Scott Crichton 2014 NFL Draft profile

Oregon State defensive end Scott Crichton is almost the forgotten pass rusher in the 2014 NFL Draft, presumably because he's about average size and isn't going to blow the doors off a 40-yard dash, but if you put his game on and concentrate on his play, you're likely going to instantly be a fan due to what he brings to the table.

Crichton finished his final year at Oregon State with 7.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss ending his college career with 22.5 sacks and 51 tackles for loss. Crichton was a pretty consistent performer, as far as TFL and sacks from his freshman season on. Consistent is probably one of the best words to describe his game, actually.

Where Scott Crichton Wins

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What Crichton lacks in raw athleticism and top end speed he makes up for in his motor and relentlessness. Crichton goes all out on just about every single play and often can frustrate offensive lineman because of how hard he works on a given down.

Crichton also eats up a lot of space on his initial burst off the snap. He's not a pure speed guy off the edge, but he can get on offensive lineman and get them on their heels quickly, which is also because of his strong punch and ability to keep lineman off his chest. He has violent hands and knows how to use his length to create space for himself to shed blocks and work inside and hold the point of attack in run defense.

While not being overly fast, Crichton also has good closing speed in the open field.

Where Scott Crichton Needs To Improve

The biggest flaw in Crichton's game, which is something I'm not sure he can ever fix, are that his hips are stiff and he doesn't appear to be a natural bender. Many people will list him as a LEO candidate, which I think he can effectively play, but he's not going to be that guy who's going to consistently bend the edge to get to the quarterback. He's just not that flexible, but unlike some other stiff defensive ends, he still makes it work by utilizing his other physical tools.

Crichton is also about average size and an average athlete for the defensive end position, meaning he's probably not going to blow up the combine with his 40-yard dash or his measurements. Oregon State lists him at 6'3" and 265 pounds, which makes him a bit of a square peg round hole in the Jaguars defensive scheme, but that's not always a bad thing. His play style and skill-set are similar to that of Michael Bennett and Matt Roth.

Overall Impression

Crichton isn't likely going to "wow" you in any one area when looking at him on film, but what he brings is a consistent physical presence to the defensive end position. He's someone who can power-rush offensive lineman, as he showed against Stanford in 2013 pancaking a number of offensive lineman and forcing the Cardinal to begin using a guard to block him as well, no matter what side he lined up on, later in the game.

Crichton should end up being a late first/early second-round type of player who can contribute if he's not asked to be a team's primary pass rusher. He fits best in a 4-3 base style defense, likely at the LDE position, but he can flop sides effectively. While he's not a pure LEO type of player and not a pure 5-technique defensive end, he's versatile enough that he can fit in the Jaguars defense somewhere on the line in packages. He kicked inside to play between center/guard and over the center against Oregon in 2013 and held his own, penetrating in the backfield quite a few times.

Grade: 6.75 - Day Two pick