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| Quinton Coples |
Cowboys Nation: Let's start with the sexy names. You were there so you didn't see the NFL Network coverage we were watching, but you know every year somebody or somebodies get the extra press. This year it was the South team's defensive line, with Quinton Coples, Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram and Brandon Thompson.
Reading your colleagues comments it seems a real Coke vs. Pepsi discussion when it comes to Upshaw and Ingram. How did you see them playing? What are your re-assessments of those guys and what did you hear down there about them? Add Coples to your rankings, since those three worked together.
Wes Bunting: I'd say the most physically talented, and if he's to hit his ceiling he's the best, is Coples. He's 6'6'', he's 285. He can get after the passer however he wants.
I'd say the highest floor player is Upshaw. You know what you're getting. He's a power player. The one thing he did better than I thought he would, was show more of a first step off the edge from a 3-point stance. He did a nice job turning the corner with a little bend, which impressed me. And then he'll get you where he's you think he's going around the edge, then he'll turn his speed move into a power move and just run over a tackle, which he did a couple of times. He's the safest, I'd say.
Ingram is the least impressive prospect physically, but he's the most natural pass rusher of the three, which is funny because I think he was recruited as a running back. He had the ability to work the speed rush and bend around the edge. He was sudden on the inside when they asked him to work a counter move. He's got this nifty little spin rush, and he worked a bull rush. That's four different ways he could get after the quarterback.
I thought all three were very good. They're all sure 1st round grades. I'm going to move Upshaw up in my ratings just a little bit because he's so safe, and so powerful. You should have seen him at the weight in. He's strapped together. He's this little chunky guy, but shredded.
I thought Brandon Thompson (Clemson) was very good as well. He wasn't talked about as much, from what I've seen, but he was very good as well.
CN: Has Thompson solidified his place in the 1st, after his Senior Bowl week?
WB: I'd say he's in the 25 to 40 range. I wouldn't have any qualms picking him in the 1st, because he's one of the few defensive tackles who sure; you know what you're getting with him. I can see him getting some love as a 5 technique. Ideally I see him as a 3-technique or slanted on the nose in a 4-3. He can do a lot of things.
CN: Here's a more generic question. The public is seeing a lot of these guys for the first time. Is there a tendency to over-react to their Senior Bowl performances, and move a guy way up, or drop one way down, based on three weeks of practice in front of the cameras?
WB: You see the guy athletically for the first time. You have to understand that a lot of these media people are studying guys like Upshaw for the first time, so their impressions are based on this bowl week. For me, I want to see how explosive they are, how they move. With Upshaw, I have to give him more credit than I had. I started him at 7.5. I dropped him to a 6.9 and I'm going to raise him up to a 7.0 He's a little more explosive than I thought he was and his power is even more impressive than I thought. I liked it to begin with, but it was even more impressive than I had seen.
CN: Let's stay with the outside linebackers. You were bullish on Shea McClellin before, but you had more good things to say about him during the week. Review his game. Can he be another one of these hybrid 3-4/4-3 guys who stand-ups on 1st and 2nd downs and then puts a hand down and rushes from a 4-man line on 3rd downs?
WB: He's a unique prospect who had a solid week. I saw him turn and track running backs a bit on tape, but I wasn't convinced because he wasn't asked to do it much. He did it this week. He's really fluid when he has to turn and run with them. He did it against Isaiah Pead one time. He's got really good straight-line speed. He was okay during the linebacker drills but he competes. He played 4-3 outside linebacker. They played him inside in a 4-3. Is that the ideal place for him? No, but he got after it.
He's a good pass rusher from a 3-point stance. He's learning how to rush from a 2-point stance. He still gets a bit too upright. But you can use him in a 4-man line with his hand on the ground. You could maybe rush him inside. You can blitz him off the edge. He's got a great motor. All those things added up.
I think he's going to be an NFL starter somewhere. Will he be a 15 sack guy? No, but as a complement to a big rusher, who gets 6-8 sacks a year? He can do that. People were asking if he's a better football player than Brooks Reed? I think he's similar to Brooks Reed. I think Reed has a better first step but I think McClellin can do a lot more overall than Brooks Reed.
CN: Where does he slot overall? 2nd round? 3rd round?
WB: I would say, mid to late 2nd to early to mid-3rd. That's his range. Anywhere from 45 to 70.
Next: More hybrid type defensive ends who can play in 3-4 and 4-3 fronts.
