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Dan McCullers Draft Stock
Topic Started: Nov 20 2013, 11:30 AM (126 Views)
*TennesseeTuxedo
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I've been reading folks trash Dan McCullers all season long on various boards. How little those folks understand Dan's skill set and where his future lies.

Dan McCullers is a 6'8" 360 pound mountain of a man. He is not going to dart between two linemen and beat them to the runner or QB. He is not going to run down the line of scrimmage and make a play out in the 9 gap.

No, Dan McCullers was recruited by Dooley to be a Nose Tackle in a 3-4 defensive scheme. 3-4 NTs job is to take on double teams, to free the linebackers to make plays. Dan was never going to be the guy who would penetrate and cause havoc like Albert Haynesworth or Warren Sapp could. Dan was always going to be and intended to be the guy that opposing teams would not and could not push around off the play. Thus playing a strong or quick tackle in a 4-3 defense is not his bailiwick.

NFL scouts are not going to shy away from drafting Dan McCullers because he was not an effective tackle in a 4-3 scheme. It is not going to hurt his stock one iota. Once Dan goes to the NFL Combine and the scouts and GMs see his measurables, the teams that run a 3-4 scheme are going to be salivating over Dan McCullers. What 3-4 scheme team wouldn't want an immovable 6'8" 360 pound mountain at NT?

Make sure you watch Dan McCullers enjoy a long and successful NFL career. playing th exposition and role that he is best suited to play and what he was brought here to play in the first place.
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el diablo
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TennesseeTuxedo
Nov 20 2013, 11:30 AM
I've been reading folks trash Dan McCullers all season long on various boards. How little those folks understand Dan's skill set and where his future lies.

Dan McCullers is a 6'8" 360 pound mountain of a man. He is not going to dart between two linemen and beat them to the runner or QB. He is not going to run down the line of scrimmage and make a play out in the 9 gap.

No, Dan McCullers was recruited by Dooley to be a Nose Tackle in a 3-4 defensive scheme. 3-4 NTs job is to take on double teams, to free the linebackers to make plays. Dan was never going to be the guy who would penetrate and cause havoc like Albert Haynesworth or Warren Sapp could. Dan was always going to be and intended to be the guy that opposing teams would not and could not push around off the play. Thus playing a strong or quick tackle in a 4-3 defense is not his bailiwick.

NFL scouts are not going to shy away from drafting Dan McCullers because he was not an effective tackle in a 4-3 scheme. It is not going to hurt his stock one iota. Once Dan goes to the NFL Combine and the scouts and GMs see his measurables, the teams that run a 3-4 scheme are going to be salivating over Dan McCullers. What 3-4 scheme team wouldn't want an immovable 6'8" 360 pound mountain at NT?

Make sure you watch Dan McCullers enjoy a long and successful NFL career. playing th exposition and role that he is best suited to play and what he was brought here to play in the first place.
I hope everything you said comes true. However, the same thing that kept the Bammers and LSUs from recruiting him is his inconsistent effort. Butch put him at the 3-tech instead of NT to encourage him to one gap it up field. He did great against UGA and USC. Not so great against Mizzou and Aub.

The NFL is a passing league. If you want to make big bucks, you need to be able to rush the passer. Phil Taylor of the Browns is an example of a NT that can also rush the passer. He showed it in the SR Bowl against the top OL in the nation.

Big Mac will get his chance, too. He is a talent, but he has to give a more consistent effort to be 1st round worthy, imo. The NFL has him in the 3rd round. This could all change. It is up to him.
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*TennesseeTuxedo
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NTs are n to counted on being pass rushers. If one can, then that is a added gift for that team.

The same thing swede said about Dontari Poe. Now he is lighting it up with the Chiefs.

NFL coaches know how to light a fire under the players butts. Let Jim Washburn get a hold of him.
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LonzoVol


TennesseeTuxedo
Nov 20 2013, 09:26 PM
NTs are n to counted on being pass rushers. If one can, then that is a added gift for that team.

The same thing swede said about Dontari Poe. Now he is lighting it up with the Chiefs.

NFL coaches know how to light a fire under the players butts. Let Jim Washburn get a hold of him.
Tux,
I understand he is a NT. Having said that, is it axing too much to even wish that he could cave in a guard and push him into the backfield?
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el diablo
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TennesseeTuxedo
Nov 20 2013, 09:26 PM
NTs are n to counted on being pass rushers. If one can, then that is a added gift for that team.

The same thing swede said about Dontari Poe. Now he is lighting it up with the Chiefs.

NFL coaches know how to light a fire under the players butts. Let Jim Washburn get a hold of him.
No, the same thing was not said about Poe. The scouts had film of Poe chasing down a RB 40 yds down field. He ran a 4.87 then a 4.94 40 hand timed--4.98 40 electronically timed at the combine. This quickness enables him to be a 3 down lineman who can rush the passer. Not a 2 down run stuffer.

Poe went in the 1st round. He was raw, like big Mac, but he has that quickness that Mac hasn't showed. Thus a 3rd round grade for Mac right now. Mac has got to get that motor turned up all the time.

Mac has the ability, as Lonzo said above, to cave in the OL blocking him. It takes constant effort. In UGA and USC he gave that. In Mizzou and Aub he did not. He wasn't the only one.

Jim Washburn is with the Lions. They play a 4-3, same as Vols. Who is mac Starting over--Suh or Fairley? Ngata of the Ravens is the prototypical 3-4 NT that can rush the passer. Those guys are very rare.
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*TennesseeTuxedo
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Washburn is the master of the wide 9 technique. He is also the master of motivating difficult players. There are some 3-4 coaches out there that can light a fire under his butt.
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el diablo
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TennesseeTuxedo
Nov 21 2013, 09:51 AM
Washburn is the master of the wide 9 technique. He is also the master of motivating difficult players. There are some 3-4 coaches out there that can light a fire under his butt.
I hope you are right. He is a good kid and has stayed to finish the season out. When I talk about a player's pro outlook, I am very critical. That is the NFL. HS players are recruited. College players are selected. Big difference.

Mac will be selected on potential. If he studs out at all star games, combine and pro day then he could very well pull a Poe. Right now he is just a big ole run stuffer. Big ole run stuffers go later in the draft.
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