Pass-Rushing DE history/analisys:

[akvikefan89]

First, I want you to think of some of the NFL's greatest pass-rushing DE's. Maybe write down/make a mental note of who you think the 5-10 are (since the 1996 draft).

You may be surprised to see where they were drafted and what school they came from... (or you might be an NFL know-it-all and find this really boring...).


I know this list isn't perfect. The formula for "Best DE's" is just a baseline I made up on the spot. Or I might have missed a player, etc... and a couple super-veteran DE's (Michael Strahan, etc) aren't on here because they were pre-1996. But overall I think it's pretty good considering how much info I had to find and put together...
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Best pass-rushing DE's drafted from 1996 to 2006:

(Best pass-rushing DE = gets you at least 7-8 sacks at least every few seasons OR has at least 1 season of double-digit sacks). I won't list DE's who switched positions (Mathias Kiwanuka (LB), Justin Tuck (DT), etc...).



Round.Pick:____Player:______________College:______ ________Sacks:_________


1.1 - Mario Williams - North Carolina State - (4.5 - 14.0)
1.2 - Julius Peppers - North Carolina - (12.0 - 7.0 - 11.0 - 10.5 - 13.0 - 2.5)
1.3 - Simeon Rice - Illinois - (12.5 - 5.0 - 10.0 - 16.5 - 7.5 - 11.0 - 15.5 - 15.0 - 12.0 - 14.0 - 2.0 - 0.0 - 1.0)
1.4 - Justin Smith - Missouri - (8.5 - 6.5 - 5.0 - 8.0 - 6.0 - 7.5 - 2.0)
1.6 - Grant Winstrom - Nebraska - (3.0 - 6.5 - 11.0 - 9.0 - 4.5 - 7.5 - 3.5 - 4.0 - 4.0)
1.7 - Andre Carter - California - (6.5 - 12.5 - 6.5 - 2.0 - 4.5 - 6.0 - 10.5)
1.11 - Dwight Freeney - Syracuse - (13.0- 11.0 - 16.0 - 11.0 - 5.5 - 3.5)
1.12 - Shaun Ellis - Tennessee - (8.5 - 5.0 - 4.0 - 12.5 - 11.0 - 2.5 - 5.0 - 5.0)
1.13 - John Abraham - South Carolina - (4.5 - 13.0 - 10.0 - 6.0 - 9.5 - 10.5 - 4.0 - 10.)
1.16 - Jevon Kearse - Florida - (14.5 - 11.5 - 10.0 - 2.0 - 9.5 - 7.5 - 7.5 - 3.5 - 3.5)
1.18 - Will Smith - Ohio State - (7.5 - 8.5 - 10.5 - 7.0)
1.20 - Tamba Hali - Penn State - (8.0 - 7.5)
1.25 - Charles Grant - Georgia - (7.0 - 10.0 - 10.5 - 2.5 - 6.0 - 2.5)
1.30 - Patrick Kerney - Virginia - (2.5 - 2.5 - 12.0 - 10.5 - 6.5 - 13.0 - 6.5 - 4.5 - 14.5)

2.2 - Darren Howard - Kansas State - (11.0 - 6.0 - 8.0 - 5.0 - 11.0 - 3.5 - 5.0 - 1.0)
2.3 - Kyle Vanden Bosch - Nebraska - (0.5 - 3.5 - 0.0 - 12.5 - 6.5 - 12.0)
2.7 - Mike Rucker - Nebraska - (3.0 - 2.5 - 9.0 - 10.0 - 12.0 - 3.5 - 7.5 - 5.0 - 3.0)
2.15 - Aaron Schobel - Texas Christian - (6.5 - 8.5 - 11.5 - 8.0 - 12.0 - 14.0 - 6.5)
2.22 - Marcellus Wiley - Columbia - (0.0 - 3.5 - 5.0 - 10.5 - 13.0 - 6.0 - 3.0 - 3.0 - 0.0 - 0.0)
2.24 - Osi Umenyiora - Troy State - (1.0 - 7.0 - 14.5 - 6.0 - 13.0)
2.27 - Lance Johnstone - Temple - (1.0 - 3.5 - 11.0 - 10.0 - 3.5 - 5.5 - 7.0 - 10.0 - 11.0 - 7.5 - 2.0)

3.1 - Derrick Burgess - Mississippi - (6.0 - 0.0 - 2.5 - 16.0 - 11.0- 8.0)
3.13 - Jason Taylor - Akron - (5.0 - 9.0 - 2.5 - 14.5 - 8.5 - 18.5 - 13.0 - 9.5 - 12.0 - 13.5 - 11.0)
3.25 - Reggie Hayward - Iowa State - (3.5 - 0.0 - 8.5 - 10.5 - 8.5 - 2.5)

4.29 - Elvis Dumervil - Louisville - (8.5 - 12.5)
4.30 - Jared Allen - Idaho State - (9.0 - 11.0 - 7.5 - 15.5)

5.3 - Robert Mathis - Alabama A&M - (3.5 - 10.5 - 11.5 - 9.5 - 7.0)
5.10 - Trent Cole - Cincinnati - (5.0 - 8.0 - 12.5)
5.20 - Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila - San Diego State - (1.5 - 13.5 - 12.0 - 10.0 - 13.5 - 8.0 - 6.0 - 9.5)
5.21 - Aaron Kampman - Iowa - (0.5 - 2.0 - 4.5 - 6.5 - 15.5 - 12.0)
5.26 - Mark Anderson - Alabama - (12.0 - 5.0)



7.48 - Bobby McCray - Florida - (3.5 - 5.5 - 10 - 3.0)
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Notes:


- You can find great pass-rushers all through the draft. Plenty of greats were early 1st rounders, but many were not...

- The best pass-rushers don't always come from big schools...

- Don't expect big numbers from your DE right away. While some started off big, plenty took a few years to become great at getting to the QB...

- In a 10-year span, there were 18 players that met the "best pass-rushing DE" requirements, drafted AFTER round 1 (which obviously averages out to almost 2 great pass-rushing DE's taken in rounds 2/3/4/5/6/7 in every draft...).
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So I guess the story here is that if you're a team looking for a pass-rusher, but you don't have an early pick, don't despair, there's talent to be found after round 1...

[Caddy]

I think a lot of the points you brought up are kind of generic and can relate to pretty much any position in the draft.

[akvikefan89]

Yes, it can be applied to some other positions as well, but the point wasn't to prove that it happens more often with DE's. It's just taking a look at that pass-rushing DE position (I made this for my Vikings board, and the Vikings, you know, really need a pass-rushing DE).

[hugegmenfan]

you forgot michael strahan buddy- 2nd round

[Dunta_23]

you forgot michael strahan buddy- 2nd round

You forgot to read the original post buddy...post 1996 he said

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Question. Why was John Abraham not included?

[akvikefan89]

Question. Why was John Abraham not included?

Nice catch. I just missed him.

[MetSox17]

Where's Greg Ellis??


3, 7.5, 3, 6, 7.5, 8, 9, 8, 4.5 (torn achilles year) 12.5

[akvikefan89]

He's listed as a LB.

Where's Greg Ellis??


3, 7.5, 3, 6, 7.5, 8, 9, 8, 4.5 (torn achilles year) 12.5

[MetSox17]

He's listed as a LB.

Well then scratch the last two years he played at OLB.
He was very consistent as a DE when they were in the 4-3.

I think the LB think is just a technicality

[akvikefan89]

Well then scratch the last two years he played at OLB.
He was very consistent as a DE when they were in the 4-3.

I think the LB think is just a technicality

Fair enough.

[JT Jag]

And Justin Tuck isn't a DT--- he's a DE who plays DT in pass-rushing situations.

[BaLLiN]

why not counting Justin Tuck? He's been a DE for his entire Giants career.

[BaLLiN]

And Justin Tuck isn't a DT--- he's a DE who plays DT in pass-rushing situations.

Yea we use him in our Ace Package, which is really 4 DE's (Kiwanuka switching to DL for this package) because its an obvious passing down; like 3rd and 10

[MetSox17]

Yea we use him in our Ace Package, which is really 4 DE's (Kiwanuka switching to DL for this package) because its an obvious passing down; like 3rd and 10

That's a dirty package.

Does Strahan move inside to Tackle in that formation along with Tuck?

[BaLLiN]

That's a dirty package.

Does Strahan move inside to Tackle in that formation along with Tuck?

Well im pretty sure it goes

Osi-Kiwi-Tuck-Strahan

but i really dont think Kiwi shouldve been or should be on the inside of that, Osi should move inside but it really doesnt matter much because of all the stunts we do, everything goes all over the place and O-Lineman smash into eachother.

[MetSox17]

Well im pretty sure it goes

Osi-Kiwi-Tuck-Strahan

but i really dont think Kiwi shouldve been or should be on the inside of that, Osi should move inside but it really doesnt matter much because of all the stunts we do, everything goes all over the place and O-Lineman smash into eachother.

Can't wait till Strahan retires.

But then again, dude needs money. Or is his ex-wife still taking it all? =/

[BaLLiN]

Can't wait till Strahan retires.

But then again, dude needs money. Or is his ex-wife still taking it all? =/

uhh well thats been over for at least a year i believe, there were rumors he was dating an ex america's top model, idk whats going on, he should just ask Pam Oliver (black woman analyst for NFL games).

I really see him playing this year out, then retiring after. And don't worry, we'll get another pass rusher to fill the void, dont forget david Tollefson, the only white DL we have lol

[MetSox17]

*Kanye West playing in the background*.. "we want pre-nup, we want pre-nup, yeah!"

Doesn't learn huh lol.

And who the heck is David Tollefson, i've never heard of him. So i guess that's a good thing lol

[BaLLiN]

http://www.nfl.com/videos
4:50 to 5:10 he's white and #71

http://www.nfl.com/videos
10 to 15

he's pretty fly for a white guy

[Solomon]

First, I want you to think of some of the NFL's greatest pass-rushing DE's. Maybe write down/make a mental note of who you think the 5-10 are (since the 1996 draft).

You may be surprised to see where they were drafted and what school they came from.

...So I guess the story here is that if you're a team looking for a pass-rusher, but you don't have an early pick, don't despair, there's talent to be found after round 1...

It's funny but I wrote down that list of who I think are the top 10 pass rushing DEs drafted since 1996 are and it looked like this (I want to see if Mario Williams can prove himself over more than 1 year before I put him on the list):

1. Simeon Rice
2. Jason Taylor
3. Julius Peppers
4. Dwight Freeney
5. John Abraham
6. Patrick Kerney
7. Osi Umenyiora
8. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilla
9. Jared Allen
10.Jevon Kearse (would probably be higher if injuries hadn't derailed him)

That's 6 first rounders. 1 second rounder. 1 third rounder. 1 fourth rounder. 1 fifth rounder. My conclusion: If you want a short term solution at pass rushing DE then teams should feel free to grab fast ends in the later rounds. But if they are looking for a long term DE, someone that they can hang their hat on as a #1 pass rusher for the next 5 years then they should look to address DE with a 1st rounder.

[kmartin575]

It's funny but I wrote down that list of who I think are the top 10 pass rushing DEs drafted since 1996 are and it looked like this (I want to see if Mario Williams can prove himself over more than 1 year before I put him on the list):

1. Simeon Rice
2. Jason Taylor
3. Julius Peppers
4. Dwight Freeney
5. John Abraham
6. Patrick Kerney
7. Osi Umenyiora
8. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilla
9. Jared Allen
10.Jevon Kearse (would probably be higher if injuries hadn't derailed him)

That's 6 first rounders. 1 second rounder. 1 third rounder. 1 fourth rounder. 1 fifth rounder. My conclusion: If you want a short term solution at pass rushing DE then teams should feel free to grab fast ends in the later rounds. But if they are looking for a long term DE, someone that they can hang their hat on as a #1 pass rusher for the next 5 years then they should look to address DE with a 1st rounder.


I think Jared Allen should be a little higher up on that list but whatever. I would put him ahead of KGB, Umenyiora, and John Abraham.

[Solomon]

I think Jared Allen should be a little higher up on that list but whatever. I would put him ahead of KGB, Umenyiora, and John Abraham.

Abraham and KGB have just been doing it longer than Allen. I think I just thought of Umenyiora before Allen. There are alot of ways that list could have looked, I flip flopped between Rice and Taylor for awhile and considering his last few seasons Freeney was questionable so high. I didn't take alot of time with my list I just wrote it down for the purpose of this thread, I hope it doesn't become the focus of this thread.