2015 Senior Bowl: Utah's Nate Orchard blooming for North

[DKphin]

Utah defensive end Nate Orchard gets in the grill of Delaware tight end Nick Boyle. (USATSI)

Given that he won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end and the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12's best defensive lineman, it would be hard to characterize Utah's Nate Orchard as underrated. Still, his performance this week at the Senior Bowl is turning skeptics into believers.
Thursday's practice was a perfect example.
When the Tennessee Titans elected to use Orchard as a pass rusher, the 6-foot-3, 251- pounder was a constant thorn in the side of opposing offensive linemen and the skill position players they're attempting to protect.
Using a variety of pass rush moves -- including a varied burst off the ball, over-arm swim and very effective bull-rush, Orchard consistently beat the North's tackles in one-on-one drills and was even more noticeable in scrimmages, tracking down Washington State wideout Vince Mayle for a big loss on an end-around, recording an interception of Baylor's Bryce Petty on a screen pass and consistently applying pressure as a rusher.

Orchard, who was recruited to Utah as a wide receiver, doesn't possess ideal bulk for the 4-3 defensive end role in which he's likely to play in the NFL. He has relatively narrow shoulders and relies more on technique and awareness than an explosive speed or power. He has reasonable body control for a player of his size but is clearly more comfortable rushing than he is dropping into coverage, as he was often asked to do in linebacker drills.
Because of these limitations, Orchard could get pushed into the draft's second day despite his stellar production (84 tackles including 21.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks in 2014) and impressive week in Mobile. Don't be surprised, however, when Orchard ultimately out-plays his draft pick and blossoms into a quality pass-rusher in the NFL.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...or-bowl-utahs-nate-orchard-blooming-for-north

 

[Fin Thirteen]

People who say Orchard is too small to play 4-3 DE are idiots. I'm sorry.

Orchard posted crazy numbers against some top level OL opposition that's headed for starting roles in the NFL.

Against Andrus Peat's Stanford, he had 3.5 sacks a forced fumble and 10 tackles. Against Oregon's Jake Fisher, he had a sack, a forced fumble and 8 tackles. Against Fresno State Ty Sambrailo he had no sacks, but a TFL, 8 tackles & a pass broken up. That's production. His speed is just so hard for the fatties to deal with.

Over the season, he racked up 84 tackles, 21 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 3 PBUs and 3 FFs, playing at DE.

Please don't tell me that he can't be a force in the pros. Over 6'3" and just over 250 lbs? Sounds a lot like a certain DE in aqua and orange. There are probably 8 or 10 4-3 DEs with good NFL production who came into the league in that size bracket.

 

[DKphin]

People who say Orchard is too small to play 4-3 DE are idiots. I'm sorry.

Orchard posted crazy numbers against some top level OL opposition that's headed for starting roles in the NFL.

Against Andrus Peat's Stanford, he had 3.5 sacks a forced fumble and 10 tackles. Against Oregon's Jake Fisher, he had a sack, a forced fumble and 8 tackles. Against Fresno State Ty Sambrailo he had no sacks, but a TFL, 8 tackles & a pass broken up. That's production. His speed is just so hard for the fatties to deal with.

Over the season, he racked up 84 tackles, 21 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 3 PBUs and 3 FFs, playing at DE.

Please don't tell me that he can't be a force in the pros. Over 6'3" and just over 250 lbs? Sounds a lot like a certain DE in aqua and orange. There are probably 8 or 10 4-3 DEs with good NFL production who came into the league in that size bracket.

I would love to have him on the team, but I do not think there is any way he makes it out of the first rd.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

People who say Orchard is too small to play 4-3 DE are idiots. I'm sorry.

Orchard posted crazy numbers against some top level OL opposition that's headed for starting roles in the NFL.

Against Andrus Peat's Stanford, he had 3.5 sacks a forced fumble and 10 tackles. Against Oregon's Jake Fisher, he had a sack, a forced fumble and 8 tackles. Against Fresno State Ty Sambrailo he had no sacks, but a TFL, 8 tackles & a pass broken up. That's production. His speed is just so hard for the fatties to deal with.

Over the season, he racked up 84 tackles, 21 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 3 PBUs and 3 FFs, playing at DE.

Please don't tell me that he can't be a force in the pros. Over 6'3" and just over 250 lbs? Sounds a lot like a certain DE in aqua and orange. There are probably 8 or 10 4-3 DEs with good NFL production who came into the league in that size bracket.

I think he'll struggle early on base downs, so, in terms of his role, his rookie year might look like Aldon Smith's - pass rush specialist. It was cool to hear him cite Aldon Smith as a player he watches. He'll never have Smith's length, but he looks like a better athlete, and he does have a nasty inside swim. I think he'll go sometime between 14 and 47, so I don't see him as a realistic pick for Miami, but he'd make a lot of sense for 3-4 teams like the Colts, Steelers, and Ravens late in RD 1.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

I think he'll struggle early on base downs, so, in terms of his role, his rookie year might look like Aldon Smith's - pass rush specialist. It was cool to hear him cite Aldon Smith as a player he watches. He'll never have Smith's length, but he looks like a better athlete, and he does have a nasty inside swim. I think he'll go sometime between 14 and 47, so I don't see him as a realistic pick for Miami, but he'd make a lot of sense for 3-4 teams like the Colts, Steelers, and Ravens late in RD 1.

I think he'd be totally wasted as a 3-4 OLB. He needs to be rushing the QB from the 3-point as much as possible. A good DC will work around his size v the run and know the upside of the pass rush is worth it. If he gets put in the wrong scheme or isn't allowed to play mainly to his strengths, who knows (but you could say that about most players...!)

 

[AJ Duhe]

Look at the needs we have and DE isn't one of them. Wake and Vernon start. Shelby has proven his mettle as a backup that sees significant time. Fede came on and performed as a rookie. I haven't even mentioned Jordan yet, who I hope is moved to OLB. My point, Orchard is a luxury we can't afford in the first 3 rounds.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

I know what you're saying. But the high ceiling players aren't bountiful in this draft and you don't get to greatness by picking your players on the basis of how quickly they can come in with their lunchpail to fill a gap. We've done that for so long our roster is the definition of league-average (and, strangely enough, so is our record).

He'd be in the mix for me at 14. I'm not done looking at players yet, but he's on my shortlist.

 

[utahphinsfan]

I think he'd be totally wasted as a 3-4 OLB. He needs to be rushing the QB from the 3-point as much as possible. A good DC will work around his size v the run and know the upside of the pass rush is worth it. If he gets put in the wrong scheme or isn't allowed to play mainly to his strengths, who knows (but you could say that about most players...!)

I have watched him for 2 yrs now and you are spot on.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

I think he'd be totally wasted as a 3-4 OLB. He needs to be rushing the QB from the 3-point as much as possible. A good DC will work around his size v the run and know the upside of the pass rush is worth it. If he gets put in the wrong scheme or isn't allowed to play mainly to his strengths, who knows (but you could say that about most players...!)

I think playing as a 3-4 OLB is the only way he sees the field on base downs as a rookie. Talking about pass rushing situations, he'd likely have his hand in the dirt anyway. In terms of his future, I agree that he projects best as an undersized DE, but most teams drafting in the 1st will want something more than a pass-rush specialist.