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Brandon Thompson

Clemson

Ht. 6-2 Wt. 315

Pass Rush:  Brandon Thompson has the natural strength to beat opponents with the bull rush.  He’s never going to be a high sack total guy but can push the pocket and move the QB off his spot.  He’s a one-gap penetrator that will make a living with his ability to win matchups with good leverage.  If Thompson got off the ball low, he was tough to handle.  Unfortunately, he played too high most of time.  This took away from his ability to win leverage battles and detracts from his power game.  He’s a limited pass rusher in terms of technique, very few pass rush moves and lacks the burst to be effective in this area.  Read the rest of this entry » «Brandon Thompson Scouting Report»

Dontari Poe

Memphis

Ht. 6-5 Wt. 350

Pass Rush:  Dontari Poe has incredible get off for his size.  He showcases impressive burst off the snap which allows him to blow by blockers.  He is best in tight areas where he can show off his impressive short area quickness.  He is a natural bender that plays low for his size.  Poe has impressive lateral agility and strength which could be utilized more at the next level.  Poe is a work in progress.  He struggles to disengage if he can’t be the blocker off the snap.  He needs to work on extending his arms through contact and not popping upright into contact.  He shows limited pass rush moves, rip with occasional bull rush and spin move.  Read the rest of this entry » «Dontari Poe Scouting Report»

Devon Still

Penn St.

Ht. 6-5 Wt. 310

Pass Rush:  Devon Still was a much more impressive pass rusher in 2011 than in years past.  He has a solid get off and burst for his size.  He fires off the ball low considering his 6’5 frame.  He flashes violent hands and can be overwhelming with the bull rush.  He showcases good lateral agility a very nice swim move.  The biggest problem with Still has been/is his inconsistent motor.  He appears to quit once he’s initially stopped.  He’s a more limited athlete than other first round DT’s which will probably limit his pass rushing abilities in the NFL.

Run Defense:  Still is a more than capable run defender.  He anchors well and if his pads are low, he wins.  He is excellent at stacking and shedding blockers.  He has good ball awareness and can get off the snap quickly and into run lanes.  He has the athleticism and lateral agility to play down the line but his motor is questionable.  I would like to see more effort on plays going away.  Because of his height he is susceptible to allowing blockers under his pads but when he wants he stays low.  For Still he could be a dominate run defender if he develops the motivation play in and play out. Read the rest of this entry » «Devon Still Scouting Report»

Fletcher Cox

Mississippi St.

Ht. 6-4 Wt. 295

Pass Rush:  Fletcher Cox is loaded with upside.  He has experience rushing the passer as a three and five technique.  He’s a tenacious pass rusher that sheds blocks with violent hands and his long arms.  He’s got an athletic build with vines for arms.  He’s explosive off the snap and can blow by blockers with his first step.  He is raw from a technique standpoint.  At times appears unorthodox and unsure but his non-stop motor carries him.  He gets too tall off the snap and through contact which forces him to lose leverage and balance.  He will need to add to his pass rush moves as he uses the bull rush extensively. Read the rest of this entry » «Fletcher Cox Scouting Report»

Jerel Worthy

Michigan St.

Ht. 6-3 Wt. 310

Pass Rush:  Jerel Worthy is a pure three-technique in the 4-3.  He possesses above-average burst off the snap.  From a sheer physical standpoint Worthy has the abilities to be the most dominant pass rusher in this group of DT’s.  He possesses a great first step and shoots the gap as well as any DT in this draft.  I was impressed with this awareness as he was routinely the first player off the snap and in the opponents backfield.  Worthy appears to wear down in games and doesn’t have the conditioning to be consistently dominant.  It appears the more worn down he gets the less effective he becomes.  He has a tendency to pop upright off the snap as the game goes on.  I thought his best performances came against the top centers in the Big Ten.  Read the rest of this entry » «Jerel Worthy Scouting Report»

Michael Brockers

LSU

Ht. 6-5 Wt. 300

Pass Rush:  Michael Brockers has elite first step quickness at the DT position.  He showcases the burst of elite inside pass rushers with the ability to shed blockers with his long arms.  He has the power to match his speed.  He only tallied 2 sacks in 2011 but was a consistent force in the backfield and passing lanes.  His natural athleticism and power are overwhelming for collegiate blockers.  That said, he will need to play with a lower pad level to be an effective NFL inside pass rusher.  He plays too high and allows blockers under his pads.

Run Defense:  Brockers get some undue criticism for his play against the run.  I see a strong anchor that just needs to learn some gap responsibility which will come with good coaching and time in the NFL.  He’s a naturally powerful man with a thick lower half.  His length is a plus in the run game as well as he uses his hands and arm extension to keep blockers away from his body.  He shows good ball awareness but needs to maintain gap responsibility.  He gets caught out of assignment and up field too much.  He needs to extend his arms through contact, does a nice job into contact but doesn’t maintain. Read the rest of this entry » «Michael Brockers Scouting Report»