STRENGTHS
Rasheem has the size and athleticism to be considered as a top defensive lineman in this draft. He has those long arm and legs that should make it difficult to block him but at the same time make it easy for him to keep offensive lineman off his body allowing him to get into the back field quickly. Rasheem has very good workout numbers. He gives solid effort on every play and has been used both inside and outside and even used on the nose up against the center one on one. Rasheem has the size and athleticism to be used in any style of defensive front and at multiple positions. Rasheem has the potential to be as good a talent as Sheldon Richardson.

CONCERNS
Rasheem struggles to play very well against the run. He struggles to get off the line with any kind of explosiveness on running downs. He struggles to get off blocks and make tackles against the run. He struggles to defeat double teams and stand up those big offensive linemen and in general loses cap control and allows the line of scrimmage to be changed in the wrong direction against the run. He struggles to finish once he gets into the back field. Rasheem struggles to identify where the ball is on running plays. He struggles to anticipate how the offensive line is blocking him. Rasheem is a project at this point of his career. That being said as a potential pass rusher he has talent, strength, and explosion off the line and that means Rasheem has the potential to become an excellent Defensive lineman…that is if he improves against the run.

BOTTOM LINE
Rasheem does use his hands very well although when pass rushing from the outside he has a habit of once engaged stopping his feet and not finishing. He also has to learn to get those long arms up because he can become a force knocking down balls and tipping them at the line if he learns when he bull rushes to get his hands up. He shows excellent strength and explosion off the line and is very tough to handle with one on one blocking but against the run he becomes easy to double team and defeat. This has to change or Rasheem will never reach the potential that his talents suggest. He is young and well worth developing because he has improved dramatically this year. Rasheem has to mentally decide that stopping the run is as important to his career as rushing the passer and once he does that I have no doubt that he will improve and become a complete and possible dominating defensive lineman for the team that selects him. If teams through (this draft process) feel the learning curve can be shorten and that Rasheem is quick to take what he learns into that game than it would not surprise me to see him sneak into the 1st round of this draft. So keep an eye on Rob’s board as we get closer to the day of the draft because teams are always will to take a chance on potential and Rasheem has plenty of that.

Drew Boylhart   MAR.2018