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Earl Mitchell DT Arizona - 3rd round choice

From http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/archive/1113447?tag=pageRow;pageContainer
Quick hit: 02/19/2010 - PRO POTENTIAL: DT Earl Mitchell - Spent his first two seasons as an underused H-back/fullback before switching to defense. His relative inexperience at the position is a plus because scouts can project a bigger upside. He's strong and chiseled but doesn't have the raw size to necessarily be an NFL run-plugger. His speed and mobility helped him to 6.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss as a senior. Mitchell, who performed well at the East-West Shrine Game, projects to be a mid-round pick. He'll be at the NFL scouting combine.

From http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/earl-mitchell?id=496822
Mitchell was a productive two-year starter for the Wildcats. He is a short, athletic interior defender who is best when in a stunting mode. His best asset is his initial quickness, which enables him to gain leverage on larger blockers to penetrate the line of scrimmage. He lacks great power to anchor versus double teams but understands angles and plays with good pad level to be effective in most one-on-one situations. He flashes good initial punch, but needs to become more active with his hands to disengage to the ball. Mitchell flashes as a pass rusher but needs to expand his initial moves and counters to be a consistent contributor at the next level. Mitchell is a bit of a project with only two years' experience as a defensive tackle after converting from tight end. He could be a versatile player as an interior lineman in an even front while having added value as a possible lead blocker in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
 
NFL.com has him listed as 6'3" 215-lbs, he is actually 315-lbs. Great pick IMO, had a solid season last year and can be that BIG DT we've been looking for. Excellent choice, a bit of a reach but a solid football player here.
 
Pass rush: At least moderate initial quickness and can get skinny to slide through the gap and disrupt the play immediately. Quick, active hands to battle inside. Flashes a good swim and rip move, but needs to use each more often. Relies too much on a marginally effective bull rush. Has a second burst to close when he has a lane, but tires quickly. Struggles to change direction and too often can be eluded for a defensive tackle with his size and relative athleticism.

Run defense: Flashes a quick burst laterally to penetrate. Good balance in tight quarters and feel to handle the trap block. Plays stouter than his frame would indicate due to good use of leverage and leg drive, but is never going to be a true run-stuffer. Hustles laterally in pursuit.

Explosion: Can surprise the guard with his initial burst to slip through the gap. Quick, active hands and good upper body strength to knock the offensive lineman back off the snap.

Strength: Good leg drive to lock out and anchor, though he lacks the bulk to hold up to double-teams. Can push offensive guards into the pocket to create a disruption in the running game. Good strength for the drag-down tackle while still engaged with the blocker.

Tackling: Classic catch and drag-down tackler. Has a burst to close and flashes some pop when given space to gain momentum. Provides good effort laterally, but isn’t able to stalk the ball-carrier, showing only marginal body control.

Intangibles: Caught 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in 2006-07 as a part-time starting H-back. Missed the 2009 game against Washington due to a freak injury to his eye after it was hit by the corner of a door. Highly respected by fans, teammates and the coaching staff. Voted a 2009 team captain. Struggled with academics early in his career, but was named a winner of the National Academic Momentum Award which is presented by the Scholar-Baller Program in conjunction with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports. High-effort player with some legitimate upside as a relative neophyte at the position.
 
Here's his resume..

Overview
Mitchell signed with Arizona as a 250-pound fullback and tight end. Facing the option of not seeing the field much with the Wildcats' switch to a spread offense in 2008, Mitchell trusted the coaching staff that asked him to make the move to defensive tackle. It proved to be a wise career move.

Mitchell impressed in his first season at defensive tackle, leading the Wildcats' defensive line with 40 tackles, as well as posting 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Despite extra focus from opponents as a senior, Mitchell improved his totals, racking up 48 stops, 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks despite missing a start against Washington due to an eye injury.

A strong performance during the week of practice at the East-West Shrine Game helped Mitchell develop some momentum heading into the final months before the draft. NFL scouts love Mitchell's athleticism and work ethic, but may struggle to find a spot for him at his size. Some even feel his future position in the NFL might lie back on the offensive side of the ball as a fullback.

Analysis
Pass rush: At least moderate initial quickness and can get skinny to slide through the gap and disrupt the play immediately. Quick, active hands to battle inside. Flashes a good swim and rip move, but needs to use each more often. Relies too much on a marginally effective bull rush. Has a second burst to close when he has a lane, but tires quickly. Struggles to change direction and too often can be eluded for a defensive tackle with his size and relative athleticism.

Run defense: Flashes a quick burst laterally to penetrate. Good balance in tight quarters and feel to handle the trap block. Plays stouter than his frame would indicate due to good use of leverage and leg drive, but is never going to be a true run-stuffer. Hustles laterally in pursuit.

Explosion: Can surprise the guard with his initial burst to slip through the gap. Quick, active hands and good upper body strength to knock the offensive lineman back off the snap.

Strength: Good leg drive to lock out and anchor, though he lacks the bulk to hold up to double-teams. Can push offensive guards into the pocket to create a disruption in the running game. Good strength for the drag-down tackle while still engaged with the blocker.

Tackling: Classic catch and drag-down tackler. Has a burst to close and flashes some pop when given space to gain momentum. Provides good effort laterally, but isn't able to stalk the ball-carrier, showing only marginal body control.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1113447
 
I'm surprised that they passed over the other available DTs. Then again, I'm not surprised because Smithiak always does the unexpected. Welcome to the team Earl!
 
Perhaps we drafted him as a short-yardage back!

I would've rather drafted Colt McCoy to groom than another under-sized DL.
 
LZ's take:

Earl Mitchell has terrific 3 technique skills motor and quickness. You are on notice okoye
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Bill Kollars kind of guy. Pass rushing penetrator inside
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I had Mitchell in my texans defensive draft board for texans on my blog - just not this high but not a huge surprise he is a texan
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http://twitter.com/LanceZierlein

Also, Mitchell grew up in Houston. He played at North Shore HS. Nobody on this board ever heard of him??
 
If we're going to draft projects, why not Bruce Campbell of Maryland .... at least he has the physical characteristics to work with?
 
JB said:
I think Smithiak may see him as another Antonio Smith
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I think they see him as the guy on 3rd and short who eats up two blockers at the snap, and might even squeeze by them and get into the backfield.

We needed a human planet on that DL, and we just got one.

This tells us how much Smithiak wants our DL to put some lead in their asses and be a bit more forceful at the snap.
 
pbat488 said:
He's strong and chiseled but doesn't have the raw size to necessarily be an NFL run-plugger.
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LikeMike said:
Run defense: Flashes a quick burst laterally to penetrate. Good balance in tight quarters and feel to handle the trap block. Plays stouter than his frame would indicate due to good use of leverage and leg drive, but is never going to be a true run-stuffer. Hustles laterally in pursuit.
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I guess that settles that. I think the "pass rushing DT" position would be a bit more effective on this team if they had a true big guy to eat up space. JMO.
 
New_Texans said:
I dont think so, its just more depth to keep all the linemen fresh. Also, now you have two quick DT on 3rd down situations...thats really dangerous and awesome.
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They already had that with Antonio Smith. Amobi hasn't lived up to expectations, he needs someone to push/replace him. The Texans obviously agree.
 
BTW, not to take away from the thread, but why not put all the Texans picks in one thread and discuss the players there?
 
Texan4Ever said:
BTW, not to take away from the thread, but why not put all the Texans picks in one thread and discuss the players there?
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I think it's much better the way it is. Able to go in to each players thread and read/add whatever I like instead of sifting through 50 pages of mixed posts. Maybe once the draft is complete then have a single thread, but not during the draft.
 
nero THE zero said:
They already had that with Antonio Smith. Amobi hasn't lived up to expectations, he needs someone to push/replace him. The Texans obviously agree.
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Wait, we went into this draft looking for a DT to play alongside Okoye, Mario, and Smith to replace Cody and relieve Okoye. Drafting at DT doesn't mean that they are particularly targeting Okoye; this pick is there to add another speed rusher on the inside to add to overall defensive line depth. Which makes the entire line better as a whole if Mitchell pans out.
 
Texan4Ever said:
BTW, not to take away from the thread, but why not put all the Texans picks in one thread and discuss the players there?
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Think some of the guys would get Lost in a big thread. I mean the kareem thread is already gazillion pages long, much of it hogwash where Earl Mitchell would barely be noticed.
 
New_Texans said:
Wait, we went into this draft looking for a DT to play alongside Okoye, Mario, and Smith to replace Cody and relieve Okoye. Drafting at DT doesn't mean that they are particularly targeting Okoye; this pick is there to add another speed rusher on the inside to add to overall defensive line depth. Which makes the entire line better as a whole if Mitchell pans out.
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I guess some clarity on the strengths of Mitchell are due, but from the short amount of info posted here, he seems to be the quintessential 3-tech (re: Amobi's position.)
 
drewmar74 said:
:spit:

Post of the night.
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Thank you. I have endured a lot this week, and tonight I was in no mood for us to spend a 3rd rounder on a 6'3" 215 lb. DT.

I would have potentially needed an overnight room in the local psychiatric ward.
 
nero THE zero said:
I guess I'm confused then. If you don't think Mitchell could be someone to push/replace Amobi, and think he's (Mitchell) only a specialist, where does that leave Amobi/our 3-tech position?
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We don't really have a 1-Technique in the classical sense of the word. Sure, our DT plays the 1-Technique, but he isn't just a run stuffer. Our defensive line seems to be patterned after the 2006-07 Giants, where it was essentially 4 DEs lined up who just tried to get upfield to the QB. In regards to most other DTs, we look for smaller, quick, penetrating tackles who can get into the pocket and terrorize the QB.

This is exactly what Mitchell sounds to be.
 
As a North Shore alumni I am THRILLED about this one. Always great to see one of our guys make it to the pros, and playing for US??? Im over the moon.
 
nero THE zero said:
I guess some clarity on the strengths of Mitchell are due, but from the short amount of info posted here, he seems to be the quintessential 3-tech (re: Amobi's position.)
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Dude, look...basically imagine this on a 3rd and long. Barwin, Mitchell, Amobi, Williams thats all speed rushing at all 4 DL positions. Then you can pull Barwin, Amobi, and Mitchell out for Smith on 3rd downs (and of course for the other down linemen as well) to have the DLmen constantly fresh and constantly rotating...this is a good thing.
 
New_Texans said:
Wait, we went into this draft looking for a DT to play alongside Okoye, Mario, and Smith to replace Cody and relieve Okoye. Drafting at DT doesn't mean that they are particularly targeting Okoye; this pick is there to add another speed rusher on the inside to add to overall defensive line depth. Which makes the entire line better as a whole if Mitchell pans out.
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We also saw that Okam and Cody were likely a way the Texans coaches could try and sort out Amobi's long-term value at DT for us.

Well, here we go and draft a DT in the 3rd round. Granted, it's not a 1st round DT. Not even a 2nd round DT. But with our THIRD pick, we take a DT.

We didn't grab a TE, or a WR, or a FS, or a LB, or an OG, or OT, or C.

We took a DT. That speaks volumes to me, but I also am angry that I wa sin such huge support of the Okoye pick and it's on the verge of busting. So I have some bad intentions as it relates to my theories about what we might do with the DT position.
 
Alabama
Auburn
Arizona

Interesting strategy only drafting players from schools that start with the letter "A".
What is Smith and Kubiak up to?
 
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