Ealy is not a good pass rusher?

[gettlemanjack]

more people comparing Ealy to Justin Tuck (including Ealy himself)...

Walter Football:

"(Ealy) lacks elite speed (and) lacks elite strength...(but) Ealy has the ability to move inside to get after the quarterback. Rushing against guards in passing situations could be the most effective use of Ealy in the NFL....Player Comparison: Justin Tuck. Ealy's game reminds me of Tuck. They both have..the ability to move inside in passing situations. Tuck (6-5, 268) has had a good career since being a third-round pick by the Giants in the 2005 NFL Draft."

scouting report on Ealy:

"(Ealy lacks elite speed.) Ealy is regularly slow off the ball. On a number of occasions he is the last defensive player to move and this will kill him in the NFL if opposing players have that extra split second to get into place. ...(Ealy lacks elite strength.) All too often Ealy is stood up by lineman when attempting a bull-rush...In his time with the Tigers Ealy had success rushing from the three-technique (DT spot) inside...NFL Comparison: Justin Tuck, New York Giants... The Giants are an obvious fit because of his similarities to Tuck. The New York outfits pass rush is not quite what it used to be and some added firepower would not go a miss. ...With a lack of a true number two pass rusher in the draft class behind Jadeveon Clowney, Ealy will see his stock rise as teams look to add a defensive threat."

Matthew Fairburn, University of Missouri fan and SB Nation's NFL Draft Editor:

"(Ealy's) first step leaves a little something to be desired, which might have something to do with his inconsistent snap anticipation. ... Nobody will say Ealy is the fastest player on the field, but..he can change direction reasonably well and finishes plays... As a tackler, Ealy doesn't always lay the biggest hits...Ealy has more than enough strength to be a reliable tackler, though....Pro comparison : Justin Tuck, New York Giants ...After Jadeveon Clowney, the 2014 NFL Draft defensive end class is a bit muddled. Not many players stand out as pure 4-3 defensive ends. Ealy will benefit from that on draft day."

from a Q & A with Ealy:

What have teams said they expect out of you at the next level?

"Just mainly getting to the passer, rushing the passer and making plays, be an impact player no matter if I’m a 3-tech (DT) or if I’m a 5-tech (DE)...the same kinds of things I did at Missouri. ... Justin Tuck , he’s a really good, versatile guy. He can move across the defensive line and I can kind of model my game after him."

Falcons blog:

"(Ealy) sets the edge against the run well... As a pass-rusher, he can rush effectively enough... Ealy is not a great bull rusher. He’s not supremely athletic and doesn’t do well trying to bend around the edge...He can rush from either the 3-technique (DT spot) or the outside defensive end positions. He’s very similar to Justin Tuck in that regard... His best comparison to a current NFL player is Justin Tuck. He’ll be someone who plays base alignments at defensive end and then he will eventually move inside to tackle....Ealy is a very good all-around prospect, but he’s..not extremely scheme-versatile and has just a few roles that he could truly succeed in... The Falcons shouldn’t spend anything before their second-round pick on Ealy. He’s a good player...but his floor is what really scares a lot of people. If he doesn’t reach his ceiling, he’s going to be a rotational end like Chauncey Davis was."

[hepcat]

I think it was a great pick and he might end up bring the best pick of the Panthers draft this year.  He gets the benefit of getting to develop behind two great pass rushers and won't be counted on to play right away.  That's a huge luxury for a 2nd round pick.  

 

Compare that to Kelvin Benjamin - he's pretty much already the #1 receiver on the team.

[DaCityKats]

now after Coach Washington gets his hands on him, and his coaching ability, i believe he will be a decent pass rusher.

[gettlemanjack]

New York's Wall Street Journal also compares Ealy to Justin Tuck:

May 7, 2014

"Giants Will Focus on Lines in NFL Draft...Giants Need Help on Offensive and Defensive Lines...When it comes to the draft, the Giants have never met a pass rusher they didn't like [ha, that is where Gettleman gets it from]. In the past 20 years, the franchise has used its first pick on a defensive lineman five times, including Jason Pierre-Paul in 2010 (15th).

The issue for the Giants is that a draft class that has been described as the deepest in a decade is notably light on edge rushers. South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney and Buffalo edge rusher Khalil Mack are likely top-five selections, but beyond that, few pass rushers have gotten first-round grades from NFL scouts.

Missouri's Kony Ealy could be a viable option, however. ... with the size to play right end in the Giants' system, he also could emulate departed free-agent Justin Tuck by moving inside to pressure the quarterback in sub-packages."

[gettlemanjack]

It looks like the plan on passing downs (and against passing teams like the Saints) is to either sub Kony Ealy in for Star (who is great against the run and as a clogger, but not so great as a pass rusher) and/or rotate Ealy in for Short (who is a great passer rusher, but rotating two great pass-rushers from the 3-tech DT spot is even better...fresh legs)

for an example of how Star is great against the run but not so great as a pass rusher, this is what Pro Football Focus wrote about Star's season last year:

"If you’re looking at a big reason as to why the Panthers’ defense has looked so much better this year we’d advise looking up front. In particular, take a gander at the ample frame of first round pick Star Lotulelei who has been a beast against the run. Of all defensive tackles he tied for the sixth-highest grade against the run, and it owed a lot more than just occupying blockers. No, the Panther ended up with 30 stops against the run on his 233 run defense snaps, good for a Run Stop Percentage of 12.9%. That was second-highest of all defensive tackles and showed just how much of a force he was. Sure he could rush the passer a little better, but his production this season was exactly what the team was hoping for."

For an example of how Short is great as a rotational pass rusher from the 3-tech DT spot, this is also from Pro Football Focus, on Short's season last year:

"Kawann Short added some much needed penetration up the gut. Working as a backup and situational tackle he notched an impressive 36 combined sacks, hits and hurries and we’d expect that number to jump significantly next year along with his playing time."

and for an example of how Star is great as a clogger that sets up a Short/Ealy rotation as devastating pass rushers from the 3-tech DT spot this is from Optimum Scouting:

"With Lotulelei’s consistent ability to take on two blockers and force them to focus on him, he’s allowed for rotational 3-techniques (Ealy/Short rotation in 2014 on passing downs), his talented defensive end duo, and even linebackers/cornerbacks to get in on pass rushing success. Thanks to his strong lower half to collapse the pocket and active hands to constantly disengage laterally, he forces offenses to double him, leaving his other three rushers in one-on-one match-ups and generally with an additional blitzer free. While this doesn’t show up in the stat book, it’s no secret why this team has had more versatility and success in its pass rush."

[hdevonxz]

Ummm explosive is the one thing he actually is.

His acceleration is really good, if you don't get a hand on him he's going to run right by you.

I'll give the analysts a pass, they watch so much tape that they probably just start to throw sh*t at the wall.

 

think that applies to just about anyone on this forum lmao

[The Huddler]

People will eat crow on this.

Kony is a beast

[jarhead]

On known passing downs we'll have Ealy inside with Star and Hardy and Johnson on the ends... Basically, a guarenteed sack or QB hit.

How about KK? I think he is drafting the replacement of CJ or Hardy if the money cannot be worked out. 

[panthers55]

He will time to develop just like Johnson and Hardy did.  But the point is that this defense is the perfect one for him.  he doesn't have to be a star or a starter right away.  he can learn from 2 great DEs and develop his NFL body getting stronger and improving his technique.  When we need him next year or in the future he will be ready.

[t96]

How about KK? I think he is drafting the replacement of CJ or Hardy if the money cannot be worked out. 

 

I'm just talking about this year, we could have all three rushing. Yes, CJ or Hardy is gone and Ealy will take their spot. But while we have all 3, we might as well try out Ealy inside rushing. He's better than KK at rushing the QB.