Round 7 Pick 10 (227) - DE Martin Ifedi

[Young Ram]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/martin-ifedi?id=2552274

Overview
2014: First-team All-AAC. Started nine games. Set school record with 22.5 career sacks. 2013: First-team All-AAC. Started all 12 games. 2012: Second-team All-Conference USA. Switched positions to DE during spring practices. 2011: Played in all 12 games as reserve DT. 2010: Redshirted.


Pro Day Results

Bench press: 17 reps of 225 pounds
Analysis
Strengths
Worker bee. Keeps playing until the whistle and works to improve his position. Good arm length. Has ability to get under blockers and drive them into the pocket. Reads run plays and reacts quickly. Makes it hard for linemen to reach-block him. Tough at the point of attack. Plays square to the line of scrimmage with a strong base and strength in hands to shed. Launches into tackles and finishes. Highly intelligent.
Weaknesses
Slow-twitch, one-speed pass rusher. Not elusive -- offensive linemen always know where to find him. Pops straight up out of stance. Looks unnatural when twisting. Appears to lack an accelerator. Slows feet before contact as pass rusher. Missed four games due to injury in 2014. Misleading sack numbers his sophomore and junior year, with most coming on second effort or with quarterback hanging onto ball too long.
Draft Projection
Round 7 or priority free agent
NFL Comparison
Kerry Wynn
Bottom Line
His lack of athleticism and skill as a pass rusher could hurt his draft stock, but Ifedi has the strength and toughness to be considered as a left end with run-stopping potential in a 4-3 defense.

 

[jrry32]

I like this pick too.

 

[jmyb53]

Williams Hayes part 2

 

[ljramsfan]

Misleading sacks???? Reminds me of Chris Long

 

[badnews]

Misleading sacks???? Reminds me of Chris Long

Yeah.... there is no such thing as a "misleading sack."

It's like saying Mike Tyson was an overrated fighter because guys always let him punch them in the face and knock them out too early to fight back. It's ridiculous logic.

If you tackle a QB while he has the ball, you did something very right.

 

[RamBill]

Total breakdown: Rams draft defensive end Martin Ifedi in seventh round
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...n-rams-draft-de-martin-ifedi-in-seventh-round

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- A few quick thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' seventh-round draft pick:

The pick: Martin Ifedi, defensive end, Memphis

My take: The seventh-round defensive end the Rams took Saturday afternoon didn't move the needle nationally nearly as much as the one they took a year ago -- Michael Sam -- but Ifedi is an awfully intriguing prospect to get at this point in the proceedings. At 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Ifedi is the prototype defensive end and has the production to match the size. He is Memphis' all-time leader in sacks (22.5) and finished his career ranked tied for fourth in tackles for loss. While defensive end doesn't look like a pressing need for the Rams, Ifedi is the type of developmental prospect who makes a lot of sense for them. Backup ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims are free agents after the season, which means if Ifedi can make the roster or even stick on the practice squad, he could spend the year learning from the guys in front of him and be well-positioned to offer depth in 2016.

Academic priority: One thing Ifedi likely won't struggle with as he adapts to the NFL is learning the game. He comes to St. Louis with an impressive academic track record. He graduated in 2014 with a degree in health promotion and lifestyle management and earned the 2013-14 version of Memphis' Zach Curlin Award, given to the school's top male student-athlete.