02-11-2019, 09:06 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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Stampede Blue Article: What kind of DE has Ballard drafted before?
Article located here.
Summary:
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During Ballard’s tenure in Indianapolis and Kansas City, his organizations have drafted six edge rushers in six drafts.
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Common Traits:
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Senior edge rusher— preferably players who played in the Senior Bowl
Excellent burst and explosion— every player had a 10 yard split under 1.7 seconds
Strengths: Overall athleticism, great tackling, and burst
Weaknesses: Run defense, bend, and raw pass rush move set
Motor and tenacity— each player had a knack for playing until the whistle
Bonus-> Length as a rusher
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2019 Potential First Round Players who Fit:
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1. Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas
Size: 6’6” 275 pounds
Career Stats: 115 total tackles, 30 tackles for a loss, 16.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles
Why He Fits: If any player fits the mold that Ballard likes in his defensive ends, its Charles Omenihu. Mostly a sub-rusher for Texas, Omenihu was very disruptive with a quick burst off of the line and a lengthy frame. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl where he put together a couple good practices. Omenihu also excels at tackling and has a relentless motor. His weaknesses are his lack of bend on the edge and inconsistent run defense.
2. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Size: 6’6” 252 pounds
Career Stats: 105 total tackles, 30.5 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble
Why He Fits: If Ballard decides to address defensive end in the first round, Sweat would be an excellent fit for what he looks for. The talk of the week at the Senior Bowl, Sweat was insanely hard to block due to his large frame and relentless play style. His other strengths include an excellent burst off of the line of scrimmage and a motor that never runs out. He is also pretty stout as a run defender for a player with his slimmer frame. His biggest weaknesses are his lack of bend around the corner and his occasional struggle to shed blocks.
3. Chase Winovich, DE, Michigan
Size: 6’3” 255 pounds
Career Stats: 166 total tackles, 43 tackles for a loss, 18.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles
Why He Fits: This may seem like an odd fit but I think Winovich makes a lot of sense with what Ballard likes in his players. Winovich was slated to appear in the Senior Bowl but had to withdraw due to an injury suffered in Michigan’s bowl game. His has strengths at the point of attack, above average athleticism, and relentless motor in both run and pass defense. His weaknesses are struggles with bend and shedding blocks. He was a two time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, recipient of team MVP honors in 2018, and was awarded his team’s first ever “Blue Collar Award.”
Honorable Mentions: Jaylon Ferguson (LA Tech), Joe Jackson (Miami), Shareef Miller (Penn State)
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Food for thought.
Walk Worthy,
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Thad
The future is so bright; I gotta triple up!
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