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First Day Defensive End Prospects In The
2007 Draft
Exclusive content to NOPF
from NFL Draft Scout's Rob "Boomer" Rang
posted April 22, 2007 - print me!
by Rob "Boomer" Rang,
Senior Analyst, NFL Draft Scout.com
exclusive
to neworleansprofootball.com
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Florida DE Jarvis Moss |
Rob "Boomer" Rang, senior analyst
for NFLDraftScout.com, joins the NOPF NFL Draft team for
the fourth year, providing his excellent analysis and draft
insight exclusively to our readers. NFLDraftScout.com is
powered by The SportsXchange, which has a network of professional
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and numerous others. Their rankings, profiles, and mock
drafts are consistently among the industry's most accurate.
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In earlier draft previews I've touched upon the tight end and
cornerback positions -- positions in which the Saints -- historically
speaking, have struggled. Defensive end has been a position of
relative strength for New Orleans and with Will Smith and Charles
Grant, it should remain so in 2007.
With Grant not particularly happy with his franchise designation,
however, there remains concern that the club will have a gaping
hole at the position as early as one year from now. Though he
hasn't spoken publicly about his dissatisfaction, Grant's absence
from voluntary workouts speaks volumes.
Adding to the concern is the 34 year old William Whitehead
is entering his 10th NFL season. Rob Ninkovich, drafted last
year, missed most of his rookie season with a torn ACL.
With an eye towards the future, the Saints could eschew other
needs and take advantage of a strong 2007 class of pass rushers.
As a special to NewOrleansProFootball.com, NFLDraftScout.com
Senior Analyst Rob Rang breaks down the defensive ends he feels
are worthy of the Saints' first day consideration.
First Round:
Gaines Adams Clemson, 6-5, 258, SR
The
unquestioned top pass rusher in the draft. A likely top 5 selection
who gets by with his lack of prototypical weight because of his
burst off the edge, and better than advertised strength. Adams
became only the second player in Clemson history to earn unanimous
All-American honors, joining safety Terry Kinard in 1982. The
ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Adams posted 62 tackles, 17.5
tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks despite being the focus of every
opponent's blocking scheme.
Adam Carriker Nebraska, 6-6, 296, SR
Though he played
defensive end throughout his career with the Cornhuskers, Carriker
was moved inside while at the Senior Bowl and played there that
some teams now view him as the draft's most versatile defensive
lineman. Combines great size and strength with instincts and
passion for the game. Lacks great speed off the edge, but is
quicker than he looks and knows how to use his hands to break
away from blocks.
Jamaal Anderson Arkansas , 6-6, 288, JR
A gamble on
greatness. Anderson leaves after only one season as a dominant
starter. Anderson signed with Arkansas as one of the elite prep
receivers in the country and grew into a pass rushing monster
that led the SEC with 13.5 sacks and finished second with 19.5
tackles for loss. The concern with Anderson is while he has a
great combination of size and speed off the edge, he is a significantly
rawer prospect than those listed above him and may have taken
advantage of Arkansas' liberal use of stunts and creative blitzes
to post his eye-popping numbers.
Second Round:
Jarvis Moss Florida, 6-7, 250, JR
An explosive edge
rusher who has been compared to former Gator great Jevon Kearse
since arriving on the campus. Despite his high ranking as a prep,
a pelvic injury and subsequent staph infection in his hip kept
Moss sidelined for nearly two years and on the verge of quitting.
With Urban Meyer pushing him to remain with the program, Moss
was finally diagnosed correctly. A reserve throughout the 2005
season, Moss finished with 25 tackles, including 11 tackles for
loss and 7.5 sacks. Starting the only 13 games of his career,
Moss enjoyed a strong junior, registering 56 tackles, and another
11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His great upside may cause
a team to select him in the first round, though the number of
250 pound defensive ends selected in the first are few and far
between.
Anthony Spencer Purdue, 6-3, 261, SR
While Spencer may
lack the flashy size or speed of some of the higher ranked pass
rushers on this list, no one was a bigger playmaker in 2006 than
the former Boilermaker. Finishing second in all of D-I football
with 26.5 tackles for loss and among the country's finest with
10.5 sacks, Spencer was virtually unstoppable as a senior. The
concern for scouts, of course, is that the three seasons prior
to 2006 Spencer produced a combined 17.5 tackles for loss and
10.5 sacks.
Ray McDonald Florida, 6-4, 276, SR
With suspended defensive
tackle Marcus Thomas and pass rush specialist Jarvis Moss getting
much of the attention, Ray McDonald is quietly one of the top
all-around defensive ends in the draft. A 36 game starter for
the Gators, McDonald has played both outside and inside and leaves
with 137 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks over his
career. Of concern is that McDonald has a history of injuries,
including two knee injuries in 2005 (each of which required surgery)
and an elbow injury in the SEC title game.
Charles Johnson Georgia, 6-2, 270, SR
With opponents
focusing their blocking assignments towards senior Quentin Moses,
Charles Johnson was often left against single coverage in 2006.
As a sophomore in 2005, Johnson had only registered 23 tackles,
but showed a flair for the big play, registering 8.5 tackles
for loss and 4 sacks, both good for 3rd on the team. Johnson
broke out in a big way as a junior posting a conference-leading
19 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks (3rd in SEC). There remain
questions about just how effective Johnson would be as the focus
of opponents' blocking scheme.
LaMarr Woodley Michigan, 6-2, 266, SR
Woodley's lack
of size and an unfortunate hamstring pull at the Senior Bowl
could lead to the Big Ten star taking a tumble down the board
come draft day. The only player in Michigan's storied history
to win both the Lombardi Award (nation's top defensive lineman)
and Ted Hendricks Award (nation's top defensive end), Woodley
finished with 36 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and a conference-leading
12 sacks.
Ikaika Alama-Francis Hawaii, 6-5, 280, SR
Though he
lacks the big numbers of the others on this list, there may not
be a hotter name at the position as the draft approaches than
Alama-Francis'. Offered a scholarship based on how he looked
in a basketball uniform, Alama-Francis suited up for June Jones
as a 6-5, 220 pound freshman despite never playing a down of
football in his life. He leaves 60 pounds heavier and possessing
the strength and size to remain at end in the 3-4 (as Hawaii
played) or the 4-3. Blessed with rare balance and agility for
a player of his size, Alama-Francis is even being scouted by
some teams as an outside linebacker and tight end.
Tim Crowder Texas, 6-4, 272, SR
A 47 game starter at
Texas, Crowder leaves as one of the more experienced and productive
defensive ends in the country. The consensus All Big-12 pick
leaves with 191 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks. Despite
his impressive statistics the perception of scouts is that Crowder
lacks the passion to ever take advantage of his natural abilities
and achieve to his potential.
Third Round:
Victor Abiamiri Notre Dame, 6-4, 267, SR
There are few
prospects in the draft with better numbers, but more difference
in opinion among NFL scouts as to where they fit in the draft
than Abiamiri. Abiamiri, at a chiseled 267 pounds, certainly
looks the part of a standout defensive end. His numbers at Notre
Dame also are impressive -- especially his senior production
(43 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks). Scouts question
if looks aren't deceiving with Abiamiri, however. He tends to
disappear for long stretches and is viewed by most as a raw pass
rusher; surprising considering his appearance in 49 career games.
Quentin Moses Georgia, 6-5, 261, SR
Entering the season
Moses was ranked by one NFL scouting service as the nation's
top senior prospect, regardless of position. With his size and
athleticism, it is easy to see why. In taking over for first
round pick David Pollack in 2005, Moses responded with a staggering
44 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks. Perhaps the
promise of riches distracted Moses, as he was a shadow of himself
throughout the 2006 season, posting only 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles
for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Projected by some to ramp up his play
at the Senior Bowl, Moses instead looked like a classic 'tweener
-- lacking the size and strength to remain at defensive end,
but without the agility to transition to linebacker, either.
Dan Bazuin Central Michigan, 6-3, 266, SR
Though he
lacks the big name and upside of some of the other names on this
list, it is impossible to not acknowledge Bazuin's production
in the MAC. A starter in all 47 games of his career with the
Chippewas, Bazuin left with 261 tackles, and school records in
tackles for loss (63.5), sacks (35.5), and forced fumbles (10).
Bazuin lacks explosiveness off the edge, but brings a blue collar
approach to the game and wasn't entirely without competition
in the MAC -- as he practiced against likely first round choice
OT Joe Staley every day of his career.
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