2007 DRAFT PROSPECT PROFILES: DE
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:49 pm
Daniel Bazuin, Central Michigan… 6-3, 270, 4.68, SR… The top returning pass rusher in college football this fall, Bazuin had 16 sacks in 2005 despite being doubled teamed on just about every play. Bazuin is terrific athlete who was an all-state prepster in three different sports; Not a true burner coming off the edge but has decent speed with a 40 time in the 4.70 range; also has good functional strength pressing 25 reps at 225 pounds. Character player with one of those non-stop motors who is also an academic all-conference honoree. Exceptional pass rusher with a quick, long first step and relentless closing speed; uses his arms well to disengage and good change of direction; not overly tall but has long arms and can disrupt passing lanes; Bazuin is also a solid run-stopper who gets off the snap quickly, uses arms well to keep blockers off legs and has good lateral pursuit down the line of scrimmage, although he will overrun plays on occasion.
Quentin Moses, Georgia… 6-5, 252, 4.75, SR… Entered the season rated as one of, if not the, top defensive prospects for the 2007 draft, but has had a very disappointing senior season. Moses is a rangy sort with long arms who can disrupt passing lanes; can get off the snap with quick first stride; stays low and gets good leverage coming around the corner. Has decent closing speed with a 40 clocking in the 4.75 range and goes hard to the whistle. Has an especially effective inside move, but doesn’t have an array of pass-rush moves and get hung up at line of scrimmage if initial move fails. Dominated the tough SEC in 2005 when he posted 11.5 sacks and 10 other tackles for loss, but has just one through seven games this fall. Has been tentative coming off the line of scrimmage this fall and too often has been feeling his way upfield rather than exploding after ball. Does a good job using arms to keep defenders off his legs and has good lateral range, but is a little spindly at just a tad over 250 pounds and isn’t all that physical a run-stopper. Stays low but doesn’t always find the ball that quickly. Very good athlete who has also played with Georgia basketball team; also a smart young man who is a regular on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Adam Carriker, Nebraska… 6-6, 285, 4.85, SR… One of the best two-way DEs in college football, but Carriker has struggled at times this fall posting just one sack through the first half of the current campaign. However, was much more disruptive in 2005 when he had 9.5 sacks and 8 other tackles for loss. Carriker has prototypical size and strength; also has long arms and does a good job using his hands to disengage from opposing blockers; very strong at the point of attack where he does a nice job of standing up double teams; also has decent lateral range, but will play too high at times and sometimes struggles to find the ball. Carriker is mostly a bull-rusher with a long first stride, but lacks explosiveness coming off the snap; also lacks outside speed with a 40 clocking in the 4.85 range; uses his arms well to maintain some distance from OTs but lacks much in the way of sophisticated pass rush moves; will also get caught up hand-fighting with OT as line of scrimmage at times; Carriker will likely get some long looks as a 3-4 DE from NFL teams using that scheme; could also project to move inside to defensive tackle on passing downs in a 4-3 set. Also has had a long history of ankle injuries which limited him in both 2003 and 2004 which will have to be checked out.
Mkristo Bruce, Washington State… 6-6, 255, 4.82, SR… One of the best pure pass rushers in the 2007 draft class, Bruce posted 24.5 sacks the past three years, including 8 through the first 5 games of the 2006 season. Bruce is a tall, rangy DE with long arms who disrupts passing lanes. Not a burner with a 40 clocking in the low 4.8 range which translates into average closing speed; Bruce, though, does have a long, quick first step and good functional strength to maintain leverage once he gets to the corner. More of a bull-rusher, Bruce will get stuck at the line of scrimmage if his first move doesn’t work. Also not overly bulky at around 255-260 pounds, but is solid enough playing the run, although he will struggle to hold the point of attack when facing double teams; uses his arms well to disengage from opposing blockers; does a nice job finding the ball and has decent lateral pursuit range.
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Quentin Moses, Georgia… 6-5, 252, 4.75, SR… Entered the season rated as one of, if not the, top defensive prospects for the 2007 draft, but has had a very disappointing senior season. Moses is a rangy sort with long arms who can disrupt passing lanes; can get off the snap with quick first stride; stays low and gets good leverage coming around the corner. Has decent closing speed with a 40 clocking in the 4.75 range and goes hard to the whistle. Has an especially effective inside move, but doesn’t have an array of pass-rush moves and get hung up at line of scrimmage if initial move fails. Dominated the tough SEC in 2005 when he posted 11.5 sacks and 10 other tackles for loss, but has just one through seven games this fall. Has been tentative coming off the line of scrimmage this fall and too often has been feeling his way upfield rather than exploding after ball. Does a good job using arms to keep defenders off his legs and has good lateral range, but is a little spindly at just a tad over 250 pounds and isn’t all that physical a run-stopper. Stays low but doesn’t always find the ball that quickly. Very good athlete who has also played with Georgia basketball team; also a smart young man who is a regular on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Adam Carriker, Nebraska… 6-6, 285, 4.85, SR… One of the best two-way DEs in college football, but Carriker has struggled at times this fall posting just one sack through the first half of the current campaign. However, was much more disruptive in 2005 when he had 9.5 sacks and 8 other tackles for loss. Carriker has prototypical size and strength; also has long arms and does a good job using his hands to disengage from opposing blockers; very strong at the point of attack where he does a nice job of standing up double teams; also has decent lateral range, but will play too high at times and sometimes struggles to find the ball. Carriker is mostly a bull-rusher with a long first stride, but lacks explosiveness coming off the snap; also lacks outside speed with a 40 clocking in the 4.85 range; uses his arms well to maintain some distance from OTs but lacks much in the way of sophisticated pass rush moves; will also get caught up hand-fighting with OT as line of scrimmage at times; Carriker will likely get some long looks as a 3-4 DE from NFL teams using that scheme; could also project to move inside to defensive tackle on passing downs in a 4-3 set. Also has had a long history of ankle injuries which limited him in both 2003 and 2004 which will have to be checked out.
Mkristo Bruce, Washington State… 6-6, 255, 4.82, SR… One of the best pure pass rushers in the 2007 draft class, Bruce posted 24.5 sacks the past three years, including 8 through the first 5 games of the 2006 season. Bruce is a tall, rangy DE with long arms who disrupts passing lanes. Not a burner with a 40 clocking in the low 4.8 range which translates into average closing speed; Bruce, though, does have a long, quick first step and good functional strength to maintain leverage once he gets to the corner. More of a bull-rusher, Bruce will get stuck at the line of scrimmage if his first move doesn’t work. Also not overly bulky at around 255-260 pounds, but is solid enough playing the run, although he will struggle to hold the point of attack when facing double teams; uses his arms well to disengage from opposing blockers; does a nice job finding the ball and has decent lateral pursuit range.
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