DE Randy Gregory NFL Draft Fits: Titans, Redskins, Saints
By Erik Lambert
If one were to ask the question, “Who is the Jadeveon Clowney of this 2015 NFL Draft?”, then there is no question that honor belongs to Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory. Just looking at him, it’s easy to see why. The guy is a physical marvel with size, length, speed and the deceptive power to overwhelm pass blockers and make life miserable for quarterbacks.
However, also like Clowney, he’s surrounded by questions. Most center around his ability to develop properly and take advantage of his obvious gifts. There have been many flashes in college, but flashes aren’t enough at the pro level. Which teams out there are best equipped to take on this challenge?
Tennessee Titans
Jurrell Casey has made a home up front for the Tennessee Titans but they really weren’t able to provide much help for him on the edge of their new 3-4 defense under Ray Horton. Derrick Morgan was good but he’s more of a good complimentary player than a true sack artist. Body type, athleticism and length all scream outside linebacker for Gregory.
Adding fuel to this fire is the fact that Dick LeBeau has come to town. The ancient Hall of Fame defensive coordinator turned 3-4 defenses into art for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He knows how to manufacture edge rushers for that scheme and has really never had one as purely talented as Gregory. It’s an experiment that will be hard to pass up.
Washington Redskins
Here’s another team that is constructed around the 3-4 and also has a serious need for pass rush help. The Washington Redskins are poised to lose Brian Orakpo to free agency, leaving them nobody to pick up the slack opposite Ryan Kerrigan. The last thing the Redskins can afford is having no pass rush when there is so much work to do in the secondary at both corner and safety.
Joe Barry, their new defensive coordinator has a rich background coaching linebackers including names like Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks. He most recently helped things off the ground in San Diego and would know exactly what to do with somebody like Gregory.
New Orleans Saints
If people are searching for a reason why the New Orleans Saints defense crashed and burned this past season after ranking 4th in 2013, it starts with two words: pass rush. On the year, the team posted 34 sacks on opposing quarterback, only good enough for 25th in the NFL — this despite playing with a number of leads courtesy of Drew Brees and the Saints offense.
Part of the problem was they had nobody to compliment Cameron Jordan and Junior Gallette, who accounted for 17.5 of those sacks. They need another outside presence and Randy Gregory is a fit. Not just because he projects best in the 3-4 either. Playing indoors on that fast Superdome track with deafening crowd noise will take advantage of his burst and speed.
One could say that pretty much any team who runs a 3-4 defense could take advantage of Randy Gregory, but he is a special case. Most scouts agree that he has superstar upside, but also needs a lot of work. All three teams listed above have good coaching situations for him to work with.