The scoop on Dareus....

If we were to draft Dareus i would not be upset. I think we can use him in our system and he has attributes that make him potentially good NFL players but i also have doubts about his ability to dominate and frankly am shocked that anyone would consider him a potential #1 pick.

How many of you know who Brandon Deadrick and Lorenzo Washington are? Both were just rookie defensive linemen in the nfl. Deadrick for the Pats and Washington for the Jets. Both 3-4 DEs and both talented enough to make an nfl team. Deadrick had 2 sacks for the Pats.

Those 2 guys were Alabama's starting DEs when the 2009 season began. The top backup? Marcell Dareus. We also know that Bama had an elite pair of inside linebackers in Hightower and McClain, elite even for the nfl! We all know about the space eating NT Cody.

So what is the point? That Dareus played in 2009 under the radar. Even with the Hightower knee injury Bama had an nfl caliber front and nobody was game planning for Dareus.

He thrived on that role! Coming off the bench for 7-8 plays, staying fresh not getting double teamed Dareus was a load! Cody ate up blockers inside, teams game planned for McClain.

Dareus incognito in one of the most talented defenses in recent college history was a force.

Then in 2010 with Cody and McClain gone Dareus was the main guy teams focused on and he was still a good player but not as dominant. Teams doubled him and he had some injury issues. Despite playing more downs in 2010 Dareus' numbers were no different than 2009. Good numbers, 33 tackles, 5 sacks 11 tfl but not better and not dominant!

So the question is was he a dominant enough player to warrant that high a pick? A top 3 pick? I don't think so and then the injury issue also comes into play.

He has that big body everybody wants. 319 lbs. He moves like a 285 lb guy. He can play in any scheme, 3-4 end or 4-3 Dt or even a 3-4 NT.

I'm a Bama fan but i think of him as a mid 1st rd type prospect not a top 3 prospect.

 

I didn't bash him i just didn't see him as a top 5 pick.

Can't be a homer when looking at the draft. Julio Jones' history with injury has to move him back some. Talent and athletic ability says he is a top 5 pick but the injuries(3 broken bones) move him back from top 5 to a 10-15 pick.