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What are the characteristics scouts look for when analyzing a
Defensive End prospect entering the National Football League?
Scouts, GMs, and coaches everywhere covet a defensive end who has
speed, quickness, a good initial burst off the line of scrimmage,
strength, toughness, and a defensive end who can put pressure on the
quarterback, just to name a few. Only one defensive end in this
year’s draft can boast that he has the rare blend of all of these
characteristics rolled into one player, and that defensive end, is
Gaines Adams.
The Defensive End class in the 2007 NFL Draft may not have that
superstar prospect, but it is very deep and has a lot of individual
talent. While I do not believe there is a Julius Peppers or a Mario
Williams in this years crop of defensive ends, I do believe that it
has up to six potential first round selections at the position. The
likes of Gaines Adams, Adam Carriker, Jamaal Anderson, Jarvis Moss,
Charles Johnson, and Anthony Spencer could all hear their names
called to the podium by the commissioner during round one of the
draft. However, while the latter five prospects have critical flaws
in their game, it has become incredibly difficult to spot the
weakness in the all-around game of Gaines Adams.
Gaines Adams notched nine and a half sacks during his junior season,
only to improve, and come back during his senior campaign and record
twelve and a half sacks. He is the most natural and fluid pass
rushers in this class, and that opinion was confirmed when he ran a
4.64 40 time at the individual workouts. He also is as adapt against
the run as he is against the pass, Gaines Adams will add versatility
to any defense.
The only knock that can be said about Gaines Adams is that he could
bulk up slightly. At a playing weight of 260, he could afford to
bulk up about 10 pounds, but again, I am nitpicking here. I must
reiterate that I do not believe that Gaines Adams grades higher than
last year’s #1 overall selection Mario Williams, but in this class,
Gaines is the top defensive end prospect, if not the top defensive
prospect overall.
It has become crystal clear following the collegiate season that
Gaines Adams was the top defensive end prospect in this year’s
draft, and following the combine and individual workouts, that
statement was now being made with an emphatic exclamation point on
the end of it. Gaines Adams will be a top five selection on April
28th, and the team that selects him, can expect to reap the rewards
immediately.
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It
has happened before, but people still fall victim to it. The
lightweight speed defensive end garners attention for lofty sack
totals, while the more well rounded player is overlooked. Adam
Carriker is a much better athlete than some give him credit for and
is one of the strongest and most technically sound defensive ends in
the draft. Carriker has the unique versatility to play every down in
virtually any scheme.
Carriker was stereotyped by some early in the draft process as a
typical power end from Nebraska with limited upside. However with
his dominating performance at the 2007 Senior Bowl, Carriker
demonstrated that he is an elite talent. Opposing offensive linemen
were no match for Carriker's strength. He is one of the most
techically sound defensive ends available as he has a variety of
moves and really uses his hands well to keep opposing tackles from
getting into his body.
Despite his dominating performance at the Senior Bowl, some still
were not convinced that he deserved to be consider as the top end on
the board. Carriker ran a 4.18, one of the fastest times in the
important 20 yard shuttle which tests agility, faster than Gaines
Adams. Carriker again showed his strength, doing 33 reps, 13 more
than Adams. Adam Carriker was able to show that he was on the level
physically of the other top defensive ends in the draft.
While Gaines Adams only has one role - speed pass rush on early
downs, Carriker can play for any team and will never have to be
subsituted for. Carriker's best position is probably defensive end
in a 3-4 defense, but he easily could play DT or DE in a 4-3.
Carriker is a lot like recent defensive standouts on Super Bowl
winning teams, Richard Seymour and Aaron Smith, in that his
performance may be overlooked at times, but it is vitally important
to the success of the defense.
Gaines Adams does have the ability to be an elite pass rusher.
However that is all he has the ability to do. He is undersized and
does not hold up well at the point of attack. He was ran over by
opposing collegiate running backs at times and struggled when he
played against elite offensive tackles. Adams gets frustrated if he
is unable to get to the passer easily, and it is not going to be
easy at the NFL level. If he does not bulk up and improve his
strength, he will be left as a pass rushing specalist only.
It is entirely possible that Gaines Adams may rack up more sacks
than Adam Carriker in their rookie seasons. However it is not likely
that he will have the impact that Carriker will have. Carriker will
affect the entire game by consistently disrupting plays and taking
on multiple blockers. A player like Carriker does not come around
often, but when he does, he is often overlooked by many "experts",
even at the NFL level. The results speak for themselves and Carriker
should also produce an outstanding NFL career on many winning teams. |
