Mike's Take ...
The quest for edge rushers is such that the best of the bunch never lasts long in a given draft. Chase Young went second overall last year, Nick Bosa second overall the year before that and Bradley Chubb fifth overall the year before that. And in 2017 Myles Garrett even went before the first quarterback was selected, or anybody else, for that matter. Even if you have one or two pass rushers you trust, odds are you still need another one. And demand seemingly always exceeds supply.
Sleeper - Elerson Smith, Northern Iowa (6-6, 254 lbs.) - Smith didn't have a season in 2020 but the last time he played in 2019 he had 14 sacks. He made up for lost opportunity with a week that intrigued at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. In practices Smith demonstrated agility and flexibility. In the game he stayed home and made an open-field tackle on Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers on a reverse. "Elerson Smith's having himself a heck of a game here," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah observed. "You see how long he is, just a really intriguing skill set. To be able to play over a tight end, you can kick him inside, let him rush in there, as well. No rust on him, for not having played he's been outstanding." Smith also had a tackle for a loss in the Senior Bowl and a roughing-the-passer penalty (body weight on the quarterback). He kept showing up.
#5 - Patrick Jones II, Pitt (6-4, 264 lbs.) - Jones explodes off the ball in pursuit of the quarterback. He had eight-and-a-half sacks and four forced fumbles in 2919 and nine sacks in 11 games in 2020. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick talked during Senior Bowl week about Jones' ability to get to the passer using a variety of pass-rushing tools/moves, although he had a "quiet" week of practices in Mobile, Ala., in Jeremiah's estimation. Jones' sack in the Senior Bowl game suggested he might be a gamer.
#4 - Azeez Oiulari, Georgia (6-3, 240 lbs.) - Ojulari forced four fumbles in addition to amassing nine-and-a-half sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss in 10 games in 2020. He can bull his way through offensive tackles, shoot gaps and beat double-teams. An edge rush against Tennessee was equal parts impressive and innovative. Ojulari got low to dip under the offensive tackle on the way to the backfield to the degree that he went down to one knee and then quickly bounced back up, pounced on the quarterback, separated the football and fell on it.
#3 - Jaelen Phillips, Miami (6-5, 266 lbs.) - Phillips had eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss in 10 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 after transferring from UCLA (he played a combined 10 games for the Bruins in 2017 and 2018). His highlights are similar to Gregory Rousseau's, and not just because both wore No. 15 at Miami. Phillips is especially relentless when chasing a play down from behind or the backside, whether he started in a two- or a three-point stance, and he knows how to finish when he gets there.
#2 - Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest (6-3, 274 lbs.) - Among Basham's perceived attributes is versatility. Riddick spoke during Senior Bowl week coverage of Basham's ability to play defensive end, defensive tackle or 3-4 outside linebacker. Jeremiah assessed Basham as "a strong dude on the edge." Basham has 15 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss in 19 games over his last two seasons at Wake Forest (five and four-and-a-half in six games in 20202). There was also this form Riddick: "This guy's just a stud. His intensity, the pace with which he plays, the violence with which he plays, he's just fun to watch."
#1 - Gregory Rousseau, Miami (6-7, 253 lbs.) - Rousseau opted out in 2020 after amassing 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 2019. His wingspan is ridiculous, which allows him to get off blocks, disrupt and dominate. Even when a ball carrier gets past him, he isn't out of Rousseau's reach. And his potential beyond that monster 2019 season is such that Jeremiah is on record assessing Rousseau as in possession of "the tools to emerge as a perennial All-Pro player." That about covers it.
"triple" - Google News
March 17, 2021 at 06:05PM
https://ift.tt/3lqXoe4
The Triple Take: Edge Rushers - Steelers.com - Steelers.com
"triple" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3dc0blF
https://ift.tt/2WoIFUS
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "The Triple Take: Edge Rushers - Steelers.com - Steelers.com"
Post a Comment