As we delve further into the Pittsburgh Steelers offseason, our attention has begun to shift towards the draft. Like we’ve done in the past, these reports will cover the prospects of the 2015 NFL Draft, placing an emphasis on those who could help the Steelers the most.
Today we are back looking at the outside linebacker position again and one of the first-round prospects, Clemson defensive end/outside linebacker Vic Beasley.
#3 – Vic Beasley/DE/OLB Clemson – 6’2 235
The Good
– Athletic
– Quick first step and acceleration
– Uses hands well at times
– Above average bend
– Good speed to the edge
– Instinctive
The Bad
– Not a big frame
– Plays light
– Easily engulfed by tackles when beat to edge
– Struggles with lead blockers, trash
– Cant hold point well against running attack
– Not used to dropping
Tape Breakdown
The thing that sticks out the most with Beasley on tape is how athletic he is. In addition to that, he has a good get-off and shows a great burst when getting up the field.
Beasley understands the usage of good hands and technique at times and you can see both on display here on the sack against Florida State. How many times have we seen James Harrison use this same move only with a little more power and bend?
Here Beasley takes the long way around in a hurry to get the strip-sack touchdown. The tight end easily gives up the edge and the athletic Beasley does the rest.
While Beasley is initially handled here by a double-team, he eventually works himself free to disrupt the throw. He certainly has a knack for finding the quarterback and that’s evidenced by his career sack totals.
When Beasley doesn’t win the race to the edge, however, you will often see him engulfed by the tackles. In this play below, you will see the left tackle even allows himself to get off balance, yet Beasley can’t unstick in order to get to the inside.
Here Beasley lacks the raw power, technique and balance needed to turn the corner and the left tackle easily rides him down and out of the play.
Here you will see Beasley easily get hooked and turned to the inside against the run.
On this play Beasley fails to attack the lead blocker and he’s easily taken out of the play as a result.
After getting through the gap here against Georgia, Beasley fails to make the tackle on the running back.
For a player that’s being touted as sure-fire first-round draft pick, I came away from Beasley’s tape not convinced. For starters, he’s probably going to be considered too undersized to play as an every down player initially at the NFL level in both a 4-3 and 3-4 defense. He is more speed and finesse than he is powerful.
Beasley should be able to grow some and get stronger at the next level, but how much? As you will see in all of selections of game tape he struggles against the run. That’s very concerning. You will also see him off his feet as a push rusher a little more than you would like.
While Beasley does exhibit some good hand usage at times, it usually comes in the form of hand swats. Very rarely will you see him use a lot of counters. In addition, he lacks strong leg drive and that prevents him from regularly being able to drive tackles back with a bull-rush. He either wins in the gap or around the edge from my study.
A team that drafts Beasley will certainly have to decide how high of a ceiling he has at the next level and how far he is away from hitting it. Personally, I don’t see him as being a top-25 player and won’t be surprised if he falls into the second round.
Projection: Late 1st – Late 2nd
Games Watched: at Florida State, at Georgia, vs North Carolina State
Previous Scouting Reports
Maxx Williams
P.J. Williams
Javorius Allen
Alvin Dupree
David Cobb
Tyler Kroft
Quinten Rollins
Shane Ray
Trae Waynes
Bobby Richardson
