College Pass Rushers Part 2: Pro Potential

Whether they select a quarterback, pass rusher, middle linebacker or offensive lineman, the Chiefs will get the opportunity to draft one of the best players in the 2009 NFL Draft. They figure to again have a selection among the top five picks, maybe even as high as the No. 2 spot.

We checked out the top quarterbacks in early October. Now, with the Chiefs pass rush floundering and headed for the worst sacking season in club history, it’s time to look at the pass rushers. Yesterday, we hit on the top active sackers, both this season and over a career. If you missed that, you can read it right here.

Today, we look at a top 10 list of pass rushers rated on potential by scouts around the NFL.

Here’s our list:

1. Michael Johnson     DE    Georgia Tech    SR    6-7    258

Understand right off the bat that when it comes to Johnson, the Chiefs have a lot of inside information, since he was recruited to Georgia Tech by offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and there are two other former Tech assistant coaches on the Chiefs staff. As a physical specimen, Johnson is off the charts. He has size, speed, quickness and athletic ability. His body fat is that of somebody 100 pounds lighter and a long-distance runner. That’s caused him problems in the past with dehydration and cramping. Scouts think he relies too much on his speed to rush the passer. He sometimes has problems standing up to the run, which is why he was used only in pass rush situations until this season. Over his career he’s played in 46 games with 96 tackles and 16 sacks.

2. Brian Orakpo    DE    Texas        SR    6-4    255

While Michael Johnson is a pass rushing end and not so strong against the run, Orakpo is an all-around defensive end that probably plays the run better than he does the pass. That doesn’t mean he can’t get to the quarterback. He does it with his strength rather than outside speed. Known as a workout warrior, he has all the intangibles teams are looking for from their early draft choices. In 47 games, he has 94 tackles, 20 sacks and five forced fumbles.

3. Clint Sintim    OLB    Virginia        SR    6-3    250

In a 3-4 defense, Sintim is perfectly suited for the rush backer role. He’s shown the size and speed to make a bee-line to the passer and has the power and strength to take on blockers. He’s shown the ability to get inside tackles and shed them. Tight ends and fullbacks don’t have much success slowing him down. He’s shown good lower body strength that combined with his speed is an important combination in the eyes of scouts. Sintim has been a playmaker at Virginia; in 47 games he’s taken part in 231 total tackles with 29 sacks and five forced fumbles. He had three sacks against Duke this season. He’s a first round talent for the ‘09 NFL Draft, but his tweener size (DE and OLB) figure to have 3-4 teams very interested in him.

4. Everette Brown    DE    Florida State    JR-R    6-4    252

Throughout this ‘08 season, Brown has been rocketing up the NFL’s personnel charts as a must see. Through 10 games he has nine sacks, including games against Virginia Tech and Clemson when he has three sacks in each game. Both of those opponents simply could not block Brown and could not handle his explosive burst off the ball. He’s shown linebacker speed while playing defensive end. In 36 games he has 91 tackles, 20 sacks and three forced fumbles. Should he decide to enter the ‘09 NFL Draft, he’ll be a first-round choice.

5. George Selvie    DE    South Florida    JR-R    6-4    252

Much was expected from Selvie after his remarkable ‘07 season when he had 31.5 tackles for minus yardage and 14.5 sacks. But he’s battled a high ankle sprain all season, missing parts of three games because of the injury. He said just last week that he finally feels like he’s recovered from the ankle. He’s explosive off the corner and has a fast motor. Selvie does not have the size and overall strength to be an every down defensive end in the NFL, but he has the blast and quickness to be a pass rusher. In 36 games, he has 159 tackles, 27 sacks and six forced fumbles.

6. Brandon Graham    DE    Michigan    JR    6-2    270

It has been a tough season for the Wolverines and Graham has been one of the few bright spots. Big and talented, he has nine sacks in 10 games and has 20 career sacks and six forced fumbles. This season he’s had three sacks against Wisconsin and then came back with three more against Michigan State. Last year against Notre Dame, he took part in four sacks against the Irish. He’s been hampered somewhat this year by a leg infection through the middle part of the schedule. He’s big and strong and moves fast for a player his size.

7. Sergio Kindle    OLB    Texas        JR    6-4    238

Right now, it’s all upside with Kindle who would be wise to spend another year with the Longhorns. That would likely guarantee him a spot in the first round. A talented athlete who had 86 touchdowns as a running back in high school, Kindle has speed, quickness and explosion off the corner. In 30 games with the Longhorns, he has 86 tackles and 10 sacks. He’s built to be an outside linebacker in the pros and the scouts like all his numbers. What they don’t like is his tendency to sometimes disappear in the Texas defense.

8. Brandon Williams    DE    Texas Tech    JR    6-5    252

While all the attention with the Red Raiders this year has been on the offense, Tech has a few good defensive players and Williams is one of them. Williams has 10 sacks in 10 games and has also forced three fumbles this season. Two of those sacks came in the big victory over Texas when he took down Colt McCoy twice. He played as a true freshman and has been durable, playing in all 36 games. As this has been his breakthrough season, scouts haven’t formed many opinions on Williams. His play this year has drawn plenty of attention.

9. Jerry Hughes    OLB    TCU        JR    6-2    248

As defensive end-outside linebacker types go, Hughes is about as productive as any that’s hit the field in the 2008 season. It started with six tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and a sack against New Mexico in the Horned Frogs season opener and has continued since. This year he’s returned an INT for a TD against SMU and had four sacks against BYU. Right now, he’s played 34 games at TCU with 75 tackles, 16 sacks, five forced fumbles and three INTs. He’s very athletic (Hughes was a very successful RB in high school) and fast. Scouts like the package but believe he’d help himself with another college season after this one.

10. Connor Barwin    DE    Cincinnati    SR    6-4    255

This guy has been racing up the charts this year, despite this being his first season at defensive end. Barwin played three years as a tight end and special teams standout for the Bearcats. In 37 games he caught 52 passes with five TDs. This year, he’s moved to defensive end and having a major impact on the Cincinnati defense. He’s leading the Big East Conference in sacks. A gifted athlete out of Detroit, he’s also played basketball at Cincinnati, joining the team at the end of the football season for the last three years. In 10 games on defense this year, he has 38 tackles and seven sacks.

Others receiving mention: DE Greg Hardy (6-4, 265) from Mississippi; OLB Cody Brown (6-2, 242) Connecticut; OLB Larry English (6-3, 254) Northern Illinois; DE Willie Young (6-5, 245) North Carolina State.