills. Mechanics. Launch Velocity, Paw Power, and Technique.
Intangibles. Diagnostic Capacity, Processing Speed, and Motor. How effectively he masters Spatial Diagnostics & Angles, how rapidly he recognizes and implements Blocking Schemes based on changing Defensive Tactics, and of course: Drive. How badly he wants it. These are of course difficult things to assess, but it's crucial to at least try to.
Agility. Exceptional. Quick Launch Velocity. Tremendous Fluidity. Superior Closing Speed.
Combat Skills. Outstanding. Mechanics still need Work, but phenomenal Paw Power and exceptional Hand Frequency.
Intangibles. Deficient. Horrible Field Vision and an Hot & Cold Motor, which seems to be a Conditioning Issue.
He has the combination of raw Power and Agility to become a consistently disruptive Pass Rusher.
And he has the Potential to become an consistently stout Run Defender, as well.
The question, of course, is whether or not he possesses the combination of Intelligence & Drive to harness his immense natural Talents. His Conditioning, Processing Speed, and Field Vision are Weaknesses at this point.
But he's certainly worth a MidRound Pick to find out.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Consensus Market Value 5th/6th Round | Yankee Grade 3rd/4th Round |