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Posted: Tuesday, 01 April 2008 2:16PM

Defensive Ends

Mike Detillier Reporting

Every team is looking to upgrade their pass rush and this has made the defensive end position a high
priority spot for virtually every team in the league. The 2008 Draft Class of defensive ends were helped by
a strong group of underclassmen and you could see as many as six defensive ends selected in the opening round of the draft…

The Talent: Chris Long-Virginia… The son of former Oakland Raider great and NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long has made a reputation all by himself. The one word to describe Chris Long is relentless. The guy just never quits on a play and last year when
Virginia turned him loose Chris registered 14 quarterback sacks and 19 tackles for losses. Odds are strong that Chris Long gets selected with the top overall choice in the 2008 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.

The Natural: Vernon Gholston-Ohio State… Gholston dreamed of being a body builder one day and when you take a look at him you can clearly see that he was lifting weights at a young age. The guy is simply a football puppy and he is something to watch. Over the past two seasons Vernon has recorded 30 ½ tackles for losses and 21 quarterback sacks. In my opinion he has the biggest upside of any player that will get picked in the top six picks…

Jumping Up the Charts: Derrick Harvey-Florida… In 2006 Florida had players like Marcus Thomas and Jarvis Moss getting all the ink, but Harvey was a special playmaker also. Derrick was a dominant pass rusher in the SEC over the past two seasons racking up 30 tackles for losses and 19 ½ quarterback sacks. Believe me, this young man is a top 10 selection.

The Next “Freak:”… Quentin Groves-Auburn… Groves has a personality that won’t jive with some NFL coaches, but when he is tuned up just right, he is something else coming off the edge. Groves has consistently run in the low 4.4’s in the 40-yard dash and for a 250-pounder he is very strong. He did 30 reps of 225 pounds at the Combine workouts. At Auburn he racked up 26 quarterback sacks….and that is freaky..

The “Unknown”.. Tommy Blake-TCU..Before the start of the 2007 college football season Tommy was rated as a top 10 selection and he looked like the second coming of Dwight Freeney, but Blake had a meltdown that has sunk his draft stock. The super-speedy pass rush ace is being treated for depression and social anxiety disorder. Despite being constantly double-teamed as a
junior Blake recorded 54 tackles, 16 ½ tackles for losses and 7 QB. sacks. Some teams have taken him off
their draft boards because of his problems, and his draft status will go down to some team taking a calculated risk on him in the middle rounds.

The Sleeper:… Jason Jones-Eastern Michigan.. Jones has good size (6-4 ¾, and 275 pounds) and he has played both defensive end and defensive tackle for Eastern Michigan. Jason has recorded 50 tackles for losses and 14 quarterback sacks over his 4-year career at Eastern Michigan. He has great initial quickness off the edge and he has really learned how to use his arms and hands very well to defeat the initial block. Keep an eye on this very talented young DE. prospect in the middle rounds of the draft.

Mike D’s Top 6 Defensive End Prospects…

1. Chris Long-Virginia          1st round
2. Vernon Gholston-Ohio State   1st round
3. Derrick Harvey-Florida       1st round
4. Phillip Merling-Clemson      1st round
5. Calais Campbell-Miami (Fla.) 1st round
6. Quentin Groves-Auburn        Late 1st or early 2nd round
choice

Saints Draft Interest (Low)… The Saints brass are
thrilled with the free agent addition of Bobby McCray
from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and teamed up with Will
Smith and Charles Grant has the defensive end spot far
back on the Saints need list.