Blogging The Boys
Each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and compare how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)
First Round
On injured reserve for the next month
Grade: 65.0
Second Round
For Donovan Ezeiruaku, the plan this week is to take the next step. The open door against the Jets is the left edge. Olu Fashanu has sprung leaks this year and allowed 15 pressures in three games, fourth-most amount all offensive linemen. This is where you throw the kitchen sink when it comes to Ezeiruaku and give Fashanu some inside counters, and twist games that force him to sort fast. Give Ezeiruaku 20 or more true pass snaps on Fashanu’s side and he bags his first NFL sack.
For Ezeiruaku, the usage has been climbing since Week 1. The arrow is pointing up for him as each week continues, and with more trust from the coaches comes more chances, that means more likelihood of that first sack.
His biggest issue comes from Justin Fields. He’ll extend, he’ll improvise, he’ll also hold the ball for too long. The coaching point for Ezeiruaku will be don’t be a bull in a china shop here, it’s stay aggressive and then squeeze late when the chance comes. Close the exits and those off-schedule scrambles turn into long third-downs where he can then deliver the final blow.
Grade: 56.4
Third Round
Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)
Fifth Round
With Miles Sanders’ injury from the Green Bay game, there’s a real chance we get to see Blue get called to action this week. Keep an eye on the injury report here at BTB and any updates that follow this week.
Grade: N/A
Fifth Round
In his debut, James came off the bench and logged five tackles against Green Bay. He was fairly assignment-clean with 26 defensive snaps that didn’t look too big for him. That’s the tape that gets a rookie more work the following Sunday, so here we are.
The Jets are a top-10 rushing team, so beating split-zone and fitting inside-out matters more than the blitz for James this week (although this Cowboys defense could do with some blitz packages to help). Next, spy work, and James has the speed and agility to fit the role. That would mean James not looking to sprint to nine yards and create lanes, stay patient and let Fields’ long clock work against him. With James there spying and mirroring Fields movement that will make him hesitate a little more and allowing more time for the pass rush to get where. Finally, find Breece Hall and chase him down quickly, he has the tackle radius to match any stretch plays or screens that go Hall’s way. This is not the game to be playing Jack Sanborn with...
