Quote: @purplefaithful said:
I would love to see Leatherwood in Viking purple!
I just cant see that massive 6'6 kicking inside though lol
He was a guard up until last year (2019). He proved he could play left tackle though. Measured 6-5 at the Senior Bowl, but his arms were over 34, so plenty enough length to play outside. The question with him is his feet. Some question whether he has the feet for LT and is he more of a RT or G in the NFL. To the Vikings it shouldn't matter. We need both.
Quote: @Rigby said:
The Mad Stork - ironically also from Miami.
One of my all-time non Vikings favorites.
Quote: @ArizonaViking said:
@"BarrNone55" said:
Youngster has an explosive first step off the ball...
He's more than just a fatty, ain't he. I had to double check his size after watching that. That guy is 6-5, 360?
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ ArizonaViking said:
@"BarrNone55" said:
Youngster has an explosive first step off the ball...
He's more than just a fatty, ain't he. I had to double check his size after watching that. That guy is 6-5, 360?
Aikeem Hicks territory. I focused on him in their bowl game. Freakish get off. Closing speed. Could develop to really be something special.
PROSPECT SUMMARY – TEDARRELL SLATONTedarrell Slaton is an impressively built interior defensive line prospect. He's listed at nearly 360 pounds, but looks much slimmer than his listed weight—he looks around 330 pounds and carries his weight well with an evenly distributed body structure. Leverage is the name of his game and he often starts low in his stance. He’s able to remain at that level throughout the duration of reps. An extremely powerful player at the point of attack, he makes it difficult for double teams to move him off of his spots. He’s a true head-up 0-technique that thrives with maintaining both A-gaps. Slaton wins strictly off of bull rush attempts and it’s a method that’s been highly effective for him to this point in his career. He also incorporates a quick swim move when able to jump the snap. He's been treated primarily as a two-down defender and he won’t provide much value on third down or obvious passing situations. As a run defender, there are stretches of inconsistencies of where he can make plays while engaged on single blocks, but he fails to make an impact and thus falls victim to runs being exploited through his gap. He has the arm strength to reach out and stop rushers in their tracks, but he often doesn’t reach out and make an effort to make those types of plays often. There are periods where Slaton has struggled with maintaining his balance when knocked out of plays and he has some reps of where he will randomly fall to the ground.
Ideal Role: Developmental 0- or 1-technique.
Scheme Fit: 3-4 nose tackle or a 1-technique in a 4-3 defensive front.
FILM EVALUATIONWritten by Jordan Reid
Games watched: Alabama (2020), Kentucky (2020), Ole Miss (2020), LSU (2020), Georgia (2020), Missouri (2020)
Best Game Studied: Kentucky (2020) and Missouri (2020)
Worst Game Studied: Alabama (2020)
First-Step Explosiveness: Slaton has shown flashes of having an aggressive first step, but it only happens on early downs or early in games. His motor tends to wear down as games go on or the deeper drives become. He isn’t an interior defender that relies heavily on having a fast first step, but when he decides to move forward in a quick manner, he has experienced plenty of success.
Flexibility: He's a mammoth-sized prospect that plays with lots of leverage in his game. Because of the lower levels that he plays at, he’s been able to detach and forklift interior blockers from his frame. Occupying and clogging space is the primary name of his game, but Slaton does an admirable job of keeping his vision clean over either shoulder prior to dislodging blockers. Slaton has the base and lower-half strength in order to maintain multiple gaps.
Hand Counters: Relying on late moves has been a feast or famine approach that he’s made a living off of during his career. While he doesn’t have many moves to his repertoire, it's difficult to get cleanly inside of his frame. He has displayed creative moves on occasion, but those flashes are sporadic. Even though he has a wide target area, he’s able to use leverage and keep his weight low out of his stance.
Hand Power: Slaton possesses well above average hand power at the position. Playing a mixture of both 0- and 1-technique has provided him with experience with both three- and four-man defensive fronts. He's at his best when tasked with clogging both A-gaps—he has the strength and power to lock out and maintain control of centers on the interior.
Run Defending: His strongest suit, Slaton’s sole purpose on the Gators defense was to take bodies away from climbing to the second level on linebackers and beyond. Frequently able to accomplish that feat, Slaton allowed the second-level defenders to roam freely with little worries of climbing interior blockers. Slaton’s biggest challenge as a run defender is getting his body turned sideways instead of keeping his chest and shoulders square to the line after contact.
Effort/Motor: Slaton has a random on-off switch where you don’t know exactly which mode that you will get on each play. He has some plays where he doesn’t fire off of the ball at all, but others where he looks completely interested. Minimizing the low-effort plays will need to be a point of emphasis for him on the next level. A demanding position coach and one that understands how to get the best reps out of him on a down-to-down basis could help take his development to the next level.
Football IQ: Slaton has a well-developed understanding of run concepts and where they are designed to attack. As a nose tackle, he’s wary of back blocks or ones that are designed to quickly eliminate him from plays. Attempting to cross face or get underneath them is seen as he understands that his mass combined with penetrations are able to disrupt plays.
Lateral Mobility: Asking Slaton to play outside of the B-gaps is challenging because of his body frame, twitch, and lack of range. Slaton is able to reach his arms out in either direction in order to halt the process of ball-carriers through either A-gap. He isn’t an interior defender that will consistently exhibit an extra amount of hustle in order to make plays outside of his parameters.
Core/Functional Strength: On top of an impressive build, Slaton has the body strength to match. Sitting on top of an impressive trunk, he has the upper body to go along with it, which helps him withstand double teams at the point of attack. Slaton has above average core strength, which is the base that he stands on as a run defender.
Versatility: Slaton isn’t a player that will play outside of his designed areas. Even when on the field and if in creative packages, he’s one that will be placed as far inside as possible because of his ability to take away spaces. Non-existent on third down or obvious passing situations, he won’t provide much as a pass rusher because of his inability to consistently push the pocket.
SCOUT GRADESTDN Consensus: To Be Determined
Jordan Reid: 70/100
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
PROSPECT SUMMARY – TEDARRELL SLATONTedarrell Slaton is an impressively built interior defensive line prospect. He's listed at nearly 360 pounds, but looks much slimmer than his listed weight—he looks around 330 pounds and carries his weight well with an evenly distributed body structure. Leverage is the name of his game and he often starts low in his stance. He’s able to remain at that level throughout the duration of reps. An extremely powerful player at the point of attack, he makes it difficult for double teams to move him off of his spots. He’s a true head-up 0-technique that thrives with maintaining both A-gaps. Slaton wins strictly off of bull rush attempts and it’s a method that’s been highly effective for him to this point in his career. He also incorporates a quick swim move when able to jump the snap. He's been treated primarily as a two-down defender and he won’t provide much value on third down or obvious passing situations. As a run defender, there are stretches of inconsistencies of where he can make plays while engaged on single blocks, but he fails to make an impact and thus falls victim to runs being exploited through his gap. He has the arm strength to reach out and stop rushers in their tracks, but he often doesn’t reach out and make an effort to make those types of plays often. There are periods where Slaton has struggled with maintaining his balance when knocked out of plays and he has some reps of where he will randomly fall to the ground.
Ideal Role: Developmental 0- or 1-technique.
Scheme Fit: 3-4 nose tackle or a 1-technique in a 4-3 defensive front.
FILM EVALUATIONWritten by Jordan Reid
Games watched: Alabama (2020), Kentucky (2020), Ole Miss (2020), LSU (2020), Georgia (2020), Missouri (2020)
Best Game Studied: Kentucky (2020) and Missouri (2020)
Worst Game Studied: Alabama (2020)
First-Step Explosiveness: Slaton has shown flashes of having an aggressive first step, but it only happens on early downs or early in games. His motor tends to wear down as games go on or the deeper drives become. He isn’t an interior defender that relies heavily on having a fast first step, but when he decides to move forward in a quick manner, he has experienced plenty of success.
Flexibility: He's a mammoth-sized prospect that plays with lots of leverage in his game. Because of the lower levels that he plays at, he’s been able to detach and forklift interior blockers from his frame. Occupying and clogging space is the primary name of his game, but Slaton does an admirable job of keeping his vision clean over either shoulder prior to dislodging blockers. Slaton has the base and lower-half strength in order to maintain multiple gaps.
Hand Counters: Relying on late moves has been a feast or famine approach that he’s made a living off of during his career. While he doesn’t have many moves to his repertoire, it's difficult to get cleanly inside of his frame. He has displayed creative moves on occasion, but those flashes are sporadic. Even though he has a wide target area, he’s able to use leverage and keep his weight low out of his stance.
Hand Power: Slaton possesses well above average hand power at the position. Playing a mixture of both 0- and 1-technique has provided him with experience with both three- and four-man defensive fronts. He's at his best when tasked with clogging both A-gaps—he has the strength and power to lock out and maintain control of centers on the interior.
Run Defending: His strongest suit, Slaton’s sole purpose on the Gators defense was to take bodies away from climbing to the second level on linebackers and beyond. Frequently able to accomplish that feat, Slaton allowed the second-level defenders to roam freely with little worries of climbing interior blockers. Slaton’s biggest challenge as a run defender is getting his body turned sideways instead of keeping his chest and shoulders square to the line after contact.
Effort/Motor: Slaton has a random on-off switch where you don’t know exactly which mode that you will get on each play. He has some plays where he doesn’t fire off of the ball at all, but others where he looks completely interested. Minimizing the low-effort plays will need to be a point of emphasis for him on the next level. A demanding position coach and one that understands how to get the best reps out of him on a down-to-down basis could help take his development to the next level.
Football IQ: Slaton has a well-developed understanding of run concepts and where they are designed to attack. As a nose tackle, he’s wary of back blocks or ones that are designed to quickly eliminate him from plays. Attempting to cross face or get underneath them is seen as he understands that his mass combined with penetrations are able to disrupt plays.
Lateral Mobility: Asking Slaton to play outside of the B-gaps is challenging because of his body frame, twitch, and lack of range. Slaton is able to reach his arms out in either direction in order to halt the process of ball-carriers through either A-gap. He isn’t an interior defender that will consistently exhibit an extra amount of hustle in order to make plays outside of his parameters.
Core/Functional Strength: On top of an impressive build, Slaton has the body strength to match. Sitting on top of an impressive trunk, he has the upper body to go along with it, which helps him withstand double teams at the point of attack. Slaton has above average core strength, which is the base that he stands on as a run defender.
Versatility: Slaton isn’t a player that will play outside of his designed areas. Even when on the field and if in creative packages, he’s one that will be placed as far inside as possible because of his ability to take away spaces. Non-existent on third down or obvious passing situations, he won’t provide much as a pass rusher because of his inability to consistently push the pocket.
SCOUT GRADESTDN Consensus: To Be Determined
Jordan Reid: 70/100
Sounds like more of an A gapper ala Pierce vs a 3t???
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
@"BarrNone55" said:
PROSPECT SUMMARY – TEDARRELL SLATONTedarrell Slaton is an impressively built interior defensive line prospect. He's listed at nearly 360 pounds, but looks much slimmer than his listed weight—he looks around 330 pounds and carries his weight well with an evenly distributed body structure. Leverage is the name of his game and he often starts low in his stance. He’s able to remain at that level throughout the duration of reps. An extremely powerful player at the point of attack, he makes it difficult for double teams to move him off of his spots. He’s a true head-up 0-technique that thrives with maintaining both A-gaps. Slaton wins strictly off of bull rush attempts and it’s a method that’s been highly effective for him to this point in his career. He also incorporates a quick swim move when able to jump the snap. He's been treated primarily as a two-down defender and he won’t provide much value on third down or obvious passing situations. As a run defender, there are stretches of inconsistencies of where he can make plays while engaged on single blocks, but he fails to make an impact and thus falls victim to runs being exploited through his gap. He has the arm strength to reach out and stop rushers in their tracks, but he often doesn’t reach out and make an effort to make those types of plays often. There are periods where Slaton has struggled with maintaining his balance when knocked out of plays and he has some reps of where he will randomly fall to the ground.
Ideal Role: Developmental 0- or 1-technique.
Scheme Fit: 3-4 nose tackle or a 1-technique in a 4-3 defensive front.
FILM EVALUATIONWritten by Jordan Reid
Games watched: Alabama (2020), Kentucky (2020), Ole Miss (2020), LSU (2020), Georgia (2020), Missouri (2020)
Best Game Studied: Kentucky (2020) and Missouri (2020)
Worst Game Studied: Alabama (2020)
First-Step Explosiveness: Slaton has shown flashes of having an aggressive first step, but it only happens on early downs or early in games. His motor tends to wear down as games go on or the deeper drives become. He isn’t an interior defender that relies heavily on having a fast first step, but when he decides to move forward in a quick manner, he has experienced plenty of success.
Flexibility: He's a mammoth-sized prospect that plays with lots of leverage in his game. Because of the lower levels that he plays at, he’s been able to detach and forklift interior blockers from his frame. Occupying and clogging space is the primary name of his game, but Slaton does an admirable job of keeping his vision clean over either shoulder prior to dislodging blockers. Slaton has the base and lower-half strength in order to maintain multiple gaps.
Hand Counters: Relying on late moves has been a feast or famine approach that he’s made a living off of during his career. While he doesn’t have many moves to his repertoire, it's difficult to get cleanly inside of his frame. He has displayed creative moves on occasion, but those flashes are sporadic. Even though he has a wide target area, he’s able to use leverage and keep his weight low out of his stance.
Hand Power: Slaton possesses well above average hand power at the position. Playing a mixture of both 0- and 1-technique has provided him with experience with both three- and four-man defensive fronts. He's at his best when tasked with clogging both A-gaps—he has the strength and power to lock out and maintain control of centers on the interior.
Run Defending: His strongest suit, Slaton’s sole purpose on the Gators defense was to take bodies away from climbing to the second level on linebackers and beyond. Frequently able to accomplish that feat, Slaton allowed the second-level defenders to roam freely with little worries of climbing interior blockers. Slaton’s biggest challenge as a run defender is getting his body turned sideways instead of keeping his chest and shoulders square to the line after contact.
Effort/Motor: Slaton has a random on-off switch where you don’t know exactly which mode that you will get on each play. He has some plays where he doesn’t fire off of the ball at all, but others where he looks completely interested. Minimizing the low-effort plays will need to be a point of emphasis for him on the next level. A demanding position coach and one that understands how to get the best reps out of him on a down-to-down basis could help take his development to the next level.
Football IQ: Slaton has a well-developed understanding of run concepts and where they are designed to attack. As a nose tackle, he’s wary of back blocks or ones that are designed to quickly eliminate him from plays. Attempting to cross face or get underneath them is seen as he understands that his mass combined with penetrations are able to disrupt plays.
Lateral Mobility: Asking Slaton to play outside of the B-gaps is challenging because of his body frame, twitch, and lack of range. Slaton is able to reach his arms out in either direction in order to halt the process of ball-carriers through either A-gap. He isn’t an interior defender that will consistently exhibit an extra amount of hustle in order to make plays outside of his parameters.
Core/Functional Strength: On top of an impressive build, Slaton has the body strength to match. Sitting on top of an impressive trunk, he has the upper body to go along with it, which helps him withstand double teams at the point of attack. Slaton has above average core strength, which is the base that he stands on as a run defender.
Versatility: Slaton isn’t a player that will play outside of his designed areas. Even when on the field and if in creative packages, he’s one that will be placed as far inside as possible because of his ability to take away spaces. Non-existent on third down or obvious passing situations, he won’t provide much as a pass rusher because of his inability to consistently push the pocket.
SCOUT GRADESTDN Consensus: To Be Determined
Jordan Reid: 70/100
Sounds like more of an A gapper ala Pierce vs a 3t???
Definitely want a legit NT behind Pierce. No more Stephens.
I would love to see the Vikings be this aggressive. Nice mock. The Vikings just gave a 1 million bonus to Rieff, so my guess is the Vikings will try to restructure him to a long term deal.
IMO the first two Vikings picks will be defense. This tackle class has a lot of guys who can kick inside to guard at the next level. Leatherwood, Dillon Radunz, Alaric Jackson, Liam Eichenberg, James Hudson just to name a few... one of those guys will fall to within reach at 79 or 91. I think the Vikings can find a quality guard in the third round in this tackle class.
Trading back in the first round to land a second round pick is easier said than done, but I have my fingers crossed.
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