NFL Draft 2014 Preview (34 page)

5T DEANDRE COLEMAN, #91

CALIFORNIA
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Grade: 5.40

Ht: 6-4 3/4 | Wt: 314 | Sp: 4.77 | Arm: 34 3/8 | Hand: 10 1/4

History:
Parade All-American out of Seattle. Following a 2009 redshirt season, he saw his first college action in ’10 as a reserve defensive lineman and had 18 tackles, three tackles for loss and zero sacks with one pass batted in 12 games. Appeared in 13 games in ’11, starting twice at defensive end in December, and contributed 19-6-2. Played in all 12 games (11 starts) in ’12 and recorded 48-8 1/2-3 with one pass batted. Was the listed starter in nine games at defensive end and two games at defensive tackle. Started all 12 games at nose tackle in ’13 and had 40-9-2 1/2 with one pass batted. Recorded Cal’s first safety since 2008 (tackle in end zone against Washington State). Team captain. At the Combine, hurt his right knee running the 40-yard dash and did not work out.

Strengths:
Outstanding arm and body length and overall size. Is not easily moved off a spot. Can anchor vs. the double team and clog lanes. Very tough and durable. Plays through injuries. Versatile and has experience lining up anywhere along a “30” front.

Weaknesses:
Not an accomplished pass rusher — hand use is unrefined and displays minimal acceleration and closing burst. Has to figure out how to work half a blocker. Tends to rise straight up out of his stance and stays blocked too long. Limited playing range. Lacks urgency. Has a hearing impairment in one ear.

Future:
A very big, strong, two-gapping plugger ideally suited to stack the corner of an odd front. Will make a living digging his feet in the dirt and defending the run.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I gave him a grade as a situational starter. He’s a kid who is half deaf, the kind of guy you root for. He’s not really impressive on film. He plays like a lot of the other big slugs with size — the Jason Hatcher’s and Allen Bailey’s and Alex Carrington’s. There were not a lot of (scouts) in our meetings that were high on him, but it’s not easy to find guys like that. Those type of guys go in the third round.”

DLE SCOTT CRICHTON, #95 (JUNIOR)

OREGON STATE
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Grade: 5.42

Ht: 6-2 7/8 | Wt: 273 | Sp: 4.84 | Arm: 32 3/4 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
His last name is pronounced “CRY-ton.” His parents are both from Western Samoa. The Washington prep enrolled at Oregon State and redshirted as a freshman in 2010. Earned the starting job at right defensive end in ’11 and had 74 tackles, 14 1/2 tackles for loss and six sacks with three passes batted and a school-record six forced fumbles in 12 games. Ranked first among the nation’s freshman class in tackles for loss and sacks. Moved over to the left defensive end spot in ’12 and appeared in 13 games (12 starts), recording 44-17 1/2-9 with three passes batted and one forced fumble. Had a three-sack contest against Washington State. Missed spring practice in ’13, rehabilitating from off-season shoulder surgery. In 13 starts at left defensive end in the fall, he tallied 47-19-7 1/2 with three passes batted and three forced fumbles. Concluded his career as the Beavers’ all-time leader in forced fumbles (10) and ranked third in sacks (22 1/2). Revealed at the NFL Combine that he elected to leave school one year early to support his struggling family; his mother works two jobs and his father still works despite having a leg amputated.

Strengths:
Put together — has a well-proportioned, muscular build with long arms and big hands. Good burst off the snap. Flashes power. Can shoot his hands, extend and get under a tackle’s pads. Generally plays on his feet. Nice closing speed when he has a bead. Strong tackler. Tries for the strip (10 career FFs). Productive three-year starter.

Weaknesses:
Needs to play with lower pad level — tends to rush upright and defend too tall against the run. Dominated by double teams. Needs to cultivate pass-rush moves and counters — does not have a plan. Shows overall body stiffness — struggles to dip and bend the corner with leverage or flexibility. Gets sucked inside and loses contain. Loafs on the back side. Has tweener traits — lacks ideal athleticism for the right side and bulk for the left side. Inexperienced playing in reverse.

Future:
Strong, athletic, raw defensive end prospect who would have been better served returning for his senior season. Despite being rough around the edges at this stage of his development, Crichton shows in flashes and has power potential as a 4-3 defensive end. Could require patience.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is going to be pretty good. He’s raw, just with no technique. He has no idea what he is doing. He needs to be coached up. He is strong and can run. He has that Samoan strength with big hands. He doesn’t look like he is as big as he is because he is solid all over. He played around 260, but he has a frame to easily carry 275 by the Combine or his pro day.”

3T-DLE AARON DONALD, #97

PITTSBURGH
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Grade:
6.32

Ht: 6-0 3/4 | Wt: 285 | Sp: 4.68 | Arm: 32 5/8 | Hand: 9 7/8

History:
Native Pennsylvanian. Played all 13 games as a true freshman in 2010, recording 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks with two passes batted in a reserve role. Saw action in 13 games in ’11, playing every down lineman position in the 3-4 scheme, and registered 47-16-11 with four passes batted and one forced fumble. Finished second in the Big
East Conference in sacks and tackles for losses despite not starting until the final five weeks of the campaign (defensive end). In ’12, he had 64-18 1/2-5 1/2 with two passes batted and one forced fumble in 12 starts. Led the conference in tackles for losses. Missed the Gardner-Webb game after his right knee was scoped. Was honored with numerous awards during his all-America campaign at defensive tackle in ’13, tallying 59-28 1/2-11 with three passes batted, four forced fumbles and one blocked extra point in 13 starts. Team captain was the first Pitt defensive player to earn unanimous all-America honors since Hugh Green in 1980. Also was the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Outland Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award. Was the NCAA leader in tackles for loss.

Strengths:
Quick off the snap. Plays with natural leverage. Gets under pads and into gaps and is highly disruptive penetrating. Explosive in short area — recorded a 1.64-second 10-yard split at the Combine. Good foot athlete — redirects well and can work the edges and loop and stunt. Flexible enough to zone drop in short area. Plays with awareness and consistently locates the ball. Closes hard and fast. Keeps working to the ball. Disruptive penetrating ability. Outstanding career production. Tough and competitive with terrific personal and football character. Ran the fastest 40-yard dash by a defensive tackle and the Combine and pumped 225 pounds 35 times. Was unblockable in Senior Bowl one-on-one drills.

Weaknesses:
Marginal height and frame is nearly maxed out. Hands are more active than strong — could play with more pop and power. Overpowered in the run game and ground up by double teams. Gets snared and controlled by bigger, longer blockers. Not a two-gap player. Has some tweener traits — lacks ideal length and bend to play outside.

Future:
Short, scrappy, instinctive, highly productive defensive penetrator who does not look the part, but inspires confidence he can be an exception to the rule. Is the type you root for and has the first-step quickness, athleticism and motor to emerge as a havoc-wreaking three-technique in a fast-flowing 4-3 scheme such as the one deployed in Dallas, Chicago and Tampa Bay.

Draft projection:
First-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I thought he was a second-rounder. He might have pushed himself into the first round (at the Senior Bowl). He is kicking everyone’s (butt). He plays like a rolling ball of butcher knives. ... He is your classic, prototype three-technique. He’s (Tampa Bay 1999 15th overall pick) ‘Booger’ McFarland. That’s who he is. He’s a building block for the Tampa-2 teams. (Tampa head coach) Lovie (Smith) and (Cowboys defensive coordinator) Rod (Marinelli) will be arm-wrestling for a way to land this kid. He’s small, but he’s special.”

DLE-DT KONY EALY, #47 (JUNIOR)

MISSOURI
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Grade: 5.75

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 273 | Sp: 4.92 | Arm: 34 1/4 | Hand: 9 1/2

History:
His name is pronounced “COE-nee EE-lee.” Was an all-state player in both football and basketball as a Missouri prep. Weighed 207 pounds when he arrived at Mizzou in 2010, redshirting as a freshman. Played in all 13 games in ’11, including a start at defensive end at Baylor, and had 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. Moved into the starting lineup at defensive end in ’12, seeing action in 12 games (10 starts) and recording 37-10-3 1/2 with seven passes batted and one forced fumble. Was a first-team all-SEC selection in ’13, starting all 14 games and totaling 43-14 1/2-9 1/2 with six passes batted, one interception and three forced fumbles. Scored his first college touchdown on a 49-yard interception return against Indiana.

Strengths:
Is long and has a big, projectable frame with room for added bulk. Quick off the snap. Loose athlete. Moves like a linebacker — 6.83-second 3-cone drill paced defensive lineman at the Combine. Plays on his feet. Runs the arc — dips his shoulder, bends the corner and gets home. Closes fast on the quarterback. Can spin off blocks, redirect and chase the quarterback. Crashes down the line and ranges in pursuit. Flexible and coordinated to zone-drop. Has upside.

Weaknesses:
Needs more time in the weight room. Still developing positional instincts and awareness to blocking schemes. Pad level is too high. Exposes his frame and gets locked up. Does not convert speed to power. Unrefined hand use, counters and pass-rush moves. Needs to learn to use his length advantageously. Does not provide enough resistance at the point of attack. Crumbles vs. double teams.

Future:
Big, athletic, ascending, pass-rush talent with the size, burst and flexibility to pressurize the edge as a right defensive end. Is not a finished product, particularly as a run defender, but should only become more disruptive as his strength, technique and savvy catch up with his natural physical ability. Could also draw looks as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“Ealy doesn’t have a lot of production, but he is talented. He is actually really disappointing for how good he looks and the traits that he possesses. I will give him a decent grade for someone else. He’s too up and down in everything he does. He’s just not an aggressive, find-it player. His motor does not run high. He’s big, athletic and has good speed, not great speed. He’s a rep guy. He’s going to need a lot of reps. He has more bust written on him than make it. He’s quick, athletic, can bend and has enough strength. You can check off all the boxes.”

3T DOMINIQUE EASLEY, #2

FLORIDA
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Grade: 5.40

Ht: 6-1 3/4 | Wt: 288 | Sp: 4.90e | Arm: 32 7/8 | Hand: 9 3/4

History:
Has a son born in November 2012. Highly recruited out of New York. Enrolled at Florida in 2010 and played in five games as a true freshman, recording four tackles, zero for loss and zero sacks. Was limited all year by an ankle injury. Earned a starting defensive tackle spot in ’11 and played in 12 games, recording 37-7 1/2-1 1/2 sacks. In October, he was allegedly involved in an altercation with former Alabama football player Reggie Myles. After an investigation, the University of Florida Police Department recommended he be charged with misdemeanor battery, but the State Attorney’s Office declined to press charges. In the regular-season finale against Florida State, he tore the ACL in his left knee and missed playing in the Gator Bowl. Returned to the field in ’12 and started 11 games at defensive end, recording 26-8 1/2-4 with one pass batted. Missed two games with a sprained meniscus. Started the first three games of ’13 at defensive tackle and had 5-2-0. His season was cut short when he ruptured his right ACL and medial meniscus in a non-contact practice drill. Team captain.

Strengths:
Has natural leverage to give blockers fits. Explodes off the snap — thrusts into gaps and wins with suddenness. Plays on his feet. Quick, active paws — shoots his hands and locks out. Disruptive penetrating ability. Relentless and energetic. Excellent pursuit effort — doesn’t quit on plays and chases outside the box and downfield. Has played inside and outside. Works hard in the weight room.