Shemar Stewart

[Feverdream]

Last time I checked we have effective running backs at all different sizes why in the world would tackles be any different. Like you said there are exceptions

There are... but there are also expectations. Here's what a couple of the sites have said...

Zierlein at NFL.com

Weaknesses​

• Far below height standards for NFL starting tackles.
• Inconsistent running feet under his hands as a drive blocker.
• Gets outreached and separated by long edge-setters.
• Not a deep bender and turns to leaning at times.
• Must prove his anchor against NFL speed-to-power rushers.

Draft Buzz isn't the best site, but here's what they said...

The LSU game highlighted both his potential and limitations against quality edge rushers. While his technique and leverage won many reps, longer defenders occasionally gave him problems. His combination of quick feet and strong hands helps compensate for height limitations, but NFL power rushers will test his anchor early. The technical foundation is encouraging - his varied pass sets and blitz recognition show advanced processing - but there's still work needed on consistent hand placement.

and...

• Height is well below NFL tackle standards at 6'3" - while he compensates with length and technique, some teams may pigeonhole him as a guard convert regardless of tape.

It isn't just me. This is a known issue with this player. There are a LOT of teams who wouldn't even consider him as a Tackle for just this reason.

 

[Feverdream]

So you're saying it is possible...

But is it LIKELY?

I remember people telling me that Tua was big enough, and sturdy enough... and that injuries wouldn't be a problem.

Were you one of them?

 

[onlyindade3051]

My problem with Membou is singular... I'm just not convinced that a man who is 6'3" can really play Tackle in this league.

I see him as Guard only... and 13 is a bit high for a Guard only.

He could prove me wrong, but that's my lean.

I don't think I would want him on this team. I feel like Membou plays too high, allows defenders to get to his chest, it's a little soft and tends to put his head down when pass blocking. If the Dolphins plan to put him at Guard might as well pick the best guard in the draft which is Tyler Booker.

 

[onlyindade3051]

I would have to pass on Stewart. He dropped 20-25 pounds for the combine. While that is great for him and he tested phenomenal, he played DL in college and had rather mediocre production. We need a 3/5 tech DE to replace Campbell. Derrick Harmon is the guy who really impressed me yesterday. He has drawn comparisons to Cam Heyward, which is I believe is exactly what this team needs.

I don’t think this team needs another raw pass rusher like Chop (I know he gets a lot of pressures, but if he didn’t have an insane first step he would have been a day 2 pick). I would prefer a guy like Jack Sawyer who has a lower ceiling but comes with a range of moves and a non stop motor.

As a UM fan, I followed Shemars recruitment closely and left a bad impression on me. Top that with production n highlights, nothing jumps out at me.

I do agree with Harmon, I watched his tape and I feel like he would make an instant impact on our defense. He can defend the run and clog the middle. Takes up two Olinemen and would make our front 7 easier to defend everyone else. I know people like Grant but I feel like he's more of a rusher than someone who would stand in the middle and clog it up.

 

[BobDole]

It's ironic... I start off the thread talking about how so many said that Chop would be bad because he didn't produce much... and despite Stewart's stellar Combine and the fact that he led his team in QB pressures while playing DE, rather than OLB... so many say, "but his sack numbers were low".

I predicted it, but still...

I'll say it again, he'd replace Campbell... not Phillips or Chubb. He plays a DIFFERENT position. He'll be down almost all of the time, and his weight will be closer to 280 than it will be the 267 we saw yesterday.

...and someone will lumber in here and say... but his sack totals are low.

sigh...

I thought we were talking about Stewart as an edge. You went on and on about how easy it is to get IDL anywhere in the draft, now you want one at 13? I thought I was making an apples to apples comp with Pierce.

Beefing him up and sticking him inside would be stupid. His value is on the edge with those numbers.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

This is a strong draft for defensive ends.

Pearce, although there's some character questions, had his teammates cheering him on at the combine. That bodes well. His speed and first step are unreal. Now, pairing a 240 pound edge with Robinson is a fair concern, even though Pearce isn't a bad run defender.

Landon Jackson, if he didn't have the Achilles injury, might be talked about as top 15. Other players gravitated to him at the combine. I keep saying there's some JJ Watt to his game
At least you can dream on that.

Stewart, at the very least, gives you a premium run stopping end.

Those are just a few.

 

[Marino2.0]

First of all... a brief apology... I might be a-fixin' to be a little sarcastic here... (bear with me).

Last year, a number of us stated quite clearly that Chop Robinson was THE physical freak among the OLB-type Edges last year, but the crybabies (here's the sarcasm that I warned you about) sniffed... but his production! If he was any good, he would have put up sooo many more sacks.

I guess they were.... WRONG (as Ray would jabber).

Chop had/has a nightmarish first step and as one of the youngest players in the draft, he just hadn't put it all together yet. The classic, decent floor/astronomical ceiling prospect. ...and he came on as the season progressed, even though his running buddies were... umm... old, and less than stellar.

But Fever... (you say)... I thought your title said Shemar Stewart?

Can you say, hit me again, Chris.

Shemar KILLED the Combine... just killed it. He put up some of the best numbers, not just of this combine but historically.

I already liked him.

Now he is the #1 prospect on my board at 13. Pairing these two would give us a dream pass rush. One power/speed, and one with a dynamite twitch.

If he's on the board and we pass. I'll cry... out loud.

I agree. We do not see eye to eye on Tyler Warren, but apparently we do on Stewart. Stewart is now ahead of Warren for me at #13.

I also see Stewart as more of a DE than a modern OLB/edge. On passing downs, we could totally get away with Sieler and Stewart inside, and Phillips and Chop rushing off the edges. And on running downs, just plug in a NT between Sieler and Stewart.

 

[Feverdream]

I thought we were talking about Stewart as an edge. You went on and on about how easy it is to get IDL anywhere in the draft, now you want one at 13? I thought I was making an apples to apples comp with Pierce.

Beefing him up and sticking him inside would be stupid. His value is on the edge with those numbers.

DE IS on the edge... Think Calais Campbell... but a DE is not an OLB 'edge', though they play in a similar spot.

Players like Campbell or Stewart play DE on early downs, setting the edge of the defense as players like Pearce and Chop really aren't equipped to do. They are too light to take on OTs and win often.

Then, they generally move inside, but only on passing downs, when Chop/Pearce come in and the NT types leave the field.

A good DE plays all three downs... but yes, gets fewer sacks than the glory designated pass rushers like Chop and Pearce.

People complain that Miami lacks strength... lacks toughness... then resist drafting the exact type of player we lack.

 

[Feverdream]

I agree. We do not see eye to eye on Tyler Warren, but apparently we do on Stewart. Stewart is now ahead of Warren for me at #13.

I also see Stewart as more of a DE than a modern OLB/edge. On passing downs, we could totally get away with Sieler and Stewart inside, and Phillips and Chop rushing off the edges. And on running downs, just plug in a NT between Sieler and Stewart.

I think a lot of people are really confused about all the defensive substitutions in the modern NFL.

NOBODY plays a 4-3 or a 3-4 exclusively any longer, and players who can play on all three downs are increasingly rare.

A lot of folks just get caught up in sack totals and I think that's a huge mistake. A three down DE that gets 8 sacks is more valuable in my eyes than a situational guy who doesn't play on running downs, but gets 12.

A lot of people disagree.

 

[Marino2.0]

If we go Edge, I prefer Pearce. His get-off and production are through the roof. But Shemar could be a better compliment. He is a better run defender and his pass-rush production isn't terrible. 315 snaps and 39 pressures. One every 8.07 snaps.
Pearce though, whoa nelly, he got one pressure every 4.7 snaps over the past two seasons combined and he's not a liability in run defense.
Talk about Shemar's workout, but Pearce's speed, 4.47 is exceptional.
Chop last year, despite his modest production, sacks-wise, was able to get the 2nd highest PFF pass-rush grade behind only Latu, mostly from just being so disruptive. He flew around like a whirling dervish.

My concern with Pearce is that he’s a one-trick pony. He’s explosive off the ball, but he’s very lean with fringe-y arms and below average bend, so as of now, if he doesn’t beat you with speed, he’s not beating you.

Guy could eventually be a 15-sack per game All Pro, so I don’t want to act like he stinks, but right now he’s got one A+ trait and a bunch of question marks.

 

[BobDole]

DE IS on the edge... Think Calais Campbell... but a DE is not an OLB 'edge', though they play in a similar spot.

Players like Campbell or Stewart play DE on early downs, setting the edge of the defense as players like Pearce and Chop really aren't equipped to do. They are too light to take on OTs and win often.

Then, they generally move inside, but only on passing downs, when Chop/Pearce come in and the NT types leave the field.

A good DE plays all three downs... but yes, gets fewer sacks than the glory designated pass rushers like Chop and Pearce.

People complain that Miami lacks strength... lacks toughness... then resist drafting the exact type of player we lack.

I understand how the positions work and how he would be used at say 285-290, but his value is coming off the edge at 270 imo.

This draft is loaded with guys you can beef up the interior with and set the edge ... and I think they will. I wouldn't count on either Chubb or Phillips and edge is much harder to fill so I just figured we were talking about something that made sense. My bad.

 

[Marino2.0]

I think a lot of people are really confused about all the defensive substitutions in the modern NFL.

NOBODY plays a 4-3 or a 3-4 exclusively any longer, and players who can play on all three downs are increasingly rare.

A lot of folks just get caught up in sack totals and I think that's a huge mistake. A three down DE that gets 8 sacks is more valuable in my eyes than a situational guy who doesn't play on running downs, but gets 12.

A lot of people disagree.

Yep, totally agree. Stewart is the kind of player (if he pans out) who makes you better in any defensive scheme and in any down-and-distance situation. That kind of versatility is extremely rare. We also have a huge need on the DL.

In general, I like the idea of getting much better in our defensive front seven at the expense of the secondary. I just don’t think it’s that hard to find passable players in the secondary, but if you can’t stop the run or rush the passer, your defense is DOA.

 

[Feverdream]

I understand how the positions work and how he would be used at say 285-290, but his value is coming off the edge at 270 imo.

This draft is loaded with guys you can beef up the interior with and set the edge ... and I think they will. I wouldn't count on either Chubb or Phillips and edge is much harder to fill so I just figured we were talking about something that made sense. My bad.

A lot of scouts think he'll become a sacks guy with better coaching and more time.

In college, he was used more as a heavy edge setter, but despite this... he did lead his team in pressures. Now, he's cut a bit of weight and he's saying... this is what I can do if asked.

Maybe he can't, but his testing was absolutely ELITE... and I dont say that often. ...and it wasn't all 40 times, his jumps were even better, and jumps are a better example of explosion. That's why they test for them.

Could he bust? Absolutely... but his athletic profile is the best we've ever seen.

As I said in my initial post. People pooh poohed Chop last year because... he didn't produce like he should have... but he did once he hit the NFL.

I think Stewart might be another.

A lot of people do... he may not make it out of the top 10.

 

[BobDole]

A lot of scouts think he'll become a sacks guy with better coaching and more time.

In college, he was used more as a heavy edge setter, but despite this... he did lead his team in pressures. Now, he's cut a bit of weight and he's saying... this is what I can do if asked.

Maybe he can't, but his testing was absolutely ELITE... and I dont say that often. ...and it wasn't all 40 times, his jumps were even better, and jumps are a better example of explosion. That's why they test for them.

Could he bust? Absolutely... but his athletic profile is the best we've ever seen.

As I said in my initial post. People pooh poohed Chop last year because... he didn't produce like he should have... but he did once he hit the NFL.

I think Stewart might be another.

A lot of people do... he may not make it out of the top 10.

I get all that. Positional versatility is great but the 270 lb version of him has way more value than the 290 lb one. They would both play all 3 downs, but the 270 lb guy brings more to the table and makes better use of those gaudy combine numbers.

Why not just stay and test at 290 if not? We don't see edges adding weight at the combine to show off positional versatility for some reason ...

Either version of him is still in play at 13 for me, but I'd prefer the 270 lb dude then and the bigger inside edge setters later on.

 

[ThePeopleShow13]

I think a lot of people are really confused about all the defensive substitutions in the modern NFL.

NOBODY plays a 4-3 or a 3-4 exclusively any longer, and players who can play on all three downs are increasingly rare.

A lot of folks just get caught up in sack totals and I think that's a huge mistake. A three down DE that gets 8 sacks is more valuable in my eyes than a situational guy who doesn't play on running downs, but gets 12.

A lot of people disagree.

You are correct that teams don’t stay in base formations as much anymore. However, players are only expected to play certain techs based on the team’s defensive philosophy and every player has different strengths/weaknesses.

Stewart’s best fit is as a 4-3 DE. By that I mean he is better with his hand in the dirt and excels at 5 or 3 tech. He is not a guy I would draft to play OLB. Now the question is if he can hold his own in 3 man fronts in the NFL. That adds a layer to his value because he can kick inside and play 1 tech on passing downs.

Personally, I would draft Walter Nolen or Derrick Harmon before Stewart. I know they can set the edge in 3 man fronts and rush the passer from the interior on passing downs.

For what it’s worth we played mostly 3-4 variants last year. I’m looking for players with that in mind. My personal philosophy is putting guys in a position to succeed, so drafting a player just because they are an athletic freak is not on my radar