Steelers can find quality projects in the middle rounds
(This is the first of a 10-part series on the NFL Draft. Today无毛视频檚 story highlights the edge rushers.)
Reporters were up close at the NFL Combine when the greatest of all the Greek heroes, Hercules Mata无毛视频檃fa, took the podium.
无毛视频淚 was the biggest baby in my family,无毛视频� explained Hercules Mata无毛视频檃fa. 无毛视频淪o it was between Anthony and Hercules, and my mom chose Hercules. I无毛视频檓 glad she did.无毛视频�
Isn无毛视频檛 the mortal son of Zeus a lot to live up to?
无毛视频淵ou got it,无毛视频� he said with a serious look. 无毛视频淲ith a name like this, you无毛视频檝e got to live up to it.无毛视频�
Mata无毛视频檃fa has. Last season at Washington State he was a consensus All-America, PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year, and what he called his greatest honor, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
Mata无毛视频檃fa had 10陆 sacks last season and 22陆 tackles for loss 无毛视频� as a defensive tackle.
He played both the 1-technique (shade nose) and the 3-technique (playmaking tackle), or more specifically 无毛视频渢he boundary defensive tackle inside the rush linebacker,无毛视频� where he was told to disrupt the pocket with his quick first step.
无毛视频淢y get-off is the fastest in this draft,无毛视频� he said boldly and confidently from his Combine podium. But at 6-2录, 254 pounds, Mata无毛视频檃fa无毛视频檚 too small to play full-time on an NFL interior. At least the Steelers think that way. They see Mata无毛视频檃fa as an edge rusher and sent Joey Porter to meet with him.
Can Mata无毛视频檃fa play on the edge? And off the ball?
无毛视频淚 have experience playing D-end in college,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淐ircumstances made me play D-tackle at the end of (2016) season. I like playing either position. I just love getting after the football, getting after the quarterback. It doesn无毛视频檛 matter where I无毛视频檓 at.无毛视频�
But, his Combine numbers have tempered enthusiasm. Small at 6-2录, 254 with 31陆-inch arms, Mata无毛视频檃fa ran well enough at 4.76 in the 40, with a strong 26 bench reps, but he had less-than-explosive jumps (31陆 vertical/9-0 broad).
He无毛视频檚 too small to play three downs on the line and he无毛视频檚 a major projection at any position 无毛视频� even in the Steelers无毛视频� 3-4 base 无毛视频� that requires him to drop into coverage.
It无毛视频檚 similar to the problem Tedy Bruschi faced when he came out of Arizona in 1996 as a defensive tackle/end. He projected to linebacker because of his size (6-0 5/8, 250), and Bruschi did run a 4.68 40 with an oustanding 42-inch vertical jump. He was projected for the fifth-sixth rounds, but was chosen in the third round (86th overall) by the New England Patriots and became one of the NFL无毛视频檚 great off-the-ball linebackers.
Bruschi is the optimistic comparison for Mata无毛视频檃fa. And the Steelers just need depth at outside linebacker and have the patience to draft a project.
There are a handful of other productive edge-rushers who无毛视频檝e been knocked for one reason or other and could present great mid-round value to the Steelers:
n Obo Okoronkwo (6-1 5/8, 253) 无毛视频� The Oklahoma OLB is a personal favorite. Obo went on a screed at the Combine about how his lack of height wouldn无毛视频檛 be a problem because of his length (33戮-inch arms), bend (6.84 3-cone time) and motor (8 sacks, 17陆 tackles-for-loss).
n Kemoko Turay (6-4, 5/8, 253) 无毛视频� A defensive end, Turay displays exceptional ankle flexion, which Mike Tomlin said last season is becoming one of his favorite talent indicators. Turay has been set back by injuries and poor coaching at Rutgers, but emerged as an exceptional prospect after showing terrific bend at the Senior Bowl and running a 4.65 40 at the Combine.
n Uchenna Nwosu (6-2 1/8, 251) 无毛视频� The USC OLB looks for all the world like a future captain who has the instincts to play inside. He agreed with that assessment at the Combine, but he无毛视频檚 being called a fifth and sixth-rounder by top analysts. Those close to him believe he has the heart of a first-rounder, and Pro Football Focus called Nwosu无毛视频檚 production the second best among Power 5 edge prospects with 61 QB pressures last season.
n Shaquem Griffin (6-录, 223) 无毛视频� Lost a hand at the age of four, this outside linebacker overcame his disability with sheer will. It无毛视频檚 as evident on the field as his 4.38 40 speed, the best time by a linebacker in Combine history. Griffin无毛视频檚 expected to have trouble getting off blocks and intercepting passes in the NFL, but for the Steelers 无毛视频� a team that无毛视频檚 had three special-teams captain types in for free-agent visits to replace Rob Golden 无毛视频� Griffin would fit the bill as a core special-teamer and third-down rush specialist. Griffin would also become a locker-room inspiration with the enthusiasm he displays in spite of his handicap.
n Marquis Haynes (6-2 3/8, 235) 无毛视频� A la Mike Hilton, Haynes was given the Chucky Mullins jersey number 38 at Ole Miss last year. Haynes finished his five-year career with 32 sacks and 47录 tackles-for-loss to demolish school records. He无毛视频檚 strictly a pass-rusher, and will turn 25 this December, so his value无毛视频檚 lower than his quick-twitch rush skills would suggest.
MY TAKE
If it were up to me 无毛视频� rash and impatient analyst 无毛视频� I might draft Okoronkwo in the first round. But, that appears to be an overvalue. He might be available in the second, and if not they should look for one in that round or the next to develop behind Bud Dupree, on whom the team has an expensive decision upcoming.
VALUE BOARD
Second Round 无毛视频� Obo Okoronkwo, Oklahoma; Kemoko Turay, Rutgers.
Third Round 无毛视频� Uchenna Nwosu, USC; Shaquem Griffin, Central Florida; Hercules Mata无毛视频檃fa, Washington State.
Fourth Round 无毛视频� Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss.
Fifth Round 无毛视频� Kylie Fitts, Utah; Jeff Holland, Auburn.