Five Techniques in 2013

[Direckshun]

From Draft Tek:

The Defensive Ends in a 3-4 line heads up over the offensive tackles. Their responsibilities include:

1) Outside containment on off-tackle or end sweep running plays
2) Provide inside pass rush, utilizing bull-rushing, outside speed rushing techniques

This diagram shows the DE in a standard 3-4 alignment. One prospect may be selected over another based on the following factors:

A. Prevailing defensive philosophy: In a "read and react" 3-4, the defensive line controls the offensive line to allow the LBs to flow to the ball. In "attack and penetrate", the defensive line takes more of a 1-gap approach and the LBs have more gap responsibilities.

B. Opponent's offensive philosophy: In facing off tackle plays or sweeps, the Defensive Ends have responsibility with support from the outside linebackers. Responsibilities in the passing game are 1) collapsing the pocket, 2) providing an interior pass rush and 3) increasing length (hands and arms up) to limit the opposing QB's vision of passing lanes.

In a 3-4, this is a tough position to fill. You usually want somebody who is tall, hovering somewhere near 300 lbs, strong as a bull but can still move better than most defensive tackles, the longer his arms the better.

Pretty good fit:

Sheldon Richardson, Missouri: 6'2", 294 lbs, 5.0 40, 30 bench, 32" vertical, 34" arms
Sylvester Williams, North Carolina: 6'3", 313 lbs, 5.0 40, 27 bench, 26.5" vertical, 33+" arms
Joe Kruger, Utah: 6'6", 269 lbs, 4.8 40, 24 bench, 34" vertical, 34" arms
Damion Square, Alabama: 6'2", 293 lbs, DNP at any drills at Combine, 32+" arms
William Campbell, Mighigan: 6'5", 308 lbs, not invited to Combine
Spencer Nealy, Texas A&M: 6'5", 277 lbs, not invited to Combine

Prototypical fit:

Sharrif Floyd, Florida: 6'3", 297 lbs, 4.9 40, no bench yet, 30" vertical, 31+" arms
Margus Hunt, SMU: 6'8", 277 lbs, 4.6 40, 38 bench, 34" vertical, 33+" arms
Datone Jones, UCLA: 6'4", 283 lbs, 4.8 40, 29 bench, 32" vertical, 32+" arms
William Gholston, Michigan State: 6'6", 281 lbs, 4.9 40, 23 bench, 28" vertical, 34" arms.
Quentin Dial, Alabama: 6'5", 318 lbs, DNP at any drills at Combine, 34+" arms
Nick Williams, Samford: 6'4", 309 lbs, 4.9 40, 28 bench, 33" vertical, 34+" arms
Malliciah Goodman, Clemson: 6'4", 276 lbs, 4.87 40, 26 bench, 31.5" vertical, 36+" arms

I'll add sacks and tackles for loss if I feel like it.

[Direckshun]

By comparison:

Tyson Jackson

6'4"
295 lbs
5.0 40
20 bench
28" vertical
33" arms

Good lord, Tyson. C'mon.

[RealSNR]

It sounds like everybody wants 3-4 DEs these days to create havoc in the backfield and make big plays. The 1-gap helps that, but I don't know if there are really any players in this draft who can make that kind of difference. Sheldon Richardson seems to have the most potential, but I'm not rolling the dice on any more defensive linemen with bad attitudes.

[Direckshun]

Pretty hilarious how inferior Tyson Jackson's physical ability is compared to just about everybody in this draft.

[Direckshun]

Malliciah Goodman is a freak, by the way.

Good size, real good speed, benched 28 with ridiculously long arms.

[Fat Elvis]

Where do you see Ezekiel Ansah? Do you think he could work as a 5 tech? If you have Margus Hunt in there, you certainly need Ansah....

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Where do you see Ezekiel Ansah? Do you think he could work as a 5 tech? If you have Margus Hunt in there, you certainly need Ansah....

Ansah would be a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB. It would be a waste of his talent to put him at the 3-4 DE position.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Where do you see Ezekiel Ansah? Do you think he could work as a 5 tech? If you have Margus Hunt in there, you certainly need Ansah....

Yeah he's probably more of a 4-3 DE. He'd be interesting as a 3-4 OLB.

But he's not a 3-4 DE, he's legitimately undersized. Hunt is only slightly undersized (277 lbs to Ansah's 271) but he is amazingly strong (38 reps to Ansah's 21). Plus their skill sets are different. Hunt has a history along the interior line, Ansah's an end.

Gotta love Ansah's arm length (35+"). I think he's a safe pick for passrusher.

[The Franchise]

Did anyone else read the report that Ansah didn't even ****ing train for the combine? He was to busy taking classes at BYU. That performance at the combine was reportedly just him working out as normal.

****.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Did anyone else read the report that Ansah didn't even ****ing train for the combine? He was to busy taking classes at BYU. That performance at the combine was reportedly just him working out as normal.

****.

Called up the homies and I'm askin y'all
Which court, are y'all playin basketball?
Get me on the court and I'm trouble
Last week ****ed around and got a triple double
Freaking brothers everyway like M.J.
I can't believe, today was a good day

[Sfeihc]

Ziggy is a guy I've had to really check out since the Senior Bowl. Out of nowhere to top pass rusher in the draft!?!

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Yeah he's probably more of a 4-3 DE. He'd be interesting as a 3-4 OLB.

But he's not a 3-4 DE, he's legitimately undersized. Hunt is only slightly undersized (277 lbs to Ansah's 271) but he is amazingly strong (38 reps to Ansah's 21). Plus their skill sets are different. Hunt has a history along the interior line, Ansah's an end.

Gotta love Ansah's arm length (35+"). I think he's a safe pick for passrusher.

Ansah was 274 and could easily put on a little weight. He also played all over the line at BYU--including nose tackle, if you can believe that.

He has the strength to hold up at the line and is apparently good against the run.

I think he is a freak, and when paired with Tamba and Houston creates nighmarish (for other teams) possibilities if we really switch to an attacking D.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Sfeihc

Ziggy is a guy I've had to really check out since the Senior Bowl. Out of nowhere to top pass rusher in the draft!?!

That's just this year, man.

Nobody elite, and all the really good prospects are all about the same talent.

If you move a player's rating up a hair, they end up leapfrogging like 15 other prospects because everybody's so freaking close.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Did anyone else read the report that Ansah didn't even ****ing train for the combine? He was to busy taking classes at BYU. That performance at the combine was reportedly just him working out as normal.

****.

You've got to be kidding me.

That can't be real.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Ansah was 274 and could easily put on a little weight. He also played all over the line at BYU--including nose tackle, if you can believe that.

He has the strength to hold up at the line and is apparently good against the run.

I think he is a freak, and when paired with Tamba and Houston creates nighmarish (for other teams) possibilities if we really switch to an attacking D.

Everybody thinks players can just put on weight:



Ziggy, for the most part, is maxed. He can get stronger, but this is his bodytype. Getting more fit will probably only lower his weight, but not by much. His body is NFL ready.

He's going to be fine as a 4-3 DE where he only has to worry about attacking tackles from the edge.

Attacking multiple lineman from the inside, however, is out of his weight class. And as Pest said earlier, a total waste of his talents. You want this guy in space on the edge, not in the slop.