Scouting Profile: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

[Dustin]

GIF machine isn't working for some reason. Sorry about that. 

 

Previous Installments:

 

The RBs - Hub Post

The WRs - Hub Post

The Off-Ball LBs - Hub Post

The EDGEs - Hub Post

Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma

Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon

Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU

Carl Davis, DT, Iowa

 

 

Games watched: vs Alabama, vs Oregon, vs Indiana

 

The Good:

 

Powerful hand usage. Not only to swat away blockers but also to grab and pull. Makes first contact. 

 

Great burst up field. Combination of terrific first step and snap-anticipation ability.

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=254492&gif=UnfinishedEnragedBlackfish[badly formatted gif, sorry]

 

Technically sound player who understand leverage and hand usage. 

 

Very athletic relative to position. Ran a 4.93 at his pro day (which is probably really a 5.03). 

 

Big upside as an up-field gap-perpetrator. Prototypical under-tackle skill-set. 

 

The Bad:

 

Very small comparatively to DTs. H'es only 6'2" and around 290 lbs. 

 

Doesn't have athletic ability to ever be a dominant pass rusher. Not overly fast or quick. 

 

Not big or strong enough to anchor the line, beat double teams, or blow back blockers in the run game. He's a great run defender, don't get me wrong, but it's on the basis of shooting gaps and making the tackle, not stacking olineman. Functional strength is a minus. Doesn't really shed blocks all that well either. 

 

Doesn't use any pass rush moves. Penetration ability based purely on hand usage. 

 

Gets gassed fairly quickly. 

 

Doesn't offer and position versatility. He's a 3-tech and nothing else. 

 

Conclusion: 

 

Going in I thought I'd like Bennett a lot more than I actually did. He has upside as a 3-tech in nickel situations, but his size and lack of ideal functional strength will make any team wary of handing him a starting job.

 

NFL Comparison: Drake Nevis

Projected Round: 3rd

 

[Gavin]

Solid player as a gap shooter I thought but can be dominated when trying to anchor, His best fit is with a team that runs mostly a 4-3 but like you said he could work in nickel...I would pass though

[Dustin]

Solid player as a gap shooter I thought but can be dominated when trying to anchor, His best fit is with a team that runs mostly a 4-3 but like you said he could work in nickel...I would pass though

 

Me too. He'd be a good fit in the Dungy era.