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Brooks Reed vs Iowa (via AloAloysius)

6-3, 263, 4.6 forty, 1.54 10yd split,

2010 -- 10 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 FF

2008 -- 9.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 3 FF

So the other night I'm searching the net, trying to find Dontay Moch's 10 yd split (btw, if anybody comes across this please let me know). In so doing I come across this mofo. I had read up on him before and didn't hate him. His numbers were ok, and his tape was all right. But he didn't really draw a lot of interest from me. There didn't seem to be much of a "wow" factor, if you know what I mean. Frankly, I thought he was a Clay Matthews wannabe and I was kinda turned off. Then I came across his 10 yard split and was like, "DAAAAMMMNNN!!!"

Im not real big on the combine, but certain numbers matter to me. RBs, WRs, DBs and LBs need to have respectable forty times. And those that have good ones will kinda make you take another, closer look at them if their numbers and tape don't generate much interest. To me, 10 yard split times are just as important for pass rushers; it lets you know the type of jump they can get off the snap. Clay Matthews, I believe, has one of the best, if not the best, 10 yard split times ever recorded for a pass rusher: 1.49. We all have seen how explosive Matthews can be. So Brooks Reed posting a nearly identical 1.54 10yd split definitely caught my attention. So I took another look at his tape (see above) and... me likes. Me likes A LOT.

He's got prototypical size, good speed, high motor, seems pretty violent, good hands, good repertoire of pass rushing moves. His numbers are kind of not what you really want to see. Ideally, I'd think you'd want to see double digit sacks and tackles for loss numbers that are at least in the teens. But I think his lack of production can be attributed to playing out of position. He played DE, with his hand on the ground and lined up over a tackle. At 263, he's kind of smallish for a DE, even in college. It would have been difficult for him to use his speed and get leverage when in a phone booth with a larger man. I think if you stand him up and give him a little more space, he could be much more productive. He can use his athleticism and that sick burst to his advantage (both to command the edge and to get his man off balance to gain leverage).

I think this guy would be a great fit. A lot of people will scoff at the notion of taking him in Round 1. But I imagine, especially after his 1.54 10 yd split, that a lot of GMs are taking a good hard look at him and he's sneakily climbing up draft boards.

Here's his scouting report, for your edification.