2013 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings and Reports

[Matthew Jones]

I know defensive tackle isn't exactly a natural progression from quarterback but there were a few major defensive tackle prospects I wanted to look at. Kawann Short is my first scouting report (check it out below), and I'm going to check out Star Lotulelei next.

Other threads:

Quarterbacks - http://draftcountdown.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52803

NT Star Lotulelei, Utah (6'3", 325, 5.25)

Positives:

• Has excellent height and bulk to play nose tackle in either defensive front
• Surprisingly athletic for a man of his size and has impressive range
• Initial quickness off of the snap is impressive compared to other nose tackles
• Very strong and can throw defenders aside if he gets good positioning
• Plays with a nasty disposition and a high motor; very physical
• Low pad level allows him to get under defenders and move them off the line
• Can shoot the gaps effectively due to his size and burst off of the line
• Can anchor effectively and was used at the nose in Utah’s three-man fronts as well
• Effective wrap-and-fall tackler who has adequate arm length
• Nice career trajectory; improved substantially from 2010 season to 2011 season
• Has also been used at offensive guard in the past (NFL future is on the defense)

Negatives:

• Recognition skills need improvement; can be fooled and caught out of position
• Could do a better job of protecting his legs from cut blocks (also has a top-heavy build)
• Ends up on the ground a little bit too often for a player with his stature and power
• Did not play very much under tackle at Utah; almost exclusively worked the nose
• Not very productive in terms of making plays in the backfield (only two career sacks)
• Needs to play with more discipline/awareness and maintain gap responsibility

Grade: First round

DT Bennie Logan, Louisiana St.* (6’3”, 290, 4.90)

Positives:

• Has the size and bulk to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 or defensive end in a 3-4
• Very long arms allow him to keep blockers at bay in order to keep himself clean
• Effective at getting low and using power in order to shoot gaps on slant patterns
• Active hand use prevents offensive linemen from locking on and controlling him
• Keeps his feet moving and is difficult to drive backwards against the run
• Uses leverage in order to collapse run gaps and is already a strong run defender
• Rangy player who will pursue running backs and receivers in the passing game
• Does a nice job of getting his hands up in an attempt to swat down passes
• Should be able to contribute on special teams; blocked one kick in 2011
• Frame and athleticism suggest he has yet to reach his full potential at this point

Negatives:

• Very raw player whose draft status is largely based off of his projected improvement
• Came off the field when LSU used three-man fronts (Mingo, Brockers, Montgomery)
• Conditioning could be an issue; was often rotated out in favor of Josh Downs
• Doesn’t have a ton of counter moves when his initial burst is ineffective
• Often gets caught off balance when trying to change directions in pursuit
• Needs to do a better job of protecting his legs from cut blocks
• Has only one year of production at this point (57 tackles, 6.5 TFL, three sacks in 2011)

Grade: First or second round

DT Kawann Short, Purdue (6’3”, 310, 5.30)

Positives:

• Has enough height to play defensive end in the NFL in 3-4 fronts
• Excellent bulk and takes up quite a bit of space on the field
• Effective anchor and is difficult to move even when double-teamed
• Strong enough to push aside defenders in order to make the play
• Uses a violent spin move effectively in order to get past blockers
• Played all four defensive line positions at Purdue: LE, UT, NT, RE
• Solid tackling fundamentals; effectively wraps up and anchors
• Diligent about getting his hands up in the air in order to contest passes
• Draws double teams fairly regularly due to his sheer mass
• Diagnoses plays well and doesn’t get caught out of position very often
• Was named a defensive co-captain at Purdue last season

Negatives:

• Has a ton of bulk but looks like he may be out-of-shape and could lose weight
• Does not possess elite burst off of the line of scrimmage to penetrate
• Must become more effective at disengaging from blockers (more active hand use)
• Not athletic enough to play all over the defense in the NFL like he did in college
• Needs to play with a more consistent motor (conditioning could affect effort)
• Occasionally gives up on the play when he is double-teamed
• Feet often go dead on contact and treads too much water rather than working

Grade: First or second round

NT Johnathon Hankins, Ohio St.* (6’3”, 335, 5.30)

Positives:

• Height and bulk are both ideal for a nose tackle prospect in either front
• Has played nose tackle and even right defensive end at Ohio State
• Stout run defender who is not driven off of the ball very often by blockers
• Fairly strong bull rush with an initial punch which can reset the line of scrimmage
• Has more range in pursuit than expected for a player of his size
• Effective wrap and anchor tackler who generally makes the tackle when he can
• Plays with an active motor and will keep fighting to make a play
• Has made strides each season at Ohio State and career trajectory looks promising
• Still has a lot of room for improvement as well as no known character concerns

Negatives:

• Attempts to maintain outside gaps too often rather than clogging the middle
• Should draw far more double teams than he has to this point; can be single-blocked
• Does not have an elite burst off of the line and won’t offer much as a rusher
• Balance must be improved; occasionally bends at the waist or lunges
• Does not have the type of impact on a game that would be expected given his size
• Must develop additional rush moves; relies almost exclusively on the bull rush
• Does not have much experience playing as the under tackle in Ohio State’s defense
• Will likely be a two-down player in the NFL; sacks are frequently a result of coverage

Grade: Second round

Upcoming Reports:

Dominique Easley, Florida* (6’2”, 280, 4.85)
Kwame Geathers, Georgia* (6’5”, 350, 5.35)
Johnathan Jenkins, Georgia (6’3”, 350, 5.45)
Cassius Marsh, UCLA* (6’3”, 290, 4.90)
Jessie Williams, Alabama (6’3”, 320, 5.30)
Sylvester Williams, North Carolina (6’3”, 320, 5.20)