FanPost

How the Packers Draft Board Should Look: DT

With the crushing blow delivered on Sunday, it’s hard to look forward to the offseason or next season. We have suffered an inveterate, perpetual pain that can only be alleviated by a Super Bowl L win. With that in mind, we must charge forward into the offseason and focus on making this already great team even better. There are two key positions that need our attention: defensive tackle and inside linebacker. I’m not sure that anyone thinks Letroy Guion or Josh Boyd is the answer at DT, and B.J. Raji may be looking for a new career after tearing his biceps this offseason, following a terrible 2013 campaign. In a 3-4 defense, the defensive tackle is of utmost importance, and the Packers currently lack a true starter.

Fortunately, the draft has 7 potential options for DT in the first two or three rounds. I have watched game film on each of these seven and have ranked them according to the way I believe they should be ranked on the Packers draft board:

1. Eddie Goldman, Florida State

2. Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma

3. Danny Shelton, Washington

4. Malcom Brown, Texas

5. Michael Bennett, Ohio State

6. Carl Davis, Iowa

7. Adolphus Washington, Ohio State

I have ranked them based on their performances as well as their fit within the Green Bay defense, which is a base 3-4. In our defense, the defensive line two-gaps the majority of the time, which means that they each are responsible for two gaps in the offensive line and are generally expected to get extension on the offensive lineman across from them, so they can move to either gap to stop the run. What has really been lacking on the Packers defensive line has been a pass rush in the middle. We have lacked that push to collapse the pocket since the golden years of Raji and Pickett. Some of these players can provide the pass rush and the run support that can take the Packers defense to the next level. Without further ado, I will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each of these seven players in order, with some GIFs to demonstrate. But first, one caveat: I only had a certain amount of film available, so some players will have more GIFs than others. That has nothing to do with how I rank them; it’s just because I had less available to watch.

Eddie Goldman, Florida State

Watching tape on Eddie Goldman, it’s tough to find a play where he doesn’t do his job. He doesn’t take plays off, and he refuses to be beaten, even by double teams. He has prototypical size at 6’4" and 320 lbs., and he has room to grow without losing mobility. He has a great first step, quick and low, which allows him to get leverage and penetration. He can two-gap and shoot gaps and has a high motor. The first GIF shows Goldman (#90) shooting the gap and chasing down the ball carrier.

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In the second GIF, he shows his incredible lower body strength as he takes on a double team and makes the play on a goal line stand.

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In the next two GIFs, Goldman shows his ability to do what is absolutely necessary in the Green Bay defense: two gap. In the first GIF, he two gaps down the line and nearly makes the play at the other side of the field, showing off his high motor. In the second GIF, he dominates the offensive lineman at the point of attack and makes the play.

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Finally, in the last GIF, Goldman shows off his pass rush ability, which has been lacking in the middle of Green Bay’s defense. Goldman can do it all and would make a difference on day one. He would be a great addition to the Packers and could possibly be available at pick 30. If he is available when we are on the clock, I hope Ted Thompson doesn’t hesitate. I hope he pulls the trigger on this kid, who not only fits the Packers scheme, but also has the ability to be a dominant force in the league for years.

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Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma

My first impression of Jordan Phillips was "wow, he’s huge," and he truly is, compared to most nose tackles. Phillips stands at a lean 6’5" and 334 lbs. and has room to grow. My second impression of Jordan Phillips was "wow, he has the weirdest, most inefficient stance in football." Phillips's stance is much like a frog: he uses a four-point and has approximately 95% of his weight on his feet. Because of this, his first step leads him to stand straight up. For most players, this would be a huge issue, but Phillips is so strong and so athletic that he can still two-gap with great success. He is a raw talent and clearly needs coaching. Perhaps, he is uncoachable, and that will surface during interviews. But, looking at game film, this kid has the potential to be something great, and he probably has the highest ceiling of any defensive tackle in the draft. The biggest concern I see is effort, which is certainly inconsistent. Some plays he chases down running backs and receivers, and, on other plays, he gives up after a single power move on the pass rush.

In these GIFs, Phillips gets a great push in the pass rush, which, again, has been lacking on the Packers line. This film is from the TCU game.

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In this GIF, Phillips shows off his two-gap, run-stopping ability.

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I was also able to see some film from the Texas Tech game. I expected Phillips to be more dominant in this game because he was facing a lesser opponent. He didn’t disappoint. In the first two GIFs, you will again see Phillips’s bull rush power.

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In this GIF, Phillips shows off his two-gap ability and one of the reasons I have him ranked over Danny Shelton: he keeps his feet moving at the point of contact.

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I won’t explain the GIFs from the Tennessee game. Just enjoy.

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Danny Shelton, Washington

Shelton is by far the most-hyped defensive tackle in the draft, and what's not to like? The guy is big: 6'2" 340 lbs. He makes tackles: 92 in the 2014 season. And, he gets to the quarterback: nine sacks in 2014. Looking further into his stat line, you begin to see some issues. Most of the teams Shelton succeeded against were subpar. Thirty-seven of his tackles and seven of his sacks occurred in three games: Hawaii, Eastern Washington, and Georgia State. I don't want to take away those stats. They are incredible for a defensive tackle, but they have to be discounted because Shelton isn't going to be playing against very many Hawaii-, Eastern Washington-, or Georgia State-caliber lineman in the NFL. Still, Shelton is an anchor in the middle of the line and has great quickness. The issues in his game are his pad level, which is way too high, and his dead feet. By dead feet, I mean that he often stops moving his feet when he contacts linemen and ball carriers, and this causes him to let blockers into his body instead of getting extension on them. This is definitely a coachable issue. I have him ranked third because I believe his ceiling is already close to being met. He already has awareness in the run game. He can't possibly get any bigger without losing mobility. And, despite that, I think Goldman is more NFL-ready. Shelton is more NFL-ready than Phillips, but Phillips has a higher ceiling, and I think he will move up draft boards in the coming months, especially after the combine.

This GIF shows Shelton's work ethic--high motor--that so many analysts are talking about.

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Next, you will see him working down the line, stringing out the play, to get to the ball carrier.

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This is the last GIF from the Hawaii game, where you will see him shed the block and make a good tackle.

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I am also including a link to a YouTube video of him playing Georgia State. At :33, you will see him get driven back two yards by a guard. At 1:10, he fights through a double team to make the tackle. And, at 1:18, he shoots the gap and beats the down block to make the tackle for a loss. Don't get me wrong, this kid can play, and he's a first round talent, but I wouldn't take him above Goldman or Phillips like most analysts are predicting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5YgAjDstlg

Malcom Brown, Texas

There is a huge difference between the top 3 and the next 4 at the DT position. The top 3 should all go in the first round. The next 4 should all go late second to late third round. Malcom Brown is a late second round guy. He has played in a 4-3 defense at Texas and normally plays a 3 or 5 technique, but he is far better in the three technique. I believe he has the size and strength to play a 0 or 1 technique as well. I was able to watch tape of his game against BYU in which he recorded ten tackles and 2.5 sacks. Sure, this isn't a great team either, but his technique is generally pretty good. He keeps his pad level low, which is hard to say for many of the guys on this list. He also has a quick first step and shoots gaps well. His two-gapping is average, which is why he doesn't fit the Packers defense well. He also can get pushed around by a single blocker and over-pursues far too much. He would be an upgrade over any DT on the Packers roster but wouldn't be a solid three-down starter right away.

In this GIF, you see his pass rush ability, but you also see his tendency to over-pursue and not break down to make plays.

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In this GIF, you see him get pushed back at the goal line, mainly because he stops moving his feet on contact.

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Finally, here, he shows great pass rushing ability and makes the sack.

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Michael Bennett, Ohio State

In a 4-3 scheme, Bennett is probably the #4 DT prospect. He has the quickest first step of all the DTs on this list. He moves around the line and plays the 3 and 5 techniques on both sides. He makes plays all over the field. He has great rip moves to beat blockers on the pass rush and can bull rush when he has to. But, he doesn't fit the Packers scheme. He's somewhere between 6'2" and 6'3" and weighs 285 lbs. He rarely two-gaps. He plays with a high pad level, and, as a result, he is cut very easily. He struggles getting off blocks when linemen get into his body. He also opens up his body when taking on lead blockers, so he gets kicked out easily. He lacks awareness in the run game and often gets upfield too quickly, opening running lanes and leaving linebackers vulnerable. His style of play just wouldn't work in the Packers system.

Here he is against Wisconsin. He shows his pass rush abilities.

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Here, he shows his run stopping deficiencies.

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He struggled against Alabama, which is clearly a tough test, but is also the best NFL comparison the NCAA has to offer. The first GIF shows his lack of awareness and tendency to get upfield too early.

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Next, you will see him getting overpowered in the run game.

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Here, you see him pass rushing from a fifty front, which is where he would likely be in the Packers defense.

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Carl Davis, Iowa

Carl Davis is a big man: 6'5" 315 lbs. He is also a slow man, and that is the main reason he lacks statistics: 36 tackles and 2 sacks in 2014. I was only able to find film from his game against Ohio State in 2013, but the tape shows numerous issues. His pad level is too high; he lacks awareness; he gets moved too much (because of the high pad level); he gives up on plays; he doesn't stay square to the line and lets blockers into his body; and he ends up on his back a lot. He also shows flashes of great play. He can fire off and get leverage on blockers. He has great power and can move blockers with a powerful arm swipe. The bottom line, though, is that he is too slow to move down the line and make tackles. He two-gaps well, but, when he tries to shed the block and make a play, he is often a few steps behind.

In this first GIF, it's 3rd and 1 and Iowa needs a stop. Davis gets bulled out of the way, and, because he is responsible for two gaps, leaves a huge hole. The run results in an 8-yard gain and a first down.

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In this GIF, you will see him do his job on a read-option run. The quarterback keeps, but Davis makes sure that the running back wouldn't have crossed the line of scrimmage.

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Adolphus Washington, Ohio State

Washington is the lesser of the two Ohio State defensive tackles. He has similar size to Bennett at 6'4" and 288 lbs., but he lacks the tenacity and skill that Bennett possesses. He stands straight up on the snap of the ball and gets cut very, very often. Even in the fourth quarter of the Navy game, after he was cut all afternoon, he continued to stand straight up and let blockers into his legs. He does have some good qualities, though. He is quick and fast. He breaks down at the point of attack and is a good pass rusher. I think he would be best suited as an edge pass rusher in the NFL, but if he added bulk to his lean frame, then he could potentially move inside.

In the first GIF, you will see him get to the quarterback for a sack.

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In this next GIF, you will see him stand straight up and get cut.

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Finally, you will see him shed a block, find the ball, and make the tackle.

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The Packers absolutely need to upgrade the defensive tackle position. Whether they do so in the draft will come down to who is available. We all know Ted Thompson drafts based upon his best available, but if the best available matches a need, he's not afraid to pull the trigger (Eddie Lacy). Most analysts are putting Shelton in the top 15 and Goldman in the top 25, so there is a chance that neither is available when the Packers are picking. But, if the Packers take Goldman or Phillips, don't think they settled. They will have drafted a great player who will instantly make the Packers defense better against the run and the pass.

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