Dontari Poe: First Round Stud or Potential Bust?

Memphis DT/NT Dontari Poe has become somewhat of a hot pick as of late.  Most certainly he has become a product of a great combine work out.  However, how much does the combine mean?  To me, game production is what matters and truthfully there just isn’t much there.

At 6’4, 346 Poe has the size and by posting a sub 5 second 40 time and 44 reps on the bench press he certainly has the speed and strength.  Yet despite the measurables, Poe doesn’t translate on the football field the same way he did during the combine.

Poe’s success will be dictated by his scheme.  He isn’t a true nose tackle and that might deter some 3-4 teams, he seems to be better as a 3-technique lineman.  Poe posted 33 tackles and 1 sack during his 2011 season and wasn’t particularly dominate against an specific opponent.  My biggest concern about Dontari Poe is that I haven’t seen him consistently win battles one on one.  Tape is limited on Poe and it’s hard to see everything, but what I do get to see is a player who doesn’t play to his size or ability.

Poe will almost certainly be a first round pick based upon his size and potential.  However, I don’t see Poe being the top 15 pick that some draft guru’s have mocked.  Poe will be successful if he goes to a team that views him as the project that he is and coaches him up and places him in a scheme and situations he can thrive in.  If a team drafts Poe, especially early, with the belief that he can start right away and be dominant, I think Poe is the strongest candidate for the 2012 bust award.