Von Bell Signing Deserves More Love on Here

[SunsetBengal]

(06-20-2020, 12:01 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Thanks for sharing!  I hadn't seen this.  Khalid is probably the one draft pick I knew absolutely nothing about.  I hadn't scouted him at all, and I was looking more at safety than DE/DT that late in the draft.  I am definitely liking him more and more every time I hear about him.  He actually reminds me a bit of Hubbard in the sense that he doesn't wow you with measurables but he simply makes plays.  Judging by that video, he seems to make a lot of his biggest plays against good competition.  Say what you will about ND in title games of late, but they usually have a solid schedule.  

I think his injury/surgery leading to an inability to participate in the combine really hurt him.  A guy with that size 6'4", 268 lbs, and ridiculous arms 34 5/8" and huge hands 10 7/8" combined with what looks like a VERY quick first step would have been shooting up draft boards.  I know it is hard to quantify that first step on tape, but I found it interesting that most reports on him mentioned a great first step, with very few false steps, but has "limited explosiveness".  

I don't mean to make is sound like he is Von Miller, but he can surely help this team by improving the rotational talent on the line.  

I also really liked that he played 3 more games after he tore his labrum because he "wanted to finish the season with his guys" and thought he just had a sprained AC joint.  

Kareem will be an interesting one to watch develop, as he's got the size and body composition to fill that Strong Side DE role, currently held by Dunlap.  Having a good first step is great, but most every NFL DE was considered to have a good first step in the college level.  NFL OTs are used to handling everyone's great first step, every down they play.  He's got the frame to put on some mass, and develop his power game, he'll have to work on his technique, and learn to keep throwing moves and hands throughout each rep.  Staying alert could net him a lot of PDs at the line.