2023 NFL Draft: Nolan Smith - Georgia Edge Rusher
Nolan Smith - Georgia
Strengths:
1. Run Defense - Edge rushers smaller than many inside linebackers are not usually praised for run defense, but Nolan Smith is just different. He is not overly aggressive to the backfield, but rather patient, allowing him to penetrate gaps from the side between offensive lineman. He is also great at reading the read-option, typically prioritizing the quarterback more than most edge rushers tend to do. This is great heading into the NFL level because he can contain and chase down rushing quarterbacks who are becoming more prevalent.
2. Swipes - His single swipe to avoid getting locked up is polished. He frequently scoots right by tackles, often making lesser college tackles lose balance entirely. While this may not occur as much in the NFL, his swipe is deadly when going both inside and outside.
3. Bend - The body angle of Smith when he takes the outside and gets his hand in the right place is uncanny. The angle at times approaches 45-degrees, which is nearly unstoppable for larger tackles to deal with.
Weaknesses:
1. Strength - Smith actually has more play strength than most edge rushers his size. Unfortunately for him, there are not a lot of other defensive ends who weigh 236lbs. It is very rare of someone his size to be effective in the NFL at his position.
2. Scheme Fit - His skillset is not as conducive to playing from a three-point stance over the tackle. He is much better suited as a 3-4 outside linebacker, or in scheme that allows him to line up with freedom from where he sees best as an end.
3. Inside Stunts - He should be great these given his burst, but he tends to pop up on his lateral step. This slows him down to the point where the guard is usually in position to lock him up. This is not seen often, but he must work on this specific skill at his size and with his tools.
Grade: Mid-Late First
Pro Comparison: Hasaan Reddick
Smith is actually a better tackler and run defender, but Reddick was a more refined pass rusher at his size.
Film Notes:
Florida (10/29/2022)
Incredible bend on the outside. Great lateral agility. Perfect hand placement to maximize bend and separation from tackle. Came off block to make solo tackle on outside run. Excellent burst off the edge for TFL. Tore pectoral muscle early in game.
Missouri (10/01/2022)
Dropped back in coverage on multiple snaps. Appears to be comfortable doing so. Good swipe. Very comfortable in run defense. Shows patience and ability to burst into a gap. Great closing speed, but missed sack. Frequently uses outside hand to swipe away initial contact on the edge. Put tackle in the dirt on rip. Excellent mid-rush acceleration. Great instincts in run defense. Crazy fast first step, but could time it better off the snap if two point stance was lower. Poor inside stunt attempt from popping up so he could not accelerate effectively. Patience on read-option allowed chance at whoever took the ball.
South Carolina (09/17/2022)
Man coverage on tight end. Excellent patience in run game. Plays read-option well. Effective swipe on inside move to beat two lineman. Excellent run defender. Good follow in coverage to finish play. Great use of shoulders on inside rush. Great hand placement and effectiveness on swipes. Excellent burst inside right by offensive tackle to make TFL. Keeps moving forward when doubled.
Oregon (09/03/2022)
Better from 2-point than 3-point stance. Good quick rip. Very quick first step from 2-point. Used size to duck under block and track down ball carrier. Again, but from opposite side. Less effective up the middle. Usually too upright on 2-point. Threw receiver to the ground from the slot. Agility on outside move is highly efficient without losing a single step to get around the tackle. Less effective without bend on tackle. Patient run defense. Great closing speed on the scramble.
Attributes (Grade/10):
Attributes | Bend | 9 |
Burst | 9 | |
Motor | 10 |
Bend: This could be a 10/10. The ability is there, but next-level bend around the outside is seen so infrequently throughout the tape. A single rep in the Florida game proved that he could be the best in the game bending from the outside with excellent balance, hand placement, and burst leading to optimal form. He just has to show it more for this grade to increase to what it could be.
Burst: Burst off of the line from 2-point stance is usually excellent. While not as much so from a 3-point stance, he likely will not be playing with his hand in the dirt at the NFL level regardless.
Motor: Never gives up on a play. He frequently runs down players who take the outside as well.
Skillset | Pass Rush | 8 |
Run Defense | 9.5 | |
Coverage | 7 |
Pass Rush: Smith's pass rush can be phenomenal. The issue is it is only so on a couple of moves around the edge from the edge. His versatility is limited at his size, and he is a pure speed rusher only. This does mean that he can chase down faster quarterbacks, which is becoming increasingly important in the NFL. He also pops up early on some plays, while keeping excellent pad level on others. Again, the ability is there, but he has work to do.
Run Defense: Somehow, Nolan Smith is an incredible run defender. He is patient on outside runs, and a missile towards the ball carrier on inside runs. He dodges blocks very well in run defense, typically by ducking one shoulder down and exploding back up to throw the lineman off-balance. Despite playing edge at 236lbs, Smith is one of the best run defenders in class.
Coverage: Comfortable dropping back in coverage compared to other edge rushers. Took a few reps from the slot throughout the season, and his physicality at the line was beneficial.
Hands | Placement | 8.5 |
Effectiveness | 8.5 | |
Quickness | 9.5 |
Placement: Hand placement is usually what it needs to be. This is an area where he knows what to do, but could gain some consistency, especially on pass rush moves that he performs less frequently.
Effectiveness: His swipe is one of the most efficient and effective in the game. That is his primary pass rush move, and attempts on other pass rush moves are not quite as clean.
Quickness: Very quick hands, particularly on his swipe.
Line Control | Strength | 4 |
Balance | 10 |
Strength: Smith is a strong player for 236lbs. The only issue is that his opposition can weigh 100lbs more than him at times. He does not have strong inside moves or much of a bull rush, but his strength is not a liability as an edge rusher.
Balance: Absolutely incredible balance, as seen from his ability to bend, dodge, and duck while still maintaining his footing and quickness.
Pass-Rush Decisions | Versatility | 5.5 |
Technique | 8 | |
Execution | 9 |
Versatility: Not much versatility to his pass rush. If he gets better at cutting back into the B-gap from the edge, then tackles will not be able to favor their outside as much. Smith currently wins primarily from taking the edge with speed. This will be even more effective if offensive tackles believe that he can win going inside as well.
Technique: He is an excellent outside pass rusher with good technique on his favored moves. His technique could improve with more practice diversifying his pass rush options.
Execution: 25% pass rush win rate speaks for itself. This could have been even higher with more consistent and better overall technique.
Traits | Agility | 9.5 |
Athleticism | 9 | |
Length | 4 |
Agility: His agility around the outside is incredible. His footwork is great when pass rushing, and he is smooth when displacing laterally. The knock on his inside stunts do not stem from a lack of ability.
Athleticism: Explosive athlete through and through. Size is the only real limiting factor.
Full Report:
Smith is a unique edge prospect. He weighs less than some linebackers coming in at only 236lbs, but is one of the most solid run defenders from the outside. He is patient, but aggressive in the run game, frequently making plays in the backfield. He is not the most refined pass rusher, but his twitch and ability to bend around the tackle will lead to pressures at the next level. His pass rush win rate and run stop rate in 2022 were both incredible. It is easy to see how he was the number one overall recruit in 2019. His greatest weakness stems from his size at the position. While he may line up at slot and off-ball occasionally, his primary role is outside the tackle. He is limited at what he can do from that position in pass rush with very little threat of ever breaking inside. He does not really have a bull rush, and offensive tackles at the next level should account for his limited pass-rush moves. While his numbers are solid in pass rush, there is concern with his skillset going into the NFL. Despite his supposed weaknesses, Smith is still a first round talent. His prowess in run defense, ability to chase down more mobile quarterbacks, and twitch off the line are too great for him to drop too much lower than a late first. That said, his size and recent injury may cause him to drop further than he should. While it is likely he goes at some point in the first, this deep edge class may cause him to go behind guys slightly less talented. It will not be all that surprising to see him slip into round two despite his obvious talent and freakish athleticism for his size.
NFL Projection:
Smith will likely go later in the first round. He may struggle a bit his first couple of years against larger and more technical opposition. He will need to refine his pass rush technique to become a solid all-around starter. Regardless of development, his skillset will be essential for chasing down the more athletic quarterbacks in today's NFL.
Comments
Post a Comment