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Defensive End Profiles
By: John McMullen
With all the rule changes in recent years that favor the offense, most NFL defensive coordinators have made it paramount to make the quarterback throw before he wants to. That's why speed rushers have become the Holy Grail. Everybody wants one and few teams have them. Almost every single NFL team could use another defensive end with size and speed, but the 1999 draft will offer little in the way of help. There are a few undersized ends with good pass rush skills and mark my words, some teams will take these players higher than they should. Desperation is always the most overlooked factor in the draft and with that in mind here's a look at the top ends:
- Jevon Kearse Florida 6-5 255
Kearse is a junior who will almost surely come out. He has already positioned himself as the number one pass rush prospect in the draft and another year will do little to increase his value. Jevon is a true, natural speed rusher from the edge with a high motor and sideline to sideline mentality. He has linebacker like speed & athletic ability and puts constant pressure on opposing QB's. He is almost impossible to block one on one by the bigger, slower offensive tackles but on the downside, at 255 pounds Kearse is a tweener who will be buried at the point of attack by the Boselli's, Roaf's and Steussie's of the world. Early on, Jevon will probably be used as a nickel pass rusher or standup outside linebacker in the NFL until he puts on a few more pounds. Because of his athletic ability, Kearse is a certain top 10 pick but doesn't have the instincts to play linebacker so end will be his spot. In the long run, he may end up being a one dimensional player ALA Derrick Thomas but it's a dimension every team needs.
- Ebenezer Ekuban North Carolina 6-4 265
Ekuban is probably a safer pick than Kearse as he is a better all around and more well rounded player. Ebenezer is a very athletic player who is a former tight end. He has great speed and can rush the passer from the edge as well as being a solid two gap penetration player against the run. Like Kearse, Ekuban is a high motor guy who will chase from sideline to sideline and rarely takes a down off.
- Robaire Smith Michigan State 6-5 264
Another junior with a great combination of size & speed. Smith is the brother of former Viking and current Jaguar defensive end Fernando Smith who also has great physical skills but has only put together one solid NFL campaign. Robaire looks like a more complete player than Fernando at a similar stage but like Fernando he has been labeled as a bit of an underachiever. He does have tremendous pass rushing skills off the edge as well as an ability to chase from sideline to sideline. Unfortunately, he hasn't continued to dominate this year after a great sophomore season at Michigan State which plays into the underachiever theme. At the next level, Smith will likely be best suited for 4-3 scheme that stresses the play the run on the way to the quarterback mentality.
- Tony Bryant Florida State 6-3 266
Another typical Florida State end. Bryant is a speed guy with good first step quickness and athleticism who is very aggressive at rushing the passer. Tony's very good off the edge and may have the best technique and hands of all the defensive ends. He is undersized and uses his quickness to get off blocks. That, along with excellent read and diagnose skills versus the run may make him the most complete end in the draft.
Many people like to compare him to ex Seminoles Andre Wadsworth and Peter Boulware but he is more like another ex Seminole, Minnesota's Derrick Alexander. Like Alexander, he is not the pure pass rusher that Wadsworth and Boulware are but at this stage he is a more complete player.
- Mike Rucker Nebraska 6-5 250
Another undersized, quick player who has been a tremendous edge rusher with an amazing burst to the passer on the college level. Rucker has excellent athletic ability, good change of direction skills, nice balance, quickness and the upfield speed of a playmaker. Mike also has the best body control and plays with the most leverage of all the top ends and he needs it because at his size, he must keep opponents off of his body to be effective. At the next level he will unquestionably need to get bigger and add strength to play defensive end on an every down level. Because Rucker needs to develop more strength and become more of an anchor against the run, some teams will envision him as a Peter Boulware type linebacker in the NFL.
- Robert Daniel Northwest Louisiana 6-5 269
Small college guy with the prototypical 1998 frame for a defensive end. Daniel is a superior athlete with good balance and excellent natural pass rush skills. Robert looks like he has all the tools to be an upper echelon defensive end. If he fills out and adds about 15 pounds without losing his outstanding quickness, the sky is the limit. Overall, Daniel has a huge upside and the ability to become a dominant right end if he adds bulk and continues to develop his technique.
- Lamar King Saginaw Valley 6-5 285
King is a huge, bulked up linebacker with great strength who is really opening some eyes. He looks like a left end who lacks great closing speed as a pass rusher but has the ability to be a stout run defender. He should be a solid pick that will be an impact first and second down player fairly early in his career.
- Melvin Bradley Arkansas 6-2 253
Bradley is another undersized tweener. He doesn't have the instincts for linebacker or the size to be a full time end but he has the quickness and pass rush skills to be a nickel rushing defensive end. All in all. Melvin is a high motor, hustle guy who is very athletic and a playmaker which should interest some teams.
- Tom Burke Wisconsin 6-4 249
Do you see a pattern developing? Burke is another athletic, undersized quick pass rush guy who may have the ability to be stand up rush linebacker. Obviously at 250, Burke is too small to hold up at the point of attack as an everydown defensive end but he does have enough skills to be a NFL player.
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