2010 Defensive Tackles
This 2010 DT draft class might just be the best ever. There are four guys who could potentially go in the top 10.
Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh figure to be great in the NFL and have proven their worth in the college ranks. McCoy had a fantastic season and looks like a great UT in the making (10 TFL and 6.5 sacks, named to the all American 2nd team). Suh had an even better season and looks like a prototype 4-3 NT at 6'4" and 305+ pounds. Suh had 76 tackles, 16.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 2008. But even more impressive was his two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns and two blocked kicks. Both players had a coming out party in their bowl games, Gerald McCoy was a huge reason why the Oklahoma offensive line looked awful and he even intercepted a Tim Tebow pass. Suh was the main reason why that Nebraska defense held Clemson's highly esteemed running game to a combined 5 yards (CJ Spiller with 5 and James Davis with 0). The reason I group these two together is because right now these guys are #1 and #2 and if you put one above the other there is really no arguing that point because they are neck and neck.
Then there is Terrence Cody who is just a monstrous NT. At 6'5" and 360+ pounds he is the biggest DT to come out in a while. He has potential to be a top 10 pick but he has to prove he can keep his weight off, he isn't lazy and he is mature. He is a guy who doesn't get in any trouble off the field and by all accounts is a gentle giant but on the field he is just a monster. At 6'5" and 360 pounds he is obviously a big time run stuffer but what you don't realize is that Cody has the athleticism to dunk a basketball and move with the quickness of a DT that is 6'3" and 300 pounds. Cody is a freak and he even plays the goaline RB and FB from time to time.
After that there is another freak talent in Marvin Austin. This guy is a former top recruit who hasn't lived up to his hype but the ability is there. Austin is an extremely quick UT with 4.8-4.9 speed and he is listed at about 300 pounds but I would guess he is bigger than that . He just screams Al Davis pick (no offense to you Raiders fans). If Austin can put up some good numbers than he might be picked above all three of the previously mentioned tackles.
After that there is EVEN MORE depth in players like Lawrence Marsh (Florida), Arthur Jones (Syracuse), Vince Oghobaase (Duke) and Jared Odrick (Penn St.).
Then there are players who are first round talents but might have other issues.
Geno Atkins is strictly a UT and during his sophomore season he racked up 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. When Jeff Owens left for the season he struggled but his athletic ability and sophomore season leaves some with hope that he can regain his status as a top DT and make himself into a 1st round pick.
There is the aforementioned Jeff Owens who was looking like a first round lock before tearing his ACL in the season opener. He is a freak. The athleticism of a UT and the strength of a NT. He is rumored to have a 4.9 40 yard dash and he has put up 525 pounds in the bench press before. Some might compare him to Philadelphia Eagles NT Broderick Bunkley who has similar attributes at 6'3" and 304 pounds with 5.04 speed and 44 bench press reps of 225 pounds.
There is Gerald McCoys sidekick in DeMarcus Granger who for a while was the better prospect. Granger looks like a 4-3 NT or UT. At 6'3" and 300 pounds he looks like a UT but he has put on weight in the past. As a freshman he weighed 350 pounds. He was arrested for shoplifting and he was injured for nearly all of last season so you might have to look at his sophomore year to see how good he is. During his sophomore year he had 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. He was a top recruit out of high school:
Then there is Boo Robinson who might just go in round 1 next April. Robinson is not quite as athletic as BJ Raji but he is the closest thing in this draft. Boo Robinson looks like a NT at 6'3" and nearly 330 pounds but like BJ Raji he can penetrate the line, making 5 sacks last season and racking up 6 TFL. He is closer to Raji than he is to being Ron Brace.
AND THEN!! There is Al Woods who has loads of potential and looks like a NFL DT right now at 6'5" and nearly 320 pounds. He comes from a program with a great pedigree and he has all the tools. If he can perform now that he is not sharing time with anybody else he will be a first round pick.
Dan Williams out of Tennessee is nothing to scoff at either. Williams looks like a 4-3 NT at 6'3" and 310 pounds. Williams is a guy who is battle tested in the SEC and he goes against NFL caliber blocker week in and week out. Williams has long arms and he has a low center of gravity. Williams' strength is stopping the run. With a bench press currently at 500 pounds and a 40 time of 5.21, he can be an effective run-stopper at the next level as well. For a guy who's strength is stuffing the run he isn't half bad at rushing the passer collecting 8.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks last season. Also he will be working with one of the best coaches ever in Monte Kiffin so he will be ready for the NFL.
The amount of talent is incredible. I didn't even account for Mike Williams (Pittsburgh), Alan-Michael Cash (NC State), Charles Alexander (LSU), Averell Spicer (USC) and Ekom Udofia of Stanford.
Safe to say that if you need a DT, you can get one in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh figure to be great in the NFL and have proven their worth in the college ranks. McCoy had a fantastic season and looks like a great UT in the making (10 TFL and 6.5 sacks, named to the all American 2nd team). Suh had an even better season and looks like a prototype 4-3 NT at 6'4" and 305+ pounds. Suh had 76 tackles, 16.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 2008. But even more impressive was his two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns and two blocked kicks. Both players had a coming out party in their bowl games, Gerald McCoy was a huge reason why the Oklahoma offensive line looked awful and he even intercepted a Tim Tebow pass. Suh was the main reason why that Nebraska defense held Clemson's highly esteemed running game to a combined 5 yards (CJ Spiller with 5 and James Davis with 0). The reason I group these two together is because right now these guys are #1 and #2 and if you put one above the other there is really no arguing that point because they are neck and neck.
Then there is Terrence Cody who is just a monstrous NT. At 6'5" and 360+ pounds he is the biggest DT to come out in a while. He has potential to be a top 10 pick but he has to prove he can keep his weight off, he isn't lazy and he is mature. He is a guy who doesn't get in any trouble off the field and by all accounts is a gentle giant but on the field he is just a monster. At 6'5" and 360 pounds he is obviously a big time run stuffer but what you don't realize is that Cody has the athleticism to dunk a basketball and move with the quickness of a DT that is 6'3" and 300 pounds. Cody is a freak and he even plays the goaline RB and FB from time to time.
After that there is another freak talent in Marvin Austin. This guy is a former top recruit who hasn't lived up to his hype but the ability is there. Austin is an extremely quick UT with 4.8-4.9 speed and he is listed at about 300 pounds but I would guess he is bigger than that . He just screams Al Davis pick (no offense to you Raiders fans). If Austin can put up some good numbers than he might be picked above all three of the previously mentioned tackles.
After that there is EVEN MORE depth in players like Lawrence Marsh (Florida), Arthur Jones (Syracuse), Vince Oghobaase (Duke) and Jared Odrick (Penn St.).
Then there are players who are first round talents but might have other issues.
Geno Atkins is strictly a UT and during his sophomore season he racked up 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. When Jeff Owens left for the season he struggled but his athletic ability and sophomore season leaves some with hope that he can regain his status as a top DT and make himself into a 1st round pick.
There is the aforementioned Jeff Owens who was looking like a first round lock before tearing his ACL in the season opener. He is a freak. The athleticism of a UT and the strength of a NT. He is rumored to have a 4.9 40 yard dash and he has put up 525 pounds in the bench press before. Some might compare him to Philadelphia Eagles NT Broderick Bunkley who has similar attributes at 6'3" and 304 pounds with 5.04 speed and 44 bench press reps of 225 pounds.
There is Gerald McCoys sidekick in DeMarcus Granger who for a while was the better prospect. Granger looks like a 4-3 NT or UT. At 6'3" and 300 pounds he looks like a UT but he has put on weight in the past. As a freshman he weighed 350 pounds. He was arrested for shoplifting and he was injured for nearly all of last season so you might have to look at his sophomore year to see how good he is. During his sophomore year he had 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. He was a top recruit out of high school:
Rated the No. 11 player in the country (ESPN.com), No. 1 DT in the country (ESPN.com), No. 6 overall (CollegeFootballNews.com), No. 2 DT overall (CollegeFootballNews.com), No. 11 player in the country (Rivals.com), No. 3 player in Texas (Rivals.com), No. 9 player in the country (Scout.com) and No. 5 player in Texas (Scout.com)
Then there is Boo Robinson who might just go in round 1 next April. Robinson is not quite as athletic as BJ Raji but he is the closest thing in this draft. Boo Robinson looks like a NT at 6'3" and nearly 330 pounds but like BJ Raji he can penetrate the line, making 5 sacks last season and racking up 6 TFL. He is closer to Raji than he is to being Ron Brace.
AND THEN!! There is Al Woods who has loads of potential and looks like a NFL DT right now at 6'5" and nearly 320 pounds. He comes from a program with a great pedigree and he has all the tools. If he can perform now that he is not sharing time with anybody else he will be a first round pick.
Dan Williams out of Tennessee is nothing to scoff at either. Williams looks like a 4-3 NT at 6'3" and 310 pounds. Williams is a guy who is battle tested in the SEC and he goes against NFL caliber blocker week in and week out. Williams has long arms and he has a low center of gravity. Williams' strength is stopping the run. With a bench press currently at 500 pounds and a 40 time of 5.21, he can be an effective run-stopper at the next level as well. For a guy who's strength is stuffing the run he isn't half bad at rushing the passer collecting 8.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks last season. Also he will be working with one of the best coaches ever in Monte Kiffin so he will be ready for the NFL.
The amount of talent is incredible. I didn't even account for Mike Williams (Pittsburgh), Alan-Michael Cash (NC State), Charles Alexander (LSU), Averell Spicer (USC) and Ekom Udofia of Stanford.
Safe to say that if you need a DT, you can get one in the 2010 NFL Draft.
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