Defensive Ends ... 2005 Draft

oafusp · Post by **oafusp** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:43 pm

Dan Cody - Oklahoma

Strengths: Has a good frame and can carry more weight...Very productive...Good athlete...Very tough and competitive and is always giving 100%...Smart and instinctive...Good pass rusher...Solid versus the run...Shows good technique...Developed into a team leader.
Weaknesses: Has some character concerns after he quit the football team in 2001 to be treated for depression...Needs to bulk up and get bigger...Has to hit the weight room and work on his strength...May be a bit of a DE / OLB 'tweener without a true position at the next level.
Notes: Great college players but teams will need to do their homework before taking a chance on him...May only fit in certain schemes and could ultimately become a 3-4 OLB and he did play standing up at times with the Sooners.

Saw him play in the Orange Bowl...plays with intensity.

Erasmus James - Wisconsin

Strengths: Is a tremendous athlete...Quick and agile...A terror as a pass rusher...Extremely productive as a senior...Has only played football since his senior year of high school and still has a lot of upside...One of the better sack artists in the draft.
Weaknesses: Missed the entire 2003 season due to injury and then had some ankle problems as a senior...Needs to get bigger and stronger...Raw in terms of technique and gets by on his natural athleticism...Inconsistent...Doesn't have top-notch speed.
Notes: Came through with a dominant senior campaign and may have improved his stock more than anyone in the entire country...Went from an afterthought to a guarenteed first rounder...Durability will be key but his potential is through the room if he can stay healthy.

David Pollack - Georgia

Strengths: Production is unparalleled...Tough and fiesty...Has a motor that never stops and is always giving 110%...One of the most feared pass rushers in the draft...Tough and strong...Very quick and agile...A playmaker with great instincts...Won't be outworked...Great character.
Weaknesses: Is undersized and needs to get bigger and stronger...Doesn't have top end speed...May have trouble against the huge offensive tackles he will face in the pros.
Notes: Doesn't have all the physical tools you look for but has been one of the most dominant defensive players in the country the last three seasons...You can bet some team will fall in love with his production and attitude.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/

Redskins4Life · Post by **Redskins4Life** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:11 pm

WHERES MY MAN J-TUCK FROM NOTRE DAME!?!?!?!? Well since you forgot about him heres his little analysis thing....

Justin Tuck- College: Notre Dame Height: 6-5
Position: Defensive End Weight: 261
Class: Junior 40-Yard: 4.56

Strengths: Excellent natural athletic ability...Tall and lanky...Explosive speed and quickness...Was very productive and a sack artist...Has a lot of experience against top competition...Is unblockable at times...Getting better every season.
Weaknesses: Undersized...Needs to continue to get bigger and stronger...Improving but still not a force against the run...Needs to show more discipline...Has to continue working on his technique...A possible 'tweener who could project to OLB in the pros, especially in a 3-4 scheme.
Notes: Notre Dame's all-time leader in sacks...Cousin of Adalius Thomas of the Baltimore Ravens...Has made major strides as an all-around player the last couple of years.

Redskins4Life · Post by **Redskins4Life** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:13 pm

And dont forget about my boy Shawne Merriman from MD. Hes only 245, but dont be fooled, this kid makes up for his weight with crazy natural strength and athleticism...

Shawne Merriman: College: Maryland Height: 6-4
Position: Outside Linebacker/ Defensive End Weight: 245
Class: Junior 40-Yard: 4.6

Strengths: Excellent athletic ability and has a 41-inch vertical leap...Very fast...Productive...Has great strength...A terror rushing the passer off the edge...Versatile and could play either LB or DE in the pros...Has experience dropping into coverage...Still has a huge upside.
Weaknesses: Undersized and is a DE / OLB 'tweener without a true position at this point...Raw and will need to be developed and work on his technique...Gets by on sheer athleticism more than anything...May need to be in the right scheme to succeed...Will be a gamble on greatness.
Notes: Probably won't be a great fit for every scheme but his physical tools are out of this world...Pass rushers are always at a premium in the NFL and this guy could be a stud in that regard whether it be standing up or with his hand down.

patjam77 · Post by **patjam77** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:18 pm

i like cody. even though he quit the team, there were many clips of him in games this past year being a vocal leader. i like the idea of a young solid pass rusher who can also play the run. if this skins team can get a pass rush from their front four look out. they could be lethal!

Redskins4Life · Post by **Redskins4Life** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:46 pm

IMO Cody is way overrated and will not be anything better than solid in the pros, if that.

West Coast Hog · Post by **West Coast Hog** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:14 pm

Cody is overrated, but that is not to say he can't add weight and strength. I think he will be good in a year, but not on day 1. He has a motor though. That kind of stuff in infectious.

hogred · Post by **hogred** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:51 pm

If we draft a DE then I say Pollack.

Has a motor that never stops and is always giving 110%

Hill66 · Post by **Hill66** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:53 pm

Pollack is a great player with a big heart, but he will get pushed around by the MONSTEROUS tackles in the league. He would be better as a OLB in a 3-4.
He is the type of player I can see the Pats drafting.

Jeremy81 · Post by **Jeremy81** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:15 pm

i keep hearing "tweener" a lot...what is that? I like pollack, but not at number 9...i think we can trade down and still get him. Justin Tuck isn't a bad choice either...he'd go even later than pollack...we could trade down more than once and still pick him up...SO MANY OPTIONS THIS DRAFT!!!

SkinzCanes · Post by **SkinzCanes** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:24 am

keep hearing "tweener" a lot...what is that?

Basically that just means that a player doesn't naturally fit into a certain position. For example, Cody and Pollock are smaller than most DE's in the NFL so they could potentially play either DE or OLB. In essence they fall into the grey area between DE and OLB. Personally I see both of them as being more effective in a 3-4 scheme on a team like the Patroits than playing exclusivly at DE for a team like the Skins.

Jeremy81 · Post by **Jeremy81** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:39 am

ok, thanks

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:02 pm

I think Roth and Cody are the best DE's on the board. Roth is a high-motor, every down DE with power and speed. Cody is going to be a starter in the NFL next year - he's got the total package and big game experience. Nothing against Pollack nor James - I just like Roth and Cody better at this point. Tuck is a bit of a question. He's got size and talent though.

Redskins4Life · Post by **Redskins4Life** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:14 pm

I think Roth will be better than Cody but IMO both arent as good as they're hyped up to be. Best case scenario for both of these guys is becoming an Aaron Smith type player