Thread by @Texans_Thoughts, #Texans #3 EDGE Draft Target should be Jonathan Greenard: 6'3, 263 from [...]

#Texans #3 EDGE Draft Target should be Jonathan Greenard: 6'3, 263 from Florida. Greenard is a good athlete, he rushes with a plan and is a strong run defender. He needs technical refinement and to finish plays better but he has tons of potential. Round 3 target

Breakdown below:

Greenard has great burst off the line of scrimmage and it often gives him an advantage right away. Here, he flies off the snap and beats the LT to his landmark. The LT tries to get a hand on Greenard but he hooks his arm under the LT, bends to the QB and gets the sack.

Here's another example where Greenard is just too quick and catches the LT off guard. He beats the LT off the rip and has a clean shot at the QB. This play shows his issue with finishing sacks. He could've had at least 7 more sacks last year if he didn’t miss these tackles.

My favorite aspect of Greenard's game is that he always rushes with a plan. To me, this is the biggest indicator of success for a pass rusher. On this play, Greenard hits the RT with an instant spin move. He gets past the RT but the ball is out super quick.

Here's a nice inside move that gets him close to another sack. He rushes upfield faking a speed rush, then he explodes inside and swims over the RT. He needs to defeat the RTs hands to get to the QB quicker. A nice club or swipe down would've been great.

Here's a nice counter to that inside move shown above. He makes it look exactly the same as he steps inside but then quickly spins outside. But again he doesn’t defeat the RT's hands and thus is pushed out of the play. Greenard NEEDS to get better at defeating hands.

Greenard loves his spin moves if you couldn't tell. He takes it to another level here and channels his inner Demarcus Ware with the fake spin. He beats the RTs hands here but gets pushed past the pocket and the QB avoids him. Yet again so close to a sack.

Here's another great move by Greenard. He fakes the speed rush then fakes inside and goes outside instead. He uses his left hand to swipe at the RTs back, trying to get him off balance. The QB steps up and runs away but I love this additional counter to his inside move.

Greenard is a good run defender in doing his job. He sets a strong edge and most of the time gets off the block to make a tackle. Here, he punches his hands right into the RTs chest, blowing him backwards a full two yards. He gets off the block and makes the play.

You can't let Tight Ends block EDGEs but teams still decide to do so for some reason. Greenard is no exception. He punches the TE in the chest and blows him backwards into the backfield, closing a lane for the RB. He gets off the block and makes the tackle for a 1 yard gain.

One more here, they try to block him with a TE again and Greenard just side steps him inside. But he doesn’t lose the edge, he stacks the RT and forces the play back inside. No tackle here but he makes this play happen for his teammates. BOB will love that.

Greenard finished his last season with 10 sacks but he probably should've had 20. He needs to be coached up but so do most of the EDGEs in this draft. His athletic tools and pass rushing plan give me great hope for him to become a very productive edge rusher.

Jonathan Greenard Grading (EDGE10)
Speed: 8.5
Strength: 9
Bend: 8.5
Burst: 9
Power: 8.5
Finesse: 9
Block Shedding: 8.5
Hands: 8.5
Motor: 8.5
Finishing plays: 8
Overall: 86/100

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