2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Phil Taylor
WalterFootball.com's Archive
Walter of WalterFootball has been WalterFootball'ing since 1999'. Older Content is being kept around here. Thanks for reading.
Strengths:
Massive frame and carries weight well
Great strength and power
Violent, quick hands and uses them well
Can push pocket with bull rush
Run-stuffing anchor
Space eater who occupies blockers
Agile for his size with good balance
Mean streak
Scheme versatile nose tackle
Weaknesses: Has dropped considerable weight, but still a concern
Just one year of top production
Tendency to play too high, especially when tired
Not much of a pass rusher
Inconsistent
Character - dismissed from Penn State's team
Durability concerns (knee 2007 - turf toe 2009)
Summary: Phil Taylor started his career at Penn State on the same defensive line as Jared Odrick, whom the Miami Dolphins took in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Unfortunately Taylor was suspended and later kicked off the team for his alleged involvement (charges were dropped) in a fight at a 2007 fraternity function. This is something he has to answer for although a lot of time has passed.
Taylor finally got back to his playing potential in 2010, and by all accounts, he made the most of his fresh start. On the field he is the consensus top prospect for teams looking to fill the nose tackle position in their 3-4. At the next level, he needs to keep his weight under control, improve his stamina and get after the passer a little more to be an elite player. Still, right now he can step in and make an impact in a rotation as a run stopper whom offenses need to avoid.
Player Comparison: Cam Thomas. Across the board these players had nearly identical measurable for size (height/weight, arm/hand) and performance (bench press/40) at their respective NFL Combines. Thomas was also athletic and looked like he would be taken in the second or third round before unexpectedly slipping to San Diego in the fifth, revealing just how uncertain the draft process can be. Both players are space eaters who tend to play high and are unlikely to contribute much rushing the passer.
It might not be glamorous to compare Taylor to a player who just dropped considerably in last year's draft and did not do much as a rookie, but I see a lot of similarities.
RELATED LINKS:
2011 NFL Mock Draft: Greg's | Walt's
2011 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2011 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
![]()
Weaknesses:
Summary: Phil Taylor started his career at Penn State on the same defensive line as Jared Odrick, whom the Miami Dolphins took in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Unfortunately Taylor was suspended and later kicked off the team for his alleged involvement (charges were dropped) in a fight at a 2007 fraternity function. This is something he has to answer for although a lot of time has passed.
Taylor finally got back to his playing potential in 2010, and by all accounts, he made the most of his fresh start. On the field he is the consensus top prospect for teams looking to fill the nose tackle position in their 3-4. At the next level, he needs to keep his weight under control, improve his stamina and get after the passer a little more to be an elite player. Still, right now he can step in and make an impact in a rotation as a run stopper whom offenses need to avoid.
Player Comparison: Cam Thomas. Across the board these players had nearly identical measurable for size (height/weight, arm/hand) and performance (bench press/40) at their respective NFL Combines. Thomas was also athletic and looked like he would be taken in the second or third round before unexpectedly slipping to San Diego in the fifth, revealing just how uncertain the draft process can be. Both players are space eaters who tend to play high and are unlikely to contribute much rushing the passer.
It might not be glamorous to compare Taylor to a player who just dropped considerably in last year's draft and did not do much as a rookie, but I see a lot of similarities.
RELATED LINKS:
2011 NFL Mock Draft: Greg's | Walt's
2011 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2011 NFL Draft Scouting Reports