Answer to NINERS PASS RUSH Kevin Dodd, 3-4OLB

Kevin Dodd*, 3-4OLB, Clemson
Height: 6-5. Weight: 277. Arm Length 34"
40 Time: 4.86.
Projected Round (2016): 1-2.
3/12/16: Sources at some teams are grading Dodd in the second round, but across the league, team contacts expect him to go in Round 1. Dodd had a decent performance at the combine and didn't harm his draft stock.

Dodd put an exclamation point on his breakout 2015 season with a tremendous National Championship game against Alabama. He abused the Crimson Tide's right tackle with speed and power to record three sacks of quarterback Jacob Coker.

After being buried on the depth chart in previous seasons, Dodd and Shaq Lawson were able to make life hard on quarterbacks in 2015. Dodd totaled 62 tackles with 23.5 for a loss, 12 sacks, and one forced fumble on the year. He had a total of 21 tackles over his previous three years. Dodd entered the 2016 NFL Draft, but he probably would have had a better shot at the first round if he had one more productive year in college before turning pro.

NFL COMPARISON Michael Bennett

I call your Dodd and raise you Spence

The red flag with him is his lack of pass rush moves. If he's not able to run around the RT he's not getting to the QB. At the next level I don't see him being effective with that alone. He has decent speed but nothing that's going to give NFL OTs any issues.

Personally I'd he belongs in the 2nd round, but his size and length will convince a team to select him earlier.

Not really a fan, dude was going up against right tackles while Lawson was getting double-teamed on the other side and still found ways to make plays happen.

He's definitely got talent but I'm not as psyched about him as some others are. I'd much rather have Lawson who I think is a flat out better all-around player.

Go back to the ND game and specifically watch the two of them and you'll see a major difference.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Not really a fan, dude was going up against right tackles and really struggled at times while Lawson was getting double-teamed on the other side and still found ways to make plays happen.

He's definitely got talent but I'm not as psyched about him as some others are. I'd much rather have Lawson who I think is a flat out better all-around player.

Go back to the ND game and specifically watch the two of them and you'll see a major difference.

I hear u really do but Shaq is considered stiff
SOURCES TELL US "I see Shaq as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He's not the guy you want to turn loose against the quarterback, but he is the guy that will make it hard for tight ends to block him in the run game. We knew we couldn't run at him and it changed how we called plays." -- ACC offensive coachNFL COMPARISON Courtney Upshaw

Originally posted by jerseyniner49:
I hear u really do but Shaq is considered stiff
SOURCES TELL US "I see Shaq as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He's not the guy you want to turn loose against the quarterback, but he is the guy that will make it hard for tight ends to block him in the run game. We knew we couldn't run at him and it changed how we called plays." -- ACC offensive coachNFL COMPARISON Courtney Upshaw

Yeah I don't see the Upshaw comparison with Lawson other than they are both good run defenders. I see Lawson as more versatile and polished in his pass rush ability than Upshaw was coming out in the draft. Upshaw is a guy that people hoped could develop some pass rush skills, Lawson already has them.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Yeah I don't see the Upshaw comparison with Lawson other than they are both good run defenders. I see Lawson as more versatile and polished in his pass rush ability than Upshaw was coming out in the draft. Upshaw is a guy that people hoped could develop some pass rush skills, Lawson already has them.

Very good point also intrigued by
Alex McCalister*, DE, Florida
Height: 6-6. Weight: 239. Arm: 36. (Crazy length)
40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2016): 3-4.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

2015, the redshirt junior totaled 26 tackles with 9.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks in nine games.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

Originally posted by jerseyniner49:

Very good point also intrigued by
Alex McCalister*, DE, Florida
Height: 6-6. Weight: 239. Arm: 36. (Crazy length)
40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2016): 3-4.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

2015, the redshirt junior totaled 26 tackles with 9.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks in nine games.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

Much prefer McCalister late in the 3rd. His wiry frame will keep him out of the 2nd, but he has the length that Trent likes. He's a solid developmental pick.

Originally posted by strickac:

Originally posted by jerseyniner49:

Very good point also intrigued by
Alex McCalister*, DE, Florida
Height: 6-6. Weight: 239. Arm: 36. (Crazy length)
40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2016): 3-4.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

2015, the redshirt junior totaled 26 tackles with 9.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks in nine games.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

Much prefer McCalister late in the 3rd. His wiry frame will keep him out of the 2nd, but he has the length that Trent likes. He's a solid developmental pick.

I think cbs sports has him ranked much lower than a 3rd round pick...could be wrong.

Wrong Clemson prospect for this role. Shaq Lawson has played out of a 2 point and 3 point stance in the past.

Your basing everything off someone else's writing... go look at the tape. Lawson's motor is second to none. Unbelievable against the run and a solid pass rusher. I would take Lawson over Dodd any day.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by strickac:

Originally posted by jerseyniner49:

Very good point also intrigued by
Alex McCalister*, DE, Florida
Height: 6-6. Weight: 239. Arm: 36. (Crazy length)
40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2016): 3-4.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

2015, the redshirt junior totaled 26 tackles with 9.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks in nine games.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#UkUSKHurCMO2OFUs.99

Much prefer McCalister late in the 3rd. His wiry frame will keep him out of the 2nd, but he has the length that Trent likes. He's a solid developmental pick.

I think cbs sports has him ranked much lower than a 3rd round pick...could be wrong.

Believe you're right. I don't know any pass rushers in the league with 36" arms so it's hard to project how teams will view him. The only guys close off the top of my head are Aldon Smith and Chandler Jones and he's got them each beat by at least 1/2". Can't think of any edge rushers with that kind of arm length that weren't successful.

His arms are significantly longer than Aldon Smith's and he's a pretty good athlete which is scary. He also has significant off field issues so he's a wild card. Could end up being a late round pick like Lynch with bigger issues but more upside.

Don't know much about Dodd but I heard he had 1 good year at Clemson and that could be bc he faced less competition going against a right tackle every every gam..like strickac said...i only heard of him this year..unlike Lawson..and I would love him if he compared to Bennett but then he would be only a pass rusher bc Bennett doesn't cover and is not asked too..and for Lawson I feel like his comparison is Shawne Merriman...YES LIGHTS OUT..! lol

Originally posted by NYniner85:

I think cbs sports has him ranked much lower than a 3rd round pick...could be wrong.

I wasn't aware that he was kicked off the team. Could be another mid-round steal for Trent.

Originally posted by amosmac28:
Your basing everything off someone else's writing... go look at the tape. Lawson's motor is second to none. Unbelievable against the run and a solid pass rusher. I would take Lawson over Dodd any day.

This. I don't think Lawson is bad at all as a pass rusher, the guy had 12.5 sacks going up against some pretty good competition but it was overshadowed by how excellent he was against the run, he simply wrecked teams when they ran the football towards him. Playing with a top-end motor and physically just a pure brute, the 49ers could do a lot worse than having Lawson opposite Lynch at OLB.