STRENGTHS
Dexter is a big, powerful defensive lineman. He has the physical talent to take on double teams and still push the pocket. He shows on film solid lateral agility to help string out plays and when he plays on the nose he can over power most centers one on one and get into the back field and scare the living crap, out of anyone who has the ball, quarterback or running back. He has those long arms that help keep blockers of his body and good enough foot quickness to change the line of scrimmage in his favor on every snap. Dexter has the potential to be a dominating nose tackle in a 3/4 Defense who can stuff then run and push the pocket and a dominating DT in a 4/3 defense takeing on double teams to free up his teammates to get into the backfield on stunts.
CONCERNS
Dexter’s weight is a big concern. Too much weight, like he had this season, affects his stamina and his foot quickness. Gaining too much weight also shows a questionable work ethic. Dexter has to gain more strength in his upper body to shed tacklers quicker. Right now, Dexter just out weighs everyone he is up against, but at the next level that will not work because most offensive lineman are much stronger, smarter, and will gain leverage against him to nullify him being bigger than they are. There are no short cuts to getting stronger and Dexter may have found that out this year after he got suspended. Also, Dexter has to understand what his job and purpose is on the field. It is not to rush the passer or make plays in the back field, it is to stuff the run at the line of scrimmage and to push the pocket so that quarterbacks can not step up. Until he understands that, he will look like that bigger chubby puppy trailing the litter of siblings because he is not able to keep up with the other puppies.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.72
Will Dexter be the type of player who shows up for two years out of his four-year contract or has this suspension shocked him enough for him to understand that he has to become more serious about his conditioning and his purpose on the field? You better get some solid answers to those question if you going to select Dexter in the first round. To me, true nose tackles are hard to find with this type of size and athletic talent. Your whole defense is based off the ability for a nose tackle who can take on double teams, push the pocket and stuff the run between the hash marks. If your defense can’t stop the run and push the pocket on pass plays than forgetaboutit, you’re are not going to win very many games. Dexter has this type of talent but… he has to get stronger in his upper body and use his techniques CONSISTENTLY and not just rely on his size and weight to defeat his opponent. He has done a good job at the college level but at the next level his job will be to DEMAND double teams on every play or he will be just be another average over weight defensive tackle. I want this kid to be the player his talents suggest he should be because I value players who play the position of nose tackle and defensive tackle higher than most do. So, I’m hoping he gets selected in the first round and becomes as good as Vince Wilfork was for the Patriots. He has that type of talent.
