Pass Rushers for the 2008 NFL Draft

Any successful defense must have a strong pass rush and the most versatile and arguably the most important member of that defense is the pass rushing outside linebacker. An elite pass rushing outside linebacker has the speed to cover backs and tight ends out of the back field, the size to come up fight through blocks and stuff the run and of course the quickness to flash past huge offensive tackles and sack the quarterback.

But it even goes deeper than that, an elite pass rush can compensate for a mediocre secondary, not only does the quarterback have less time to look for the open receiver, but the offense will often leave extra blockers in to help out with the pass rush, enabling more double and zone coverage in the secondary.

How important is the pass rushing outside linebacker? As an example the Dallas Cowboys, desperate for a pass rush, have used their first round draft pick on one of these guys in each of the last three years: DeMarcus Ware (2005), Bobby Carpenter (2006) and Anthony Spencer (2007). The need arises even further for teams using the 34 defense because all of their four linebackers have to be able to rush the passer on any given play.

So as the 34 defense becomes more utilized, so does the need for the pass rushing linebacker. Those guys rarely become available during free agency, therefore the best place to get them is via the NFL Draft. The 2008 NFL Draft isn't loaded at that position, but there are a few elite players that NFL Scouts are targeting for the 2008 NFL Draft. Most of these prospects played end in college but will almost certainly be converted to outside linebacker in the NFL.

Even though he will only be a junior this year, the top prospect in this category is Florida's Derrick Harvey, he is 6' 3" 250 pounds and when he gets in his zone, he can take over games. During the 2006 National Championship game against Ohio State, Harvey had three sacks and one fumble recovery, his performance was instrumental in Florida's 41-14 dominating win and he was named the defensive MVP. He finished the season with 35 tackles and 11 sacks, but he seemed to really peak towards the end of the year. Harvey is a consensus first team All-SEC defensive end heading into the 2007 football season.

Bruce Davis from UCLA is another prospect that will be converted to outside linebacker. At 6' 3" 247 pounds he is not huge, but he has a knack for getting to the quarterback and has excellent foot speed. The consensus first team All-PAC Ten Star finished last season with an impressive 12.5 sacks. Davis also had three pass break ups in 2006, so he is accustomed to falling back into pass coverage. Davis is much to quick for offensive tackles to block at the college level, this sack master is even going to give NFL tackles fits.

Tommy Blake from TCU is a NFL Draft prospect that just doesn't get enough respect. He is this year's Anthony Spencer. Blake has been very productive on the football field. Blake is 6' 3" 255 pounds, already has 26 starts, 134 tackles and 19 sacks. Blake is a unanimous first team MWC conference selection. Last year (2006) in the 37-7 Poinsettia Bowl win over Northern Illinois, Blake was named the game's Defensive Most Valuable player. He ranked #1 in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) with 16.5 tackles for a loss. He just knows how to get to the quarterback.

Auburns Quentin Groves at 6' 2" 251 is another prospect that might be too small to play defensive end in the NFL, but that shouldn't stop him from hearing his named called early in the 2008 NFL Draft. Groves almost entered the 2007 NFL Draft, but now that he is returning to Auburn, only needs four sacks to become Auburns all time leader with 23 sacks. The first team All-SEC sack master recorded 9.5 sacks last year (2006). Groves is also on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.

Jameel McCLain plays for Syracuse, who hasn't been very successful as of late, and therefore has kind of fallen under the radar, but he is a talented pass rusher with the size and athletic ability to possible play outside linebacker in a 34 defense. He was moved to defensive end from linebacker in the spring of 2006 and he has been nothing short of sensational at that position ever since. He finished last season with 14.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks. McClain is a tad short at 6' 1" but at almost 260 pounds he has the beef.

Wallace Gilberry from Alabama is another under rated football player, but he was very successful on the football field in 2006 finishing with 10 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He recorded 39 total tackles (21 solo) which lead the Alabama defensive line. Nick Saban is the new head coach and Saban is a master of the 34 defense, Alabama will eventually play the 34 defense and I would expect Gilberry to move around a lot this year, rush from different spots and plays on his feet more. At 6' 2" 256 pounds he has the size to play outside linebacker and with Saban's tutelage he should be a name that we keep an eye on in the 2008 NFL Draft.

I really like Cliff Avril from Purdue, he reminds me so much of Dallas Cowboy's Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware. He has almost the same body style as Ware at 6' 3" 247 pounds. With Anthony Spencer on all the scouts' radar last year, Avril kind of went unnoticed. But he will be noticed this year if he builds upon his stellar season last year (2006): He started all 14 games, the first four at linebacker and last 10 at defensive end. He ranked only behind Spencer with 15.0 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 6 pass breakups and 84 tackles (51 solo, 33 assists). Avril is very light on his feet and looks fluid in pass coverage.