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NFL Draft 2012 On defense TEAm DEFEnSivE stats PER gAmE AnD lEAgUE ranK Total Points: 19.2 (5) | Total Yards: 332.4 (10) | Rushing Yards: 147.4 (30) | Passing Yards: 184.9 (2) DE DE DT DT LB LB LB CB CB FS SS Jabaal Frostee Phil Ahtyba Scott Chris D’Qwell Joe Sheldon Usama T.J. Sheard Rucker Taylor Rubin Fujita Gocong Jackson Haden Brown Young Ward Pittsburgh USC Baylor Iowa St. California Cal Poly-SLO Maryland Florida S. Carolina Kent St. Oregon 6-2 | 255 6-3 | 280 6-3 | 335 6-2 | 330 6-5 | 250 6-2 | 263 6-0 | 240 5-11 | 190 5-10 | 200 6-0 | 200 5-10 | 200 Rookie had Ex-Bengal Last year’s top Was mentioned Injuries and Moved seam- After missing Injuries A wily veteran, Didn’t crack Looking to impressive signed as free pick had solid as a Pro Bowl possible sus- lessly from two seasons to sapped some but he’s 33 the starting bounce back season after agent to re- season. candidate in pension make weak side to injury, was one of his big-play and his cover- lineup until after missing moving to left place Jayme second year as him a question strong for in- of the league’s skills last sea- age skills are Ward was in- much of sec- side. Mitchell. a starter. mark. jured Fujita. top tacklers. son. waning. jured. ond season. BACKUPS BACKUPS BACKUPS BACKUPS BACKUPS Juqua Parker, Oklahoma State, Scott Paxson, Penn State, Kaluka Maiava, Southern Cal, Brian Smith, Dimitri Patterson, Tuskegee, Eric Hagg, Nebraska, 6-2, 250 6-4, 290 6-0, 229 Notre Dame, 5-10, 200 6-1, 205 Auston English, Oklahoma Brian Sanford, Temple, Quinton Spears, Prarie View A&M, 6-3, 240 Buster Skrine, Ray Ventrone, Villanova, 6-3, 250 6-2, 280 6-4, 234 Craig Tennessee-Chattanooga, 5-10, 200 Brian Schaefering, Lindenwood Kiante Tripp, Georgia, Ben Jacobs, Fresno State Robertson, 5-9, 185 David Sims, Iowa State, 6-4, 295 6-6, 276 6-4, 243 North Texas James Dockery, Oregon State, 5-9, 204 6-1, 229 Marcus Benard, Jackson State 6-1, 185 6-2, 256 Emmanuel Stephens, Mississippi 6-3, 255 BROWnS’ lEvEl OF nEED: 2/10 BROWnS’ lEvEl OF nEED: 6/10 BROWnS’ lEvEl OF nEED: 8/10 One of the deepest positions in draft also happens to be deepest position Depends on Fujita’s skill set and availability. How Browns could use an upgrade at corner opposite Haden. Incumbent on Browns other than kicker/punter. Browns added free agent Rucker to much more does Fujita, who turns 33 on Saturday, Brown is a wily veteran, but he’s 33 and his coverage skills are waning. fill spot vacated by Jayme Mitchell. Browns also signed veteran Parker to have left in the tank? And how long, if at all, will he Free safety is essentially up for grabs now that Mike Adams (16 GS, 64 bolster a line that features young starters in Sheard, Taylor and Rubin. If be suspended for his role in the bounty scandal while TKL last year) signed with Denver. The acquisition of a corner presum- Browns choose to draft high for a defensive lineman this year, something with New Orleans? If Fujita is out of the starting mix, ably would push Brown to FS alongside Ward, who returns from injury to must be wrong with their recent talent assessments. Odds are that, by the Browns need to determine whether Gocong is reclaim SS. The Browns, if they stay at No. 4, likely will have Claiborne to the time they do take a D-lineman, he won’t be one of the bigger names. best suited for the weak side or strong side. Gocong consider. But Claiborne, as good as he is, might be a luxury given Browns’ Keep on eye on Michigan DT Mike Martin as a possible value pick. slid to strong to replace the injured Fujita at the end much more pressing needs offensively. The Browns will need to wrestle of last season, with Maiava taking over the weak. with this draft reality: Beyond Claiborne, cornerbacks with exceptional Browns need more impact plays from their lineback- cover skills are few. Many have the physical tools but remain raw in the BEST OF THE BEST ers. Sacks get the most publicity but, because the technical aspects of the position. Opting for Trumaine Johnson early in Browns play a 4-3, most of that responsibility falls the second round constitutes a reach, but he’s intriguing enough to be Quinton Coples, Fletcher Cox, on the line. Linebackers in this scheme must stuff worthy of consideration early in the third. A midround potential value DE, North Carolina, DT, Mississippi State the run, tackle and cover. Because the Browns have pick is Virginia’s Chase Minnifield, son of former Browns standout Frank. 6-5¾, 284, 4.78 6-4, 298, 4.79 so many needs offensively, and a need at corner, they probably won’t think of drafting a linebacker in the Top-20 talent. Has steadily moved Top-15 talent. As physically gifted first or second round. BEST OF THE BEST as any 2012 prospect, any posi- up boards in off-season. Dontari Poe of Memphis received more tion. Tremendous footwork and Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU, 5-11, 188, 4.50 hands. Excelled at Senior Bowl publicity for his Herculean com- BEST OF THE BEST Top-10 talent. Most complete defensive back in draft — by plenty. 2011 and in certain combine drills. Has bine, but Cox also put on a show. Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top DB). Terrific hands, 33¼-inch arms. the look of a dominant player. The He looked especially good in agil- Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina, 6-1½, 264, 4.79 Athletic, light on feet, always in balance. Adjusts seamlessly to ball in question is, will he buy in men- ity drills. Quickness and length air. Clocked hand-timed 4.39 in 40 at pro day after the 4.50 at combine. tally on every snap? By his own (34½-inch arms) make him dif- Top-15 talent. First Team All-American. Big skills, big Product of the perennially powerful Tigers. Excellent hands. Recent wrist admission, he did not play as well ficult to handle at the point of at- personality, small arms (31½ inches). The gator arms, surgery should not be a problem. NFL teams do not seem to be con- in senior year as in junior year. tack. Cox also can play end, which combined with lack of height, likely will force move cerned about Claiborne’s single-digit Wonderlic score. Scouts also wonder if he wants it increases his value. Scouts say his from defensive end to 3-4 linebacker in NFL. Dazzled badly enough. At least one team frame can add more pounds with- at combine and at Senior Bowl, proving he can put out sacrificing agility. Intelligence hand on ground or drop into coverage. Team that in first half of first round will be BEST OF THE REST sure it can maximize his vast po- and instincts enable him to play picks him needs to maximize his versatility, because if tential. different schemes and techniques. he stays in one place, he loses value. Nonstop motor. Intense. Exceptional body control for a 264-pounder. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Mark Barron, SS/FS, Alabama, BEST OF THE REST 2011: 48 tackles, 10 sacks, 2INTs. Career: 21.5 sacks. Carolina, 6-0½, 190, 4.40 6-1, 213, 4.56 Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College, 6-3¼, 242, 4.58 First-round talent. Superb perfor- First-round talent. Terrific player in mances at combine and pro day suspect crop of safeties. Big, strong, Nick Perry, DE, Southern Califor- Michael Brockers, DT, LSU, 6-5, Top-15 talent. Won 2011 Butkus and Nagurski awards nia, 6-2¾, 271, 4.64 322, 5.36 helped stock. Made 40 straight quick. Good tackler. Nose for the as nation’s best linebacker and defensive player. Two- starts at South Carolina. Quick football. Takes charge of defense. One of best pass rushers in draft. Brockers, one of the youngest time All-American. High production, high character, in his draft class, is athletic and feet with good closing speed. Many mock drafts have him going Relies on physicality, quick hands off-the-charts football IQ. Anticipates as well as any Smooth. Good tackling makes in middle of first round. and multiple moves to beat his long (35-inch arms). Played well defensive player in draft. Great at zone drops. Rela- against quality competition in his him effective in run support. Can man. Great work ethic. Had 38½- tively clean health sheet. At ESPN’s Sport Science lab, play press or off. All business on Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame, inch vertical jump and 35 reps one year as a starter. Strong, with Kuechly clocked 20.4 mph in 10 yards, a speed on quick hands. Still considered raw. the field. Still developing as cover 6-1, 213, 4.57 at 225 pounds at combine. Got par with Browns CB Joe Haden in college. In another man. better as 2011 season progressed, Sport Science test, Kuechly hit a dummy with 3,280 Long, athletic and smart. Can finishing with 9.5 sacks. Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan pounds of force — better than Colts DE Dwight Free- match physicality of tight ends. State, 6-2, 308, 5.08 Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama, Will need to prove he can play ney. 2011: 191 tackles. 6-1, 186, 4.51 Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama, Large man who can move.