Jared Crick Scouting Report

Jared Crick

Position: Defensive Tackle / 3-4 Defensive End
School: Nebraska
Year: Senior
Height: 6'5
Weight: 290
Draft Stock: 2nd - 4th Round

Strengths
-Extremely Quick. Set the Nebraska record for fastest 10 yard time. Allows him to shoot off the ball.
-Position Flexibility. Could play the 3 technique Defensive Tackle and Left Defensive End in the 4-3 or a 5 technique Defensive End in the 3-4.
-Experience playing in a 2 gap defense. Knows how to play with leverage.
-Great size and frame. 6'5 290 with the ability to add weight and still keep quickness.
-Long arms that allow him to engage with lineman and not let them get to his body and shed blocks to make plays.
-High football IQ. Always knows where to be.
-Very experienced. Starter since Sophomore year.
-High Motor. Never quits on a play. Just Keith Price. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQlEBJSO3Ww
-Good leader and active in the community
-Strong punch
-Good pass rusher. Uses speed, swim move, deceptive bull rush

Weaknesses
-Doesn't change directions very easily.
-Isn't overly strong
-Doesn't anchor in the best
-Injury issues. Torn pectoral this past year, MCL Strain in 2011 Spring

Summary

Going into the 2011 season there were high hopes for Jared Crick. He was coming off two huge seasons and was projected to be a top 20 draft pick. However he started off slow and then torn his pectoral muscle after playing in only 5 games. Now there is going to be a cloud of questions around his value in the draft. However Crick should be healthy for the combine and will be able to show the skills he has to offer. Crick really reminds me a lot of Cameron Jordan who is now with the Saints. Much like Jordan, Crick is very versatile and can fit into any scheme. Crick played in a 2 gap system at Nebraska so he knows how to play with leverage, take on blockers and shed blocks to make plays. So he fits in real well as a 5 technique defensive end. Crick also could fit as a 3 technique DT in the 4-3 where he can use his speed and quickness to penetrate and disrupt the backfield. He could also see some time at Left Defensive End in the 4-3 because of his speed. However teams will have some reservations about him because of the pec injury. Because of that Crick right now is sitting as a 3rd round value, however a strong combine where he shows his is back to his old form could rise him up. But at best he'll be a high 2nd round pick. He's probably best suited for the 3-4 so that is more likely where he'll go, but you never know.

Preseason All Big 10 Team

After doing both the Big 10 and Big 12 Predictions, I've decided to add my preseason all conference teams in with the predictions. So since this wasn't included in with the predictions....here is my Preseason All Big 10 Team.

Offense

QB: Dan Persa, Northwestern

RB: Edwin Baker, Michigan State

RB: Montee Ball, Wisconsin

TE: Kyler Reed, Nebraska

WR: Marvin McNutt, Iowa

WR: Roy Roundtree, Michigan

T: Riley Reiff, Iowa
G: Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
C: Mike Brewster, Ohio State
G: Chris McDonald, Michigan State
T: Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

Defense

DE: Vince Browne, Northwestern

DT: Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
DT: Jared Crick, Nebraska
DE: Nathan Williams, Ohio State
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska
LB: Michael Mauti, Penn State
LB: Andrew Sweat, Ohio State
CB: Alphonzo Dennard, Nebraska
S: Aaron Henry, Wisconsin
S: Trenton Robinson, Michigan State
CB: Shawn Prater, Iowa

Specialists

K: Derek Dimke, Illinois
P: Brad Nortman, Wisconsin
KR/PR: Troy Stoudermire, Minnesota

Player Rankings: Top 5s (Defense)

Defensive End
1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Devin Taylor, South Carolina
3. Andre Branch, Clemson
4. Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
5. Vince Brown, Northwestern

Sleeper: Cam Johnson, Virginia

Comments: Defensive end has become one of the most important positions on defense. But don't look for this class to break any records for players taken. Coples should be a top 5 pick but Taylor and Branch might not go till the late 1st round.


Defensive Tackle
1. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
2. Marcus Forston, Miami
3. Tydreke Powell, North Carolina
4. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
5. Kawann Short, Purdue

Sleeper: Mike Martin, Michigan

Comments: The past two years have seen a large number of tackles go early, but this year won't be the same. Worthy and Forston are the top two players at the position but neither of them will be confused for Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Nick Fairley, or Marcel Dareus. Mike Martin is a sleeper to watch. He is a smaller compact player that might be the strongest player at the positon.


3-4 Defensive End
1. Jared Crick, Nebraska
2. Kheston Randall, Texas
3. Billy Winn, Boise State
4. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska
5. Kendall Reyes, UConn

Sleeper: Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

Comments: With so few teams running the 3-4 in college this is the hardest position to project from college to the NFL. Trying to decided if that defensive tackle can move out or that bigger defensive end can slide inside can be a crap shoot. Here Jared Crick is clearly the top player. He plays tackle at Nebraska and is very quick, but he has expereince playing a two gap sytem and taking on blocks so that makes him an ideal fit.


Nose Tackle
1. Alameda Ta'amu, Washington
2. Josh Chapman, Alabama
3. Kerry Murphy, Alabama

Sleeper: DeAngleo McCray, Memphis

Comments: This year doesn't have a large (pun intended) amount of players that profile to be the big 3-4 space eater that we have had in previous years. Ta'amu and Chapman are clearly the only elite players. Ta'amu could become a late 1st rounder, but previous history suggests that he'll probably be a early 2nd rounder.


Rush Linebacker
1. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State
2. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
3. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina
4. Vinny Curry, Marshall
5. Shayne Skov, Stanford

Sleeper: Nick Perry, USC

Comments: Jenkins, Upshaw, and Paige-Moss are all top notch rush linebackers who will be coveted for their passing rushing abilities. But watch out ofr Vinny Curry and Shayne Skov who are very talented also but not as well know yet. If Nick Perry can stay healthy he could find himself shooting up draft boards.


Outside Linebacker
1. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
2. Zach Brown, North Carolina
3. Lavonte David, Nebraska
4. Nico Johnson, Alabama
5. Ronnell Johnson, Oklahoma

Sleeper: Demario Davis, Arkansas State

Comments: With the emergence of the 3-4 defense players who once were 1st or 2nd rounders are finding themselves drop because don't only fit with half of the defenses. But those teams should be happy becuase there are four elite outside linebackers. Travis Lewis is a playmaker thats is always around the ball. Zach Brown is much like Bruce Carter in that he is a great athlete, and Lavonte David is a tackling machine with great instincts.


Inside Linebacker
1. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
2. Manti Te'o, North Carolina
3. Luke Keachly, Boston College
4. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
5. Chris Marve, Vanderbilt

Sleeper: Chris Galippo, USC

Comments: Middle linebackers like Vontaze Burfict don't come around too often. Manti Te'o has can play any linebacker spot in any scheme so that will make him attractive. Keachly is a tackling machine, and Hightower should be a great fit in a 3-4 defense. Galippo is my sleeper because he has a ton of talent, but also comes in with a ton of experience playing in the Tampa 2 under one of the best defensive minds in Monte Kiffen.


Cornerback
1. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
2. Alphonzo Dennard, Nebraska
3. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
4. Jayron Hosey, Virginia Tech
5. Chase Minnifeild, Virginia

Sleeper: Shaun Prater, Iowa

Comments: The cornerback position is clearly the deepest position of any of the other defensive spots. All five of these players should go in the first round and we could see a couple more too. The NFL is a passing league and lock down corners are in demand. Kirkpatrick is the cream of the crop with size, speed, and the ability to change directions. Dennard out peformed teammate Prince Amukamara last year at times, but his lack of size hurts his chances of being a top 10 pick. I'm a little higher on Janoris Jenkins that most, but he would have been the 2nd or 3rd corner last year if he came out. He does have some baggage but some team will take a chance on him.


Safety
1. Robert Lester, Alabama
2. Kenny Tate, Maryland
3. Mark Barron, Alabama
4. Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami
5. TJ McDonald, USC

Sleeper: Blake Gideon, Texas

Comments: A quality group of safeties in this draft class where all five have shots to be taken in the first round. Lester is the only true free safety in the group while Tate, Barron, Armstrong, and McDonald are all in the box type of safeties. Kenny Tate is getting a lot of hype but he has been moved to weakside linebacker at Maryland and he might be a better fit there for a Cover 2 team. My sleeper is Blake Gideon from Texas. He isn't a flashy player, but he always seems to be around the ball. He could play both safety spots and maybe some nickle corner. Add in special teams play and he could be a steal in the 3rd or 4th rounds.