Rd 5 pick: Matthew Ioannidis, DT

[Irn-Bru]

[DarthMonk]

His NFL.com bio praises his strength and ability to stand his ground against double teams, It also noted his leadership skills and an ability to knock off blockers with a powerful clubbing movement and occasionally can beat linemen with a quick spin move. As negatives, the bio mentioned his success may be limited to mostly power moves. He has some question marks as an interior pass rusher and with his lateral movement.

Ioannidis stands 6 feet 3 and tips the scales at 299 pounds. A two-year captain, Ioannidis recorded 27 tackles (11.5 for a loss), 3.5 sacks, five pass deflections and two fumble recoveries last season.

Ioannidis played both nose tackle and end in Temple’s defense, but he said although he hadn’t spoken extensively with Washington’s coaches about their plans, he expected to play end in Washington’s 3-4 base package.

Fifth-round pick Matt Ioannidis, defensive tackle, Temple – The Redskins finally addressed their defensive line in the fifth round, taking Ioannidis, who has played both nose tackle and end. He says he feels comfortable at either position, but Gruden indicated that coaches plan to groom the 6-foot-3, 299-pounder as a nose tackle. But, in their nickel packages, Ioannidis would likely slide over to play tackle in those four-man fronts.

“He’s played the one, three, and the five [technique],” Gruden said, referring to positions along the defensive line. “I think he can gain 15 pounds and be a very good nose guard. He’s played the three-technique. I’ve seen him rush the passer very well. He was very good at the combine, very athletic. Times the snap extremely well. He’s a nuisance. He gets in the backfield and makes a lot of plays, and he hustles. What he doesn’t have maybe physically trait-wise with speed and all that stuff, he makes up for with his tenacity. That’s half the battle in pro football. The guy that plays that hard until the whistle blows, that’s what Matt’s going to give you, and we’re excited to have him.”

Ioannidis will initially play behind veteran nose tackles such as Kedric Golston, but could quickly work his way up the ranks. Washington was originally expected to take a defensive lineman higher in the draft, but team officials are encouraged by the progress that Trent Murphy is making as he transitions from linebacker to end, and they like the prospects they have in Stephen Paea and free agent additions Kendall Reyes Ziggy Hood, who will all compete with Ricky Jean Francois for the starting job opposite left end Chris Baker.

John Keim
ESPN Staff Writer
Email
print
comment
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins entered the draft hoping to add a defensive lineman early. Instead, they waited until the fifth round before they found one they wanted to pick who was still available in Temple's Matt Ioannidis.

My take: Ioannidis played all over Temple's line. The question will be: Can he help this year? He doesn’t have to be a starter in order to help, but he does appear to be someone who should be able to help defend the run. He’s strong. But at 299 pounds, he’s probably best suited to play end in the base package and tackle in the nickel package with the Redskins hoping he can get occasional push.

Ioannidis (pronounced eye-an-NYE-dis), 6-foot-3 and 299 pounds, played all over the defensive line for the Owls, He had 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and five pass breakups as a redshirt senior. Ioannidis helped Temple to a 10-4 record and an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl – the program’s first bowl game since 2011 and fifth ever.

“I would say I’m a versatile player. I’ve played all around the D-line,” Ioannidis said. “I would just say I’m a relentless player. A relentless, tough player who’s going to bring a lot to the table.”

Ioannidis said he expects he’ll be a 5-technique in Washington’s base 3-4 system – a defensive end. But given his ability to line up all over the line and serve as a solid run-stopping defensive tackle, he probably won’t be used in one specific role.

He’s a big, strong lineman — something Redskins GM Scot McCloughan looks for in his trench players — who was tied for the fourth-most bench press reps among all players at the NFL Combine, with 32.