Best Scheme Fits for NFL Draft's Top Pass-Rushers
The Denver Broncos annihilated the Carolina Panthers' offensive line in Super Bowl 50, providing us with a nice reminder of just how important it is to pressure the quarterback.
With that reminder delivered on the biggest stage, many NFL teams will likely attempt to copy the Broncos' strategy and further build their pass-rushing unit.
Unfortunately, there are limited options at the position early in this draft class.
There will certainly be a few impact pass-rushers who will emerge from this class, but the depth is severely lacking. Even those who come off the board early aren't necessarily equipped to succeed immediately in any scheme.
Here's a look at the top available pass-rushers and the roles they're best suited to play in the NFL.
Joey Bosa, Ohio State
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Best fit: left defensive end in 4-3
Joey Bosa can do a little of everything, and 3-4 teams certainly shouldn't remove him from their board. But he's at his best when he's able to win with power rather than speed and quickness, which makes him better suited to play with his hand on the ground.
Bosa consistently saw double-teams and often beat them during his time at Ohio State. The attention he received in college will ease the transition to the NFL, where—especially playing on the left side of the line—he'll likely receive fewer double-teams.
As a 4-3 end, Bosa will consistently be matched up against right tackles, and his impressive upper-body strength and hand usage should immediately give him an edge against the weaker tackles in the league.
Shaq Lawson, Clemson
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Best fit: 4-3 defensive end
Clemson used Shaq Lawson in a variety of ways, occasionally even allowing him to stand up as a 3-4 linebacker. But he was at his best lined up on the right side at defensive end.
Lawson isn't an explosive edge-rusher and won't often win with speed at the next level, but he has just enough quickness off the snap—combined with his impressive power—to make him a dangerous weapon on the edge.
He's a strong enough athlete to play linebacker in a 3-4 and would be certainly be an asset against the run in that role. However, moving him back off the line of scrimmage and allowing him to play in more space would put too much of an emphasis on his speed rather than his power, which is where he most often wins.
Kevin Dodd, Clemson
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Best fit: left defensive end in 4-3
At 6'5", 277 pounds, Kevin Dodd is built like the prototypical 4-3 end. He excelled on the left side at Clemson, and there's no reason to move him in the pros.
Dodd doesn't have the athleticism to excel as a 3-4 linebacker, but he's a technician on the defensive line.
His strong upper body and effective hand usage allow him to bully weaker right tackles, and he's just flexible enough to bend around the edge if he can gain a step off the snap.
Dodd played his best football at the end of the season, especially in the College Football Playoff National Championship, when he dominated Alabama right tackle Dominick Jackson. His combination of power and quickness was on full display that night and likely earned him a high spot on draft boards of every team running a 4-3 defense.
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Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
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Best fit: 3-4 linebacker
Spence is an option for every team because no one will turn down an opportunity to incorporate an explosive edge-rusher into their defense. But his lack of ideal length makes him a better fit to play in space in the 3-4 defense.
Since he stands at just 6'2", some 4-3 teams may have concerns about Spence's ability to keep tackles from getting into his pads and controlling him off the snap.
As a 3-4 linebacker with decent speed, however, Spence has room to pick his angles and attempt to slip past the offensive line without allowing opponents to square him up.
If he does land in a 4-3 scheme, coaches may use him as a situational pass-rusher early in his career and put him in the Wide 9 position to account for these concerns.
Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
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Best fit: situational pass-rusher
Shilique Calhoun is an impressive athlete who simply lacks functional strength at this stage of his career.
In the long run, he has as much upside as a pass-rusher as anyone in this draft class and could excel in either scheme. Until he develops the ability to hold his ground at the point of attack, however, he will be a liability against the run in the NFL.
Regardless of the scheme he lands in, Calhoun should be on the field in passing situations and allowed to simply pin his ears back and fly into the backfield.
He may be slightly more effective playing in space as a 3-4 linebacker, but he has plenty of experience and was productive as a 4-3 end at Michigan State.
Kamalei Correa, Boise State
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Best fit: 3-4 linebacker
Kamalei Correa is in a similar situation to Calhoun's in terms of NFL readiness.
Despite dangerous athleticism as an edge-rusher and experience playing all over the field at Boise State, his game simply isn't refined enough to handle the physical play of the NFL.
In terms of specific techniques, Correa struggles with hand usage and doesn't really know how to fight his way out of a block once he's engaged. This is a very teachable skill and isn't a long-term concern, but it will limit his immediate effectiveness in the league.
Early in his career, Correa will fare better at linebacker, where he's allowed to operate in space. He's probably better off in that role in the long term as well. With space to work with, Correa is quick enough to avoid being squared up by offensive linemen, which will ease his ability to get into the backfield.
Like Calhoun, he will probably be best utilized in a situational role early in his career until he refines his technique and adjusts to the physical style of the NFL.
Carl Nassib, Penn State
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Best fit: 4-3 end
Carl Nassib was arguably the most productive pass-rusher in this draft class in 2015, but that comes with a bit of an asterisk.
In pass-rushing situations, Penn State used Nassib almost exclusively from the Wide 9 position, giving him a favorable angle to fly into the backfield. Obviously, there's a chance he could be used in that role in the NFL as well, but he simply doesn't have the athleticism to maintain his level of production.
While Big Ten right tackles struggled to slide outside to keep up with Nassib, that won't be the case in nearly as many matchups in the pros.
In fact, Nassib may actually have the frame (6'7", 277 lbs) to add some weight and shift inside to play the 3-technique tackle position. He's much too skinny for that role immediately, but it's a potential long-term option for teams looking to get the most out of his skill set.
In terms of athleticism, Nassib is a solid notch below Bosa and well below the likes of Calhoun and Correa.
As a result, it's unlikely that a team will see want to use him as a pass-rushing specialist. He'll be a much more effective pro if he's able to add strength and learn to win with technique and power rather than speed.
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