From now until the 2020 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#1 Jordan Elliott / DL Missouri – 6’4” 315
The Good
- Good burst at snap on passing downs
- Solid quickness and swim move as a pass rusher
- Good push as a penetrator on stunts
- Ability to play 1 or 2 Gap
- Good lateral agility to defend Zone runs
- Hand strength and power to stack and shed
The Bad
- Doesn’t create a consistent pass rush on downs that aren’t obvious passing situations
- Use of hands to keep blockers off of him
- Pass rush moves are limited
- Lacks closing burst to when ball carriers are near
- Anchor versus double team blocks
- Working through traffic from the back side
Bio
- Career – 76 tackles, 52 solo, 18.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 4 PD, 1 FF
- 2019 – 44 tackles, 31 solo, 8.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 PD
- 2017 – Sat out a year after transferring from Texas
- High School All-American
- Participated in shot put and discus in high school
- Majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies at Mizzou
Tape Breakdown
A two year performer after transferring from Texas, Jordan Elliott finally got a chance to start for the Tigers in 2019. He has good height and weight with a thick torso and physically looks the part of defensive lineman. He was used along the defensive line from over the center out to the 4i technique.
Against the pass, he shows good burst on passing down firing out with solid hand placement and good leverage. He shows good play strength and leg drive to bull rush interior offensive lineman and drive them back in the pocket. He has solid lateral quickness and has success with a swim and swipe moves to get pressure. In a one gap scheme if the gap gets cut off he will spin back to the inside to get off his block. He gets good push when used as the penetrator on stunts. He was held often in the games watched decreasing the amount of pressures he was able to create.
Vs South Carolina as the 3 tech vs the left guard he use a jab step to the inside to move the blocker and then swim over for the sack.
Vs Florida from the 1 tech he uses a club/swim and swipes away the outside arm of the RG to get the sack.
When it isn’t an obvious passing down he doesn’t create a lot of pressure and must maintain his pad level to not expose his chest. He needs to work on his use of hands to keep blockers off of him. On twists and stunts the team was less effective when using him to run the loop. Would like to see him improve his pass rush plan and add to his repertoire.
At Georgia facing off with the RG, he has a good first step but the guard gets his hands on his chest and he is unable to get his hands off.
As a run defender, he is capable of playing in a 1 or 2 gap scheme. He reads his keys well with eyes always on the ball and has the lateral agility and quickness to flow vs Zone and beat reach blocks He shows good quickness at the snap to penetrate in 1 gap and rip through the block to disrupt the play. In 2 gap, he plays with a strong base and good hand strength to control a one on one block and good body control to flash in one gap and shed to make tackle in the other.
Vs Mississippi, he’ll use quickness to his right to get around the guard, strength to push back the pulling blocker and doesn’t get the tackle but forces the RB to disrupt his path.
At Georgia, from the 3T vs the LG he uses good hand placement and hand strength to shed the block and make the tackle.
Vs Florida, he’s lined up over the center and will beat his reach block to his left, get off the block and make the tackle.
He’ll need to improve his technique against double team blocks to hold his ground. His change of direction and closing burst on the ball carrier was adequate being just a step to late on possible tackles in the backfield. He gets caught up in traffic chasing from the backside and his pursuit effort has room to improve.
Vs Georgia he faces a double team and gets driven off the ball about three yards but shows good competitiveness to keep fighting and get in on the tackle.
Being capable of playing in multiple schemes is a plus for Elliott. Enough quickness to disrupt in 1 gap and the strength and technique to play in 2 gap. He can line up anywhere inside and in a pinch could play the 5 tech. His pass rush numbers don’t jump off the table but there is potential there with improved use of hands and pass rush plan. He should be a rotational defender early with a chance to start in the future.
Projection: Early Day 3
Games Watched: 2018 – Vs Oklahoma State; 2019 – Vs South Carolina, Vs Mississippi, At Georgia, Vs Florida
