2013 NFL Draft Scouting report: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Pound the Table! is back with a bang as zatch2k pitches "his" guy, Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to the BGN Community. Here's what zatch had to say about the big fella:

"Cut from the same cloth as 2012 first *Fletcher Cox" - Josh Norris, Rotoworld Draft Analyst
(MK Editorial Note: I tend to agree. Very similar athletes and size. Cox is much more put together though)

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Sheldon Richardson, is the prototypical type of guy the Eagles most likely land, but throughout all mock drafts the one guy we rarely ever pick. He usually is the pick which makes us all go either "Oh man why didn't I think of that?" or "Pssh yeah, I knew that they were going to pick him." Just because he isn't a Star (Yes, I mean Star Lotulelei) doesn't mean he is one of the best, most versatile and athletic defensive linemen coming out in the draft this year. Compare him to any defensive linemen. To go along with a 4.88 40-yard dash, he got 30 reps in bench, his vertical was 32' with a 9-8 broad jump. Now that is just combine stats, but on the field this year, he had 37 tackles 2 sacks and 1 FF to 75 tackles (second most on the team) 4 sacks and 3 FF. He also had a 60 forced fumble run where he showed off his incredible agility and speed for a 300 lbs guy. Also, what makes him even better, is that he fits in Chip Kelly's versatile defense being 6'3 with a wingspan of 34 1/2 and also having played in a 3-4 (Defensive End) and 4-3 (Defensive Tackle). I can just smell a perfect defensive line who will get back to getting sacks and doing what we love to see most: put pressure on the quarterback.

Pros: He is an extraordinary athlete. He never gives up on a play. Richardson is willing to chase the ball 20-30 yards down the field. He has a great motor, plays through whistle, to go along with a fairly high IQ. He also shows versatility by dropping back in coverage. He has an explosive first steps and shows good quickness. He is a great tackler.

Cons: He doesn't anchor very well and can be washed out vs. run. He has questioned maturity at times (said Georgia play "old man football," missed classes and chose to miss game instead of team penalty). He lacks gap discipline, goes high pad level in run and pass. He was injured in 2010 with his wrist (red shirted), in 2011 with his shoulder and only started 13 of 24 games.

Conclusion: Sheldon Richardson is the perfect pick with his explosiveness and his play to the whistle attitude. He will help in whatever 3-4 or 4-3 scheme we are in. He is versatile like Chip wants in his players. He has the height, the weight, the speed, and he wants to win now. He should start over Cedric Thornton who is more a rotational player in his career. We will have fixed up one of the two biggest problems on the Eagles (other than the horrendous offensive line).

Next up, is What_Paradox? with "his" guy, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.