Scouting Profile: Alvin "Bud" Dupree, EDGE, Kentucky

[Dustin]

Previous Installments:

 

The RBs - Hub Post

The WRs - Hub Post

The Off-Ball LBs - Hub Post

Vic Beasley, EDGE, Clemson

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, EDGE, UCLA

Randy Gregory, EDGE, Nebraska

Eli Harold, EDGE, Virginia 

Hau'oli Kikaha, EDGE, Washington

 

 

Mock Draftable chart (as an OLB): http://mockdraftable.com/player/4912/position/19/

 

Games watched: vs Florida, vs South Carolina

 

The Good:

 

Clowney-esque athleticism. 6'4" 270 4.56 forty. If you were going to build the perfect physical edge rusher from scratch, he would look like Alvin Dupree. 

 

Powerful hitter when coming downhill. 

 

Shoots though even the smallest of gaps. 

 

Does a good job in short zone-coverage. 

 

Played as a stand-up rusher. Big enough to hold his own an the interior d-line in pass rushing situations. 

 

When this dude fires off, he fires OFF. 

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=254734&gif=JauntyAcclaimedGuernseycow(here you can also see him get overaggressive and not play the RB)

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=254734&gif=DefiantInferiorDeinonychus

 

The Bad: 

 

Inconsistent burst. One play he's shot out of a cannon at the snap and the next he's the last guy to get out of his stance. 

 

For as good as an athlete he is, he doesn't really dominate like he should. He plays slower than he test (though it looks like he's coached to play like that).  

 

I think he has bad instincts.

 

Doesn't shed blocks. Not a very strong player for a guy who's 270 lbs. Routinely gets blown off of the ball. NFL.com lists one of his strengths as "Outstanding power with ability to rag-doll tight ends at will" which I don't see at all. 

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=255666&gif=OblongAmazingIberianlynx

 

Lack of hand usage and pass rush moves. 

 

Takes bad angles to the ball and often picks wrong lanes on running plays. 

 

Played more a prototypical OLB role than as an EDGE. I really don't understand why the coaching staff would do that. 

 

Doesn't covert speed to power.

 

Conclusion:

 

I absolutely hate the way he was used by the Kentucky coaching staff. I don't know why you would take your most athletic edge rusher and use him the way they did. I feel like Dupree has a lot of growing room and potential as a pass rusher, but wasn't being developed properly at Kentucky. He's probably the highest upside edge in this draft. He can fit as a 3-4 rush LB or a DE in a 4-3. He reminds me a lot of Jamie Collins when he was at Southern Miss; raw player, extremely high upside. 

 

Projected Round: 1st

NFL Comparison: Jamie Collins, NE

[backshoulderfade]

That kind of athlete is very tempting.

[UKColt13]

Great athlete. I like him.

 

Not sure if he's worth a first round for us, too raw.

[PeterBowman]

I'm seeing quite a few mocks having him going to the Colts at 29

[krunk]

I was dissing him a while back, but Bud Dupree has grown on me.  I think he will have a much better Pro Career than what his college career looked like. There are people on this forum who believe he's going to be a Sam Backer in the pros and I just can't get with that line of reasoning.  I think he's got too much speed, and his pass rushing ability was not tapped into properly in college.  I think with some coaching he can definitely be like Jamie Collins or even better.  I wouldn't fuss at all if he fell to us and we pulled the trigger.  You can play this guy all over(they even played him on the slot receiver on several occasions at Kentucky).

[Superman]

I was dissing him a while back, but Bud Dupree has grown on me.  I think he will have a much better Pro Career than what his college career looked like. There are people on this forum who believe he's going to be a Sam Backer in the pros and I just can't get with that line of reasoning.  I think he's got too much speed, and his pass rushing ability was not tapped into properly in college.  I think with some coaching he can definitely be like Jamie Collins or even better.  I wouldn't fuss at all if he fell to us and we pulled the trigger.  You can play this guy all over(they even played him on the slot receiver on several occasions at Kentucky).

 

I get the bolded, but it's hard to support drafting a guy based on how well you think he could have played if he were used properly. All you can really scout is what he did, not what you think he could have done. 

 

There are a lot of reports that the schemes intentionally slowed him down, and that shows on tape. Then there are times when he shows incredible burst, and that's supported by his workouts. But ability to rush the passer has to be seen to be believed, IMO. And based on the tape I've seen, I wouldn't call him a good pass rusher. The potential is obvious, but there are a lot of guys with pass rush potential who just never worked out.

 

I think projecting him to Jamie Collins or even a Sam backer makes more sense than projecting him to be a good pass rusher.

[krunk]

I get the bolded, but it's hard to support drafting a guy based on how well you think he could have played if he were used properly. All you can really scout is what he did, not what you think he could have done. 

 

There are a lot of reports that the schemes intentionally slowed him down, and that shows on tape. Then there are times when he shows incredible burst, and that's supported by his workouts. But ability to rush the passer has to be seen to be believed, IMO. And based on the tape I've seen, I wouldn't call him a good pass rusher. The potential is obvious, but there are a lot of guys with pass rush potential who just never worked out.

 

I think projecting him to Jamie Collins or even a Sam backer makes more sense than projecting him to be a good pass rusher.

 

 

My point of contention is I feel I saw enough on film to say he does have pass rush ability.  I just think the Kentucky coaches used him in a way that did not take full advantage of what he has.  I think there's enough there to do some of the things Newsome did in his first year if the staff puts the guy in the right position.   From your view you don't see as much value because you didn't arrive at the same conclusion when you watched.  We both agree he's raw, although I think most college pass rushers are raw when they leave college with some being more raw than others.  I'm not knocking you for your stance because we are talking about a #1 pick here and you make valid points.  I think he's worth a low 1st rounder if whoever is making the pick(Grigson) has enough of a comfort level with what is displayed on film.   To each his own I suppose. 

[Superman]

My point of contention is I feel I saw enough on film to say he does have pass rush ability.  I just think the Kentucky coaches used him in a way that did not take full advantage of what he has.  I think there's enough there to do some of the things Newsome did in his first year if the staff puts the guy in the right position.   From your view you don't see as much value because you didn't arrive at the same conclusion when you watched.  We both agree he's raw, although I think most college pass rushers are raw when they leave college with some being more raw than others.  I'm not knocking you for your stance because we are talking about a #1 pick here and you make valid points.  I think he's worth a low 1st rounder if whoever is making the pick(Grigson) has enough of a comfort level with what is displayed on film.   To each his own I suppose. 

 

That's my thing. The bolded. And you just compared him to a fifth rounder. 

 

If we're going to draft him at #29, I'd like to be more certain about his pass rush potential. I know the traits are there, and the athleticism. And all reports say he's a quality person. Getting a player like Jamie Collins at #29 isn't the worst thing in the world, but I think we could do better.

[PeterBowman]

I guess to determine if the value is there depends on who else is available at 29 and if theres any value to trading down.

[wig]

That's my thing. The bolded. And you just compared him to a fifth rounder.

If we're going to draft him at #29, I'd like to be more certain about his pass rush potential. I know the traits are there, and the athleticism. And all reports say he's a quality person. Getting a player like Jamie Collins at #29 isn't the worst thing in the world, but I think we could do better.

If course they could do better. They could also do a whole lot worse. Question is, would you trade 29 for Collins?

[Superman]

If course they could do better. They could also do a whole lot worse. Question is, would you trade 29 for Collins?

 

Yeah, probably.

[wig]

Yeah, probably.

Me, too. Especially with a higher ceiling. But, I think it's moot and Bud goes to twenty.

[#BringBobBack]

favorite prospect in the draft hope the colts somehow draft him

[Deano1818]

If a guy can't get sacks against college players...... How does he beat NFL quality players???

College production isn't the be all end all..... But...... Normally they go hand in hand

The highlights look good though.

[krunk]

Looks like he's got a meeting with the Colts

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/163940/bud-dupree-shines-in-position-drills-at-pro-day

 

 

 

 

 

Drill after drill, they pounded the bags and ran on to the next exercise. The last one involved included going against Cincinnati Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes in an individual drill that tested rush-move technique.

That's when Bud Dupree changed the tone of the proceedings, and rather quickly.

 

An audible gasp rang out late Thursday morning inside the University of Kentucky's Nutter Field House just ahead of an eruption of laughter. Not only had Dupree, the Wildcats' prized hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker, exploded perfectly out of his pass-rushing crouch, but he completely knocked Hayes, the man who could eventually be his position coach, 5 or 6 yards backward.

 

"He got a workout going against me," Dupree later said, laughing.

The awe-inspiring bull rush was the highlight of a pro day workout that was dominated by Dupree, the likely first-round draft pick who could go virtually anywhere in the top 32.

"It was important for me to showcase my ability and the change-of-direction ability and dropping in space," Dupree said. "I wanted to show that I could flip and change directions on my own like that."

Dupree didn't participate in any position drills at the NFL combine three weeks ago because he was slightly hobbled by a groin injury. He did go through three on-field drills, though, finishing with times and measurements that ranked among the top five at his position. His 138-inch broad jump was the third longest of any player at the combine.

Still, he wanted to show the 26 teams and three head coaches who showed up Thursday (Marvin Lewis, Mike Zimmer and Mike Tomlin) he could come off the line well and drop back in coverage.

 

"He's very instinctual and very versatile," Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. "I know people use that loosely, sometimes but he really is. For us, he could have played either end in the 4-3. And if we were in 3-4, he could play Sam, Mike, Will or Jack. He's that kind of player. Instinctual. He can pick it all up, he's so versatile, he's explosive and he's got great size."

Even at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Dupree has a body frame that could handle putting on more weight, Stoops added. That could be important for some 4-3 teams that would like to cast him as a true, on-the-line end. The Bengals, for example, have been trying to bulk up their 2014 third-round pick, defensive end Will Clarke, to closer to 290 pounds.

With his pro day done, Dupree has private time with individual team representatives coming. He said he will be spending his spring break next week -- Dupree trains at Kentucky and is still attending classes ahead of a May 9 graduation -- traveling for visits. The Bengals, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons are among the teams he'll be meeting

 

.

[PeterBowman]

can never have too many pass rushers

[backshoulderfade]

He could turn in to a top 5 edge player.

[ztboiler]

Yeah, probably.

For my money, what Jamie Collins does for NE is the hardest piece of the puzzle for us to solve.  Until you have a mulitple formation hybrid playmaker at the LB position, you'll never be able to reach the zenith of scheme dimensions that NFL coordinators would like to employ.  I don't know if Dupree is all of those things or not, but if he is, I'd not only take him at 29 but pay a premium if necessary.

[Superman]

For my money, what Jamie Collins does for NE is the hardest piece of the puzzle for us to solve.  Until you have a mulitple formation hybrid playmaker at the LB position, you'll never be able to reach the zenith of scheme dimensions that NFL coordinators would like to employ.  I don't know if Dupree is all of those things or not, but if he is, I'd not only take him at 29 but pay a premium if necessary.

 

I think that kind of player is best used by a defensive coordinator who runs multiple looks and personnel packages. So far, Manusky and Pagano have only paid lip service to that idea.

[ztboiler]

I think that kind of player is best used by a defensive coordinator who runs multiple looks and personnel packages. So far, Manusky and Pagano have only paid lip service to that idea.

Fair point.  I've always wanted to believe that Manusky/Pagano would scheme it up if they had the players, but that might be a lot to assume.

[krunk]

I for one wouldn't mind having Dupree.  A lot of steam is starting to build up on him though so I am not too confident he'll be there when we pick at 29. 6'5" 270 running a 4.5, you could even look at putting him on Gronk in some capcity in the redzone.  To me there is all kind of stuff you can do with the guy.  And I still maintain he will be a good pass rusher after a few tweaks. I didn't say he would be Lawrence Taylor, but I do believe he can be a 10-11 sack guy.

[#BringBobBack]

i agree with what Bucky Brooks said about Dupree his game is similar to Bruce Irvin same explosiveness same hard hitting ability and he can play back in coverage not a whole lot to dislike about him in my opinion.