OLB/DE prospects

Love Burns in the first. Not sure about Nelson in the second, I think he is more of a DE. Winnovich from Michigan would be better there.

 

I'm surprised to see so much hate for Clelin Ferrell. Every time I watch the guy I become more and more impressed. He's a smart guy who plays with a high IQ, assignment football, hustles, is heavy against the run, and has a good first step rushing the passer. He wins with outside speed, inside counters, and has a bull rush.

Negatives: He played on a line that will have five guys drafted in 2019 and he played RDE almost exclusively. He pops up coming out of his stance sometimes, which does seem to slow him down.

Of the second-tier 3-4 edge players I'd probably rank them Ferrell, Burns, and Sweat.

This poor kid for Texas A&M is probably still having nightmares.

 

I am kinda warming up to him too. like Derrick Morgan I think he will be better in the 3-4. He would make a good counter balance to Landry.

 

He's a very solid player but he's very Derrick Morgan-esque. He's very solid against the run and has flashes of pass rush, but I don't think he'll be a consistent double digit sack guy because he has trouble beating people outside who he's not stronger or more athletic than and that won't be the case against most NFL OT's. His best move is his inside counter but if you can't beat NFL guys outside, they will be sitting on it.

 

I disagree on the Derrick Morgan comparison for two reasons; Morgan was basically a finished product coming out of GT and he wasn't anywhere nearly as quick off the snap.

Morgan was a tactician coming out of Tech. He had great hand usage, a good bull rush, and some variety in his pass rush moves. Ferrell has a good inside spin move, but he doesn't use it anywhere nearly enough. I think Ferrell's hand usage is pretty underdeveloped. He wins with his get off, but he doesn't use his left arm to jab and create space. He'd probably have better bend if he did that consistently.

Voch Lombardi points out a lot that Ferrell often doesn't have a pass rush plan, and I tend to to agree. He's an unfinished product.

And that first step. My goodness. Derrick Morgan takes three steps to get going. I don't think I've seen him in a decade of football beat an OT off the snap like Ferrell does consistently. Ferrell has great anticipation too.

 

Yes hes got a better first step but he rarely wins with it because he can’t bend like Burns and gets washed. If he coulds he’d have a lot more sacks rushing to the outside just firing off the ball. I think his quick get off is why he’s so successful with his inside counter in college. But that’s college and he won’t have as much talent around him giving him so many 1v1’s. Could he develop? Of course. But I think that will come with better hand usage to make his outside rush more effective. If he can’t he can still be good but not what you’re looking for in the first round.

 

I really like Ben Banogu from TCU....in his 2 years at TCU he has 17 sacks and 34.5 TFL....so he has production....he had the 2nd fastest 10 yd split time at 1.56 of any edge rusher at the combine (Sweat was 1.55) Von Miller ran a 1.57....the kid has supreme athleticism with a 40 inch vertical and crazy broad jump...He is raw in his pass rush moves, but I think he has the tools to be an impact player...that guy he puts immediate pressure on the QB from the edge...He isn't small either at 6'3" 250Lbs...can probably add a few pounds to his frame

 

muhammad wilkerson, nkamakong suh, and ezekiel ansah are all available in FA right now.... let's just sign one of them then we can focus on other needs (OLB/WR/iOL). those guys are more than serviceable.

i cant see drafting a DT when those guys are out there needing deals