32EBoozer Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Scouting The Draft: Dante Fowler, OLB/DE, Florida By GangGreenMag @ZazzyJets on Mar 5, 2015, 9:55a 19 Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports Today we take a look at possibly the first edge rusher to be drafted come April. Introduction Fowler is on the verge of being the top edge rusher taken this April. When you look at the road taken to get to this point, it is no surprise he is in this position. Dante was a 5 star recruit by Rivals.com, coming out of Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Even in high school, Fowler was being compared to greats like Dwight Freeney. He was ranked the 3rd best weakside defensive end in the state of Florida. After first committing to Florida State, Dante changed his mind, and picked Florida instead. As a true freshman, Fowler played in all 13 games, and played admirably. He was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team. As a sophomore, Fowler lost some weight, and really turned it on. He won several defensive player of the week awards, and was named to the SEC's All-Sophomore team. As a junior, Dante really came into his own. After his 3rd year of increased production, Dante felt he was ready to make the jump to the NFL. His coach, Will Muschamp, also decided to leave the team. I am sure that had a good deal to do with his decision as well. Measurables Height: 6'3" Weight: 261 Class: Junior Projected 40 Time: 4.60 Stats Year Tackles TFL Sacks QB Hurries FF 2014 60 15 8.5 17 2 2013 50 10.5 3.5 7 3 2012 30 8.5 2.5 1 0 Positives • Great size • Can already play standing up or in the dirt • Versatile • Decent first step • Has a powerful and quick inside move • Can get leverage and set the edge • Has a great motor • Well balanced • Knows how to take advantage of O-linemen that lunge • Very Competitive Negatives • Needs to establish more pass rushing moves • Needs to get stronger at the point of attack • Unproven in coverage • If he doesn't get a favorable first step on the O-linemen, he can be overpowered Conclusion On top of an impressive junior season, Fowler looked pretty good at the Combine. He is a strong, competitive pass rusher that can grow into so much more. Even though his sack numbers aren't sky high, his true effectiveness is shown with his QB hurries. We haven't had a dominant edge rusher since John Abraham. The experiment with Quinton Coples at LBer has yet to bear fruit. Bowles loves to rush the QB, which makes filling the edge rusher position a priority. Free agency is also stacked with edge guys who can fill this need, but the draft would be cheaper. When Drew and I made our first mock, Fowler was name not many were talking about at 6. Now he might be gone before we even get a chance to draft him. If he is there, and we didn't splurge on a free agent, I would happily take Fowler at 6 if I were running the Jets Draft Grade: 95 90-100 = Exceptional Talent 80-90 = Impact Player 70-80 = NFL Starter 60-70 = Solid NFL Potential 50-60 = Draftable - Lot of work needed >50 = Undraftable, - Long Shot To Stick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obrien2Toon Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Probably would be my pick too. Him or Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBallhawk Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Reminds me a bit of Von Miller when he came out. Love watching him play, he plays very fast, has a great motor and he's comfortable playing LB as well as DE obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyLV Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 This guy will bust. Will get swallowed up at the point of attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32EBoozer Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 This guy will bust. Will get swallowed up at the point of attack. He's 6'3" and 260 lbs and runs a 4.6 What makes you think he will get swallowed up. Did you see his sacks, TFL and QB hurries? Yes, like any other kid coming out of college he needs time in the weight room. Your comment seems a bit silly and unfounded. Care to explain your reasoning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 a 4.6 at 260 is unreal, are those confirmed numbers ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prime21 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Defensive minded coach with FA CB signings could be looking for a potential stud like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32EBoozer Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 He also has a 33.75" arms. That's close to an OL arm length! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 This guy will bust. Will get swallowed up at the point of attack. Please elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32EBoozer Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 a 4.6 at 260 is unreal, are those confirmed numbers ? Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks is spotlighting the prospects who make a mark -- for better or worse -- at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. On Sunday, the defensive linemen and linebackers took the field. Bucky provides his impressions from Indianapolis. MORE WINNERS & LOSERS: Offensive linemen/tight ends | Quarterbacks/running backs/receivers Buzzworthy Vic Beasley, edge rusher, Clemson: It's time to acknowledge that Beasley is one of the top pass-rushing prospects in the 2015 class. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he has silenced critics questioning his size, strength and power, capping off a fine week with a sensational on-field performance Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 246-pound edge rusher pumped out 35 reps on the bench press and posted impressive marks in every athletic drill. From his sizzling 4.53-second time in the 40-yard dash to his terrific measurements in the jumps (41-inch vertical, 130-inch broad) to his remarkable shuttle times (6.91 three-cone drill, 4.15 20-yard shuttle), Beasley showed scouts that he is one of the premier athletes available in this draft. Most importantly, he's packed on nearly 15 pounds since the end of the season without losing any speed or quickness, and he displayed more power than most evaluators expected prior to this event. Given Beasley's impressive athletic feats and his solid résumé as a pass rusher, his stock is shooting up after this week in Indy. Dante Fowler, edge rusher, Florida: Despite entering the combine with plenty of hype, the jury was still out on whether Fowler possessed the physical tools to be considered an elite prospect. After clocking a 4.60 40-yard dash and displaying better-than-anticipated quickness in shuttle drills (7.40 three-cone drill, 4.32 20-yard shuttle and 11.89 60-yard shuttle), few scouts harbor concerns about Fowler's athleticism and explosiveness as an edge rusher. The ex-Gator also showed outstanding balance and body control in positional drills. From dropping into coverage with his eyes on the quarterback to changing directions in a variety of agility and bag drills, Fowler looks comfortable playing in space from an upright position. If he continues to kill it at his pro day and in a series of private workouts, Fowler could cement his status as a top-five overall talent and surpass Randy Gregory and Shane Ray as the top edge defender on the board. Alvin "Bud" Dupree, edge rusher, Kentucky: The "Workout Warrior" Award should be placed in Dupree's hands after his eye-popping showing on Sunday. Despite having a groin injury that forced him to sit out positional drills, he ran a 4.56 40 and popped a pair of impressive jumps (42-inch vertical, 138-inch broad) that showcased his explosive athletic ability. This will boost Dupree's stock as an edge-rushing threat. Eli Harold, edge rusher, Virginia: The former Cavalier standout had been hailed as one of the draft's biggest sleepers prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, but the cat might be out of the bag now, as Harold put on a spectacular showing on the turf Sunday. The 6-3, 247-pounder clocked a 4.60 in the 40 and posted remarkable times in the shuttle drills (7.07 in the three-cone, 4.16 in the 20-yard and 11.81 in the 60-yard). In addition, Harold recorded a 35-inch vertical jump and a 123-inch broad jump, suggesting that he is an explosive athlete with the physical tools to develop into a consistent pass-rushing threat off the edge. Buzzkill Paul Dawson, LB, TCU: The workouts in Indy are not supposed to hurt a player's stock, but it will be hard for scouts to overlook Dawson's disappointing performance on Sunday. He posted pedestrian times in the 40 (4.93) and didn't show any explosiveness in the jumping drills (28-inch vertical, 109-inch broad). Those lackluster marks accompanied a dismal performance in the positional workout, where he looked stiff and upright while changing directions. Although Dawson's game tape is as solid as any prospect in the 2015 class, this lack of athleticism and explosiveness could prompt some teams to drop their grades on the standout linebacker. Shaq Thompson, LB/S/RB, Washington: Thompson was painted as a dynamic athletic with explosive speed and quickness, but scouts will question that initial assessment after watching his underwhelming performance in Indianapolis. Thompson posted average marks in the 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds), vertical jump (33.5 inches) and broad jump (117 inches), looking nothing like the athletic freak he was supposed to be. Although he was rather smooth and fluid in positional drills, Thompson didn't show the burst or explosiveness evaluators expected to see. With several scouts and coaches still undecided on Thompson's best position as a pro, the disappointing showing will lead to more questions about his upside and overall potential. Biggest subplot entering Monday's workout The competition for the top cornerback spot in the 2015 class will take center stage at Lucas Oil Stadium, with Michigan State's Trae Waynes, Washington's Marcus Peters and LSU's Jalen Collins all vying for the title. Evaluators around the NFL believe the trio offers immense talent, but coaches need to see which defender possesses the speed, quickness, technical skills and versatility to thrive as a lockdown corner in the league. With a host of drills designed to highlight the footwork and movement skills of each player, the final day of the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine should provide evaluators with some clarity on the cornerback pecking order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I've had the joy of watching this guy for the past few years. He's an incredible talent. Unreal motor. Freak athlete. He's a game changer, a chaos creator. Can make a game real ugly and beat the ever living snot out of an OL. I'd love to watch his career up close in the NFL as a Jet. Would love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyLV Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Please elaborate. His initial step and strength at the point of attack are not elite. In college, he can use his quickness to still get penetration, but in the NFL tackles are fast on their first step and strong. Just feel from watching him that his speed will be neutralized in the NFL especially since his move is inside and he will get swallowed up by combo blocks and quick tackles. Plus he is unknown in pass coverage and being a designated pass rusher makes him easier to account for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 His initial step and strength at the point of attack are not elite. In college, he can use his quickness to still get penetration, but in the NFL tackles are fast on their first step and strong. Just feel from watching him that his speed will be neutralized in the NFL especially since his move is inside and he will get swallowed up by combo blocks and quick tackles. Plus he is unknown in pass coverage and being a designated pass rusher makes him easier to account for. Just my take based on this response, you havent watched him that much...this is pretty off base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Pass coverage is so massively overrated for 3-4 olbs it is almost not worth mentioning. You need to get after the Qb and you need to not be a total liability in the run game. no olb can over any RB or TE at all on a regular basis and after about a year you never hear about an olbs ability to cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 What I like about Fowler is that even if he never becomes a big pass rusher, he'll still be good in a Lance Briggs/Cornelius Bennett kind of way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32EBoozer Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 What I like about Fowler is that even if he never becomes a big pass rusher, he'll still be good in a Lance Briggs/Cornelius Bennett kind of way. AS long as it's not in a Vernon Gholston kind of way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 We would want him to get after the QB-he can excel at that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashmouth Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 This guy will bust. Will get swallowed up at the point of attack. This guy is a football player unlike some other LB/DE's we've taken in the past ...no way this guys a bust ..... However if we are sitting at 6 and Mariota is on the board no way on earth we take Fowler.... 2 reasons 1 the Jets are putting out a bunch of crap and really love Mariota to keep the Eagles from jumping in front to get him 2 or the Jets actually don't like Mariota and they trade the pick for Foles and a few more Draft picks over the next 2 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32EBoozer Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Some others don't have Fowler ranked as the #1 Pass Rusher... Hmmm?http://turnonthejets.com/2015/03/2015-nfl-draft-top-5-pass-rushers-for-new-york-jets/#more-25958 A big welcome to our newest writer, Johnny Regina. Make sure to give him a follow and check out his debut piece on the top five pass rushers the New York Jets should consider in the NFL Draft… 5. Eli Harold, Virginia: If the Jets decide not to go with a pass rusher with the sixth overall pick, Eli Harold would be a perfect day two selection. He is an outstanding athlete who displayed his ability to come off the edge last year with seven sacks. Harold has easily one of the quickest first steps of any pass rusher in the draft and even with his athletic ability and pass rush skills, he is not a finished product. His issues with run defense is why many consider him a 2nd round prospect. If he’s plugged into the right situation, he will be viewed as a high ceiling, medium floor, type player. Around the league, he is generally viewed as a 3-4 OLB pass rush specialist. 4. Randy Gregory, Nebraska: Gregory measures in at 6’5, 235 pounds and sports a lengthy frame. While scouts love his versatility and ability to move around the defense, his biggest problem is lack of strength. Gregory’s role in Nebraska’s defense was concerning. Most plays, he was not asked to rush the QB right off the snap. This leads to uncertainty as to whether or not Gregory has the necessary attributes to become an effective pass rusher in the NFL. He somewhat resembles a lighter Dion Jordan, an infamously versatile player who spent a majority of his time in college sampling positions and not rushing the passer. 3. Dante Fowler Jr, Florida: More of Fowler’s hype is coming after the season because he didn’t give much to talk about when he on the field. He does have great instincts, physicality, and decent pass rush skills. However, for a top ten pick you would like to see him be a dominant force throughout the entire game. When you watch Fowler, he seems to just disappear at times. Fowler oozes potential due to his build and athletic ability yet his fit for the Jets is questionable. 2. Vic Beasley, Clemson: Although I am not one for overreacting to a combine performance, Beasley’s was a little different. The biggest knock on him was his weight and strength, which he fixed by putting more muscle and while some may think the extra weight would stunt his speed, his 4.53 40 yard time disagrees. He was measured at 6’3 and weighed in at 246 pounds when most thought he would be in the 230 range. Beasley put up 35 reps on the bench press, had a 41’ inch vertical, and looked good during position drills. While at Clemson, Beasley displayed his pass rush skills by getting to the QB twleve times. 1. Shane Ray, Missouri: There might be something in the water at Missouri. It is safe to say that if Ray plays similarly to his “big brother” Sheldon Richardson, then Jets fans would be ecstatic. When watching Ray, you will never see him stop. He had a total of 13.5 sacks last year, proof that he is an established pass rusher. Ray is explosive and has an array of pass rush moves. One of his biggest strengths is his hand work while coming off the edge. It is not rare to see Ray throw a violent swing at the tackle, throwing him off-balance. It is high praise but there are similarities to Von Miller when he was coming out of Texas A&M. Both were strong pass rushers and had similar weaknesses coming out of college. Ray would fit in perfectly as pass rush specialist in the early stages of his career and once he adds a little more weight, he can be one of the most dominant 3-4 OLBs in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage69 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 a 4.6 at 260 is unreal, are those confirmed numbers ? Gastineau did better at 280..LOL http://bleacherreport.com/articles/114591-nfl-legends-the-new-york-sack-exchange Gastineau loved the pass rush, simply loved it. If you looked at this guy, you'd be amazed at his body. This green beast was 6'6", around 280 lbs, but ran a 4.5 40-yard dash! No one that size can run that fast! At least, they shouldn't be able to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashmouth Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Gastineau did better at 280..LOL http://bleacherreport.com/articles/114591-nfl-legends-the-new-york-sack-exchange Gastineau loved the pass rush, simply loved it. If you looked at this guy, you'd be amazed at his body. This green beast was 6'6", around 280 lbs, but ran a 4.5 40-yard dash! No one that size can run that fast! At least, they shouldn't be able to. too bad the guy was one of the dumbest humans on the planet ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Please elaborate. I highly doubt you need someone to explain swallowing to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 What I like about Fowler is that even if he never becomes a big pass rusher, he'll still be good in a Lance Briggs/Cornelius Bennett kind of way. Speaking of... did Briggs get released today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 a 4.6 at 260 is unreal, are those confirmed numbers ? We have an undrafted FA ILB that ran a 4.46 at 257 at his pro day in 2011. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Speaking of... did Briggs get released today? Wasn't released, but he won't be re-signed. He's a free agent and will likely retire, I'd imagine. 34 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 We have an undrafted FA ILB that ran a 4.46 at 257 at his pro day in 2011. SIGN THIS BEAST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack48 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I've had the joy of watching this guy for the past few years. He's an incredible talent. Unreal motor. Freak athlete. He's a game changer, a chaos creator. Can make a game real ugly and beat the ever living snot out of an OL. I'd love to watch his career up close in the NFL as a Jet. Would love it! He NEVER stops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsmanjb Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I like the pic and would be glad if we got him- just don't know how he'd fare in cold weather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Life Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I only saw 2 Gator games last year (Vols & FSU) and he was a monster in both. Would have loved him but now its looking like he may be gone before 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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