2020 NFL Draft - EDGE Thread

[BcRaven]

After watching Epenesa's vs Minnesota tape I'm starting to respect his technique shown. At first I was watching to confirm his very pedestrian vertical, broad and 3 cone in his tape then came away with noticing he can be a technician with his hands instead of being just a brute strength bull rush guy. I don't know if he'll be a hit right away though I can see him developing into one in about 4 years.

I don't know if he'll be a hit right away either, but to say "I can see him developing into one in about 4 years" seems ridiculous to me. This 6' 6" 275 lb edge rusher, who I feel will rightfully be drafted in the 1st round (or some lucky team will get him in the 2nd), has (over 2018 and 2019 as an Iowa Hawkeye) gotten 86 tackles, 22 sacks, and 8 FFs. While I know stats aren't everything, please don't tell your lying eyes that you're more knowledgeable than his actual on-field performance... Bc

[edromeo]

AJ vs Minn cont.

1:30 RB give OT help

1:54 Stacks up the (L) LOS run goes (R)


2:00 Again creates a pile up on (L) LOS play-pass goes right

2:10 Gets engaged by the TE, then the RB and the OT was waiting but the pass was out (they are not trying to let him beat them)

2:22 Mauls the OG ~3 yards into the backfield

2:26 This is some coaching tape stuff- AJ jacks the LT up and takes him for a ride down the line, then (single arm) posts and sheds him and makes the tackle on the RB
I guess the Minn staff thought they would try run at him?

[edromeo]

AJ vs Minn cont.

2:32 - Minn staff is getting smart and fed up. They run the ball but this time they're not gonna single block him they're gonna triple block him and they get a win. AJ does his best to hold his ground...but there's 3 dudes






2:44 - Double teamed at LOS knocked back 2 yards







2:47 - Single blocked drives OT ~3 yards into the backfield, forces RB to redirect

[WNCRavensFan]

Thanks for the gifs Ed, is that gif maker thing working again?

[WNCRavensFan]

AJ has a great first power punch into the tackle showing he has play strength. The knock on him is athleticism, really??

I know right? It's really just top speed that he's lacking. As a power DE he's got all you need. Burst, strength, hands, feet.

IMO Epenesa would be a good pick if the Ravens stay at 28.

[WNCRavensFan]

Lol, #70 is happy as hell AJ is going pro.
This was some fun tape and honestly I stopped somewhere around the 4 minute mark.

Check out around the 8:30 mark to see him lined up at DT.

[edromeo]

Money time.

2:56 3rd and goal - single block:

Good get off, good hand work to separate clean (freakin judo chopped him) QB gets the ball out in time to avoid a sack and throw it away, they're lucky
--if he could have taken a sharper less rounded angle could have been a sack-fumble






3:15 If there is a such thing as an assist on a sack; 34 celebrates his unblocked sack AJ was getting doubled which allowed him to come free:

---

I stopped making timestamp for gif here.
He was kicking ass up and down the line.
I did about 30+ plays and only had a total of minus 1 thus far and those were nit picking.

-Good get off, usually the first one off the line on a pass rush
-Skilled hand fighting technique
-Stong, easily single hand posted against their LT and got push
-Disciplined (usually) to play controlled to read-react
-Active
-Offense focused on blocking him
-Versatile outside, over, inside the OT, same with the OG, used on T & E games and stunting

[edromeo]

Thanks for the gifs Ed, is that gif maker thing working again?

Knock on wood, yes. I use the one where all you have to do is type 'gif' after the period 'www.' and in front of 'youtube' of the whatever youtube vid you want.

(1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cARp...ature=emb_logo

(2) - https://www.gifyoutube.com/watch?v=cARpJJ1Wqjs&feature=emb_logo

IMO Epenesa would be a good pick if the Ravens stay at 28.

If he's there.

Check out around the 8:30 mark to see him lined up at DT.

The goalline? Or this play:


Lined up inside shade of the OG - quick burst and hand work to shot the gap between the C and LG for a pressure almost sack

He lined up around the guard a few times in the snaps I charted too.

[WNCRavensFan]

Yeah, either way really. Just pointing out he can rush from the interior. He'd be a great fit on the Ravens. I don't really think he'll be there at 28 though.

Next up is Yetur Gross-Matos

[DeltaRaven]

I know right? It's really just top speed that he's lacking. As a power DE he's got all you need. Burst, strength, hands, feet.

IMO Epenesa would be a good pick if the Ravens stay at 28.

I’ve come back around on Epenesa too after his combine dropped his stock a little bit. He seems like a high floor guy that’s just a good football player. We need guys like that long term in our front 7 right now. Wink will find a way to use him even if he isn’t conventional size for OLB or 3 tech in our defense.

[ravensromp]

I know right? It's really just top speed that he's lacking. As a power DE he's got all you need. Burst, strength, hands, feet.

IMO Epenesa would be a good pick if the Ravens stay at 28.

I'd have no problem if it works out that way. He's physical, tough, & productive. And we've had success with good football players who were knocked down after a poor combine.

[edromeo]

Yeah, either way really. Just pointing out he can rush from the interior. He'd be a great fit on the Ravens. I don't really think he'll be there at 28 though.

Next up is Yetur Gross-Matos

Which game/s? Personally I like to start with whichever game is the shortest time length.

Draftnetwork has the OSU games as his best.