Jeremy Hyde

#2 –  DT  –  Dominique Easley vs. Miami – 9/7/13  While pass rushers who bring pressure from the edge of the defense historically have drawn more attention, both from personnel men and coaches, there is a growing emphasis on the ability to disrupt offenses from the interior of the line.

One could even argue that penetrating the A and B gaps of the offensive line is more universally disruptive (against both the run and the pass) to opposing offenses than bringing pressure from the edge. Explosive interior linemen who can consistently penetrate and disrupt the backfield are becoming increasingly valuable to teams looking to disrupt the timing of today’s high-octane NFL offenses.

Perhaps no prospect’s better situated to benefit from this emerging league trend than Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley.

Easley came to Florida as a highly touted five-star prospect from Staten Island, New York. His snap anticipation (read more…)

#23 –  CB  –  Andre Hal vs Ole Miss  –  8/29/13   With all the surrounding talent in the SEC, it is easy to see how Andre Hal may have flown a bit under the radar to date. He was impressive in his first year as a starter for the Commodores in 2012, finishing the season with 16 passes defended, including two interceptions in a win over Tennessee. With ideal length, athleticism, physicality, and the ability to close quickly on the football in the air, Hal fits the prototype of the shutdown corner. A strong senior season could place him in the upper echelon of defensive backs heading into the draft process.

Hal spent much of this game matched up with Donte Moncrief, the Rebels’ top receiver (66 receptions for 979 yards and 10 TDs) from a season ago. Left on an island, Hal did an excellent job of (read more…)

DraftBreakdown contributor Jeremy Hyde unveils his latest rankings, this time of the senior tight ends.

1. C.J. Fiedorowicz – 6’7” / 265 – Iowa

With impressive size and strength at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, Fiedorowicz functions as an extension of the Iowa offensive line. Hawkeyes linemen are historically well-coached under Kirk Ferentz, and Fiedorowicz appears to have benefited from his teaching as well. He is truly an elite level blocker at the tight end position. He plays with leverage and power in the ground game, consistently dominating defenders at the point of attack, and forcibly steering them away from running lanes. While his role as a pass catcher is secondary to his role as a blocker in Iowa’s offense, Fiedorowicz is a solid athlete who shows great concentration and soft hands to make tough catches in traffic. He has impressive speed (read more…)

New contributor Jeremy Hyde unveils his latest rankings.

1. Cody Hoffman – 6’4” / 215 – Brigham Young

Hoffman caught a career-high 100 balls as a junior, totaling 1248 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. His combination of size, athleticism, and excellent hands make him a viable candidate to play the ‘X’ receiver position in the NFL. Hoffman lacks great top-end speed, but he gains separation with quickness out of his breaks or by using his large frame to shield defenders from the football. He is a natural hands catcher with impressive athleticism and body control, enabling him to make tough sideline catches or win jump balls over smaller defensive backs. He is both a physical and elusive runner after the catch. In addition to a productive senior season, Hoffman needs to have strong showings, both during Senior Bowl week and in agility drills at (read more…)