Ryan Carrethers NFL Draft 2014: Highlights, Scouting Report for Chargers DT

Ryan Carrethers, DT, Arkansas State (HT: 6’1¼”, WT: 337 lbs.)

San Diego Chargers

Fifth Round: 165th Pick

Height	Weight	Arm	Hand
6'1 1/4"	337	31 3/4"	9 3/8"

40-yd dash	10-yd split	Vert	Broad	3-Cone	Bench
5.47	1.78	26"	7'4"	7.89	32

Positives

• Massive, tipping the scale at 337 pounds. Stout, but muscular build without much bad weight.
• Former wrestler with a strong lower body and a low center of gravity.
• Occupies gaps and is capable of handling one- or two-gapping responsibilities, allowing teammates to roam free.
• Very strong upper body, excels in the weight room and flashes a powerful punch on the field.
• Sheer mass makes it difficult to redirect his momentum.
• Lined up over center and in the A-gap as a 1-technique; is capable of playing 0-, 1- and 2-technique.
• Is quick to engage, firing his hands into his opponent’s pads as he is coming out of his stance.
• Demonstrates an effective bull-rush, walking interior linemen back into the pocket.
• Can explode through blockers in short-yardage situations.
• Decent snap anticipation and initial quickness for his size.
• Holds up fairly well against double teams.
• Displays awareness, locating the ball.
• Capable of ripping and shedding blocks when he gets his hands on blockers first.
• Gives a good effort from the snap to the whistle.
• Has no history of significant injury, durability is not a concern.
• Productive over his career at Arkansas State, was dominant at times during his junior and senior seasons.

Negatives

• Fairly short arms, measuring 31 ¾” limit him. He struggles to win against length.
• Inconsistent pad level and leverage, occasionally rising too high out of his stance.
• Marginal athlete with mediocre change of direction ability and lateral agility. Finished at or near the bottom of his position group in athletic tests at the NFL Scouting Combine.
• He must be quicker and more violent with his hands to keep longer blockers out of his pads.
• Top-heavy and prone to losing his balance, his momentum can be used against him.
• Not an impact pass-rusher, size and athletic profile do not translate well to a gap-shooting role. Could be seen exclusively as a situational run defender.
• Due to speed deficiencies, he has a very limited range in pursuit.
• Struggles at times to break down and tackle ball-carriers in space.
• Lack of length inhibits him from making tackles while being blocked.
• Needs to shed blocks quicker and more consistently.
• Questionable stamina.
• Played at a relatively low level of competition in the Sun Belt and was not often matched up against NFL-caliber blockers.

Year	Team	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	FF	PD
2010	Arkansas State	6	0.0	0.0	0	0
2011	Arkansas State	29	3.0	1.5	0	0
2012	Arkansas State	68	3.5	1.0	0	0
2013	Arkansas State	93	8.0	4.0	0	0

Personal Notes

• First-team All-Sun Belt 2013
• First-team All-Sun Belt 2012
• Redshirted 2009

Ratings Chart

nces.ed.gov

Overall

As one of this draft’s few pure nose tackles, Carrethers fits inside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. A former wrestler with an understanding of leverage, he is capable of playing 0-, 1- and 2-technique.

While he is extremely strong and flashes some functional power, he appears to be a marginal athlete by NFL standards and will need to adjust to a drastically higher level of competition. He is worthy of a late-round selection and will earn his paychecks as a rotational run-stuffer.

Draft Projection: Sixth-Seventh Round