2011 NFL Combine
Defensive Tackle Rankings
2011 NFL Combine Results
- QBs |
RBs |
WRs |
TEs
| Cs |
OTs |
OGs
- DEs |
DTs |
ILBs |
OLBs |
Ss |
CBs
2011 NFL Combine Position Analysis
- QBs |
RBs |
WRs |
TEs
| Cs |
OTs |
OGs
- DEs
|
DTs
| ILBs |
OLBs |
Ss |
CBs
1. Nick Fairley, Auburn 6-4, 291
Positives: Very big and very quick. Explosive out of the blocks and gets into the backfield in a hurry. An ideal 3-technique lineman. … Hits like a ton of bricks. Beats up ball carriers and delivers a punch on quarterbacks. … He can move around wherever needed. He doesn’t fit any one scheme.
Negatives: A one-year wonder. He went from being just a guy to an all-timer in one offseason. … Has a reputation for being dirty. Not known as a perfect character guy and might have an attitude. … He’s going to be a target. He has to prove he can produce on a regular basis now that he’s the main man.
2. Marcell Dareus, Alabama (DE) 6-3, 305
Positives: He has the prime size to work either on the nose or in the one-gap, and he can get into the backfield like a 3-4 end. Extremely versatile. … Very strong and is a great finisher. Moves well for his size. … A big hitter. He’s an intimidation force.
Negatives: Not necessarily a speed rusher in a 4-3 and not necessarily a rock of a pure defensive tackle. He might be versatile and he might be great once he finds a role, but he’s sort of a tweener. … Doesn’t fire off the ball at a top level. He’s not Nick Fairley-quick.
3. Stephen Paea, Oregon State 6-1, 303
Positives: INSANE strength. He should blow up the Combine bench press. Has the strength and the toughness to be a true nose, and he has the ability to get into the backfield as a one-gap defender. … Used to being beaten on. He spent all of last year being double teamed and still produced. … Doesn’t get pushed around. He’s a rock on the inside and he holds his ground.
Negatives: Not considered to be a top-shelf, difference-making lineman at the next level. He might be good, but he might to a lot of things no one notices. … Gets erased way too much. There were long stretches when he didn’t show up because he was keyed on. … Not tall. Sort of a squatty defender who lacks the long frame.
4. Marvin Austin, North Carolina 6-2, 309
Positives: The ideal interior defender size-wise. He has bulk, strength, and he’s a rock against the run. … Moves extremely well and can get to the quarterback. He has no problem blowing past linemen with mediocre athleticism. On sheer talent, and with no baggage, he might be a top ten talent. … The main knock is that he dealt with an agent. It’s not that big a deal when it comes to NFL potential.
Negatives: However, there is a question mark when it comes to his character. He has to prove he’s a want-to player who really does want to maximize his talents. … Wasn’t consistent. When he pushed it, he was dominant, but he disappeared way too much. … He has to show that the year off didn’t matter. He missed all of 2010.
5. Corey Liuget, Illinois 6-2, 298
Positives: A fantastic athlete with the quickness to be a dangerous interior pass rusher. … Moves well down the line and gets off blocks without a problem. … Took over games at times. He can be a game-changer and has the prototype one-gap ability.
Negatives: He didn’t start dominating until he tried to become a player. He could easily let his weight slip if he doesn’t focus. … Not strong enough to be a nose in a 3-4 and might have to be a 3-4 end if he’s not in a 4-3. … Needs work and coaching. He’s not a finished product and needs more moves.
6. Drake Nevis, LSU 6-1, 294
Positives: A great playmaker in the backfield. He’s great off the ball and he has the quickness to be a dominator in the right scheme. … Always working and always with the motor on. He’s never going to stop. … He’ll try to get better. Very coachable, very good character, and he’ll make sure he’s a productive player.
Negatives: Not huge. He’s a short, squatty player who lacks the raw bulk to be on the nose. He might have to be a three-technique tackle and that’s it. … He’ll need to be on a line with bigger, stronger players. He’s not going to be anyone’s anchor. … Can he play against the power running teams? He’ll get beaten on and might be a part of a rotation.
7. Christian Ballard, Iowa 6-4, 283
Positives: Extremely quick and very athletic. He has the build and the pop to be a great 3-4 end. … Gets to the ball carrier down the field if needed and he’s not going to stay blocked. … Looks smooth. He has the ability to be a big producer just on physical tools.
Negatives: Not consistent. A good college player who benefitted by being next to some great players. … Does he want it? He’s not known for being a fire-eater. Needs to get pushed. … More of a workout guy than a top shelf player. He has to get stronger to be a true tackle and might be a tweener.
8. Phil Taylor, Baylor 6-3, 334
Positives: A massive, MASSIVE interior presence and, possibly, the purest nose tackle in the draft. … Owns the inside and turned into a bigger producer as his season went on. The former Penn State transfer finally maximized his potential with a whopper of a senior year. … Engulfs blockers. He can handle double teams without a problem.
Negatives: He’s not known for keeping the motor running. He didn’t exactly turn it on 100% of the time. … He’s not going to be a pass rusher and he might come off the field on third downs. … He has to keep his weight in check. He could quickly balloon up without working on it.
9. Jurrell Casey, USC 6-1, 300
Positives: Extremely athletic for his size. He moves well off the snap and is great in space. … A huge, intimidating hitter who packs a big-time punch. … He’ll work for it. He’ll make himself better and won’t have a problem putting in the time.
Negatives: He doesn’t exactly look the part. He’s a short player who could stand some body reshaping. … He can get shoved around and doesn’t always use his lack of height for proper leverage. … While he can be used as a nose tackle, he could stand to get a bit stronger.
10. Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson 6-4, 310
Positives: A true tackle with a large frame and good size. He has the wingspan and the ability to take up a ton of space. … Good functional strength. Gets a push into the backfield on a regular basis and makes plays behind the line. … A good worker. He’s the type of player who won’t dog it and won’t give a coaching staff a problem.
Negatives: A bit tall for the position on the nose. He gets upright and loses his leverage. … Won’t get to the quarterback. He’s not a pass rusher in any way. … Doesn’t shed well enough. When he’s blocked, he stays blocked.
11. Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple 6-4, 315
Positives: Versatile enough to be used as a defensive end in a 3-4. He has the pass rushing ability to turn into a strong finisher. … Quick off the ball for a player of his size. He has the tools and he has the potential to be a dominant interior pass rusher. … He looks the part. If he played for a bigger name school he’d be considered a superstar prospect.
Negatives: While he made a ton of plays, he isn’t going to be a huge rock of an NFL run stopper. … He’s not as physical as he’ll need to be. He might be a true 3-4 end more than a tackle. … He isn’t a killer. He’s a playmaker, but he doesn’t seem to have the desire to be a butt kicker. He needs to be more of a battler.
12. Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss 6-2, 335
Positives: A great NFL frame and anchor ability. He’s a thick nose tackle who won’t get moved. Great base. … Quick. He can get into the backfield from time to time and can work as a two-gap defender if needed. … Holds up against the double team. Doesn’t have a problem holding his own.
Negatives: Questionable intelligence, and that’s being very, very kind. … He’s not a pass rusher at the next level. He’s only going to be used for running downs. … Not worth the hype or all the hullaballoo. Coming out of high school, many thought he’d be a special player and he wasn’t.
13. Kenrick Ellis, Hampton 6-5, 346
Positives: A huge body and he’ll eat up a ton of space on the inside. He won’t have any problem eating up the run inside. … Double teams aren’t a problem. He doesn’t lose his ground and manages to get out blocks without an issue. … He’s a killer. He’ll bring the right attitude on game day and he’ll beat up a lot of defenders.
Negatives: Character. He started out at South Carolina before a slew of issues ended his career. He has to prove he’s not a total mellonhead. … Produced at a lower level. Even at Hampton, he didn’t get to the quarterback enough. … Needs technique work. He can’t get by on just being big and strong anymore.
14. Ian Williams, Notre Dame 6-1, 319
Positives: Very tough. He should’ve been out the second half of 2010 hurt, but he fought to get back on the field when he could’ve, and should’ve, gotten 100% healthy to prepare for the NFL. … Doesn’t miss a stop. He does a good job of locking on. … Functional on the nose. Strong enough to hold his own and is a proven four-year producer.
Negatives: Not all that long. He has the bulk, but the body isn’t quite NFL prototype. … Forget about him getting to the quarterback. He’s a two down defender. … He’ll only operate in a phone booth. He’ll never make plays that don’t come his way.
15. Terrell McClain, South Florida 6-2, 297
Positives: Built for the nose. He gets good leverage and is able to use his size and bulk extremely well. He’s a rock who could be someone’s anchor. … A decent penetrator and he can get to the quarterback. He’ll get into the backfield. … The tools are there. He might be scratching the surface and he could blow up into a star with the right coaching.
Negatives: Has to show he wants to be great. He not a battler and he’s not a fighter. He hasn’t maximized his ability. … Gets blocked a bit too easily. He doesn’t fight through enough blockers. … Needs to get in better overall shape. Suffered a hamstring injury before the Senior Bowl, and it could be a conditioning issue.
16. Lawrence Guy, Arizona State 6-4, 305
Positives: Tall and tough. Carries his weight extremely well and could end up getting a bit bigger without a problem. … He’ll be a 4-3 tackle, but he could be a 3-4 end without a problem. In a pinch, he could play anywhere on anyone’s line. … A solid all-around defender. Not flashy, but productive and consistent.
Negatives: Not a pass rusher. He’ll never touch an NFL quarterback. … He’s not all that athletic and he’s not all that strong. He has a big body, but he doesn’t necessarily play like it. … More like a valuable, do-it-all backup than a regular NFL starter. He doesn’t do any one thing at a high level.
17. Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas 6-3, 309
Positives: Obliterated mediocre competition. He came up with a phenomenal junior season with 80 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 23.5 tackles for loss. … Moves like a much smaller player. He zips into the backfield and cuts well. … Doesn’t miss a tackle. When he gets his hands on someone, it’s over.
Negatives: Needs a ton of work. A TON. Got by on being far more physically talented than anyone else. … Looked the part during Senior Bowl week, but he was also exposed for desperately needing more technique help. … Won’t work much on the inside. He’s likely going to be a 3-4 end or a 5-technique defender. Forget about him on the nose.
18. Sione Fua, Stanford 6-2, 308
Positives: Tough against the run. He’s not going to miss any stops. … The type of player who hangs around a team for a long time as a key backup. He can fill in anywhere on the inside when needed. … Good upside. He still needs work, but he might be scratching the surface on what he can become.
Negatives: Not necessarily a space-eater. He has good size, but he’s not going to suck up the run on the nose. … Not athletic. He’s not going to do much to be a pass rusher. … He’s not a finisher. He doesn’t have the instinct to kill the quarterback.
19. Adrian Taylor, Oklahoma 6-3, 334
Positives: It’s all there from a size standpoint. He has a huge frame and takes up a ton of space. … Big-time upside. It might take a little while, but if he can stay healthy he could be a phenomenal value pick. He’s smart and will work to be a player. … Can work on the nose. He’s better than his stats and can be an anchor.
Negatives: Mega-injury issues. He missed time the last two years with big problems including an Achilles injury in 2010. … Not a pass rusher. He doesn’t have the quickness after his leg problems. …Struggles against strong blockers who can get under his pads. Leverage is an issue.
20. Colby Whitlock, Texas Tech 6-2, 302
Positives: Plays big. He’s not massive, but he holds his own with a nice base. Plugs up holes. … Moves well. He gets to the ball without a problem and stacks and sheds extremely well. … Productive. He was able to work his way into the backfield and was ultra-consistent.
Negatives: A tweener. He’s not a big enough body to be a block on the inside, and he’s not enough of an athlete to be considered a top pass rusher. … Short arms. He doesn’t have a big span and he doesn’t play particularly big. … He’ll have a hard time finding a role as a starter. He might be a versatile backup.
19. Karl Klug, Iowa (DE) 6-3, 273
Positives: Always moving. He has a non-stop motor and he’s always working to try to make plays. … Part end, part tackle. He can be used as a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle. … Fights hard. Makes up for his lack of size by fighting and battling play in and play out. He doesn’t get shoved around.
Negatives: A try-hard type who doesn’t have any semblance of athleticism. He’ll have to make plays on want-to. … Small. He doesn’t have NFL defensive tackle bulk and doesn’t have any room to get any bigger. … Was helped by being surrounded by superior players like Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard.
22. Martin Parker, Richmond 6-2, 303
Positives: Ready to go right now. He’s polished enough to be used out of the box. … A good veteran. He was a dominant force for a tremendous Richmond team. He was the anchor up front. … Ultra productive. He was always working to make plays, and it showed.
Negatives: Not an elite athlete. He doesn’t have the wiggle to get into the backfield on a regular basis at an NFL level. … Doesn’t have a big frame. He’s a bit of a short, squatty player who might only work on the nose. … He’s not going to be an NFL pass rusher and he might have problems if used as a one-gap defender.
23. Ollie Ogbu, Penn State 6-1, 298
Positives: Strong for his size, he doesn’t get moved around. He holds his own and is better than his stats. Does the dirty work by occupying blockers. … Gets into the backfield. He’s able to slip through holes and make plays, and he’s a good finisher. … Productive and dependable. He was always in the lineup and he always came through.
Negatives: Way too small. He’s not big and bulky enough to be a regular NFL run defender and might only work as an effective reserve. … A one-gap defender without the raw quickness and burst to be a strong pass rusher. He’ll need help around him to make plays. … Doesn’t do anything all that well at an NFL level. Jack-of-all-trades, master of none.
24. Sealver Siliga, Utah 6-2, 305
Positives: A big body with a nice base for any scheme. He’s not a nose, but he can work anywhere on the line. … Quick off the ball. He gets up and into position in a hurry. … A strong run defender who comes up with stops whenever he gets the chance.
Negatives: Needs work. He’s a project who needs at least one year to figure out how to play at a high level. … Not a pass rusher. For a tackle who’ll be a two-gap lineman, he’s not going to come up with any sacks. … Not athletic enough. He’ll be an easy cut if he gets pushed around against the run in an NFL camp.
25. John Graves, Virginia Tech 6-3, 286
Positives: Moves extremely well. He’s a defensive end in the body of a tall tackle. … A tremendous athlete who can be moved all across the line. He could be used as an outside pass rusher if needed, even though he’s a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle. … Great attitude. He’ll do what’s needed to try to succeed.
Negatives: He doesn’t fit. He’s not a top run stopper and doesn’t have the bulk, and he’s not a good enough pass rusher. He only came up with 2.5 sacks. … Gets erased by anyone who blocks him. Gets blown over by a strong breeze. … Needs to find a niche. He might get lost in an NFL camp if he doesn’t show something special from the start.