STRENGTHS
Janarius has the potential to be a core defensive player for the team that selects him. He has those long arms that make it easy for him to get off blocks and make tackles. He is strong against the run and although he has played mostly standing up at the line like a linebacker, I believe his natural and impact position will be as a defensive end, with his hand down, in a 4/3 defense. He has the flexibility to go around the corner, dip, and make a sack but what makes him unique is that he has the natural strength and quickness to power rush when he needs it. This ability to be quick off the line, flexibility to turn the corner, and strength and size to power rush, are skills and athletic talent most players coming out in a draft don’t have. I believe Janarius will be a better, and more impacting football player at the next level than he has been for his college team if he plays as a defensive end, with his hand down, in a 4/3 defense.
CONCERNS
If I’m right, then Janarius has been playing out of position for his college team and this will affect his draft status. Also, Janarius will have a lot to learn at the next level if he does play in a 4/3 defense with his hand down, but he is very smart and give him time and he will impact. If he plays in any other type of defense, I believe Janarius will be a solid player but also an average player and that will affect his draft status also.
BOTTOM LINE 2.04
Janarius went to the Senior Bowl, and put his hand down and got better every day, and then impacted in the game. He was lined up on the strong side with his hand down and it looked easy for him. I go by film, to do my profiles, not workouts. Measurements do add into my profiles and speed on the field enters into my profiles but for me, I look at the workouts to see if what I saw on film is in the ballpark. If I see a person pulling away from others running down the field I know that he is faster and a workout to establish if that player can run a 4.3 or 4.4 is not necessary. Of course, the competition level matters, and then a forty time will matter but in general, workouts don’t affect my profiles. What I saw on film with Janarius was a player playing out of position for the next level, the very first time I put on the film. I waited to see if I was right and the Senior bowl proved to me that I was. My suspicion is that it proves the same thing to the scouts too. Give Janarius time to adjust, and he will impact, I have no doubt…that’s if he plays in the right defense with his hand down on the edge. Draftniks are not stupid people, we just are not listened to because we get drowned out by all the “media experts”.
