Part 1&2 QB, WR, RB
Part 3 Lineman
Part 4 Secondary
Part 5 Linebackers
Part 6: Nose Tackle and Defensive Ends
By Thomas Cooper (TMC)
The Steelers defensive rebuild will likely continue on the defensive line. The defensive end position is one that could continue to use attention, especially depth, but the bigger question looms, what happens at nose tackle. The Steelers coaches appear comfortable with Steve McLendon as the starter, but is McLendon that true immovable object in the middle that the past great Steeler defenses were built upon? With the Steelers having two high draft choices at inside linebacker and both being quicker, move linebackers instead of bigger run thumpers, it stands to reason that the Steelers will continue to look for that big, immovable nose tackle. The Steelers may believe they have that player in McCullers, but they could also opt to invest in a nose tackle to develop as McLendon is entering the final season of his contract and will be 30 when he hits free agency.
Malcom Brown of Texas is a squatty interior player that may find his best fit at under tackle. He is 6023, 319 pounds and ran a respectable 5.05 forty. He had 26 reps on the bench and shows some change of direction for an interior lineman. Brown is a player that works well into the gaps and can be a disruptive guy. He has a natural feel for locating the ball and always seems to be in the mix of the play. He plays as the weak side tackle (under tackle) when Texas is in the 4-3 and when they move to a 3-man front, he often slides to defensive end. There are some calling him a nose tackle, but Brown is not a guy that anchors well in the middle. He can struggle to hold his ground against individual blockers, often getting caught when he fires into gaps, and can get ridden off the line. Against double teams, he can really struggle to anchor, gets turned, and gets moved out. In many instances, against the double team, his best effort is just holding his ground and he seldom makes plays or fills gaps against the double team. At this point, while Brown carries a high draft grade, he just does not appear to fit as a nose tackle in an odd front, even a one-gap system. He really does not fit in the Steelers 2-gap style and would likely be a guy that ends up being moved to end. The key for a Steeler style nose tackle is holding his ground and that is not a strength of Brown.
Eddie Goldman of Florida State would be a scary player to draft in the first round. He has the size at 6037, 336 pounds, but his bench rep of 19 brings some overall strength questions. He does not show great speed, change of direction, or explosion, so the lower rep number becomes a greater concern. Goldman is a similar player to Malcom Brown. Both players are better when they play into the gaps. Goldman is strong at recognizing plays and works hard to get involved, but he does not show great power at the point of attack and can often struggle to defeat single blockers. Goldman is active with his hands, shows a nice arm over, and works hard to come free, but he is not a guy that will power through single blockers, much less blow through double teams. He does not get under the pads of interior offensive linemen and walk them backwards. He will shed and get onto the ball carrier, but it is often as he moves into the line. He does not offer much as a pass rusher either. Goldman played a lot in a 4-man front, often lined up on the weak side, although he would flip to the strong. He rarely played directly over the nose or in odd fronts and just does not appear to have the raw power needed to anchor the middle. While I wanted to love Goldman or Brown as potential long-term answers in the middle, they are just not players that carry first round grades as nose tackles.
Derrick Lott of Tennessee-Chattanooga transferred from Georgia in search of more playing time. He found that at Tennessee-Chattanooga. Lott is 6040, 314 pounds and ran the forty in 4.99 seconds. He shows good power with 30 reps on the bench and backs that up with solid change of direction skills. Lott carries his weight well and really looks more like a 3-4 defensive end than he does a nose tackle. He has the ability to hold his ground against double teams, but he is not a powerful guy and will not split that double team or come off the blocks to make a lot of plays. He does have some quickness into the gaps and shows the ability to close on the football. He gets some pressure on the quarterback and, for this reason, just looks and feels more like a defensive end than a nose tackle. He will play with a high pad level and can lose leverage because of it. He also ends up on the ground too often and this is an area of concern, especially for the Steelers who like front seven players that stay on their feet. Lott is rated as a middle-round guy, but he really has the feel of a day 3 developmental player.
Joey Mbu of Houston is another squatty interior defensive lineman. He is 6027, 313 pounds. Mbu is not an elite athlete. He does not have great speed, explosion, or power. He is not a player that is quick on his feet and does not show great change of direction skills. His workout numbers are below average. Mbu competes on the field, shows some ability to hold his ground although he can get rooted out by a double team. He is not a guy that is going to play into the gaps and get up the field. He does not offer much as a pass rusher. He can clog up the interior on some plays, but he gets caught watching the paint dry too often, just not getting off blocks and not making many plays. Mbu does not have speed to the quarterback, he does not close with speed, and he does not show speed to the edges. In essence, he is just a squatty interior guy that can meat up the middle on most plays, although if a team makes an effort to move him, he can be moved. At this point, he appears to just be a guy.
Deon Simon of Northwestern State could turn into a gem if he can take his game to the next level. Simon has the size at 6043, 321 pounds. He ran a 5.12 forty and added 35 reps on the bench. He has solid change of direction and average explosion. Simon carries his weight well. He is longer than ideal for a nose tackle and was moved out to defensive end when Northwestern State went to 3-man fronts. He will tend to play too high and can struggle because of his propensity to pop right up. When he keeps his pad level down and uses his hands, he can be tough to block. He has the raw power to hold the point, again, when he keeps his pad level down. He does a nice job of using his arm length to keep blockers off his body. He has to work on being more active with his hands, get his overall conditioning better, and play with more intensity. At this point, Simon is a work in progress and will need to have his game torn down and rebuilt, but he will flash some solid skills and if he gains consistency, he could be a find. At this point, he is considered a late round pick. He could be a guy that could be shifted to the practice squad and developed, similar to what the Steelers did with Steve McLendon.
The Steelers have a rising stud at defensive tackle in Cameron Heyward and may have a bookend on the verge of breaking out in Stephon Tuitt. The pair could become the cornerstones of a new defense and have the potential to become a dominant pair. They lack depth behind the starters and the host of bodies that fill the depth chart is very uninspiring. It is an area where the Steelers could not only add more bodies, they could stand to upgrade the overall talent level of the position.
Grady Jarrett of Clemson lacks the height the Steelers desire in a defensive end, but his ability to play multiple positions on the line makes him an interesting prospect. Jarrett checked in at 6006, 304 pounds at the combine. He does have longer than usual arms for his height and had 33 reps on the bench at his pro day. He has good quickness off the ball, solid change of direction, and possesses a KEI of 73, which is outstanding for a three-hundred pound player. Jarrett often lined up inside as a nose tackle or under tackle. He gets into the gaps well, shows some ability to halve his man and use leverage to win battles, and can just be a handful for blockers. He has the ability to split the double team and locates the ball quickly. He can be a really disruptive player against the run and finishes well. As a pass rusher, he has the ability to get pressure quickly. He can push the blocker back into the feet of the quarterback altering passes. He slips blockers and delivers big hits. He closes well on the ball. Jarrett lacks height, but he has a lot to like about his overall game. While he is not the prototype 3-4 defensive end, his ability to play inside and outside would work well in the Steelers scheme as he could slide inside on passing downs.
Xavier Cooper of Washington State does not have the long arms most teams want in a defensive end, but he has the height at 6027. He weighed in at 293 pounds and added 29 reps on the bench. He shows solid burst off the snap and good change of direction. He posted a KEI of 68. The Steelers have brought him in for a visit, so there is some interest here. On film, I just cannot figure out why he is not considered a first round talent. His ability to get off the snap may be the best in this draft. He is quick into gaps. He beats linemen easily. He plays with power, shows nice technique to beat blockers, and is relentless against the run and the pass. His hand strike shows the ability to stand up blockers and before they can reset, he is often by them. He halves the blockers well, gets inside the frame and uses leverage to simply whip their tails. He closes on the ball. He consistently plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage. He is a disruptive force on defense. He was to the Washington front seven what Michael Jordan was to the Chicago Bulls. Without him, they are just a group of guys. If Cooper falls to the second, Steeler fans should be happy to get a player of his caliber. If he slides to the 3rd, where many have him rated, they should run to the podium and giggle all the way back down the aisle. He reminds me a ton of Aaron Donald, only a little bigger. Cooper may be a bit of a luxury pick for a team that has a first round and a second round pick at the position, but his talent is undeniable.
Henry Anderson of Stanford plays more like a true defensive end than some of the 290-pound plus players available. He is 6062, 294 and possesses excellent quickness into the gaps. He posted a KEI of 63, which is not elite for a pass rusher, but his short shuttle of 4.19 rivals some cornerbacks in this draft. He uses that change of direction and quickness to get into gaps and shows enough power to shed blocks on his way to the quarterback. Anderson has a quick arm over he uses to beat blockers and when he defeats them cleanly, he can be disruptive in the backfield. In some instances, he gets caught, allowing the blocker to get into his side and ribs, riding him past the play or knocking him off balance. Anderson can struggle staying in balance and ends up on the ground more than he should. It is an area where he could use some work, not playing with such lean and keeping his feet under his body better. He shows some strength at the point of attack, plays up the field and into gaps often, so his ability to stack and shed at the point of attack (2-gap) is something that needs to be answered. He has some quickness to the quarterback and shows some closing burst, but he can struggle to finish against quarterbacks with mobility. He has some things to like but also has some areas he needs to clean up. In the 4th round or later, he has value, but any team drafting Anderson should not expect instant dividends.
Corey Crawford of Clemson has the size teams want in a 3-4 defensive end. He checked in at 6052, 299 pounds and ran the forty in 5.01. He had solid lower body explosion numbers, but he only had 17 reps on the bench, which is a concern. Crawford’s arm length of 34 ½“ could be a factor in that number, but it is still a concern. On film, Crawford does a nice job playing within the system. He does not bit on runs, contains, and is steady and consistent. He has some ability to hold his ground against double teams and will get some push against single blockers. He played defensive end for a lot of snaps at Clemson and has a certain level of comfort at the position. The biggest issue with Crawford, he does not get off blockers well. He can struggle to shed. He fails to make plays on the ball because he is often engaged with the blocker. He does not have great hand work, lacks a strong strike to create separation, and does not show an array of moves to shed blockers. This could be a symptom of the lack of upper body power and it is an area of concern. On the plus side, Crawford competes. He chases the football. He continues to work. He will run down the field and make plays. He simply hustles. He appears to be a try hard player and that gives him value from the 5th round down, but he may never be more than a backup in the NFL.
Caushaud Lyons of Tusculum is a small-school player that should be on teams’ radar late in the draft. He is 6044, 284 pounds. He had 24 reps on the bench, a 4.86 forty, and a total KEI of 65. He may go undrafted and that is likely where he really gains value, as a player a team can invite in to see if he can make the great leap in competition. Lyons faced a lower level of competition at Tusculum and really looked, in many instances, like he just overmatched the offensive blockers. He does show a tendency to play with a great deal of lean, causing him to struggle with balance and he makes a lot of plays falling forward. It is an area where he could improve, but he shows pretty good hand strength, uses his arms to keep separation, and will slip by blockers to drive free with his legs. He is a big work-in-progress and would likely need some time on a practice squad to develop technique, balance, and improve his overall athleticism. It is why Lyons’ value places him just out of the draft, as a guy that teams can bring in without high expectations and a plan on developing him long-term.
James Rouse of Marshall is not a true 300-pound defensive end and may need to bulk up a little to play in the Steelers system, but at 6045, 277 pounds, he has some things to like. Rouse ran the forty in 4.89 and had a blazing 1.69 10-yard split. He had 38 reps on the bench and a total KEI of 77, which is insane. Rouse carries a pretty big medical flag for injury, losing all but 3 games in 2011 to a back injury and losing all of 2012 to an Achilles injury. He spent most of 2013 and 2014 as a defensive tackle. He has played end in 3-man fronts and that looks to be his best fit. He shows good burst off the snap, does a nice job of cutting the blocker in half, and using his power to drive to the football. He can be a disruptive player, showing the ability to power past single blockers, and has the ability to split double teams. He runs to the edges and has the speed to close on the football. He does a solid job with his pad level and simply has the look of a player that could develop into a fine defensive end at the next level. His injury history will likely make him an undrafted player, but he is certainly deserves a chance to show if he can play on the next level and a team would be wise to use a roster spot on his potential alone.
B.J. Dubose of Louisville is coming off a hamstring injury and did not give a full workout at the combine. He is 6040, 284 pounds. He ran a 5.06 forty and had 26 reps on the bench. That was the extent of his workout and he will rely on his game tape to win over NFL teams. Dubose was in and out of the lineup until his final season, where he played in 13 games. He lined up at both the defensive tackle and defensive end position. Dubose shows good power at the point of attack and does a nice job getting his long arms under the pads of the blocker, driving them backwards. He is active with his hands, works to get free, and is a high effort player. He could work on shedding quicker and being more involved in plays. He does not show great change of direction and can look stiff when asked to stunt or work games. He shows some ability to bend around the end and can get pressure on the quarterback. He has long arms and will bat some passes. All in all, Dubose is a rangy player that could fit nicely as a 3-4 defensive end and his value is as a late round pick or a priority free agent.
Darius Kilgo of Maryland is another player to keep an eye on. He was not invited to the combine, but at his pro day, he checked in at 6027, 313 pounds. He ran a 5.17 forty, adding 33 reps on the bench, and had a total KEI of 65. Kilgo played nose tackle at Maryland, but he does not anchor well enough to be considered there in the NFL. He could potentially play as a one-gap nose tackle as he shows some ability to play into gaps. He does not handle the double team well and will give ground. He does show the ability to get a hand onto the blocker and move down the line to the football and this attribute could help him on the edge. As a defensive end, it would also be more difficult for offenses to double him with two offensive linemen. He has some mobility, but he is more of a run stopper than a pass rusher and should be viewed as such. Kilgo appears to be an undrafted free agent but could vie for a roster spot if he gets in the right situation.
Part 3 Lineman
Part 4 Secondary
Part 5 Linebackers
Part 6: Nose Tackle and Defensive Ends
By Thomas Cooper (TMC)
The Steelers defensive rebuild will likely continue on the defensive line. The defensive end position is one that could continue to use attention, especially depth, but the bigger question looms, what happens at nose tackle. The Steelers coaches appear comfortable with Steve McLendon as the starter, but is McLendon that true immovable object in the middle that the past great Steeler defenses were built upon? With the Steelers having two high draft choices at inside linebacker and both being quicker, move linebackers instead of bigger run thumpers, it stands to reason that the Steelers will continue to look for that big, immovable nose tackle. The Steelers may believe they have that player in McCullers, but they could also opt to invest in a nose tackle to develop as McLendon is entering the final season of his contract and will be 30 when he hits free agency.
Malcom Brown of Texas is a squatty interior player that may find his best fit at under tackle. He is 6023, 319 pounds and ran a respectable 5.05 forty. He had 26 reps on the bench and shows some change of direction for an interior lineman. Brown is a player that works well into the gaps and can be a disruptive guy. He has a natural feel for locating the ball and always seems to be in the mix of the play. He plays as the weak side tackle (under tackle) when Texas is in the 4-3 and when they move to a 3-man front, he often slides to defensive end. There are some calling him a nose tackle, but Brown is not a guy that anchors well in the middle. He can struggle to hold his ground against individual blockers, often getting caught when he fires into gaps, and can get ridden off the line. Against double teams, he can really struggle to anchor, gets turned, and gets moved out. In many instances, against the double team, his best effort is just holding his ground and he seldom makes plays or fills gaps against the double team. At this point, while Brown carries a high draft grade, he just does not appear to fit as a nose tackle in an odd front, even a one-gap system. He really does not fit in the Steelers 2-gap style and would likely be a guy that ends up being moved to end. The key for a Steeler style nose tackle is holding his ground and that is not a strength of Brown.
Eddie Goldman of Florida State would be a scary player to draft in the first round. He has the size at 6037, 336 pounds, but his bench rep of 19 brings some overall strength questions. He does not show great speed, change of direction, or explosion, so the lower rep number becomes a greater concern. Goldman is a similar player to Malcom Brown. Both players are better when they play into the gaps. Goldman is strong at recognizing plays and works hard to get involved, but he does not show great power at the point of attack and can often struggle to defeat single blockers. Goldman is active with his hands, shows a nice arm over, and works hard to come free, but he is not a guy that will power through single blockers, much less blow through double teams. He does not get under the pads of interior offensive linemen and walk them backwards. He will shed and get onto the ball carrier, but it is often as he moves into the line. He does not offer much as a pass rusher either. Goldman played a lot in a 4-man front, often lined up on the weak side, although he would flip to the strong. He rarely played directly over the nose or in odd fronts and just does not appear to have the raw power needed to anchor the middle. While I wanted to love Goldman or Brown as potential long-term answers in the middle, they are just not players that carry first round grades as nose tackles.
Derrick Lott of Tennessee-Chattanooga transferred from Georgia in search of more playing time. He found that at Tennessee-Chattanooga. Lott is 6040, 314 pounds and ran the forty in 4.99 seconds. He shows good power with 30 reps on the bench and backs that up with solid change of direction skills. Lott carries his weight well and really looks more like a 3-4 defensive end than he does a nose tackle. He has the ability to hold his ground against double teams, but he is not a powerful guy and will not split that double team or come off the blocks to make a lot of plays. He does have some quickness into the gaps and shows the ability to close on the football. He gets some pressure on the quarterback and, for this reason, just looks and feels more like a defensive end than a nose tackle. He will play with a high pad level and can lose leverage because of it. He also ends up on the ground too often and this is an area of concern, especially for the Steelers who like front seven players that stay on their feet. Lott is rated as a middle-round guy, but he really has the feel of a day 3 developmental player.
Joey Mbu of Houston is another squatty interior defensive lineman. He is 6027, 313 pounds. Mbu is not an elite athlete. He does not have great speed, explosion, or power. He is not a player that is quick on his feet and does not show great change of direction skills. His workout numbers are below average. Mbu competes on the field, shows some ability to hold his ground although he can get rooted out by a double team. He is not a guy that is going to play into the gaps and get up the field. He does not offer much as a pass rusher. He can clog up the interior on some plays, but he gets caught watching the paint dry too often, just not getting off blocks and not making many plays. Mbu does not have speed to the quarterback, he does not close with speed, and he does not show speed to the edges. In essence, he is just a squatty interior guy that can meat up the middle on most plays, although if a team makes an effort to move him, he can be moved. At this point, he appears to just be a guy.
Deon Simon of Northwestern State could turn into a gem if he can take his game to the next level. Simon has the size at 6043, 321 pounds. He ran a 5.12 forty and added 35 reps on the bench. He has solid change of direction and average explosion. Simon carries his weight well. He is longer than ideal for a nose tackle and was moved out to defensive end when Northwestern State went to 3-man fronts. He will tend to play too high and can struggle because of his propensity to pop right up. When he keeps his pad level down and uses his hands, he can be tough to block. He has the raw power to hold the point, again, when he keeps his pad level down. He does a nice job of using his arm length to keep blockers off his body. He has to work on being more active with his hands, get his overall conditioning better, and play with more intensity. At this point, Simon is a work in progress and will need to have his game torn down and rebuilt, but he will flash some solid skills and if he gains consistency, he could be a find. At this point, he is considered a late round pick. He could be a guy that could be shifted to the practice squad and developed, similar to what the Steelers did with Steve McLendon.
The Steelers have a rising stud at defensive tackle in Cameron Heyward and may have a bookend on the verge of breaking out in Stephon Tuitt. The pair could become the cornerstones of a new defense and have the potential to become a dominant pair. They lack depth behind the starters and the host of bodies that fill the depth chart is very uninspiring. It is an area where the Steelers could not only add more bodies, they could stand to upgrade the overall talent level of the position.
Grady Jarrett of Clemson lacks the height the Steelers desire in a defensive end, but his ability to play multiple positions on the line makes him an interesting prospect. Jarrett checked in at 6006, 304 pounds at the combine. He does have longer than usual arms for his height and had 33 reps on the bench at his pro day. He has good quickness off the ball, solid change of direction, and possesses a KEI of 73, which is outstanding for a three-hundred pound player. Jarrett often lined up inside as a nose tackle or under tackle. He gets into the gaps well, shows some ability to halve his man and use leverage to win battles, and can just be a handful for blockers. He has the ability to split the double team and locates the ball quickly. He can be a really disruptive player against the run and finishes well. As a pass rusher, he has the ability to get pressure quickly. He can push the blocker back into the feet of the quarterback altering passes. He slips blockers and delivers big hits. He closes well on the ball. Jarrett lacks height, but he has a lot to like about his overall game. While he is not the prototype 3-4 defensive end, his ability to play inside and outside would work well in the Steelers scheme as he could slide inside on passing downs.
Xavier Cooper of Washington State does not have the long arms most teams want in a defensive end, but he has the height at 6027. He weighed in at 293 pounds and added 29 reps on the bench. He shows solid burst off the snap and good change of direction. He posted a KEI of 68. The Steelers have brought him in for a visit, so there is some interest here. On film, I just cannot figure out why he is not considered a first round talent. His ability to get off the snap may be the best in this draft. He is quick into gaps. He beats linemen easily. He plays with power, shows nice technique to beat blockers, and is relentless against the run and the pass. His hand strike shows the ability to stand up blockers and before they can reset, he is often by them. He halves the blockers well, gets inside the frame and uses leverage to simply whip their tails. He closes on the ball. He consistently plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage. He is a disruptive force on defense. He was to the Washington front seven what Michael Jordan was to the Chicago Bulls. Without him, they are just a group of guys. If Cooper falls to the second, Steeler fans should be happy to get a player of his caliber. If he slides to the 3rd, where many have him rated, they should run to the podium and giggle all the way back down the aisle. He reminds me a ton of Aaron Donald, only a little bigger. Cooper may be a bit of a luxury pick for a team that has a first round and a second round pick at the position, but his talent is undeniable.
Henry Anderson of Stanford plays more like a true defensive end than some of the 290-pound plus players available. He is 6062, 294 and possesses excellent quickness into the gaps. He posted a KEI of 63, which is not elite for a pass rusher, but his short shuttle of 4.19 rivals some cornerbacks in this draft. He uses that change of direction and quickness to get into gaps and shows enough power to shed blocks on his way to the quarterback. Anderson has a quick arm over he uses to beat blockers and when he defeats them cleanly, he can be disruptive in the backfield. In some instances, he gets caught, allowing the blocker to get into his side and ribs, riding him past the play or knocking him off balance. Anderson can struggle staying in balance and ends up on the ground more than he should. It is an area where he could use some work, not playing with such lean and keeping his feet under his body better. He shows some strength at the point of attack, plays up the field and into gaps often, so his ability to stack and shed at the point of attack (2-gap) is something that needs to be answered. He has some quickness to the quarterback and shows some closing burst, but he can struggle to finish against quarterbacks with mobility. He has some things to like but also has some areas he needs to clean up. In the 4th round or later, he has value, but any team drafting Anderson should not expect instant dividends.
Corey Crawford of Clemson has the size teams want in a 3-4 defensive end. He checked in at 6052, 299 pounds and ran the forty in 5.01. He had solid lower body explosion numbers, but he only had 17 reps on the bench, which is a concern. Crawford’s arm length of 34 ½“ could be a factor in that number, but it is still a concern. On film, Crawford does a nice job playing within the system. He does not bit on runs, contains, and is steady and consistent. He has some ability to hold his ground against double teams and will get some push against single blockers. He played defensive end for a lot of snaps at Clemson and has a certain level of comfort at the position. The biggest issue with Crawford, he does not get off blockers well. He can struggle to shed. He fails to make plays on the ball because he is often engaged with the blocker. He does not have great hand work, lacks a strong strike to create separation, and does not show an array of moves to shed blockers. This could be a symptom of the lack of upper body power and it is an area of concern. On the plus side, Crawford competes. He chases the football. He continues to work. He will run down the field and make plays. He simply hustles. He appears to be a try hard player and that gives him value from the 5th round down, but he may never be more than a backup in the NFL.
Caushaud Lyons of Tusculum is a small-school player that should be on teams’ radar late in the draft. He is 6044, 284 pounds. He had 24 reps on the bench, a 4.86 forty, and a total KEI of 65. He may go undrafted and that is likely where he really gains value, as a player a team can invite in to see if he can make the great leap in competition. Lyons faced a lower level of competition at Tusculum and really looked, in many instances, like he just overmatched the offensive blockers. He does show a tendency to play with a great deal of lean, causing him to struggle with balance and he makes a lot of plays falling forward. It is an area where he could improve, but he shows pretty good hand strength, uses his arms to keep separation, and will slip by blockers to drive free with his legs. He is a big work-in-progress and would likely need some time on a practice squad to develop technique, balance, and improve his overall athleticism. It is why Lyons’ value places him just out of the draft, as a guy that teams can bring in without high expectations and a plan on developing him long-term.
James Rouse of Marshall is not a true 300-pound defensive end and may need to bulk up a little to play in the Steelers system, but at 6045, 277 pounds, he has some things to like. Rouse ran the forty in 4.89 and had a blazing 1.69 10-yard split. He had 38 reps on the bench and a total KEI of 77, which is insane. Rouse carries a pretty big medical flag for injury, losing all but 3 games in 2011 to a back injury and losing all of 2012 to an Achilles injury. He spent most of 2013 and 2014 as a defensive tackle. He has played end in 3-man fronts and that looks to be his best fit. He shows good burst off the snap, does a nice job of cutting the blocker in half, and using his power to drive to the football. He can be a disruptive player, showing the ability to power past single blockers, and has the ability to split double teams. He runs to the edges and has the speed to close on the football. He does a solid job with his pad level and simply has the look of a player that could develop into a fine defensive end at the next level. His injury history will likely make him an undrafted player, but he is certainly deserves a chance to show if he can play on the next level and a team would be wise to use a roster spot on his potential alone.
B.J. Dubose of Louisville is coming off a hamstring injury and did not give a full workout at the combine. He is 6040, 284 pounds. He ran a 5.06 forty and had 26 reps on the bench. That was the extent of his workout and he will rely on his game tape to win over NFL teams. Dubose was in and out of the lineup until his final season, where he played in 13 games. He lined up at both the defensive tackle and defensive end position. Dubose shows good power at the point of attack and does a nice job getting his long arms under the pads of the blocker, driving them backwards. He is active with his hands, works to get free, and is a high effort player. He could work on shedding quicker and being more involved in plays. He does not show great change of direction and can look stiff when asked to stunt or work games. He shows some ability to bend around the end and can get pressure on the quarterback. He has long arms and will bat some passes. All in all, Dubose is a rangy player that could fit nicely as a 3-4 defensive end and his value is as a late round pick or a priority free agent.
Darius Kilgo of Maryland is another player to keep an eye on. He was not invited to the combine, but at his pro day, he checked in at 6027, 313 pounds. He ran a 5.17 forty, adding 33 reps on the bench, and had a total KEI of 65. Kilgo played nose tackle at Maryland, but he does not anchor well enough to be considered there in the NFL. He could potentially play as a one-gap nose tackle as he shows some ability to play into gaps. He does not handle the double team well and will give ground. He does show the ability to get a hand onto the blocker and move down the line to the football and this attribute could help him on the edge. As a defensive end, it would also be more difficult for offenses to double him with two offensive linemen. He has some mobility, but he is more of a run stopper than a pass rusher and should be viewed as such. Kilgo appears to be an undrafted free agent but could vie for a roster spot if he gets in the right situation.
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