UCLA's Brian Price headed to the NFL

by Dan Kadar on Dec 30, 2009 10:55 AM EST in 2010 NFL Draft

Brian Price, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound junior defensive tackle is leaving UCLA to enter the NFL Draft. Price will be in contention with Arthur Jones of Syracuse to be the third defensive tackle selected.

On the year, Price had 48 tackles, which includes 23.5 tackles for loss. Price finished his career with 44.5 tackles for loss, which ranks him second in UCLA history.

Price is a good prospect. He has a low center of gravity, which he uses to his advantage to get good leverage. Price is a good bull rusher, but his quickness also allows him to shoot gaps.

Expect Price to be taken somewhere in the late first or early second round.

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You beat me to it Dan.

One of South Africa's only Carolina Panthers and fans.

by chinchillas sword on Dec 30, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions

strictly 4-3 DT or will 3-4 teams look at him as a DE?

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Dec 30, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions

He's

a 4-3 Undertackle and won’t have the arm span to be effective as a 3-4 DE. Nor does he appear to be stout enough against the run. Add to that his real strength is getting into the backfield (rather than going side to side like a 5-tech DE does) and he appears to not fit 3-4 teams at all.

by Sheffieldbengal on Dec 30, 2009 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

If the Lions take Berry at #2, I see Price as a possible pick at #34.

Jared Odrick might be another DT available at that time too.

by NorthLeft12 on Dec 30, 2009 1:48 PM EST reply actions

There is a good bit of quality DT depth in this draft with Odrick, Dan Williams, Price, Arthur Jones, D’Anthony Smith, Terrence Cody, Alualu, Oghobaase, Geno Atkins and maybe Marvin Austin.

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by Dan Kadar on Dec 30, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

A lot more than last year. Hot damn the DT position was absolutely terrible last year

by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 30, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

Jim Schwartz

loves his DTs to be big guys so i don’t think Price will be his sort of guy. If Odrick is available at that pick i think the Lions snap him up quickly (unless their is some other 1st round talent left who ranks higher on the board).

Schwartz’s scheme asks for his DTs to be big (think Haynesworth) with DEs around 255-265 and pass-rushing inclined. When Odom played for the Titans he was 265, playing for the Bengals he’s 290 (weight he played college at).

by Sheffieldbengal on Dec 30, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

I don't agree with that characterization of Schwartz.

The Titans had Haynesworth and the other DTs were all around 300 pounds maximum. Albert was a special case. The Lions had Hill and Grady Jackson this year. Two run pluggers who got absolutely zero pass rush. The Lions will be looking for a penetrating type DT this draft, whether it is Suh, McCoy, Odrick, Price, or Jones.

by NorthLeft12 on Dec 30, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

When The Bengals faced the Lions

there was an interview with quotes from Schwartz and Lewis on their coaching background and philosophy and it noted that both prefer their scheme to have two bigger DTs inside (two NTs or NGs). Schwartz was quoted as preferring to have DTs who eat up space so that the LBs can roam around in run support and the DEs can get one-on-one in passing situations.Price doesn’t appear to have the frame to be able to gain the weight to that level (in fact he appears to be 6-1… something the combine will clear up).

Regarding the Titans, the DTs weren’t drafted by the Titans (most were FAs and anyway they weren’t drafted by Schwartz).

I think with the Lions first draft and them getting a space-eater (Sammy Hill) and placing him next to another space-eater (Grady Jackson) proves that Schwartz does prefer having two big DTs next to each other.

I just think that Price isn’t the style of DT which suits Schwartz, the pick isn’t beyond the realm of possibility but with his smaller frame he can’t max out his weight to get above 315 and keep his speed. Someone like Jared Odrick who is around 6-5 would be able to add mass while keeping his speed and explosiveness (and therefore fit Schwartz’s style better).

by Sheffieldbengal on Dec 30, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

In 2008 the tackles with Haynesworth were 283 and 272 pounds.

In 2008 they had Randy Starks who was 312 pounds. But he disappeared and was replaced with quicker, lighter DTs. How did that work out?

by NorthLeft12 on Dec 30, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

And

Jason Jones was listed at 275 but in person, when i met him, i can swear he wasn’t below 315 (and he was’t below 305 at the least).

Schwartz has been quoted as liking bigger DTs with a large arm span. Does that take out the possibility of tkaing Brian Price… not 100% but i just don;t see it at all.

by Sheffieldbengal on Jan 1, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions