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The Jaguars made the pick that shocked the football world Thursday evening by selecting DT Tyson Alualu of California. Alualu will probably not have the luxury of coming into Jacksonville as a fan favorite as no one thought he would be the pick and there were still plenty of people on the board that Jaguar fans thought would be the BAP, namely Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. But before we jump on the bandwagon to run our newest Jaguar out of town, let's take a second to find out who he is.
"We’re not trying to win a popularity contest, we’re trying to win a super bowl." - Gene Smith
In 4 years at California, Tyson Alualu played in every game from his true freshman season all the way through his senior season. He started in the final 38 games of his career and never showed any sign of injury issues. At just 6'3 and 295 pounds, he was thought by most "draft gurus" to be a 3-4 DE although he has size very similar to the top 4-3 DTs in the draft. Ndamukong Suh is 6'4, 307, Gerald McCoy is 6'4, 295 and Brian Price is 6'2, 300. Comparing the 40 times of those tackles, Suh ran a 5.03, McCoy a 4.96, Price a 5.19 and Alualu a 4.87. So clearly the athleticism is there for him to be the pass rushing defensive tackle to compliment the massive Terrance Knighton.
With clear athleticism, the next question is his production on the field. With 13 sacks in his last two seasons and starts in every game, he clearly has the statistics.
As I'm writing this, this pick is growing on me as I'm questioning why he was thought to be a 2nd round, 3-4 DE in the first place.
Video Killed the Scouting Report:
Tyson Alualu: By The Numbers
| Tyson Alualu | |||||
|
Position 1: Defensive Tackle |
Height: 6'3 | ||||
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Position 2: 3-4 Defensive End |
Weight: 295 | ||||
| Class: Senior | Age: 22 | ||||
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Projected Round: 1st |
40time: 4.87 |
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2009 First Team All Pac-10
2008 Second Team All Pac-10
Stats Overview
Tackles
Misc
Interceptions
YEAR
TOT
SOLO
AST
SACK
STF
STFY
FF
BK
INT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
PD
2006
15
6
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2007
52
23
29
2
0
0
0
0
1
8
8.0
8
0
0
2008
62
21
41
6
0
0
1
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2009
58
26
32
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
According to the Experts
MockingtheDraft <--- Follow the link for the full length article. Great stuff from BCC friend, MockingDan.
One game tape watched on Alualu, and it is hard not to fall in love with the his style of play. He may lack size, speed, and explosion but the motor he plays with cannot be topped. He is giving 100% on each play no matter the situation or opponent, something that most defensive lineman cannot say...
Pros
Excellent athlete for an interior lineman. Very active and plays with a motor that never dies. Consistently gets into the backfield using his bull rush. Does a job job staying low and using leverage to get past bigger offensive linemen. A team leader on and off the field; was a team captain as a senior. Has enough speed to occasionally make plays in pursuit.
Cons
Doesn't have elite size; won't be a great fit for every defensive scheme. Relies heavily on his bull rush, which won't work with the same consistency in the NFL. Overaggressive as a pass rusher causes him to be a liability against the run at times.
Pros
Durable workhorse. Able to split double teams. Outstanding motor and is able to run and chase. Good POA and able to funnel the runner in the direction he desires. Strong.
Cons
Disappears at times. Needs to develop more consistency.
Pros
Extremely active with a non-stop motor --- Fantastic instincts and awareness --- Above average speed and quickness --- Good agility and balance --- Strong and powerful --- Stout at the point of attack --- Plays with good leverage --- Violent hand use --- Terrific range --- Does a nice job in pursuit --- Reliable Tackler --- Physical and Tough --- Plays with a nasty demeanor --- Hard Worker -- Team Leader -- Durable--- Versatile.
Cons
Does not have the ideal size you look for --- Some trouble getting off blocks --- Lacks a varied repertoire of pass rush moves --- Can be too aggressive --- Isn't real explosive --- Average production --- 'Tweener?