sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
By Russ Lande
Sporting News
Sporting News' draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts analyze the top run-stuffers in the 2011 draft class.
(* -- Underclassman)
1. Da'Quan Bowers*, DE, Clemson
Bowers (6-4, 280) is a dominant player against the run and constantly makes plays on runs at him and away from him. He has excellent strength, gets good leverage and uses his hands well to jolt and shed blockers. He has also shown the ability to anchor against double-team blocks, fight through blocks and make tackles. He isn't as productive making tackles on plays away from him, but that might be because he is cautious about handling his backside responsibility.
2. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
Though Jordan (6-4, 282) is a very productive pass rusher, he is just as good -- if not better -- against the run. He has excellent strength and size for an end and uses his hands very well taking on run blocks. When he plays with leverage, he is consistently able to anchor against and shed blockers to make tackles on runs at him. He consistently shows the explosive strength to jolt his opponent backward into the backfield and blow up running plays. He has the strength to set the corner and maintain outside contain responsibility. He has also flashed the ability to burst outside and track down backs who try to get around the corner.
3. Nick Fairley*, DT, Auburn
Fairley's size (6-5, 314), long arms, athleticism and strength enable him to be a disruptive, productive force against the run. He has the initial explosive burst off the ball and hand use to split gaps and get into backfield to blow up running plays. When he can't get through the gap in time to make the play in the backfield, he has displayed the ability to fly down the line of scrimmage to make the tackle in pursuit. Though he is rarely asked to stay at home as a two-gap tackle, he has shown the ability to take on run blocks with good leverage and make tackles on inside runs at him.
4. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Clayborn (6-3, 287) is a physical, tough, nasty run defender at the point of attack. He quickly disengages from blockers and makes the tackle at or behind the line. It's best to run away from him because he lacks the top speed and closing ability to make many plays chasing from the backside. He plays with rare natural strength, power and leverage against the run. He is capable of moving offensive tackles or tight ends with his one-arm club. He can also toss aside lead blockers and crush trap block attempts. Though he lacks great long speed and range, he shows excellent lateral quickness and agility.
5. Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson
Jenkins (6-4, 310) makes his biggest impact as a run-stuffer, and it's the area where he will earn his keep in the NFL. He does a very good job of taking on blocks with solid leverage and good use of hands. He has the strength to anchor against double-team blocks and has consistently shown the ability to defeat one-on-one run blocks. In situations where he is not able to make the play, he still stands up blockers and clogs up holes. For a nose tackle, he is productive running down backs in pursuit. He uses his strength to consistently get the ballcarrier to the ground, even when he can only get one hand on him.
6. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
Nevis (6-1, 290) is a productive player against the run. Even when he doesn't make the tackle, he is a disruptive force. His combination of explosive quickness off the ball, good hand use and strength enable him to defeat blocks and make tackles on inside runs. He does a good job of anchoring against double-team run blocks and is often able to split them and disrupt plays in the backfield. On running plays away from him, he is quick off the ball and has the explosive closing burst to finish the play. One problem: Nevis' lack of height and short arms allow O-linemen to tie him up at times.
7. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Kerrigan (6-4, 261) is an outstanding overall run defender who plays strong at the point of attack -- even against double-team blocks. He has the strength and leverage to split double-teams and make plays behind the line, and he has enough quickness to make plays from the backside within the box. He shows excellent hand use to shed blockers quickly, but he lacks the long speed and range to chase plays down on the perimeter. Despite not having great arm length, he can make arm tackles while engaged with a blocker.
8. Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi
Powe (6-2, 330) is a dominant run defender between the tackles. His initial quickness, combined with aggressive hand use, allows him to drive blockers into the backfield and blow up running plays. When he plays with leverage and uses his hands well, he can be an excellent anchor. He takes on single or double-team blocks at the point of attack, sheds blockers and consistently makes tackles on inside runs. Even when he can't shed and get free to make the tackle, he ties up the blocker and clogs the hole. When he gets lazy with his technique, however, he can be tied up and sealed out of the play. He has the quickness to make plays chasing ballcarriers between the tackles but not outside the box.
Sporting News
Sporting News' draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts analyze the top run-stuffers in the 2011 draft class.
(* -- Underclassman)
1. Da'Quan Bowers*, DE, Clemson
Bowers (6-4, 280) is a dominant player against the run and constantly makes plays on runs at him and away from him. He has excellent strength, gets good leverage and uses his hands well to jolt and shed blockers. He has also shown the ability to anchor against double-team blocks, fight through blocks and make tackles. He isn't as productive making tackles on plays away from him, but that might be because he is cautious about handling his backside responsibility.
2. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
Though Jordan (6-4, 282) is a very productive pass rusher, he is just as good -- if not better -- against the run. He has excellent strength and size for an end and uses his hands very well taking on run blocks. When he plays with leverage, he is consistently able to anchor against and shed blockers to make tackles on runs at him. He consistently shows the explosive strength to jolt his opponent backward into the backfield and blow up running plays. He has the strength to set the corner and maintain outside contain responsibility. He has also flashed the ability to burst outside and track down backs who try to get around the corner.
3. Nick Fairley*, DT, Auburn
Fairley's size (6-5, 314), long arms, athleticism and strength enable him to be a disruptive, productive force against the run. He has the initial explosive burst off the ball and hand use to split gaps and get into backfield to blow up running plays. When he can't get through the gap in time to make the play in the backfield, he has displayed the ability to fly down the line of scrimmage to make the tackle in pursuit. Though he is rarely asked to stay at home as a two-gap tackle, he has shown the ability to take on run blocks with good leverage and make tackles on inside runs at him.
4. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Clayborn (6-3, 287) is a physical, tough, nasty run defender at the point of attack. He quickly disengages from blockers and makes the tackle at or behind the line. It's best to run away from him because he lacks the top speed and closing ability to make many plays chasing from the backside. He plays with rare natural strength, power and leverage against the run. He is capable of moving offensive tackles or tight ends with his one-arm club. He can also toss aside lead blockers and crush trap block attempts. Though he lacks great long speed and range, he shows excellent lateral quickness and agility.
5. Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson
Jenkins (6-4, 310) makes his biggest impact as a run-stuffer, and it's the area where he will earn his keep in the NFL. He does a very good job of taking on blocks with solid leverage and good use of hands. He has the strength to anchor against double-team blocks and has consistently shown the ability to defeat one-on-one run blocks. In situations where he is not able to make the play, he still stands up blockers and clogs up holes. For a nose tackle, he is productive running down backs in pursuit. He uses his strength to consistently get the ballcarrier to the ground, even when he can only get one hand on him.
6. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
Nevis (6-1, 290) is a productive player against the run. Even when he doesn't make the tackle, he is a disruptive force. His combination of explosive quickness off the ball, good hand use and strength enable him to defeat blocks and make tackles on inside runs. He does a good job of anchoring against double-team run blocks and is often able to split them and disrupt plays in the backfield. On running plays away from him, he is quick off the ball and has the explosive closing burst to finish the play. One problem: Nevis' lack of height and short arms allow O-linemen to tie him up at times.
7. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Kerrigan (6-4, 261) is an outstanding overall run defender who plays strong at the point of attack -- even against double-team blocks. He has the strength and leverage to split double-teams and make plays behind the line, and he has enough quickness to make plays from the backside within the box. He shows excellent hand use to shed blockers quickly, but he lacks the long speed and range to chase plays down on the perimeter. Despite not having great arm length, he can make arm tackles while engaged with a blocker.
8. Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi
Powe (6-2, 330) is a dominant run defender between the tackles. His initial quickness, combined with aggressive hand use, allows him to drive blockers into the backfield and blow up running plays. When he plays with leverage and uses his hands well, he can be an excellent anchor. He takes on single or double-team blocks at the point of attack, sheds blockers and consistently makes tackles on inside runs. Even when he can't shed and get free to make the tackle, he ties up the blocker and clogs the hole. When he gets lazy with his technique, however, he can be tied up and sealed out of the play. He has the quickness to make plays chasing ballcarriers between the tackles but not outside the box.
