Ed Oliver should be drafted to play DT in the NFL

After reviewing his film, there’s no reason Ed Oliver cannot play defensive tackle in the NFL despite being undersized.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com caused an uproar among the draft community when he sent out this tweet about Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Zierlein isn’t known for reporting an erroneous or false claim. If he’s hearing it, then there’s a good chance that the report deserves merit.

I believe Ed Oliver should garner some consideration at inside backer. @TedyBruschi was an absolute dog as a pass rusher and he was undersized. The Pats thought outside the box and hit a HR. Ed is smaller than he's listed. But he's twitchy and instinctive. I think ILB is possible

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) January 29, 2019

Oliver was a five star recruit for Houston. From the moment he stepped on campus, he lived up to the hype. My first experience watching Oliver live was in 2016 on a Thursday night in November. 2016 Heisman winner and current Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback Lamar Jackson came to Houston looking to build a resume for the playoffs. Oliver stole the show in that game, though. He finished with six tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and two pass breakups.

After studying Oliver last week, it’s clear that he should be treated as a defensive tackle. There are an influx of productive undersized defensive tackles currently in the NFL. Grady Jarrett, Mike Daniels, Geno Atkins, and Aaron Donald are a few who buck the idea that size should matter at the position.

Pass rush

The immediate appeal of Oliver stems from his quickness off the ball and immediately wreck havoc.

Oliver is lined up as the 3-technique (No. 10 between the guard and tackle) on this play. He is so quick to beat the guard with a nasty swim move that he actually attacks the running back instead of the quarterback. This type of athleticism and quickness can only remind me of Grady Jarrett or dare I say Aaron Donald.

Oliver consistently has a plan if his first option isn’t successful. Sacks like this quell the concerns about his strength and ability to disengage. He initially begins his rush up field, but he’s able to disengage once the quarterback steps up to finish the sack.

Oliver was constantly a focus for opposing offenses. That rarely slowed him down though. He gets the attention of four(!) players, but he’s still able to force a pressure. He wins immediately with his athleticism, but also check out his lower body movement. This play illustrates many reasons why I want Oliver closer to the football.

Oliver isn’t just as a one trick guy. He understands how to convert speed to power, which allows him to use effective bull rushes. He lands a punch with excellent hand placement before collapsing the pocket and forcing an inaccurate throw.

Run defense

The concern echoed by Oliver skeptics likely rise from his run defense. I don’t share those concerns. His athleticism helps him beat slower guards to the gaps, but he also has the strength to anchor at times too.

This is one of Oliver’s better run stops last season. He locks out his arms on the center, diagnoses the direction of the run, and then does a masterful job of shedding the block to make a tackle for loss.

Part of the reason why his undersized frame works for him is he can out leverage the offensive line. On this play, he splits the gap by getting lower than the blockers. He’s able to immediately blow the run up.

The offense is running a wide zone to the right, but Oliver’s unique blend of lateral movement allows him to avoid the reach blocks and chase down the run for a loss.

Oliver’s disruptive nature should not be underestimated. Many offenses attempted to down block him, but he’s too quick for the guard at the point of attack. More often than not, it results in a loss.

Ideally, a defensive coordinator won’t put Oliver in a situation where he has to anchor against double teams. That’s not to say he can’t hold up though. His powerful lower body gives him the capacity to hold his own and allow the linebackers to fill the gaps.

Balance issues

A valid concern with Oliver are the amount of times he ends up on the ground. His balance issues stem from his attacking leverage being too high. If he can consistently rush with the desired pad level, then these issues could be minimized.

Fit with Carolina

The Panthers need interior and edge pass rushers. Oliver is a menace and he should test very well at the Combine. I would welcome Carolina drafting Oliver in the first round. He has a rare blend of flexibility, strength, and athleticism that makes him a unique prospect. I am also strongly against the idea of turning Ed Oliver into a linebacker. He does his best work close to the ball. Keep him there and allow him to flourish. Hopefully he gets to exhibit these traits for the Panthers.

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