STRENGTHS
Harold is a quality, smart, athletic football player who can play multiple positions for your defense. He shows excellent leadership qualities through his play on the field. He uses mature pass rushing skills along with a good burst off the line and can make the corner to close and finish. Harold is stout against the run and his ability to shed and make tackles makes him one of the better and more complete Edge Rushers in the draft class. He has a high football IQ and can play in a 4/3 defense as a defensive end because of his stoutness against the run and as an OLB/DE in a 3/4 defense because of his athleticism off the ball. He could also be moved inside as a LB in a 3/4 or 4/3 because of his ability to meet and great bigger lineman, shed them and make tackles and because of his “middle linebacker” like recognition skills to understand (as the play unfolds), exactly what is happening in front of him. Harold looks on film to be an excellent teammate working in a 2 gap system and being one of the better defensive linemen in this draft defending against the run. His ability and athleticism to rush the passer and disrupt also shows a high football IQ because he doesn’t just go after sacks but does the little things to strip the ball, knock the ball down and to make QB’s double clutch and throw a less than accurate pass.

CONCERNS
Harold must become a better and more secure tackler. There are too many times on film were I see him falling off and allowing running backs to gain yardage after he engages with them. In fact this whole team has this same problem. The tackling is sloppy, too many broken tackles and way too much yardage gained after players engage.

BOTTOM LINE
At first I thought this talking issue was because Harold didn’t have strong hands but then I realized how many times he stood up offensive lineman and then would shed them and make a tackle and I realized the lack of strong hands is not the issue. Then I started to watch the rest of the defense and every single player had the same lousy, sloppy way of tackling. It’s like they just collapse on the opponent instead of tackling the opponent. It’s weird but it is stopping this defense from being a really good defense because the talent level over all is not that bad on this team. If Harold can learn better tackling techniques he will turn in to an impact, pro bowl defensive player. If he doesn’t improve his tackling than Harold’s future will be as a specialty player going from team to team in free agency. Harold has potential to impact for the team that selects him similar to the Patriots Dont’a Hightower because of his size and athleticism and high football IQ if he can improve his tackling. I think he will because he is too smart a kid not to.
Drew Boylhart   MAR.2018