Ranking the 2012 Draft Prospects by Position - 3-4 Defensive Ends

by seton hall and steelers on Jan 27, 2012 2:30 PM EST in 2012 NFL Draft

Earlier in the day I ranked the 4-3 DE prospects and now I will take a look at the 3-4 DE prospects. As a whole, this class is very, very bad. It lacks an elite talent and desperately lacks depth. In fact, there are only 10 prospects that I view as draftable.

1. Devon Still, Penn State – Still had an incredible year at Penn State and that will likely end up rewarding him with a spot in the first round of the draft. His stock ranges from the 10 to 25 range.

2. Michael Brockers, LSU – Brockers, just a redshirt sophomore, had an awesome year for the nation’s best defense and should end up being a first round draft pick. He has all the tools to be a very good 3-4 DE.

3. Billy Winn, Boise State – Winn has had a solid, consistent career at Boise State and that should get him selected on day 2 of the NFL Draft. His stock ranges from the second to third round.

4. Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati – Wolfe is a phenomenal pass rusher and his breakout year at UC should earn him a spot in Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

5. Jared Crick, Nebraska – Crick was on pace to become a first round draft pick but an unfortunate injury that cost him most of his season has caused his stock to plummet into the third or fourth round. He could end up being one of the steals of the draft.

After the jump, see the remaining prospects

6. Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

7. Logan Harrell, Fresno State

8. Jake Bequette, Arkansas

9. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska

10. Tony Jerod-Eddie, Texas A&M

11. Ethan Johnson, Notre Dame

Originally Published at Draft Database

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Quinton Coples is the best 5-technique prospect in the draft.

He may end up being drafted by a 4-3 team, but he could be as good as JJ Watt in the 3-4.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Creasy729 on Jan 27, 2012 2:52 PM EST reply actions

I disagree

Coples is best suited to a defense that can take advantage of the mismatches he would create. I think he gets lost in an NFL 3-4 defense where in a 4-3 off the edge he could at least be affective in contain and pocket collapse. Watching him on film makes me think he’s no match for a road grater guard or a tackle blocking down. I know I’ll get grilled for this but he’s way overrated IMO.

These guys and their places on this list look pretty good to me.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Jan 27, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I disagree.

Coples actually looked best to me as a senior when he played inside at DT. He has incredible strength (probably his best asset) and a first step that guards can’t match up with. Put in a DE role in a 3-4 where he has a one-gap responsibility, Coples would be an absolute disruptive force in my opinion.

I think the debate on Cople’s fit just goes to show the misinformation that is out there about the exact role of the DEs in the 3-4. Contrary to popular belief, DE’s in the 3-4 often are asked to penetrate, but the schematic problem is that it is just really hard to find big and tall guys with the first step necessary to be elite at the position. Coples though has everything needed to be an elite DE in the 3-4. He has length, strength, and quickness. In addition, he has considerable experience playing inside. He would be my ideal pick (up there with one or two other guys) for the Cowboys at this moment because our defensive line needs someone with his pure disruptive capabilities.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Creasy729 on Jan 27, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

This isn't contrary to popular belief, It IS popular belief

DE’s in the 3-4 often are asked to penetrate

His versatility will serve him and his new team well. His strength won’t be on the inside though. Again just my opinion.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Jan 27, 2012 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

not in KC

Its WAR for the Kansas City Chiefs KINGDOM!!!

by Steve_Chiefs on Jan 27, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

After watching him at the senior bowl I stand corrected

I think he may prove me wrong and actually do just fine as a 3-4 DE. Not that I know much about 3-4 DEs but I saw him get the penetration against other senior bowl players which are pretty good so I’m reversing my previous position on him. He’s not as over rated as I thought.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Jan 29, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

I thought Alabama had the best defense in the nation this year

"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen

by NMVike on Jan 27, 2012 2:58 PM EST reply actions

Me too.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Jan 27, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

great job again!

However, I don’t believe Crick’s injury is significant enough to cause him to fall into the 3rd or 4th round.
IMO he is still a second round pick, perhaps even top 50.
BTW I prefer Coples as a 4-3 DE, not 3-4 DE or 4-3 DT

by durst on Jan 27, 2012 3:31 PM EST reply actions

Reyes should be higher

He has real speed and quickness to play on the edge.

I’d put Coples at LDE, move him inside to DT on obvious passing downs.

2012 NYG mock - 1: Chase Minnifield CB, 2: Kevin Zeitler G, 3: A.J. Jenkins, WR, 4: Neiko Thorpe S, 5: Brandon Bolden RB, 6: Rishard Matthews WR, 6: some random LB, 7: BPA

by ct17 on Jan 27, 2012 6:52 PM EST reply actions

Headline confuses me...

Aren’t all these guys tackles?

There are no apostrophes in plurals.
A lot is two words. Allot can be one word but it has another meaning.
The only time you really want to use "myself" is when you are the recipient of your own action. Usually you're better off using "me."
Your is not the correct contraction of you are. The word you're looking for is you're.
It's anyway, not anyways.
But if you only remember one thing...
There are no apostrophes in plurals.

by Since1993 on Jan 27, 2012 9:22 PM EST reply actions

3-4 DE's are DT's that are large enough to eat Double teams

Its WAR for the Kansas City Chiefs KINGDOM!!!

by Steve_Chiefs on Jan 27, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions

Ha I grabbed three :)

picks

Kendall Reyes or Billy Winn
Derek Wolfe
Dominique Hamilton from Missouri

Its WAR for the Kansas City Chiefs KINGDOM!!!

by Steve_Chiefs on Jan 27, 2012 9:44 PM EST reply actions

at picks 61, 139, and 164

Its WAR for the Kansas City Chiefs KINGDOM!!!

by Steve_Chiefs on Jan 27, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions

i think jerel worthy deserves consideration as a possible 3-4 DE

by ratware on Jan 27, 2012 10:32 PM EST reply actions

Baker Steinkuhler isn't in the draft.

And I don’t understand how an injury that won’t have a lasting effect drop Crick 3 full rounds. I know he won’t be a top 20 pick anymore since he need a strong senior season for that, but I just don’t understand how a player that was a first rounder before the injury isn’t still a first rounder after. Perhaps some other guys had strong seasons and moved ahead of him, but Crick will still be the same player he was before getting hurt and should still be taken in the top 50 or so picks.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jan 28, 2012 1:16 AM EST reply actions