Here is an interesting analysis: Top 3 only:
As always, teams could have the choice of two types of defensive tackles to mend the interior of their front line. The quicker and sometimes undersized prospects can attack the line of scrimmage and create havoc while a handful of oversized space eaters can fill up the middle and allow others to make the play. The job description of the latter group does not sound exciting, but two such players (Haloti Ngata and Gabe Watson) came off the board before the end of the fourth round of last year's NFL draft.
The larger space eaters are wanted by teams playing either a 3-4 that are hopeful of finding the next inside plug along the lines of Casey Hampton or Jamal Williams or in a 4-3 scheme that is hopeful of locating a prospect similar to Ted Washington or Sam Adams.
A total of five interior defenders were taken within the first three rounds of last year's draft, while the majority of the players selected at this position came off the board between rounds 4-6.
This year's talented group of prospects includes three potential first-rounders, including two that could be taken in the Top 10. Overall, the position is also deeper than last year's draft and productive roles players will still be available through the mid-to-late rounds. One name to keep an eye on is Walter Thomas, the former NW Mississippi JC/Oklahoma State product that opened eyes at the Texas vs. the Nation game thanks to his size (6-foot-3, 370 pounds) and impressive quickness off the ball.
DT SLEEPERS
Walter Thomas, NW Mississippi JC/Oklahoma State
Trey Lewis, Washburn (Kansas)
Mike DeVito, Maine
TOP DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Amobi Okoye, Louisville. A 19-year old prodigy that has opened the eyes of evaluators with his great combination of size (6-foot-2, 302 pounds), speed, power and maturity for someone who could just as easily be entering college as he is headed to the NFL. He did very well at the Senior Bowl practices and no one questioned seems to have any fears about him adjusting to the off-field lifestyle of the NFL.
He comes out of the blocks full speed on most downs, showing ideal quickness, power and the upside to become a feared interior defender at the next level. He has long arms (33½") for a player with his average height and his intelligence and attacking style make him an ideal fit for many roles, but Cover-2 type squads paid closer attention to him than others during Senior Bowl week.
Okoye usually makes very good use of his hands, stays low and fires off the snap with aggression. However, he will over-pursue and can also get tall when called upon to blitz if stationed head up with a larger defender. He still needs to develop more of a variety of pass rush moves. Louisville used him as a nose guard when it went to a modified version of the 3-4, but most evaluators think he lacks a big enough physique to handle the pounding of that spot in the NFL.
Okoye's age, ability and upside will allow him the chance to penetrate the Top-10 picks of the draft, but his long-range potential is what puts him ahead of Branch in my book.
2. Alan Branch, Michigan. A big-bodied defender, Branch is being viewed by several 3-4 teams as possibly converting to defensive end like Ty Warren has done in New England, while others see him being slotted over the center similar to players like Sam Adams or Ted Washington.
Branch has rare strength for a player that can run right at or around 5.00 in the 40 at nearly 330 pounds. He is better at controlling the line of scrimmage and allowing others to make the actual play. He takes up two gaps and can face and defeat double teams, but more importantly can sustain his ground and drive past blockers thanks to his size and power.
Branch shows a short-area burst to the ball carrier and is strong enough to drag him down although he is not a great form tackler. He will need to develop some better pass rush moves in order to become more of a presence against the pass. Right now he is purely a bull rusher, but does not always play with technique and balance when rushing the passer. However, Branch does have long arms and can bat down a few balls or block the vision of the quarterback.
There is no doubt that a player with his type of size and skill level will go early in the first round and depending on how free agency plays out, he could very well be taken as high as the Top 5.
3. DeMarcus Tyler, N.C. State. He was able to get out from underneath the shadow of a defensive unit that featured three first-round picks (Mario Williams, John McCargo and converted outside linebacker Manny Lawson) just a year ago.
Tyler is very active off the snap and prefers to attack rather than sitting back and reading the blocker. He made much better use of his hands this past season, so that along with his impressive lower-body strength helped make him one of the most aggressive run stuffers in the nation. He is able to locate the ball as fast as any interior lineman on the board and more importantly gets into the opposing blocker off the snap more times than he allows them to make the first move on him.
His play level soared over the final year and a half of college football as his production nearly doubled during that period of time. His ability to help collapse the pocket and do so from any number of defensive alignments should bolster his final grade towards that of being a mid-to-late first round pick.
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