Mighty McDaniel's a playmaker in the trenches
ESPN Highlights: Antwan Lowery
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Their statistics rarely jump off the page at you like those of a linebacker or defensive end. They may never be at the top of the rankings among sack and tackle leaders, but despite a lack of flashy stats, defensive tackles play a key position.
You would have to look hard to find a successful and stingy defense that did not have good play from its interior D-linemen. The great Miami Hurricanes teams of the '80s and '90s always had outstanding defensive tackles, such as Russell Maryland or Warren Sapp. When a defensive tackle can fire off on the snap of the ball and disrupt plays before they get started, clog up running lanes, or even collapse the pocket to terrorize quarterbacks, he demands attention. Offenses need to account for him with an extra blocker, which allows other defensive players to get one-on-one matchups or run free.
In recruiting defensive tackles, college coaches look for prospects who can both pressure the quarterback and stop the run. But defensive tackles often excel at certain aspects of the position. Quicker tackles can be explosive off the ball and quickly penetrate through a gap. Some defensive tackles are a bit bigger and eat up space; they may try to stuff a gap and take up two blockers, allowing the linebackers to roam free. Some are quick enough to work pass-rush moves to pressure the quarterback. And others are more adept at pushing blockers back to collapse the pocket, making it hard for the quarterback to step up and into his throws.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: Defensive ends are usually the ones who rack up the impressive sack numbers, but those sacks are hard to come by unless the ends get some help from the defensive tackles. Defensive tackles can also be sack artists. It is often more difficult to rush from the inside; they usually have less room to work with because space can be confined on the interior of the line, but the good ones are active with their hands and can work moves and slip through gaps to pummel quarterbacks themselves.
McDaniel is an athletic kid and can be a handful lined up anywhere on the defensive line. His ability to rush the passer starts with his ability to get off the ball. His quickness makes him tough to block on the interior of the line, but he is athletic and quick enough to rush off the edge at times. McDaniel is also a savvy player who uses his lack of ideal height to his advantage. He can quickly get under blockers' pads and push them back toward the quarterback. He is good with his hands and will use these weapons to work moves and shed blockers to get to the quarterback. McDaniel is a tough against the run and pass and could show up in the top three in either of these categories, but we decided to give this future Seminole the nod for his pass-rushing ability.
McFarland is a prospect who combines good size with athleticism and explosiveness. He is tough versus the run, even though he seems to deal with a fair share of double- and triple-teams. Here, though, we recognize him for his ability to pressure quarterbacks. The foundation of his pass rush is his quickness off the ball. In addition, he is very violent with his hands, which he can use to club blockers. He is also able to turn his hips, get skinny and work by blockers, and he's powerful enough to get into a blocker and bull-rush to collapse the pocket. McFarland is a tough defender, and it is no wonder that LSU, Texas and Oklahoma are battling for his services.
Lowery is a big boy, tipping the scales at well over 300 pounds. Despite his size, he can be a menace as a pass rusher. No surprise that this big man can get into a blocker and bull-rush his way to the quarterback. Lowery dropped some weight before his junior year, and that helped him become quicker. Lowery has good quickness for a big man, and because of that he can beat his man off the ball at times and penetrate fast to get into the quarterback's face. With that speed, he can attack blockers with moves and is able to get by with a quick swim. This Miami native has a nice blend of size and quickness and can be a pass-rushing presence from the interior of the line.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: Stopping the run may be viewed as the primary responsibility of the defensive tackle. How it is done depends on the ability of the players and the scheme they play in. Some may be asked to be two-gap defensive tackles and eat up blocks; this makes it easier for linebackers to get to the ball. Others may be asked to be one-gap defensive tackles; this requires DTs to get off the ball and make plays themselves.
Adams is also a productive pass-rusher, but we like this kid's game versus the run more. He is not a big run-plugger, but he has the frame to develop into a physical monster. The strength of his game is mixing smart play with ability. He has good feet to step quickly into gaps or move laterally along the line of scrimmage. He uses his hands well and will get them on blockers. We like how he gets into a gap and breaks down. He is not a defensive tackle who wildly runs upfield hoping to run into the ball. He gets into the gap, stays square, shuffles, locates the ball, and is athletic enough to react and make the play. He does a good job of taking on blocks and should be even tougher to move off the ball as he continues to develop physically. Adams is a good defensive tackle and tough against the run.
Travis is one of those prospects we like more each time we watch him. He is a compact powder-keg of a player and is a young man working to push his way into the ESPNU 150. He is among the quicker players off the ball in this class, and that makes him tough to block. He does not have great height, but he plays with good leverage and thus can push blockers back and also hold his ground. He is violent with his hands, which allows him to separate from blockers and fight his way free. He can quickly get off the ball, get to the shoulder of a blocker and push his way into the backfield. Travis is a high-motor kid who is tough to contain, and he can cause problems against the run.
We wrestled with whether this spot should go to Chris Davenport (Mansfield, La.) or Dial. It is well known that Davenport is a beast in the trenches, so I gave the nod to Dial, a lesser-known but equally tough run defender. Like his counterpart from Louisiana, Dial is a big guy who carries his weight well. Dial does not have the raw athleticism of Davenport, but he can be a menacing run-stuffer. When he comes off the ball low, he can just walk a blocker into the backfield. He uses his hands and strength to push blockers aside and swallow up ball carriers between the tackles. His size allows him to plug gaps and help the linebackers react. Dial is a tough run defender and a nice pickup for an improving Alabama defense.
What Scouts Inc. looks for: The most important trait for a defensive tackle is his get-off. Most defensive line coaches start their practice with a series of get-off drills honing their players' ability to move with the snap of the ball and explode out of their stance. If a defensive tackle can consistently beat a blocker out of his stance, he will be tough to block and will be very productive.
In Stockton's evaluation, we said he possesses one of the most explosive get-offs in this class, but after watching video of close to 200 defensive tackles thus far, we can say the New Jersey native may be the most explosive. There are some big men who can get moving in this class, but Stockton seems consistently to explode out of his stance. His game has many strong points, but it all starts with his ability to get off the ball. Because he can get moving so quickly, he can beat blockers to the punch and knock them back. He does a good job with his hands and staying low, and he is tough to block because he is so explosive. On film you can actually see him sometimes violently snap his opponents' heads back because he gets into them with excellent quickness and power. This ability makes him tough against the run and pass. The nation's No. 2 defensive tackle is a great pickup for Notre Dame, and he should bring some real explosiveness to the interior of the Irish defensive front.
McDaniel is a very good athlete for a big man, and he is among the quickest defensive tackles in this class. He does not have the ideal size of a big-time defensive tackle, but he is so quick and uses leverage so effectively that his size becomes less of a concern. His quickness off the ball makes him tough to block, and he can get penetration and be disruptive in the backfield. His get-off also helps him when he needs to take on bigger blockers. He can quickly get under his opponents' pads and win the leverage battle. This Florida State commit may find himself giving a few inches and pounds to offensive linemen in college, but his quickness and athleticism will have the big guys worrying.
Last year in this spot was Clemson signee Brandon Thompson, so it seems fitting that this year the No. 3 spot should go to a player who reminds us very much of Thompson. Downs is explosive, and at times he is as quick off the ball as any player in this class. He does not yet have the consistency that the players above him have shown, but there is no doubt he can get moving quickly. He plays with a high motor and a violent style, and that plus his ability to get off the ball allows him to wreak havoc in offensive backfields. The Tigers have had some pretty good defensive tackles recently, and Downs has the tools to keep that LSU front dangerous.
Craig Haubert is recruiting coordinator for Scouts Inc. Drop Craig a line in his mailbag.
