Combine Dish: Defensive players who need to do well
Article By rlande.tsn on 23rd February, 2010
Before the NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Wednesday, Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts name 11 defensive players who can solidify or improve their draft stocks with strong performances in Indianapolis. On Monday, Lande identified offensive players who need to succeed at the Combine.
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida Carlos Dunlap has the athleticism to be great, but does he have the desire? Dunlap has freakish size, strength, athleticism and long arms, but he is not nearly as productive as someone with his talent should be. When he keeps his knees bent, uses good technique and plays with intensity and aggressiveness, he can be dominant. But too often, Dunlap gets upright at the snap, fails to attack the blocker and plays without passion. When that happens, he does not impact the play. To ensure that he's a first-round pick, Dunlap needs to convince teams in interviews that he can play with intensity more frequently.
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma McCoy wants to create a real debate about whether he or Ndamukong Suh is the top defensive tackle in the draft. McCoy has flashed the rare explosiveness and athleticism few NFL defensive tackles possess, and many consider him a better all-around athlete than Suh, but he is not as productive or consistent as Suh on film. To overtake Suh, McCoy needs to work out well at the Combine. He also needs to convince teams that his inconsistent technique and aggressiveness were the result of what he was asked to do at Oklahoma rather than the product of poor effort.
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee Williams has been flying up draft boards. Considered a third-round prospect before the Senior Bowl, a strong showing in Mobile has made Williams a possible first-round pick. However, with several quality defensive tackles nipping at his heels – including D'Anthony Smith, Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins – Williams needs to show in his workout that he is a good enough athlete to be an impact DT in ...
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Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida Carlos Dunlap has the athleticism to be great, but does he have the desire? Dunlap has freakish size, strength, athleticism and long arms, but he is not nearly as productive as someone with his talent should be. When he keeps his knees bent, uses good technique and plays with intensity and aggressiveness, he can be dominant. But too often, Dunlap gets upright at the snap, fails to attack the blocker and plays without passion. When that happens, he does not impact the play. To ensure that he's a first-round pick, Dunlap needs to convince teams in interviews that he can play with intensity more frequently.
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma McCoy wants to create a real debate about whether he or Ndamukong Suh is the top defensive tackle in the draft. McCoy has flashed the rare explosiveness and athleticism few NFL defensive tackles possess, and many consider him a better all-around athlete than Suh, but he is not as productive or consistent as Suh on film. To overtake Suh, McCoy needs to work out well at the Combine. He also needs to convince teams that his inconsistent technique and aggressiveness were the result of what he was asked to do at Oklahoma rather than the product of poor effort.
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee Williams has been flying up draft boards. Considered a third-round prospect before the Senior Bowl, a strong showing in Mobile has made Williams a possible first-round pick. However, with several quality defensive tackles nipping at his heels – including D'Anthony Smith, Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins – Williams needs to show in his workout that he is a good enough athlete to be an impact DT in ...
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