Derrick Morgan: NFL Draft Profile
Posted on 09. Feb, 2010 by Brandon LaClair in Defensive Line, NFL Draft Player Profiles
We’ll take a look at Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan as he enters the 2010 NFL draft. We will examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.
Strengths
• Instincts: With the complex offensive schemes at the next level, the ability to recognize the play immediately is essential and Morgan is the best at his position
• Speed: Wreaks havoc in the backfield because of his capability to beat offensive linemen off the ball.
• Rush Defense: His constant presence in the backfield allows him to be an unfailing run stopper.
Weaknesses
• Limited: Does not possess the capacity to drop into coverage; strictly a 4-3 defensive end
• Conditioning: While Morgan has shown improvement, his conditioning is still a concern especially as he prepares to enter a league with bigger, stronger offensive lineman
• Consistency: Against the elite tackles in college football, Morgan is regularly held in check
(Retrieval of all statistical information obtained from NFLDraftDog.com and ESPN.com)
As a true freshman, Morgan started 12 out of 13 games for Georgia Tech. While Morgan was the starter for most of the year, he only recorded nine tackles while not accumulating any stats in seven out of 12 games for the Yellow Jackets. Morgan’s game suffered from being too aggressive and not maintaining the proper footwork, which caused him to spend the majority of the time on the ground as offensive lineman used his hostile bull-rushing style against him as they knocked him off-balance with ease. The above-average playing time Morgan received as a freshman would be very beneficial for both himself and the team as he entered his sophomore season in 2008.
The adjustments that the coaching staff made to Morgan’s technique in the off-season paid dividends. His initial explosion was the biggest improvement from his freshman season as he had success jumping the snap and catching offensive lineman off-guard as they often failed to get into position fast enough; by that time, Morgan would be a full stride past them, giving them little time to recover. Morgan recorded the first sack of his career in the team’s first game of the year against Jacksonville State. At that point, Morgan made headway beyond mediocrity and the career that Georgia Tech recruits expected him to have had officially begun. He was a nuisance for opposing quarterbacks throughout the course of the year, especially in the first six games as he recorded four sacks during that span; including a 10 tackle, two sack performance against Gardner-Webb. Georgia Tech finished the year 9-4 after a devastating loss to LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Morgan finished the year with 51 tackles and six sacks.
Morgan’s junior year was one that astounded fans and NFL scouts alike. Starting with Tech’s first game against Jacksonville State, Morgan began to show off his continued improvement. He finally maximized his strength; butt down, arms up to throw off the balance of the lineman. He also showed improved lateral movement from 2008, and that improvement will continue once he steps foot on an NFL practice field. Morgan was the staple of consistency for the Yellow Jackets while totaling at least one sack in seven out of 13 games including two three sack performances. There is a need for game breaking defensive linemen in the league, which fully explains the meteoric rise of Morgan’s stock into the top 10 after the conclusion of a memorable junior season. He racked up 55 tackles, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Yellow Jackets on their way to an 11-2 record and a berth in the Orange Bowl against Iowa, but the team lost 24-14.
Morgan is the best defensive end in the draft. He has the size, speed and strength to triumph at the next level; yet, there are aspects in his game that need to improve. Most importantly, he needs to use the proper footwork in the trenches to keep himself upright because the offensive linemen in the league are unforgiving and will give Morgan fits. Proper footwork along with other low points in Morgan’s game will reach fruition with age and experience. Overall, his game is right where it needs to be at this point in his young career. His ability to continuously get into the backfield is a priceless trait as he has racked up 103 (68 solo) tackles in the past two seasons including 18 for losses. His game emulates that of a young Dwight Freeney right now because of his explosion and quickness. If he would only stay a bit lower on his spin move, he could make the same kind of devastating impact that an older, wiser Freeney has made over the past three years. At this point, Morgan should be able to step in and make a contribution right away to any team that drafts him. If his explosion and incredible work ethic stay the same, Morgan will be an all-pro in the NFL for years to come.
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