Denver Broncos 2010 Draft Prospects – Defensive Tackles
The Denver Broncos off-season is one of my favorite times of year, I love evaluating and trying to figure out who will fit and fill the needs in the stable at Dove Valley. This year, the work is needed in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and so, I will begin with the very most important piece to the 3-4 defense, the Nose Tackle.
Joe Collier was the architect of the famed 3-4 Orange Crush Defense in the 1970′s and because the Broncos recently switched back to the 3-4 defense from a 4-3 when Josh McDaniels arrived, I tend to listen when JC the defensive guru speaks. Last year Collier was on a local sports radio program here in Denver, shortly after we were made wiser of the new defensive scheme and he said, the key to the 3-4 is the middle of the defense and it all starts up front with the NT. Collier then went on to say, NT Rubin Carter was the reason the Orange Crush operated at a high level.
Who are we to argue?
McDaniels had to move fast last year to fill team needs and in a full-time role last year, Ronald Fields, filled the gap admirably. However, he wore down as a season of banging with big bodies in the middle slowed down his motor. If Fields could come in to the game on a rotation, it would be ideal. The Denver Broncos are going to get bigger folks and we need a mountain of a man to take up two blockers and stuff the run.
The Broncos have the 11th pick in the draft, so we’re not even going to look at the top 2 DT’s on the board, both likely to be gone, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy. Here are some realistic options in the 2010 NFL Draft for Defensive Tackles…
Dan Williams Tennessee 6’2″ 327 lbs. – With Williams stock on the rise recently, this could be the Broncos potential pick at #11 and is exactly what I am hoping for. Williams has a combination of speed, size, and strength which all compute to a dominate NT in the 3-4 defense.
Last year, the Broncos drafted Robert Ayers from Tennessee with their 2nd of two 1st round draft picks, there is probably a good chance the coaching and scouting departments noticed Williams while scouting Ayers, as Williams played in every game from 2007 through 2009 for the Vols.
In a talent rich SEC, Williams led all defensive lineman this past year with 61 tackles, and we all know how the SEC drops out NFL players like a candy machine.
Terrence Cody Alabama 6’4″ 354 lbs. – Considered by many to be a two down run stopper, Mount Cody is a massive body that will plug holes as a NT in a 3-4 defense.
Last month at the Senior Bowl, Cody sent off alarms when he weighed in at 370 lbs. A month later at the NFL Scouting Combine he weighed in at a slim 354 lbs. Very Impressive! As one executive put it, “Terrence Cody just made himself lots of money.”
It’s for this reason Cody will probably not be available with the #45 pick that the Broncos occupy in the second round, but things do happen on draft day, so draft spots could change by this point.
If we rotate Ronald Fields in on passing situations to spell Cody, the Mount could be a viable option for the NT spot in Denver.
Regardless of what you think of Cody’s weight issues, the fact remains he is run-stuffing 3-4 NT that will free up the linebackers to wreak havoc.
Cam Thomas North Carolina 6’4″ 330 lbs. – Thomas is another projected NT with his draft stock on the rise, lately. Like Williams, Thomas brings a combination of strength, size, and speed, capable of anchoring the Broncos defense for years to come.
Although I have Cody above Cam on this list, I would actually prefer Thomas for his versatility. He is very disruptive and gets great push up the middle. I simply have them placed in this order because of draft stock at this point.
A month ago at the Senior Bowl, Thomas was close to unstoppable in drills all week and looked great in the game. He has a tremendous bull rush and should require constant double teams in the trenches.
Another bonus for Cam is his character and we all know how McDaniels has emphasized the importance of a good locker room, with good reason. He has an outgoing personality and keen sense of humor. He had reporters chuckling when talking about how much he likes to eat and rehearsing how he’d introduce himself on a Monday (or Sunday) Night Football telecasts.
Broncos better act fast! I have seen his stock rising as high as the second round. There are a lot of teams searching for that anchor on their 3-4 defenses, which are so popular these days.
Torrell Troup Central Florida 6’3″ 314 lbs. – Troup may be a little smaller in weight compared to the others on this list, but he isn’t lacking for strength. At the combine this weekend he put up 34 reps on the bench press and showed great burst and power, with a combination of agility, in the drills.
In his career at UCF Torrell played in 47 games with 108 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. That’s the kind of disruption and production that could produce a future in the NFL.
Torrell was a disruptive force in the East-West Shrine game and east coach Romeo Crennel had this to say about him and his play, “Troup showed that he is a very physical and strong guy on the inside… He can push the pocket. He’s a good kid. He tries hard and does what you tell him to do. As a coach, that’s exactly what you’re looking for.”
Once again, because of supply and demand, Troup has seen his draft stock rise through the roof and has seen him projected as high as the 2nd round recently. There are a handful of teams looking for a nose in this draft, Troup could be worth a flier.
Linval Joseph East Carolina 6’6″ 328 lbs. – Could very well be the sleeper NT of the draft. In 41 career games Joseph tallied 143 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
At the scouting combine he ran a 5.09 and put up 39 bench reps, which doesn’t make a NT in the NFL, but it definitely displays his athleticism and strength, to go with the size.
Joseph is coming out after a strong junior season and his upside is intriguing. He is a run stuffer than can also push the pocket and with seasoning under NFL tutelage, the sky could be high for Linval.
Hopefully his stock doesn’t rise too much after his stellar performance at the combine. It would be nice to snag Linval in the mid rounds.
I haven’t forgoton about the rest of the defense, but these guys could fill the most important role on the 3-4.
That wraps up this edition, catch the next 2010 Draft Prospects, when we cover the other side of the trenches with the Offensive Line.
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Comment from Bill
Time: March 2, 2010, 4:03 pm
broncos need to focus on trading up to draft a qb first…defense later rounds but have to fix that QB issue first if they want to make the playoffs, orton is terrible…get a guy who can throw that ball
Pingback from 3/4/10 – News and Notes « Draft Headquarters Blog
Time: March 4, 2010, 9:21 am
[...] – Get on the Linval Joseph bandwagon while you still can. After a great workout in Indianapolis, the pure nose tackle from East Carolina is developing into one of the sleeper’s of this year’s draft. [...]
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Time: March 5, 2010, 5:01 pm
[...] – Get on the Linval Joseph bandwagon while you still can. After a great workout in Indianapolis, the pure nose tackle from East Carolina is developing into one of the sleeper’s of this year’s draft. [...]
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