Joe Fan
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Here is some Eric Nahlin talking about "fit" -- top 5 on defense and offense
Inside the Gameplan: Ranking the 10 best fits in the 2020 class - Inside Texas
Inside the Gameplan: Ranking the 10 best fits in the 2020 class - Inside Texas
#1 Prince Dorbah - In the ultimate of ironies, Prince Dorbah spent his high school career as a 4i-technique in Highland Park’s three-time state title winning defense. That was never going to be his fate at Texas, although the Longhorns’ prior usage of that scheme did mean he might end up playing multiple linebacker positions like Jeff McCulloch and Joseph Ossai before him. Incidentally, Dorbah is lighter and perhaps better suited to that than his predecessors, but those days appear to be behind Texas.
What Texas needs now are guys that can win the edge and affect the QB as a true weakside end, and Dorbah is their guy for that job. He’s still only 6-3, 210 pounds but he’s cat quick and piled up massive stats rushing the passer for Highland Park despite playing mostly as a 4i-technique. He reminds me of Brian Orakpo, who came to Texas at a very similar size and played early because of his natural arc-running ability around the edge before eventually filling out into a 260-pound monster as an upperclassman. Texas may need Dorbah as a situational pass-rusher immediately but the goal will be to groom him to replace Ossai as the featured weakside edge player when that day comes.
Given the low numbers in this role because of Orlando recruiting to a different scheme, Texas really needs Dorbah to pan out as a pass-rusher. Fortunately, he’s a fantastic prospect.
#2 Alfred Collins - Texas signed three really promising interior DL prospects but Collins, the final addition to the class, is probably the best. What sets him apart is a lightning quick first step that works in conjunction with a 6-5 frame to make him nearly impossible to block. With Texas moving to a four-down front his fit in the offense becomes clear. While he could credibly play as a strongside end in the Under front he’d do maximal damage as a 3-technique that aligns to the same side as the weakside end on the boundary.
The idea with this front is basically to overload the boundary with disruption between those three defenders so that offenses have to overcompensate and can’t try to get players into space elsewhere. You can’t use the tackle to help block a 3-tech like Collins with a really good edge-rusher outside of him. Instead he’s freed up to to attack the guard in some space so he can push the pocket while using his long arms to disrupt passing windows. Texas hasn’t really had a dominant 3-technique this decade save for Malcom Brown and if Collins can be that it’ll do wonders for the new style. If he stays outside and plays strongside end then he could be a three-down player that can help pinch close B-gaps on standard downs to protect conflicted linebackers before moving outside the rush the edge on passing downs.
What Texas needs now are guys that can win the edge and affect the QB as a true weakside end, and Dorbah is their guy for that job. He’s still only 6-3, 210 pounds but he’s cat quick and piled up massive stats rushing the passer for Highland Park despite playing mostly as a 4i-technique. He reminds me of Brian Orakpo, who came to Texas at a very similar size and played early because of his natural arc-running ability around the edge before eventually filling out into a 260-pound monster as an upperclassman. Texas may need Dorbah as a situational pass-rusher immediately but the goal will be to groom him to replace Ossai as the featured weakside edge player when that day comes.
Given the low numbers in this role because of Orlando recruiting to a different scheme, Texas really needs Dorbah to pan out as a pass-rusher. Fortunately, he’s a fantastic prospect.
#2 Alfred Collins - Texas signed three really promising interior DL prospects but Collins, the final addition to the class, is probably the best. What sets him apart is a lightning quick first step that works in conjunction with a 6-5 frame to make him nearly impossible to block. With Texas moving to a four-down front his fit in the offense becomes clear. While he could credibly play as a strongside end in the Under front he’d do maximal damage as a 3-technique that aligns to the same side as the weakside end on the boundary.
The idea with this front is basically to overload the boundary with disruption between those three defenders so that offenses have to overcompensate and can’t try to get players into space elsewhere. You can’t use the tackle to help block a 3-tech like Collins with a really good edge-rusher outside of him. Instead he’s freed up to to attack the guard in some space so he can push the pocket while using his long arms to disrupt passing windows. Texas hasn’t really had a dominant 3-technique this decade save for Malcom Brown and if Collins can be that it’ll do wonders for the new style. If he stays outside and plays strongside end then he could be a three-down player that can help pinch close B-gaps on standard downs to protect conflicted linebackers before moving outside the rush the edge on passing downs.
