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- The Dude
http://frogsfootballfantasy.com/prospec ... taamu.html
It is automatically assumed that a defensive tackle who weighs 348 pounds is a natural fit to play nose tackle in a 3-4 front. Ta’amu has uncommon versatility for a player of his size in that he can hold up blockers at the point of attack and penetrate gaps with excellent short area explosion. However, his skill set may make him a better fit at defensive end in a 3-4 or at defensive tackle in a 4-3. He has the lower body strength to anchor against the run, even against double-teams, but needs to be more consistent with his technique. He has a tendency to come out of his stance high, negating his size and power, and will bend at the waste in an attempt to compensate. His quickness helps him to gain a step off the snap, after which his power makes it difficult for blockers to recover.
He uses his hands well to shed, and while he lacks the ability to redirect and make plays coming back to the football, he consistently gives a good effort in pursuit. He shows good balance, discipline, and effort when working toward the sideline on tosses and sweeps, and keeps himself in position to prohibit cutback lanes. While he struggles to break down, even in tight spaces, Ta’amu is difficult to escape once he gets even one hand on a ballcarrier, and is capable of delivering punishing hits when he is able to gain momentum leading into contact. He needs to show better awareness, as he can take himself out of plays when he is slow to locate the football.
Ta’amu is not going to put up big sack numbers in the NFL, but he gets off the snap quickly, uses his hands well to slip blockers, and is able to push the pocket with his bullrush when he uses proper technique. He has an impressive motor for a player his size, and rarely comes off the field. Ta’amu has struggled with his weight throughout his career (has played as high as 360 pounds), and was significantly less productive against NFL caliber interior offensive linemen (played poorly against Stanford and Baylor in 2011), but his combination of size and ability will likely see him drafted in the back half of the 1st round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUxVOEGGz0s[/youtube]
