Falcons: Potential Falcons First Round Picks - Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon

[RFlagg]

My second installment of Potential Falcons First Round Picks focuses on Oregon DE Dion Jordan. Jordan played in games for the Ducks in each of his 4 seasons, and started the last 2 years. Jordan is projected to go somewhere in the first round, though the projections range from him going 10th overall to the Titans all the way to 30th overall to the Falcons.

Vitals
Height - 6'6"
Weight - 243 lbs.
Arm Length - Unknown
40 Time - 4.68 (Unofficial)
Squat - Unknown
Bench - Unknown

Stats
2009 - 1 Solo Tackle, 2 Total Tackles
2010 - 5.5 TFL, 21 Solo Tackles, 33 Total Tackles, 2.0 Sacks, 1 Pass Break Up
2011 - 13.0 TFL, 25 Solo Tackles, 42 Total Tackles, 7.5 Sacks, 1 FF
2012 - 10.5 TFL, 26 Solo Tackles, 44 Total Tackles, 5.0 Sacks, 1 Pass Break Up, 3 FF
Totals - 29.0 TFL, 73 Solo Tackles, 121 Total Tackles, 14.5 Sacks, 2 Pass Break Ups, 4 FF

Highlights










Analysis
Jordan is a converted TE that is drawing a lot of comparisons New England DE Chandler Jones. Jones had a decent rookie season, amassing 45 Tackles and 6 Sacks along with 3 Forced Fumbles. Jordan does seem to fit more as a 3-4 OLB, however adding some muscle and size could allow him to play DE in a 4-3 scheme.

Pros
Jordan has a knack for getting off blocks and uses his speed to get by a lot of blockers on the college level. Does a good job of disrupting the timing of TEs coming off the line and can also split out wide to cover when necessary.

Cons
His speed is his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. Too often tries to use a speed move and ends up over running and getting taken out of plays. Needs to develop other moves to beat pass blocking.

My Thoughts
I look at Jordan and I see a very good player with a lot of potential. He rarely showed lack of effort at Oregon and I believe he could be the pass rusher the Falcons are looking for. My main problem is I do not believe he will fall all the way to 30th, as a lot of teams are looking for this type of player, especially teams moving to the 3-4 (I'm thinking the Saints will take him at 15th, honestly).

[TonyGraziani]

Looking at him as the cure to our pass rush would be the wrong perspective. I would see him playing the role Kroy played this year, but way better; standing up, dropping into coverage almost as much as rushing, etc. He could get 5-7 sacks/year, but make an impact all over the field moreso than just pass rushing.

[swanlee]

Looks interesting but we really need a can't miss pass rusher, we already have a lot of utility guys and I'd be ok with him in the 2nd or 3rd round but our 1st pick needs to be a can't miss monster Pass Rusher. We can't keep dicking around with this need we must go all in and get our new Abe this year however we need to do it.

[papachaz]

I see Kroy Beirman 2.0 right here. I think we definitely need a more guaranteed pass rush. I personally want to see us bulk up the middle and get more pressure there. I think we have the guys onboard now to take care of the edges if we'd just get better up the middle. Yes, I know Abe is aging and might be gone, I still think we already have some guys to take care of the outside if we just do better up the middle.

[cnasty]

At 243lbs, he seems pretty light for a 4-3 DE. He seems more to be like a 3-4 OLB. If we draft him, it'd mean we were definitely going hard on the base 3-4. And come on, dude is from PAC-12. Talk about inferior competition. This dude has big fish/small pond syndrome written all over him. It's just a little unnerving that his highlights are against teams like Nevada, Arizona, Washington State and the like. If you double the numbers he currently has, then you're looking at an unquestionable monster. You look at a player like Clowney who has 50% more sacks against better competition with roughly half the playing time. I know it's not fair to compare him, or anybody, to Clowney because of the difference in talent. I'm just trying to put things in a bit of perspective.

[RFlagg]

(02-05-2013 01:39 PM)cnasty Wrote:  At 243lbs, he seems pretty light for a 4-3 DE. He seems more to be like a 3-4 OLB. If we draft him, it'd mean we were definitely going hard on the base 3-4. And come on, dude is from PAC-12. Talk about inferior competition. This dude has big fish/small pond syndrome written all over him. It's just a little unnerving that his highlights are against teams like Nevada, Arizona, Washington State and the like. If you double the numbers he currently has, then you're looking at an unquestionable monster. You look at a player like Clowney who has 50% more sacks against better competition with roughly half the playing time. I know it's not fair to compare him, or anybody, to Clowney because of the difference in talent. I'm just trying to put things in a bit of perspective.

Pretty much the same thing I said. He'd need to add some bulk to be a 4-3 end.

As for Clowney, I'd love to have him, but he won't be eligible to enter the draft until next year, and unless we somehow end up with the #1 pick next season, I highly doubt we'll get him. He'll probably end up in Jacksonville or a similar team where he'll play out his rookie deal and then get paid.

[Beef]

I'd rather get Sam Montgomery or Alex Okafor. Both of these guys have more sacks and TFL's playing in harder conferences than Jordan, Ansah, and Jones. Montgomery is just as fast and had better stats than Mingo as well, so no clue why Mingo is rated higher. Dion Jordan has injury concerns as well.

I really take stock in TFL's, QB pressures, and sacks to get the best idea of the players pass rush potential.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pro...&order=ASC

Montgomery is 6'5 260 and runs a 4.5 40 and can play 4-3 or 3-4. And there's 5 or 6 DE's ranked ahead of him so the chance of him still being there at 30 is very good. 2012 season he had 37 tackles (18 solo), 13 TFL's, 8 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 2 FF's for LSU.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/365/...index.html

Okafor is about the same size but a step slower, however he's a GREAT tackler as well as pass rusher. 2012 season he had 61 tackles (42 solo!!), 16.5 TFL's, 12.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 4 FF's for Texas. I actually like him better than Montgomery because he can tackle too.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/703/...index.html

The DE beast of this draft is actually Damontre Moore from Texas A&M. Not sure why he's ranked behind Bjeorn Werner. Moore played in a harder conference and put up absolutely ridiculous stats in tackles, sacks, and TFL's. Unfortunately, he will be taken in the top 10, maybe even top 5.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/697/...index.html

Jarvis Jones is still the best all around defensive player in this draft though. It's amazing that an OT will likely be taken in front of him.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/257/...index.html

[RFlagg]

(02-05-2013 01:55 PM)Beef Wrote:  I'd rather get Sam Montgomery or Alex Okafor. Both of these guys have more sacks and TFL's playing in harder conferences than Jordan, Ansah, and Jones. Montgomery is just as fast and had better stats than Mingo as well, so no clue why Mingo is rated higher. Dion Jordan has injury concerns as well.

I really take stock in TFL's, QB pressures, and sacks to get the best idea of the players pass rush potential.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pro...&order=ASC

Montgomery is 6'5 260 and runs a 4.5 40 and can play 4-3 or 3-4. And there's 5 or 6 DE's ranked ahead of him so the chance of him still being there at 30 is very good. 2012 season he had 37 tackles (18 solo), 13 TFL's, 8 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 2 FF's for LSU.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/365/...index.html

Okafor is about the same size but a step slower, however he's a GREAT tackler as well as pass rusher. 2012 season he had 61 tackles (42 solo!!), 16.5 TFL's, 12.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 4 FF's for Texas. I actually like him better than Montgomery because he can tackle too.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/703/...index.html

The DE beast of this draft is actually Damontre Moore from Texas A&M. Not sure why he's ranked behind Bjeorn Werner. Moore played in a harder conference and put up absolutely ridiculous stats in tackles, sacks, and TFL's. Unfortunately, he will be taken in the top 10, maybe even top 5.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/697/...index.html

Jarvis Jones is still the best all around defensive player in this draft though. It's amazing that an OT will likely be taken in front of him.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/257/...index.html

I actually still have Montgomery and Okafor on my list of write ups to do. I did not bother with Moore, Werner, or Jones because, unless we trade up, it's highly unlikely we'll be drafting any of them.

[Jimusmc]

we need a big ol DT before anything on the line.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(02-05-2013 01:55 PM)Beef Wrote:  I'd rather get Sam Montgomery or Alex Okafor. Both of these guys have more sacks and TFL's playing in harder conferences than Jordan, Ansah, and Jones. Montgomery is just as fast and had better stats than Mingo as well, so no clue why Mingo is rated higher. Dion Jordan has injury concerns as well.

I really take stock in TFL's, QB pressures, and sacks to get the best idea of the players pass rush potential.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pro...&order=ASC

Montgomery is 6'5 260 and runs a 4.5 40 and can play 4-3 or 3-4. And there's 5 or 6 DE's ranked ahead of him so the chance of him still being there at 30 is very good. 2012 season he had 37 tackles (18 solo), 13 TFL's, 8 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 2 FF's for LSU.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/365/...index.html

Okafor is about the same size but a step slower, however he's a GREAT tackler as well as pass rusher. 2012 season he had 61 tackles (42 solo!!), 16.5 TFL's, 12.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 4 FF's for Texas. I actually like him better than Montgomery because he can tackle too.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/703/...index.html

The DE beast of this draft is actually Damontre Moore from Texas A&M. Not sure why he's ranked behind Bjeorn Werner. Moore played in a harder conference and put up absolutely ridiculous stats in tackles, sacks, and TFL's. Unfortunately, he will be taken in the top 10, maybe even top 5.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/697/...index.html

Jarvis Jones is still the best all around defensive player in this draft though. It's amazing that an OT will likely be taken in front of him.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/player/257/...index.html

I would like to see a Draft where we pick up

Okafor/Montgomery in the 1st
Williams in the 2nd
Kelce/ Christine Michael in the 3/4th

I really would like to add those specific players to our team. I think the pass rush improves by adding those two players and yes I believe through the distribution of the ball we wouldn't feel the drop off of losing Tony so much. A twin tight end set of Kelce and Coffman would be real nice both provide the same thing to the offense but present different challenges to the defense