Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Given the somewhat shallowness of the pass rushers in the 2016 NFL draft, teams will be paying extra close attention to somebody like Eric Striker. Is he worth their time? Here is his scouting report to offer some insight.

Position: OLB

School: Oklahoma

Year: Senior

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 228 lbs

History:

A multi-sport athlete in high school, he attended Armwood High in Seffner, Florida which has become a hotbed for pro athletes. Redskins running back Matt Jones went there as did former MLB pitcher Sterling Hitchcock. Recruited to Oklahoma, he became a starter as a sophomore and hasn’t missed a game since, collecting 185 tackles (45 for a loss), 22.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

STRENGTHS:

• Aggressive blitzer. Comes downhill with speed and bad intentions and finds his way into the backfield often.
• Has a quick first step and the ability to bend around the edge without losing steam.

The allure of Striker is all in this video. He looks like a born pass rusher. He anticipates the snap well, gets off quickly before the tackle can get out of his stance. Then he uses good bend and leverage to get around the edge and drops the quarterback for a sack.

• Does a good job of locating the football, maintaining his gap integrity on the edge to prevent cutbacks.
• Has good speed and enough athleticism to drop in coverage. Keeps his eyes on the quarterback and breaks to the football once he knows where it’s going.

WEAKNESSES:

• Right away his size is an issue. Just too small to be a pass rusher. Even small for most linebacker positions period.
• While he can drop into coverage, he lacks the instincts for it. Never really anticipates throws much. Quarterbacks often find options in his area of the field.
• Too easily blocked at times. Linemen and tight ends find him easy to control once they get into his body.

A thing to remember about linebackers is they play a lot near the line of scrimmage, so they have to be able to handle themselves against big blockers, either by shedding them with good hand fighting or slipping past them. On this play Striker allows the left tackle to get into his body. Then it’s a simple matter of psychics. The bigger body pushes him out of the play and he’s unable to break free. Poor hand use and lacking strength were factors.

• Doesn’t have much in the way of pass rush moves. If he doesn’t win with his burst around the edge, he rarely can twist or cut back inside.

Pro Comparison: James Harrison

Size, quickness, agility and obvious pass rush prowess is why Strike compares so favorably to the ageless Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker. The thing is Harrison is a very strong human being, almost 20 lbs heavier with most of it likely being muscle. If Striker wants to make a go of it as a 3-4 outside linebacker, he has to get stronger and learn how to keep blockers off his body like Harrison does.

Projection: 4th to 6th rounds

It’s important to remember Harrison wasn’t even drafted. He’s the exception, not the rule for pass rushers his size. Eric Striker will have to buck that same trend, but his production at a big school like Oklahoma should get him picked by the third day.  Don’t be surprised if somebody tries to shift him to safety.