What Scouts Inc says about the top DTs

[Beerball]

Here's what they have for the top DTs:

 

B.J. Raji DT 6'1" 334 BOSTON COLLEGE Grade 97 Position ranking 1 Overall ranking 3

Production Raji appeared in 11 games during his true freshman season in 2004 finishing with 13 total tackles, six unassisted tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. He started five of the 11 games he appeared in during the 2005 season finishing with 27 total tackles, 15 unassisted tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup. Raji started six of the 12 games he appeared in during the 2006 season finishing with 23 total tackles, 16 unassisted tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. In 2007, Boston College red-shirted him because of academic issues

 

Height-Weight-Speed Height is decent but he's thickly built. Despite shedding some weight heading into the 2007 season, Raji is still bigger than most DT's. Also possesses better-than-average speed for his size

 

Durability Raji missed 2008 spring practices while rehabbing from shoulder surgery

 

Character Ejected from the 2006 Central Michigan game and suspended for the first half of the Clemson game the following week after throwing a punch at a Central Michigan player. Academic issues and inability to stay eligible raise concerns about work ethic.

 

Agility/Quickness While lacks elite initial burst and lateral mobility, is still quick and athletic for size.

 

Strength/Toughness Hasn't shown elite lower body strength and has problems anchoring against double teams. Appears to wear down late in games and effort is inconsistent when he starts to tire

 

Instincts Keeps head up and locates ball quickly

 

Pass Rusher Takes the shortest path to the quarterback, flashes the ability to collapse the pocket and is a relentless pass rusher. Though isn't very tall, generally gets hands up when isn't going to get to the quarterback and can tip passes at the line of scrimmage. Flashes an effective spin move but relies on power too much and needs to develop more pass rush moves

 

Run Stopper Inconsistent in this area and needs to work on consistently getting under blockers' pads but can hold ground at the point of attack when stays low to the ground. Doesn't use hands well and takes too long to shed block when gets reached. Anticipates snap count and flashes the ability to makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. Takes adequate angles to the ball and flashes the ability to make plays in pursuit.

 

Peria Jerry DT 6'3" 310 MISSISSIPPI Grade 92 Position ranking 2 Overall ranking 22

Production Signed with Ole Miss in 2004 but decided to attend Hargrave Military School for one season before enrolling at Ole Miss in 2005. He played sparingly as a true freshman after missing the first five games due to injury. He also battled through injuries in 2006, appearing in only eight games (six starts) at DE and DT, and finishing with 22 total tackles (one sack.) As a junior in 2007, he started all 12 games at DT and finished with 58 total tackles, including 14 TFL and 3.5 sacks

 

Height-Weight-Speed Is shorter than ideal and top-heavy with a sloppy build. Not much room left on his frame to add bulk. He does, however, possess very good speed for the position.

 

Durability Missed nine games due to multiple injuries during his first two seasons (2005-'06), but remained healthy for the entire 2007 campaign

 

Character Resilient despite early career injuries. Has done a fine job in the classroom. No off the field problems to our knowledge.

 

Agility/Quickness Active DT with above-average initial quickness and straight-line speed. However, he is top-heavy, lacks ideal change-of-direction skills and wears down too easily.

 

Strength/Toughness Better upper-body strength than he possesses in the lower-body. Plays with a narrow base. Does not appear to be overly tough on film, either

 

Instincts Shows adequate-to-good initial quickness. Not a great power rusher. Does show explosive closing burst, either. Will occasionally pick up a garbage sack but mostly does a good job of staying active and disrupting the pocket/passing windows

 

Pass Rusher At his best when on the move, flowing to the football. Does a good job of using his hands to keep blockers off his body. Not an explosive playmaker but he is mobile and makes some plays in pursuit. Shows enough quickness to penetrate and disrupt. However, he plays a bit too high and lacks adequate lower-body strength. He gives up too much ground when teams run at him and he will never be a good fit in a gap-control scheme

 

Run Stopper A Jerry is a unique prospect. On one hand; he moves well and can be very active. On the other hand, he has a sloppy build and does not possess an explosive first-step to penetrate of a classic three-technique type. With that in mind; Jerry continues to show improvement with more game-experience and he can maximize his mid-round draft potential by avoiding the injury bug (see: Durability) and turning in another productive campaign as a senior

 

 

Ron Brace DT 6'3" 333 BOSTON COLLEGE Grade 86 Position ranking 3

No info available other than...Brace was stout and held his own at the point of attack in the ACC title game against Virginia Tech, but unlike teammate B.J. Raji, Brace did not flash the ability to stack and shed blockers in order to make plays.

 

Fili Moala DT 6'4" 282 USC Grade 80 Position ranking 4

Production 2004: Southern Cal red-shirts Moala. 2005-06: He appeared in all 26 games (12 starts) recording 28 tackles including eight tackles-for-loss. 2007: Moala started all 13 games recording 32 tackles including 5.5 for losses

 

Height-Weight-Speed Possesses adequate speed and bulk but has enough room on frame to add considerable frame.

 

Durability Durability isn't a concern at this point

 

Agility/Quickness Moves well laterally and displays ability to change directions quickly. Possesses a quick first step and flashes the ability to get good initial penetration. Closes quickly when chasing from the backside

 

Strength/Toughness Lacks adequate lower body strength. Does not do a good enough job of sinking hips and anchoring when taking on double teams. Needs to improve overall strength. Doesn't always finish the play.

 

Instincts Shows the ability to find and get to the ball quickly. Does a sound job of getting hands up in throwing lanes when isn't going to get to the quarterback in time

 

Pass Rusher Does an adequate but not great job of using hands. Allows blockers to under pads and control him too much. Needs to finish better.

 

Run Stopper Needs to be more stout at the point. Turns his back too much and gets rooted off the line of scrimmage. Protects his feet well against cut blocks.

 

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[bizell]

dang. everything i'm reading about raji makes me want the bills to draft him more and more.

 

i've only seen him once, this year bc/fsu, and he manhandled FSU's offensive line.