NFL draft: Fowler, Williams are top defensive players - STLtoday.com
The defensive version of that debate, much less hyped, is Leonard Williams or Dante Fowler. Is it Fowler, the end/outside linebacker from Florida, or Williams, the end/tackle from Southern California. Our Post-Dispatch positional rankings have Fowler ahead of Williams because of his pass-rush skills. “He just turns me on every time I watch the tape,” said Rick Venturi, the former Rams assistant coach and current NFL radio analyst. “My film speaks for itself,” Fowler said. Fowler has a quick first step and plays with a lot of energy. He had 34 tackles for loss in 25 career starts for the Gators, and registered 8 ½ sacks last season when he was named team captain and team MVP. But before you start carving that bust for Fowler in Canton, he’s not perfect. His run defense needs work: just watch the tape of Louisiana State’s offensive lineman La’el Collins working him over for proof. lots of pass-rushers do once they reach the NFL. It’s usually a lot more difficult the other way around — that is, developing run defenders into pass-rushers. Fowler definitely has the kind of skills that are in high demand in the NFL, including 4. 60 speed in the 40, which is really moving for a 261-pounder. Source: www.stltoday.com
