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**Jags02** · 03-01-2015, 04:30 AM

Some notes on Ray...

NFL comparison: Chris Clemons
Bottom line: It's hard to find many weaknesses for Ray. He pursues the quarterback and the ball like it's his last snap. An alpha male packaged in an explosive frame, Ray has the traits and skills to be a dominant pass rusher and potential Pro Bowler. He also has the athleticism and strength to play in any defensive front.
His weaknesses as nfl.com noted are that he lacks ideal strength vs bigger OTs who might engulf him, and that he needs more pass rush moves, Both of these would seem to be negated as a weakness playing the LEO spot.
His primary strengths just ooze LEO...
Explosive athlete in every sense. Has elite power for his size and explodes off the line like a coiled spring. Rushes passer with extreme passion and purpose
It sounds like the LEO position is what he needs as a player. I'm starting to think Ray at #1 wouldn't be so bad as a LEO followed up by Bud Dupree in round two as an OTTO.
Shane Ray finished with 65 tackles last season for Mizzou, including an SEC-best 22 1/2 behind the line of scrimmage. -FOX
shattered Mizzou's single-season record with 14 1/2 sacks to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year
A relentless motor and elite competitive drive pushed Ray to the top of Lande's defensive ends list, even though he says Nebraska's Roy Gregory looks like a better athlete.
...rare burst of speed...
...absurd explosion... -dallasnews.com
He is thought of as potentially the best pass rusher in the entire draft.
...real deal as an edge rusher with quickness and overall explosion that is just silly.
He draws holding calls on a regular basis because his “get-off” is so impressive.
36 explosion plays in 2014 (Sacks + Tackles For Loss) <--who else even compares here?
pushed inside when a team wants to run to his edge. <--not a problem at the LEO spot...neither is his 6' 2 1/2", 245 lb frame with 33 1/8" arms.
Ray is a physical freak. He has a full arsenal of pass rush moves already.
Watch this...
http://www.secsports.com/video/11800821/...-shane-ray <--Tebow says he runs a 4.4
Alfie doesn't like him, and that's often a good sign.
“I think Shane Ray has got the best first step I’ve seen,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “His get off is just immediate. He’s really gifted that way. They even kick him inside on occasion like they used to do with Aldon Smith. He’s so quick at the snap.”
“My main message for all these coaches and GMs is ‘I’m your guy,’” Ray said. “If you need somebody to go attack from anywhere on the field and be unstoppable, if I get a one on one, I’m gonna win it. You want to a guy you want to make the play on third down, go get the quarterback, strip the quarterback, I’ll go do that ...That’s what I did for my team ... when they needed somebody to make a play, or go chase down a guy with the football, I was the guy to go do that.”
"I don't like him," the scout told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "People see who he is, they're going to fall off him quick. The body structure. No way in hell he can be an outside 'backer." At the moment, Ray's stock remains healthy. The NFL Media analysts who mock draft all project Ray to be gone anywhere from the Jaguars at No. 3 to the Falcons at No. 8. "Competitive, smart and reliable," the above scout added. "Wins with effort, urgency and great first step. He has a degree of stiffness. He's got to win with quickness because of his lack of size and strength." A different scout added: "He's better than the guy (Kony Ealy) from there last year. Little straight-line." -Rotoworld
The scout doesn't like him because he's flat out not an OLB and doesn't have the ideal frame for a traditional 4-3 DE...this is all because he's perfectly framed for a LEO. Also, if you watched that Tebow video he's not exactly lacking in strength. That said, this scout is predicting he falls because he's not a fit for most teams, and that has me wondering if he might be there later. However, virtually every link says he's a clear-cut top 10 pick.

'02