For the people who have listened to me on the Big-870 for over 20 years I have stated many times that quarterback and cornerback are the two toughest positions to fill on a football team, college or pro. If I had a pick for the third toughest spot to fill it would be defensive tackle.

There are a good set of defensive tackles coming out in this draft class, but like many in recent memory, you rarely get a super inside pass rusher. That is why a healthy Glenn Dorsey could be a red-hot commodity come draft day.

The Talent: Glenn Dorsey-LSU…Glenn Dorsey is afootball warrior. Despite having back, hamstring, shin and knee problems over the past few seasons the All-American defensive tackle never missed a game. Glenn combines super initial quickness off the snap, 1st rate football instincts, great ability to use his arms and hands to fight off blockers and the most important feature is that he can get outstanding penetration from the middle as a pass rusher. There is no debate that Dorsey is the most dominant defensive lineman to come out of LSU since A.J. Duhe back in the mid-1970’s.

Big Man on the West Coast: Sedrick Ellis-USC…Dorsey was the monster interior defensive lineman in the Deep South, but it was Ellis who was the top guy on the West Coast. Sedrick has a very strong combination of power and quickness and over the past two seasons he has recorded 20 ½  tackles for losses and 13
quarterback sacks. That is pretty salty.. Look for Ellis to be off the board by the 8th overall choice in 2008.

The Mystery Man: Kentwan Balmer-North Carolina…Balmer started 8 games as a junior, but he didn’t make much of an impact. Kentwan finally played up to his potential as a senior, and we all saw the raw ability many had predicted for him. Balmer has great size, 6-4 ½, 310 and he gets solid inside penetration, but it’s his motor that I question. While Balmer has the ability to dominate, he does take a lot of plays off and his technical skills are average at best. Some team will gamble on his potential and pick him late in Round 1, but it will be a gamble.

The Hot Motor Guy: Trevor Laws-Notre Dame… Laws was a tremendous prep football player and wrestler and you can see in his play his outstanding leverage and balance skills. Laws is non stop on each and every
play and last season playing on a lousy football team he never gave up and was the only down defensive
lineman to record over 100 tackles. Laws is a very active inside performer and the young man is a very heady performer out on the field.

Wow, Does he Look Good Getting off the Bus: Dre Moore-Maryland… Moore is 6-4 ¼ and 310 pounds and he has run some sub 5.0 40-yard dash times. He also is built like someone carved his body out of stone, but
he just does not play that great out on the field. Moore is physically gifted, but what I don’t see out of him is good football instincts and he is late to react to what is breaking down out on the field. Dre played much better as a senior than in the past, but he will need plenty of technical work to get the best out of him.

The Big Disapointment: Frank Okam-Texas… Coming out of high school Frank was considered one of the elite defensive linemen in the country. Everyone thought the light would come on in college and at times it did,
but most of the time it just flickered. Okam has the skills and size, 6-4 ¼, 320 pounds, to dominate up front, but you just don’t see enough of it. Boom-or-Bust type player in the NFL and you just hope he realizes he no longer is on scholarship.

The Sleeper: Lorenzo Williams-Missouri…. Williams has been a 3-year starter for the Tigers, but it has been
the Tiger offense that has gotten most of the ink. Williams is active, strong and he has no let up in his
play. During his college career Lorenzo has recorded 32 ½ tackles for losses and 19 quarterback sacks and
that is impressive for an interior defensive lineman. He won’t go until late in the draft, but mark it down, he is going to see a lot of playing time in the NFL.

Mike D’s Top 6 Defensive Tackle Prospects for the 2008
NFL draft

1. Glenn Dorsey-LSU             1st round
2. Sedrick Ellis-USC            1st round
3. Kentwan Balmer-North Carolina   Late 1st or early
2nd round choice
4. Trevor Laws-Notre Dame       2nd round
5. Pat Sims-Auburn              2nd round
6. Dre Moore-Maryland   Late 2nd or early 3rd round
choice

The Locals….We have already talked about Dorsey and
while he will end up being a top 4 selection, Tulane
defensive tackle Frank Morton is fighting to get his
name called in the later rounds. Morton has excellent
size, a huge upper-body and he does a solid job
clogging up the inside running lanes.
Morton is a likely 7th round pick or premium undrafted
free agent signee.

Saints Draft Interest: (High)..There is no question
that the Saints would love to land one of the top two
defensive tackles in this draft, but they will have to
trade up to do so. Getting Dorsey will take a lot of
football capital to get up that high, but getting the
shot to pick Sedrick Ellis may be more doable. If
Ellis is still on the board at the #7 spot (New
England Patriots), then you could see the Saints
maneuver up to acquire that pick.
Just remember that Saints defensive line coach Ed
Orgeron recruited Ellis to USC and coached him one
season there before he left to take over the head
coaching spot at Ole Miss.