2011 NFL Draft Preview : 3-4 Defensive Ends

Anymore the NFL is split between teams that run 4-3 defenses and teams that run 3-4 defenses.  Each defense has its own strengths and weaknesses and requires unique personnel.  A standout defensive end in 4-3 will not necessarily be a star 3-4 defensive end.  The 3-4 requires defensive ends to be slightly larger and better against the run than their 4-3 counterparts.

3-4 Defensive Ends

1. Marcell Dareus
3-4 defenses are hard to find in the collegiate ranks.  3-4 defenses that are run successfully are even more difficult to find.  But Nick Saban has managed to work wonders with his 3-4 defense during his short tenure at Alabama.  And Dareus has been integral to that success for the past two seasons.  His 6'3", 303 lbs frame creates incredible power which he uses to collapse the edge of the offensive line.  Dareus's strengths pertain to run stopping but he also manages to rush the passer with success.  Using quick moves and burst, Dareus closes on opposing quarterbacks in a relentless style.  While his stamina could be improved, Dareus will definitely find himself in top 10 contention for the upcoming draft.

(First he crushes Colt McCoy, and now he smashes Kirk Cousins.  Who's next?  Peyton Manning?)

2. Cameron Heyward
As the son of NFL great, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, great things are expected from this former Ohio State defensive lineman.  The younger Heyward has been incredibly versatile throughout his collegiate career playing every position on the defensive line rotating between end and tackle on a regular basis.  Blessed with fantastic measurables at 6'5" and 288 lbs, Heyward explodes off the ball and violently engages opposing lineman quickly forcing them on their heels.  Aggressive hand moves and solid leverage help him shed blocks to crush opposing rushing attacks and relentlessly pursue quarterbacks.  Heyward has faced issues with inconsistency throughout his career but his incredible upside makes him a bona fide first round prospect.

(Heyward is not just a run stopper or a pass rusher.  He can play zone coverage too... or at least as well as B.J. Raji.)

3. J.J. Watt
In Wisconsin, Watt is synonymous with monster.  Playing defensive tackle his sophomore year and defensive end his junior year, Watt has proven his versatility across the defensive front.  Standing 6'6" and weighing 279 lbs, Watt is lethal combination of size and speed.  He is strong against the run and the pass using his quick burst to blow past offensive lineman and powerful hands to get unblocked.  Even when Watt doesn't reach his target, he can still disrupt plays by knocking down passes or funneling runs toward his teammates.  Watt does have issues when pursuing ball carriers in space due to lack of lateral movement but his non-stop motor guarantees his selection in the first round.

(J.J. Watt's constant pressure in the Ohio State backfield was integral to the Wisconsin's upset of the AP #1 team.) 

2011 NFL Draft Preview : 4-3 Defensive Tackles

Though defensive ends tend to make the highlight reels with numerous sacks and creating chaos in opposing backfields, they cannot perform to their duties correctly without those two big guys in the middle of the line, the defensive tackles.

4-3 Defensive Tackles

1. Nick Fairley
Despite only having one collegiate season of meaningful playing time, Fairley certainly made the most of his opportunities this year.  At 6'5" and 299 lbs, he has fantastic size to go with his power and explosiveness.  While he is effective against the run, what sets Fairley apart from most defensive tackles is his pass rushing ability.  Fairley uses a wide variety of moves to blow past opposing offensive lineman into the backfield.  While there are character concerns because of numerous foul penalties committed during his junior season, expect Fairley to be drafted within the top 10.

 (Fairley just has a knack for blowing up plays.  Even against the vaunted Oregon Ducks offense.)

2. Stephen Paea
For only playing one year of high school football, Paea certainly caught up on the fundamentals of football quickly during his time at Oregon State.  He is solid at 6'1" and 311 lbs and uses his unreal strength to occupy the interior offensive line.  Paea has retained incredible toughness and excellent stamina from his kick-boxing days.  He is not afraid to lay to lumber on opposing ball carriers and plays to the whistle on every down.  Though Paea is lacking in the pass rushing department, you will be hard pressed to find a harder working football player than his young defensive tackle and you can be sure that Paea will work to improve his pass rushing skills.

(Did I forget to mention that Stephen Paea was STRONG!)

3. Corey Liuget
Playing in the incredibly physical Big Ten has transformed Liuget into a force to be reckoned with on the interior of the defensive line.  He has great explosion and speed despite his 6'3", 300 lbs frame and combines these talents with great strength to disrupt the opposing offense.  Liuget is equally effective against both the run and the pass as he collapses running lanes and pushes the pocket easily.  For a defensive tackle, Liuget has fantastic tackling technique and is rarely caught out of position.  He could work on his fluidity between pass rushing moves but overall Liuget has the potential to be a nightmarish defensive tackle at the next level.

(Yet another fantastic defensive lineman who gave Terrelle Pryor a difficult day.)

2011 NFL Draft Preview : 4-3 Defensive Ends

The Super Bowl is now over which means it's time for the 2011 NFL Draft.  This year's class is loaded with defensive talent, particularly at the defensive end position.  Let's delve into the top 3 prospects whose objective is to whip around the corner into the backfield.

4-3 Defensive Ends

1. Da'Quan Bowers
At 6'4" and 280 lbs, Bowers is a nightmare coming off the edge.  He has incredible speed for his size and a knack for shedding blocks with an arsenal of moves.  Leading FBS pass rushers with 15.5 sacks, Bowers has proven his ability to get into the opposing backfield.  In addition to his tenacity a pass rusher, Bowers's size allows him to stuff the run effectively by clogging up running lanes.  His best fit is as 4-3 defensive end with his flexibility against both the run and the pass.

(See how quickly Bowers comes around the edge.  I'm glad I'm not Russell Wilson.)

2. Robert Quinn
Though he didn't play a single down of the 2010 season, Quinn has still manages to find himself in first round conversation based on his body of work in previous years.  Standing 6'5" and weighing in at 270 lbs, Quinn has the size to collapse the edge of the offensive line.  He has also has surprising quickness for an end of his size based on his 19.0 tackles for a loss and 11.0 sacks during the 2009 season.  Quinn best fits as a 4-3 defensive end but has the versatility to stand up as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

(Quinn is so incredibly physical and his motor never stops running.  ACC quarterbacks must have been rejoicing at his suspension this past season.)

3. Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan is not the most physically gifted defensive end prospect in recent years but he makes up for those deficiencies with his incredible work ethic.  Despite playing on a less than stellar 4-8 Purdue team, Kerrigan still managed to led the Big Ten with 12.0 sacks and led the nation with 26.0 tackles for a loss.  His 6'4", 263 lbs frame is not the most impressive but Kerrigan's array of pass rushing moves and consistent tackling technique will lead some team to overlook his physical aspects.  Kerrigan projects best as a 4-3 defensive end because of his physicality against the run and his non-stop motor when chasing down the passer.

(Scouts need to pay attention to this video carefully because it is no small task to bring down Terrelle Pryor given the quarterback's incredible size, speed, and balance.  Yet Kerrigan accomplishes this so effortlessly.)

Super Bowl XVL Packers Vs. Steelers: The Receivers

To have a truly balanced offense, every team need quick receivers with excellent hands to keep the opposing defense off balance.  Both the Packers and Steelers feature great receiving corps that will be key to both teams success.

Receivers:
Packers:  Because of Ryan Grant's season-ending injury at early on, the Packers receivers have to had to step up in order to take pressure off the meager running game.  Greg Jennings has led the team with 1265 yards on 76 receptions and has accounted for 12 touchdowns.  Supporting him are Donald Driver with 51 receptions for 565 yards, James Jones with 50 receptions for 679 yards, and Jordy Nelson 45 receptions for 582 yards.  Their consistency from game to game has allowed Aaron Rodgers to pass for incredible numbers and these connections have been integral to the Packers path to the Super Bowl.

Steelers:  Unlike the Packers West Coast passing philosophy, the Steelers employ a vertical passing game to stretches the opposing secondary north to south.  Speedster Mike Wallace has accounted for 60 receptions for 1257 yards and 10 touchdowns.  In combination with precise route runner Hines Wards who has 59 receptions for 755 yards and durable tight end Heath Miller who has 42 receptions for 512 yards, the Steelers passing attack has grown in leaps and bounds and will be a force to reckon with in tonight's Super Bowl.

Edge:  A close contest because of the productivity of each team.  However, the Packers receiving corps can be considered the best in the league because of what they've managed to do without any real rushing attack.  In conjunction with Rodgers accurate arm, the Packers receivers can reel in pass after pass and pick up solid, consistent yardage all game long.  The Steelers philosophy is different as Roethlisberger's cannon manages to target Wallace on deep routes for touchdowns.  But in the end, the Packers variety of options allows them to attack a defense through the air in multiple ways.  

Super Bowl XVL Packers Vs. Steelers: The Running Backs

Even though the quarterback is the most important player on the field, other positions also greatly contribute to a team's performance.  Running backs may not be as central to the NFL game as they once were, these teams are both famous for being hard-nosed running teams so expect the running game to be key to their success.

Running Backs:
Packers:  The Packers have been using a running back committee ever since Ryan Grant was injured in the pre-season.  Brandon Jackson led the team in rushing yards during the regular season with 703 yards on 190 carries and 3 rushing touchdowns.  But rookie James Starks had burst onto the scene in the post-season with 263 yards on 70 carries and is beginning to become a reliable member of the prolific Packers offense using his combination of speed and power.

Steelers:  Rashard Mendenhall fits the Steelers ideal of a tough downhill runner perfectly.  He has proven time and time again that his stocky, solid frame can gain critical yards even behind a mediocre offensive line.  With 1273 yards on 324 carries and 13 rushing touchdowns, Mendenhall is certainly one of the most consistent runner in the NFL right now.  His special combination of skills of battering ram strength and quick feet make him very difficult to stop.

Edge:  This isn't even close.  The Steelers have a monster in Mendenhall.  He is physical and can run over defenders yet possesses that second gear to blow through the secondary on huge runs.  Mendenhall is one of the impact players of the Steelers offense and if he fails to have a good day running the football, you can expect the Steelers to struggle without his ability to convert in short to middle yardage situations.  The Packers running backs have struggled all year and though Starks shows promise, he still has a lot to learn.  Starks is still a rookie and will be affected by the big stage of the Super Bowl.  Look for Mendenhall to put on consistently gain tough yards between the tackles wearing down the Packers defense.

  

Super Bowl XLV Packers Vs. Steelers: The Quarterbacks

This Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet on the biggest stage as they clash in this year's Super Bowl.  Both teams are known for being traditional powerhouses with many conference and NFL championships.  While the Packers and Steelers are famous for hard-nosed defenses that are unrelenting, today we will analyze their offensive ringleaders, the quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks:
Packers:  Aaron Rodgers is on fire right now.  This past season, Rodgers passed 3,922 yards on 312 completions for 475 attempts with 28 touchdowns.  And he has done all of this without a consistent running game.  Rodgers is hyper accurate and rarely forces the ball into coverage unlike his predecessor, Brett Favre.  Rodgers also has the ability to scramble out of the pocket in a tight situation giving the Packers yet another weapon in their offensive arsenal.

Steelers:  Ben Roethlisberger is a physical specimen to behold.  At 6'5" and 241 lbs, Roethlisberger is nearly impossible to bring down in the backfield.  Despite his incredible size, he has an uncanny ability to move outside of the pocket and make plays with his feet.  Coupled with the rocket launcher on his right shoulder, Roethlisberger is a headache for defenses to plan for because he can hurt you in so many different ways.

Edge:  Though Roethlisberger is a monster in and outside of the pocket, his best performances hinge upon the success of his team's running game.  Conversely, Rodgers has been able to hang with the best quarterbacks in the league without any real running game to speak of.  Roethlisberger does have a stronger arm but he can be inaccurate at inopportune times in the game.  Rodgers however, rarely throws the ball off target and places the ball only where his receiver can grab it.   Both quarterbacks are equally good at scrambling and have excellent mobility down the field.  And while Roethlisberger has been to the Super Bowl before, Rodgers wins this battle because of how vital he is to his team's success and how consistent he is week in and week out.