***Official 2020 NFL Draft Thread***

[HarleyDog]

(04-25-2020, 03:15 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Edge rusher, Khalid Kareem...The f'n network didn't even show it (ESPN).  Assholes.

Heres his Bio: Kareem was a top-100 prospect coming out of Michigan's Harrison High School, with the Detroit Defensive Player of the Year (16 sacks as a senior) choosing the Irish over Michigan and Alabama. He enrolled in January 2016 and received playing time in four contests as a true freshman. Kareem played in all 13 games as a reserve in 2017 (21 tackles, 5.5 for loss, three sacks) and then started all 13 games as a junior (42 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, five pass breakups). He tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks among his 46 total stops (10 for loss) as a senior. Kareem also led the Irish with three forced fumbles in his final season. His father, Ken, coached defensive linemen at the high school level for many years.


Overview

Power-based edge defender who uses technique and force to make up for a lack of explosiveness. He does an adequate job of bracing up and defending his turf when the run comes his way, but he lacks the athletic gifts to make many plays outside of his area. He's able to muscle up and create some pocket pressure against college tackles, but that approach is unlikely to yield results against most NFL starters. Kareem has size and toughness but may not have enough athletic ability to ever be more than a backup 4-3 base end.



Strengths

• Excellent arm length and hand size
• Fires out of track stance with no false steps
• Possesses some shed talent at the top of the rush
• Upper-body twitch to pull and pass leaning pass-setters
• Sniffs out weaker tackles and uses force to challenge
• Plays with inside hands
• Above-average football IQ and ball awareness
• Good pad level and fairly stout at point of attack
• Punches and shuffles around edge blocks with some effectiveness
• Posts up and locks out to anchor and set edge
  

Weaknesses

• Marginal rush production despite the physical traits
• Rush approach lacks complexity and instinctive counters
• Finds himself squared up by pass sets too often
• Tackle-end twists underneath are gradual and lack threat
• Lacks small-area suddenness
• Workman-like, but doesn't create enough space with his hands
• Sluggish lateral movement and directional change
• Has issues closing down backside run lanes