2011 NFL Draft Profiles - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
by Graham Filler on Jan 30, 2011 12:16 PM CST
in Iowa
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Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 285 lbs.
Strengths: Explosiveness in all aspects of his game, great agility, top-level motor, perfect NFL size
Weaknesses: Questions about dedication to the weightroom, conditioning issues
Discussion: Clayborn has been anointed a first round draft pick ever since he bashed Big Ten defensive lines in 2009. And no one will forget the dominating performance against Georgia Tech when he picked up something like 10 tackles in one half and showed the futility of trying to block him with one person. 2010, when he surprisingly returned, wasn't as much of a highlight filled trip, but that's thanks to a combination of factors. 1) He saw more double teams and chip blocks from opposing teams, 2) the Iowa 4-3 left him pass rushing late into fourth quarters, tiring him (and the rest of the Iowa D-Line) out. If it had been just Clayborn tired, I would question his conditioning even more. Since the entire line was sucking wind, I'm going to guess it was part scheme, part size issue (the Hawkeyes line averaged 280 lbs). Finally, some people questioned Clayborn's drop in production. That's just stupid - anyone who watched Iowa play this year saw him in the opposing teams' backfield just like 2009. He spent the entire Northwestern game in the backfield chasing Dan Persa and when Persa lobbed the game winning throw, guess who was in his face?
If you were drafting a team right now, would you take Clayborn based on his potential and his prototypical size, or say, Ryan Kerrigan, who people will inherently think is a harder worker and more driven? Clayborn would be my guy - Lots of star potential there. He's also big and active enough to play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme.
NFL Draft Probability: 1st round.
As far as pure talent PLUS size goes, Clayborn is a first rounder. But teams will question him not playing in the Senior Bowl and his conditioning. Every Mock Draft has him in the first round, somewhere late in the teens. I will miss the dreads, I'll miss his contributions to Big Ten football, but it's intriguing players like Clayborn that make college football so damn fun.
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if i hear one more "he has attitude issues, he beat up a cab driver" thing about him il freak
common, a guy punches one racist cab driver and suddenly he has attitude issues? meanwhile “helmet to the spine, face, and nuts” auburn defensivelinemen gets a free pass? common
by justsomehawkeyefan on Jan 31, 2011 12:14 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
You can’t punch someone in the face just because they said something you don’t like.
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
From what I understand
The cab driver called him the N-word; I think a punch was justified.
by Grixxly on Jan 31, 2011 1:31 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Maybe not "justified"
but certainly a lot more understandable.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
sometimes
ya gotta punch someone in the face
by justsomehawkeyefan on Jan 31, 2011 8:01 PM CST up reply actions
Ryan Kerrigan
Faster, quicker, more productive, much better at the sack fumble.
Ever Grateful. Ever True.
Is the sack fumble how a failed reach-around concludes?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jan 31, 2011 4:49 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
kudos
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Feb 2, 2011 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
As I recall, Kudos bars had nuts and chocolate.
So that could also be how a failed reach-around concludes…
/giggles then vomits uncontrollably
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Feb 2, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I don't know about "explosiveness in all aspects"
He’s strong as hell and has good speed once he gets going. But he’s not as agile and doesn’t have as quick a first step as you’d expect an elite NFL end to have. He’s really good at maintaining separation and getting off blocks. But he’s not going to consistently be able to get around NFL left tackles, nor be able to collapse the pocket with a bull rush.
If someone picks him high in the 1st he’ll be viewed as a “bust;” he’s not going to revive a defense by himself. As a compliment to an already strong defensive line, though, he’ll be great.
Watching the 2009 campaign, Clayborn faced almost as much double teaming and chip blocking as in 2010. The difference, I think, was that in 2010 the opposing offense was ALWAYS aware of where he was, as opposed to 2009 when he was able to surprise people with his speed and strength. The difference between planning for an opponent and planning around an opponent.
Brunettes not fighter jets
nice assessment
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on Feb 2, 2011 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
Since you asked..
.. I’ll take Kerrigan.
"I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research." - Sherlock Holmes
Clayborn bashed B1G o-lines in '09
Maybe not the singular problem but at the top for Clayborn/2010 Hawk Football was lack of LB talent, depth, consistency. NP’s 4-3 needs atleast mid-shelf LBs …we all missed Edds and Angerer. With an NFL cast about him Clayborn produces on Sunday.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
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