FA Discussion from the National Football Post (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

Michael Lombardi, who has NFL front office experience has been sharing his thoughts on the upcoming free agent season. He added his first post on this year's crop of defenders today -- defensive linemen.

I'll add any upcoming defensive player position posts to this thread.

There's some interesting takes on a number of defensive tackles in the linked post, but also added some food for thought on skills to look for in a lineman.

DEFENSIVE LINE REMINDERS

1. Must be able to play with power and explosion. We want one- step explosive players.

2. Plays the game with intensity. Most sacks in the NFL are done with effort and intensity, not always speed and skill.

3. Can the rusher turn the corner and collapse the pocket? Can he stay in balance as he turns?

4. Great rush ends can make themselves small around the corner, and can stay in balance and not pushed by.

5. Does the rusher force the ball to come out quick? More important than sacks.

6. What is the turnover/takeaway ratio on the defensive team with a great rusher?

7. Take time to know whom the tackle is that the rush end is playing against. What year is that player? Trev Alberts looked bad rushing against Jon Ogden when Jon Ogden was a sophomore.

8. Can the defensive line make tackles? Is he strong in his hands? Can he get the QB on the ground? Does he miss tackles?

9. Dome players play better at home-watch road games for dome defensive linemen.

10. Players that get sacks in college find a way to get sacks in this league. Who do they get them on? When do they happen?

11. How many plays can the defensive lineman play in a row? Does his conditioning affect his play? Look at 4th quarter production as opposed to 1st quarter.

12. What role does the player have in the last 4 minutes of each half? What production does he have at that time?

13. How many times is he on the ground in a game? Good players are RARELY on the ground. Does he tire from getting up off the ground?

14. Most DE/DT are moved to that spot from another position. What was his HS position?

15. Great rushers will need to beat tackles in the NFL. Who he gets the sacks against is critical. No back will be blocking a good rusher in the NFL.

16. Does he have a feel for rushing? Defense is about instincts.

17. Surge to ball carrier and surge to passer are important to determine. Who has the short area burst?

18. Level of competition is very important when grading defensive linemen. Must watch the right games.

19. Junior college defensive linemen without a redshirt year will take some time to develop in the NFL. Do not kill them too soon, if they have size and speed, keep them alive.

20. Can he tackle? Getting to the passer is one thing, getting them on the ground is another. Must be able to tackle from awkward positions.

21. Football has to be important to this position—cannot have off the field issues and marginally love the game. Defensive linemen have problems off the field, but they have to love the game.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Defensive ends today.

Looking forward to the breakdown of the LB group this week.

 

[Tick]

Lombardi's a great read - he just sees things from an insider's perspective that tells a lot more than a typical sportswriter piece.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Linebackers.

This one may be a two part piece, too. There's a few outside backers missing from his discussion.

LINEBACKER REMINDERS

1. Define the role of the player on every down. He must be able to play three downs to get drafted early.

2. How many times a game does he play off the block to make a play? Does he always have free access?

3. Can he tackle well? How many missed tackles? Where do they happen, in the box or in space?

4. Can he tackle with a defender on him? In this league, he’ll have to.

5. Must have a role in the kicking game. Did he do it in college? Where would be play in the kicking game for us?

6. Instincts and balance are the key factors here.

7. Toughness to play with pain and practice with pain. Does he miss time?

8. Zone drops are dead in the NFL. What can this player do in coverage? Who can he cover? When have you seen him cover?

9. Is he a good rusher? Is he a fourth rusher or fifth rusher? Does he know where to fit in the rush coming from the middle or the edges?

10. Smaller players must be durable.

11. Must have explosive quickness to burst to tackle and make plays. Does he make plays on third down?

12. Can he cover for 20 yards in man-to-man down the field? Can he be in balance while running full speed?

13. Mike backers must be leaders and have the ability to make plays outside the box. How many tackles does he make outside the 9/7 run area?

14. Fat Mike backers might become defensive linemen. Keith Traylor was a former Mike. Do they have the frame to get bigger?

15. Sam backers must be able to play in the bubble. Not many teams play all under any more. He must be able to read the keys from a bubble.

16. Any big safety who might gain weight and can run would be a consideration to be converted to Will backer. Must be able to show tackling and toughness to make the conversion.

17. We need playing speed, and he must tackle well. Ask yourself this: Can this player tackle Darren Sproles in space?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Outside backers