Michael Sam NFL Draft 2014: Highlights, Scouting Report for Rams DE

Michael Sam, DE, Missouri (HT: 6’2” WT: 261 lbs)

St. Louis Rams

Seventh Round: 249th Pick 

NFL Comparison: Trent Cole, OLB, Philadelphia Eagles

Height	Weight	Arm	Hand
6020	261	33 3/8"	9 3/8"

40-yd dash	10-yd split	Vert	Broad	3-Cone	Bench
4.91	1.72	25 1/2"	9'6"	7.80	17

Positives

• Compact and thick build with a toned frame. 
• Sufficient arm length despite lack of height. 
• Comes off the ball with adequate acceleration. 
• Prolific pass-rusher who is productive making plays in the backfield. 
• Out-leverages blockers on a consistent basis by playing with low pad level into contact. 
• Has a compressed frame that’s not easy for blockers to get their hands on to control. 
• Quick to the corner as a speed-rusher and can take advantage of slow-footed tackles. 
• Consistently rips through the hands of pass-blockers. 
• Frequently beats pass-blockers on first contact by winning with his hands. 
• Strong upper body to ward off blockers and split gaps working to the inside. 
• Plays with resistance strength to stay on his pass-rushing arcs and not get wedged off. 
• Can work to the inside of tackles and into the backfield to disrupt running plays. 
• Has experience in a defense that played from multiple fronts and varied techniques.

Negatives

• Rigid body type with especially stiff ankles and knees. 
• Play recognition not overly developed. 
• Motor isn’t especially high. 
• Lacks a variety of pass-rushing moves and can be predictable. 
• Struggles to bend around blocks on the corner due to a lack of flexibility. 
• Doesn’t spin back to the inside when pass-blockers mirror the speed rush on the corner. 
• Not a power rusher who can compress the pocket from the outside despite a thick build and low pad level. 
• Struggles to hold up at the line of scrimmage against drive blocks and doesn’t generate power to stand up blocks. 
• Needs to play with more balance while engaged with blocks while keeping his shoulders square. 
• Doesn’t consistently shed run blocks while containing plays on the edge. 
• Highly ineffective and unproductive chasing down plays in pursuit. 
• Does a poor job wrapping up as a tackler to finish plays. 
• Plays flat-footed in coverage and struggles to move laterally or play route breaks. 
• Only played on the left side of Missouri’s defense, little experience playing from the right side.

Year	Team	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	FF	PD
2010	Missouri	24	7	3.5	2	0
2011	Missouri	29	3	1.5	0	1
2012	Missouri	22	7	4.5	2	0
2013	Missouri	48	19	11.5	2	2

Personal Notes

• Was ranked as the 75th overall defensive end prospect in the ESPN 150 as a 3-star recruit out of Hitchcock, Texas. 
• Decommitted from Iowa State after the departure of Gene Chizik and signed with Missouri. 
• Named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. 
• Became the second unanimous All-American in Missouri Tigers football history in 2013.

Ratings Chart

Graph made at nces.com

Overall

As one of the most productive pass-rushers in the country as a senior, Michael Sam has garnered accolades and attention as a draft prospect.  Specific athletic limitations including a lack of flexibility and a lack of optimal size are concerning. 

Sam also isn’t a multi-dimensional rusher despite the high number of sacks.  He still projects as a pass-rush specialist in the NFL because his prospects as a run defender are even direr.  For 4-3 defenses looking for depth at end or a rotational rusher for third downs, Michael Sam makes sense.

Draft Projection: Fifth Round