Defensive Lineman

Overheard

Courtney Brown amazed spectators with a recent 4.53-4.58  40 time. He also showcased a 37" vertical and 10'4" broad jump. In my next Mock, I will put Brown back in the #1 slot.

Corey Simon impressed with a 4.71 clocking and a 41" vertical at 290Lbs in a recent workout.

John Engelberger (4.56) and Shaun Ellis (4.70) really helped themselves in recent workouts.

Darwin Walker has proven that he has very rare strength and good speed. Now he has to improve his instincts to be a stud.

Adalius Thomas' workout was off the charts and some teams are fascinated with him.

Chris Hovan's stock
has been elevated after running  4.78-4.95  in Indy. He also threw up 35 reps and had a shuttle run that was rare for a DT and better than alot of RBs.

Leif Larsen (UTEP) was the bench king with 45 reps.

        Although you would be foolish to think that another Jevon Kearse might be uncovered in the `2000 draft crop, for guys like him don't come around but once a decade, you can expect one player to atleast enter the draft with a higher grade than Kearse. His name is Courtney Brown. You must not forget that Kearse entered the draft as a so-so prospect, that's why he was picked in the middle of round one and not in the top five. Well, we all witnessed the carnage he brought and many teams will rue the day they underestimated him. Brown may not be another Kearse, but he is a tremendous player nonetheless. Most of the other D-Lineman have questions about them. Some have been fighting nagging injuries, some are undersized, some are up and down in their effort. There are some blue-collar types and some fine athletes that are intriguing but need seasoning. After Brown and Corey Simon there is no consensus on whose the #3 lineman. Teams are always looking to add more punch on the frontline, so like always; there will be a run on the big boys in round one, even though there might be better players at other positions available. Its a crapshoot that many teams are always willing to take.

1)  Courtney Brown    6'5"  270      4.65     Penn. St.    DE
Has the skills to dominate. Utilizes god-given athletic
gifts and an enormous wingspan (86inches) to rain
terror down on QBs and ball carriers. Creates a ton of
havoc in the backfield due to an explosive first step and excellent technique. Improving greatly verse the run, but
still  needs alittle more work in that area. Very smart
player; a true student on the field and in the class room. Excellent pursuit skills and hand use coupled with high
intensity have made him an elite player. The comparisons
to Bruce Smith have some merit. Recently, Bill Parcells
uttered that Brown is his highest graded DE ever.
Dave Te: "Turns the corner in a flash and is always hustling
to the ball..."

STATS:   `99-  54 Tkls, 29 for loss, 13.5 Sks
                `98-  47 Tkls, 23 for loss, 11.5 Sks

2)  Corey Simon    6'2"    291      4.80          Florida St.    DT  
Excellent lower body strength and ideal movement skills. Understands
leverage and splits doubles with regularity. Can drop into coverage on
occasion. Has a fine motor and gets a good push off the snap. Some
compare him to Warren Sapp. Not a one trick pony; can change up his
styles. Don't be fooled by his size; he can bullrush like a much bigger
man. Strong hands that can jerk blockers. Can drop his wide load and
occupy two men. Has had five surgeries over the years, so his durability
will be questioned.
Dave Te: "Chases well down the line and easily beats his man with a
strong inside charge..."

STATS:   `99-  82 Tkls, 20 for loss, 4 Sks
                `98- 65 Tkls, 16 for loss, 5 Sks

3)  Chris Hovan    6'2"    305      4.91     Boston College    DT/DE
Has excellent takeoff quickness. Can get into the blockers body and
power rush or anchor. Can rush the passer from end or tackle. Very
aware player. Paints face similar to one of his favorite players, John
Randle. Has a similar motor too. Better suited for DE than DT because
his passrush is much better when blocked by one man. Can be stymied
with doubles. Great conditioning and work ethic. Has a shuttle run more
suited to RBs. Dips his shoulder properly and out punches his blockers
more often than not. Avoids low blocks well and closes fast.
Dave Te: "...a throwback to the leather helmet days. He’s a certain first-
rounder."

STATS:   `99-  69 Tkls, 21 for loss, 10.5 Sks
                `98- 81 Tkls, 13 for loss, 5 Sks

4)  Shaun Ellis    6'4"    280      4.75     Tennessee    DE
Can play rush end or base end. Has a complete game when on. Shows
an upfield burst, a counter move, and a good power rush. Plays the run
and pass. Recent workouts seem to have put to rest concerns about his
injured hip. He is a good hand fighter who stays active and aware while
running through trash. Good agility to burst off blocks. Has a upside that
might lead to him being the second DE taken in April. He needs to maintain
a consistent effort; he disappears at times and has had some off the field
problems.
Dave Te:  "All-around athlete with a great combination of speed and strength..."

STATS:  `99-  41 Tkls, 11 for loss, 8.5 Sks
               `98-  40 Tkls, 6 for loss, 1 Sk

5)  John Engelberger    6'4"    269      4.65     Virginia Tech    DE
A blue-collar type. Will battle all game long, and won't be out prepared.
He is a dedicated weight-room warrior who hustles and competes till the
whistle is blown. He has good but not great quickness. Upperbody power
helps him hold his ground on most occasions and his re-direction skills
make him a good pursuit player. Has a bag of moves at his disposal. If
he is allowed to rush without worrying too much about the run he could
be a real force. Has outstanding speed for his size, but has too much stop
and start in his game currently. Just let him go. Has athletic limitations but
wears on you. He shows noticeable improvement on a yearly basis.
Dave Te:  "Decisive in his charge, extending his arms properly to engulf the
quarterback."

STATS:   `99-  53 Tkls, 6 for loss, 7 Sks
                `98-  66 Tkls, 9 for loss, 9 Sks

6)  Darren Howard    6'4"    281      4.85     Kansas St.    DE
Finished his career as K.State's all time sack leader. Can be disruptive
off the corner. Has added the weight needed to be effective verse the run.
Has good hand usage and re-direction ability in pursuit  of the QB. Has
the ability to counter inside and did well in stints as a DT. Keeps balanced
when unleashing his spin move. Has great short area quickness and quick
twitch reaction skills but not long speed. Delivers a jolt on impact. Needs
to improve strength but has leverage down to an art form. His intensity
wavers, so if he is to reach his potential he will need to pick it up.
Dave Te:  "Has the speed to string plays wide and is very intense in pursuit..."

STATS:   `99-  53 Tkls, 14 for loss, 5.5 Sks
               `98-  51 Tkls, 17 for loss, 10.5 Sks

7)  Adalius Thomas    6'2"    270      4.55     Southern Miss.    DE
At times, you would swear he was on his way to stardom. He has the
fast  twitch muscles and  closing speed needed to become a dominating
pass-rusher. He is alittle undersized and has not proved he can be as
effective with weight  gain. His motor is questioned by some. Sky is the
limit.

STATS:  `99-  62 Tkls, 16 for loss, 9 Sks
               `98-  71 Tkls, 20 for loss, 12.5 Sks

8)  Byron Frisch    6'4"    281      4.71         BYU       DE
Rapidly developing pass-rush skills. Quick and slippery. Good body lean.
Can run all game, good effort and endurance. Getting better verse the run,
but still needs work in that area. Lateral agility is solid and his intensity leads
to him making plays others would have given up on. Delivers a good thump
upon arrival and uses strong hands to secure the tackle. May have to start
off as a pass-rush specialist because he tends to hesitate too long on first
down. Sort of a bigger Mike Mamula. Can be blocked easily if asked to
read and react. Must be turned loose.
Dave Te:  "Attacks the outside hard and keeps his balance while holding his
ground firmly vs. the power charge..."

STATS:   `99-  54 Tkls, 19 for loss, 8 Sks
                `98-  74 Tkls, 13 for loss, 5 Sks

9)  Cornelius Griffin     6'3"   297       4.86        Alabama     DT/DE
Had an average `99 season after looking like a stud in spring
practices. Showed some flashes but had some games when he
was almost invisible. At the Senior Bowl he looked like a sure
fire first round selection. He got good penetration in the practice
sessions and displayed excellent explosion in the game. He gets
out of the blocks very quick and uses his hands to swat away
arms and gain leverage. Still needs work verse the run. Has the
raw skills to play DE and may end up there eventually.

STATS:   `99-  53 Tkls, 8 for loss, 5.5 Sks
                `98-  58 Tkls, 10 for loss, 1 Sk

10)  Steve Warren     6'1"      307     5.02     Nebraska       DT
Can be a run clogger. He can hold his ground and get penetration. Will
not be a sack threat, but will make a living making offenses think twice
about running directly at him. Has a big heart and will fight all game long.
Can't be expected to make plays to the sidelines, but you can anchor him
inside and take up two blockers. His height is a concern; he won't bat
down any passes or disrupt a QB's vision. He is all over the board with
scouts; some have him very high(top 3 at his position), while others have
him barely making the top 10 at DT.

STATS:   `99-  42 Tkls, 13 for loss, 7 Sks
                `98-  26 Tkls, 1 for loss, 0 Sks   

11)  Darwin Walker    6'2"    293      4.80     Tennessee    DT
Extremely strong in the weight room. He is a coach's dream in terms of
dedication. Puzzles some,  because his strength doesn't always translate
to the field. He hustles, but has not turned the corner yet. He is athletic;
he is a good shot-putter and can run and jump very well for his size.
People expected more of him. He is a smart guy, so his awareness can
get better. For now, he is an enigma.

STATS:   `99-  44 Tkls, 8 for loss, 7 Sks
                `98-  46 Tkls, 5 for loss, 6 Sks

12)  Jerry Johnson     6'1"     293      4.90       Florida St.      DT
One of those guys who will test out very well at the Indy combine. He
is a beast in the weight room and has above average movement skills.
He occasionally will look like a stud, but from game to game he does
not play at a high level like his teammate, Corey Simon. A fire must be
lit under him to get his consistency up.  His measurements are not what
scouts look for, and his awareness needs alot of work.  May be a steal
for somebody. A quick guy with the strength of an ox may be worth the
gamble.

STATS:   `99-  56 Tkls, 9 for loss, 1 Sks
                `98-  62 Tkls, 10 for loss, 3 Sks 

13)  Leonardo Carson     6'3"     283      4.83      Auburn     DE/DT
A hustler. He will play with consistent effort all game long. He has
good instincts and is quick off the snap and sheds his blocker with
strength and proper leverage. He is very hard to deal with one on
one. For a DT, he has excellent scraping ability; he can get to the
sidelines fast without letting trash slow him. Escapes low blocks
that give many DTs problems. Some believe he will be a big draft
slider because he reportedly is brash and has off the field concerns.

Dave Te:  "Disruptive penetrator who does a fine job of riding blocks
and moving laterally..."

STATS:    `99-  43 Tkls, 2 for loss, 3 Sks
                  `98-  90 Tkls, 8 for loss, 8.5 Sks 

14)  Fred Robbins     6'3"      307     5.03     Wake Forest      DT
Hard to uproot when he drops anchor. He is a consistent plugger
who combines strength and strong hand use. Can absorb doubles
and gets a good push up the gut. He has surprising open field
pursuit, for a DT that is. He does get wrapped up in physical
one on one tests of manhood, which leads to him being surprised
by cut blocks sliding over; he spends too much time on the ground.
Changes direction well.

Dave Te:  "Bends his knees properly and does a fine job using his
hands to stand up his blockers..."

STATS:     `99-  44 Tkls, 15 for loss, 5 Sks
                  `98-  56 Tkls, 9 for loss, 3 Sks
 

15)  Erik Flowers     6'4"      271     4.75     Arizona St.      DE
Competitior who rarely gives up on a play. He is a hustler who has
gotten bigger without losing his speed. He shows a burst off the snap
and utilizes good shoulder dip, hand use, and knee bend. He had a
great East/West Shrine game(3 Sacks). Shows good balance when
breaking down to tackle and will make plays down the field. Plays
tough and usually is too much for TEs and FBs to handle coming
around the corner. Has good vision and change of direction skills.
Vulnerable to runs directly at him and will get pushed around if he
is doubled, even though he will fight like mad. Big upside as a pass
rushing force.
Dave Te: "Tenacious pass rusher who takes on contact aggressively..."

STATS:     `99-  60 Tkls, 18 for loss, 10 Sks
                 `98-  42 Tkls, 14 for loss, 2.5 Sks
 

16)  Kendrick Clancy     6'1"      283     5.06      Ole Miss       DT
One of those "too small guys". At 283LBs, many teams will downgrade
him. They may be making a mistake. When he was not hurt, he displayed
an awesome takeoff and lateral quickness. He can be a one gap shooter.
He plays hard and makes plays. He scrapes down the line and can get
outside to help on runs to the sidelines.  He might not be able to handle
an every down role at his current size, but he could be a nice fit in pass-
rush situations. Plays faster than he times.

STATS:   `99-  49 Tkls, 18 for loss, 7 Sks
                `98-  55 Tkls, 15 for loss, 1.5 Sks

17)   John Frank     6'4"      280     4.80     Utah      DE
Tough with an excellent work ethic. Very effective re-directing plays
and stacking the run. Has very good power and desire. Has a spin
move and varies his rushes. Good bullrusher who knows leverage.
Runs to the ball and does not dog it. Shows good insticts and if he
can't make a play he usually ties up people so teammate can. Jumps
fairly well. Blue-collar player who lacks explosive edge speed. Will
turn 26 soon and looks clumsy when trying to change direction going
down the line at times. Has gotten noticeably better every year.
Dave Te: "knows how to use his muscular upper body to hold his
position firmly at the point of attack."

STATS:    `99-   56 Tkls, 20 for loss, 13 Sks
                  `98-  36 Tkls, 10 for loss, 8 Sks

18)  Mao Tosi    6'6"    290      Idaho    DT/DE
A huge upside. Moves like a lighter man and flashes big-time skills. He
will get bigger, but has fine size already. Plays green. Lack of experience
is evident. Techniques need work. Plays high. A team must have patience
with him; he is big but alittle soft. He needs more time in the weight room
and more film study. His natural athletic skills cannot be taught. In a few
years you may be looking at a better version of Luther Ellis.

STATS:   `99-  46 Tkls, 15 for loss, 6.5 Sks
                `98-  49 Tkls, 7 for loss, 4 Sks

19)  Robaire Smith      6'3"      272      Michigan St.       DE/DT
He does not have the speed to be a dominating pass-rush force. He
seemed out of it on occasion. He could be a good base end, one that
can shut down outside run plays. He will get a decent rush but won't
beat you cleanly. Some think he will find his niche as a DE on first down
and a DT in passing situations. You cannot sit him inside; he won't hold
up. Could be one of those solid but unspectacular players with more
development. Once in awhile he will do something very athletic and make
you take notice, but they don't happen often enough.

STATS:   `99-  57 Tkls, 13 for loss, 6 Sks
                `98-  48 Tkls, 8 for loss, 3 Sks  

20)  Jerry DeLoach     6'3"      314     4.90     California       DT
On the few occasions when he was at full strength he looked like a very
promising bull that could collapse the pocket with a powerful and quick
inside surge. He has natural lower body strength and squats 635Lbs. He
had a solid East/West Shrine game but followed it up with a lackluster
showing in Mobile. Some say he needs time to recover when he goes all
out the previous week, so it is common for him to not look good from
week to week. He runs surprisingly well for a big man and can stack and
shed blockers as well as be very hard to deal with on stunts. Needs to
watch his weight and lose the nagging injuries.
Dave Te: "Fires low off the snap and shows an explosive burst in pursuit..."

STATS:      `99-   6 Tkls, 2 for loss, 2 Sks
                   `98- 31 Tkls, 8 for loss, 2 Sks
  

Others

Just missed the cut: David Nugent(DT-Purdue), Chris Combs(DT-Duke), Nat Williams (DT-Virginia Tech), Robert Brannon(DT-Iowa St.),   Adewale Ogunleye(DE-Indiana-medical risk), D.J. Cooper(DE-Arkansas), Rob Meier(DE-Washington St.), Quinton Reese(DE- Auburn), Josh Williams(DT-Michigan), Michael Boireau(DE-Miami)   

Disclaimer: Some information was gathered from Sportspage.com
and their lead draft expert, Dave Te Thomas. Items are quoted
and may not be displayed elsewhere.