Defensive Tackles Two of the biggest names in this draft are at defensive tackle and given the teams that are set to pick in front Buccaneers there is little chance of them getting out of the top ten never mind the top 20 pick. Glen Dorsey (LSU) and Sedrick Ellis (USC) are the names in question. Dorsey is probably the higher profile of the pair, from an athletic and natural talent standpoint he has just about everything you could want in a tackle prospect, he strong, quick and agile. He also comes complete with a non-stop motor and at times is just simply unblockable. He will need some considerable coaching because he has got by on his natural talent and his very talented teammates alongside him on the defensive line and needs to use his hands better to make the most of his ability. Also there have been many rumours about a serious knee injury, that said as far as tackles prospects go, Dorsey is about as good as there has been in a good few years. Ellis, for me is every bit the prospect Dorsey is, but he lacks one key attribute, and that’s size. He just doesn’t have the prototypical bulk that teams look for in a tackle prospect, for me that’s his only real draw back and on draft day I can’t see it pushing him down the board too much. Ellis is also strong and powerful but is probably a better pass rusher than Dorsey is at this time There are two other tackles that an argument could be made for giving them first round grades, Pat Sims (Auburn) and Kentwan Balmer (UNC). Balmer probably has the bigger upside of the two, he’s shown the ability to get after the quarterback and yet still be resolute against the run, he needs to bulk up and with only one year of top level performance after underachieving his entire college career I would have concerns, he has the physical tool and enough upside to get into the first round. Sims is a pure run stuffer who has the ability to get to the QB but in all fairness stopping the run is what he does best, he was excellent in his junior season, however that is the sum total of his starting experience and he could just be a one year wonder, also I’m concerned that he quit the team in his freshman year, I hate to see a football player just walk out on his team mates and it doesn’t bode well for his character. Some of the tackles that will go in the mid to late rounds offer value this year will Notre Dame's Trevor Laws been the pick of them, Laws is a hard nose, non-stop, technically sound footballer he doesn’t have the greatest upside in the world and lacks ideal size but if you draft laws you know what you are getting, and thats an experience, productive leader. If some of the tackle prospects listed lack a certain amount of size there are three in the mid-rounds that certainly don’t Dre Moore (Maryland), Red Bryant (Texas A&M) and Athyba Rubin (Iowa State) All three of these are similar types of prospect, big bodied run stuffing tackles who offer somewhere between little and no pass rush at the present time Bryant could be the pick of these as he is quite athletic for his size, he is still raw and there is definitely some materials to work with. In the latter rounds like the look of Frank Okam (Texas) and Andre Fluellen (FSU), although either of these two could find themselves in the mid rounds of the draft. Okam is another big body, who was very productive in college, he lacks the initial burst needed at the next level and his technique also needs some work , but a tackle who has shown the ability to occupy double teams is a valuable commodity in the NFL. Fluellen was an underachiever in his college days but his burst off the line is impressive and if he can improve his repertoire of pass rush moves he could be an asset down the road. Defensive Ends This year’s list of defensive ends looks good especially with four of them looking like they will be first round picks. Chris Long (Virginia), Vernon Gholston (Ohio State), Derrick Harvey (Florida) and Philip Merling (Clemson) all could get first round money. Long is a coach’s dream, probably has the best motor of anyone in the draft, technically sound and understands the position well, his main weakness is that he isn’t really a natural edge rusher and doesn’t really have the top speed off the edge. Gholston is a physical freak, his only real drawbacks are that he lacks experience and that he needs to refine his technique as physical gifts won’t get you by in the NFL, that said all the tools are available in Gholston. Both Long and Gholston are gone early in the draft, Harvey and Merling on the other hand could still be around at pick #20. Harvey is a natural athlete who despite not been the quickest end you will see, has a natural ability to rush the passer. He could do to add some weight and needs to improve his play against the run, however if you want an edge rusher who is proven against top competition then Harvey fits the bill. Harvey is a better prospect than first round pick and team mate Jarvis Moss was a year ago, Harvey performed very well at the Florida pro day with Monte Kiffin there to observe. Merling is a bigger defensive end and therefore really isn’t an edge rushing threat, yet he is quite a natural at rushing the passer, he just doesn’t have the speed off the edge to really scare anyone. His best quality is his quickness off the snap of the ball, which gives him the potential to be a disruptive force at times in both the run and pass game. Lawrence Jackson (USC) and Calais Campbell (Miami) are two prospects who would have expected to be first round picks at the start of last season, but following sub-par seasons both will probably find themselves 2nd round picks at best. I’m not a fan of Campbell at all, I think he does a good job of playing the run and physically he looks the part, but he lacks the requisite speed to be an edge rushed and he wears down in the rushing game. Has great size and will probably be over drafted, he’s not half the prospect he thinks he is. Jackson for me is a more solid pick in the same area of the draft, physically he has good size and great reach, and again he’s not a speed rusher but was very productive at USC, disciplined in his play and has gone up against good competition and produced great results In the mid-rounds a prospect like Chris Ellis from Virginia Tech is definitely worth a look, because Virginia Tech just produce really well coached defensive and special teams footballers, who are prepared for the NFL, Also Ellis happens to have terrific quickness off the snap and if he can get a bit stronger could be a force at defensive end. Jason Jones (Eastern Michigan) is a small school footballer, who has a ton of upside. Jones is very athletic for his size and looked great against lower levels of competition, needs to focus on playing one particular position and not switching between end and tackle. Later round picks that are more intriguing than anything else are Kendall Langford (Hampton), Louis Holmes (Arizona) and Tommy Blake (TCU). Langford has great size for the position and is very productive, especially against the run, not much of an athlete and his timed speed is slow, concerns over his level of competition are also relevant. Holmes looks ideal for the NFL, strong, quick, athletic with decent size for defensive end, he has just failed to produce in college, maybe a good coach could get the best out of his athletic ability because there is some talent there it’s just never appeared in college. Tommy Blake a year ago would have been a top 15 pick, however he quit the team early in the season, missed 5 games and was admitted to hospital. The rumours have ranged from stress to Bi-Polar, however one thing is for certain he hasn’t been the same player since he came back, but someone will take him because a year ago he was simply amazing Summary: Defensive Line Draft Pick I would like: Trevor Laws, would be a great addition to the defensive line in Tampa. Defensive Line Draft Pick I would hate: Calais Campbell, a slow defensive end is just what we need Defensive Lineman I like more than most: Chris Ellis, another quality Virginia tech prospect. Defensive Lineman I dislike more than most: Philip Merling, I just don’t like him as a first round pick, good prospect but not in the first round.