Is Donovan Ezeiruaku the Bengals' First-Round Edge Rusher? | Film Breakdown & Analysis скачать в хорошем качестве

Is Donovan Ezeiruaku the Bengals' First-Round Edge Rusher? | Film Breakdown & Analysis

Welcome back to Bengals On The Brain, presented by First Star Logistics! Host Joe Goodberry continues his deep dive into the 2025 NFL Draft class as the clock ticks closer to draft night. The Bengals hold a crucial first-round pick, so identifying impactful talent is paramount. In this episode, Joe turns his analytical lens towards a prospect rapidly climbing draft boards and ranking highly on the BOTB spreadsheet: Boston College Edge Rusher, Donovan Ezeiruaku. While the Bengals haven't reported any new Top 30 visits since the Charles Grant episode, Ezeiruaku's film and data demand attention. Joe specifically breaks down Ezeiruaku's dominant performance against Pitt – a game where he exploded for a staggering 14 pressures and four sacks in his final collegiate contest. This film session showcases the raw talent and potential that has scouts buzzing. Goodberry meticulously analyzes Ezeiruaku's technique, focusing on key traits essential for NFL success at the edge position: *Pass Rush Arsenal:* Watch breakdowns of Ezeiruaku utilizing various moves, including his impressive bend around the edge, the cross-chop, swim moves, a powerful long arm, and even incorporating a spin move. Joe highlights how Ezeiruaku sets up tackles and executes these techniques. *Agility & Bend:* Ezeiruaku's ability to dip his shoulder, flatten his path to the quarterback, and maintain speed while turning the corner is a focal point. His combine agility scores (elite 6.94s 3-cone, 4.19s shuttle) translate to the field. *Power Conversion:* While known for his finesse, Joe looks for instances where Ezeiruaku converts speed to power, analyzing his bull rush attempts and ability to drive tackles backward. *Hand Usage:* The importance of active and precise hand usage is emphasized. Joe examines how Ezeiruaku uses chops, swipes, and placement to defeat blocks, particularly highlighting a successful cross-chop leading to a win. *Run Defense:* Crucially, Ezeiruaku isn't just a pass rusher. Joe points out his exceptional run defense grade (93rd percentile via PFF mentioned implicitly through context, 90s percentile mentioned for run D metrics). His ability to set the edge, shed blocks, and make tackles against the run is showcased, drawing comparisons to the importance of this trait, similar to discussions around Nolan Smith last year. His high rankings in run defense solo tackle rate (97th percentile) and stop rate (94th percentile) back this up. *Versatility:* Ezeiruaku lines up on both the left and right sides in the film, demonstrating valuable versatility. Joe even notes instances where he lines up as an off-ball linebacker and blitzes, reminiscent of Sam Hubbard's usage, adding another layer to his potential deployment in Cincinnati. Beyond the film, Joe integrates Ezeiruaku's impressive data profile: *Market Share Adjusted Production (MSA):* Ezeiruaku scores in the elite 99.7th percentile, indicating dominant production relative to his team and adjusted for age and competition – a strong indicator of NFL potential, comparable to levels seen from players like Ja'Marr Chase at their positions. *Physical Traits:* Standing 6'2.5" and 248 lbs at the combine, with exceptional 34-inch arms and a nearly 84-inch wingspan (longest among top edge prospects mentioned), he possesses the frame and length coveted at the position. While maybe slightly lighter than ideal, Joe argues his frame can hold more weight and compares his size to other prospects the Bengals have shown interest in. *Age:* As a 21-year-old rookie, Ezeiruaku fits the Bengals' typical draft profile for early-round picks (outside of Joe Burrow). His youth, combined with significant college playing time (over 2000 snaps) is noteworthy. Joe also contextualizes Ezeiruaku within the Bengals' draft landscape. While offensive line prospects like Kelvin Banks Jr. remain high on the BOTB board, Ezeiruaku presents a compelling defensive option, potentially filling a need for disruptive edge talent opposite Trey Hendrickson. His ability to play both sides adds significant value. This episode provides a comprehensive look at Donovan Ezeiruaku. It breaks down the tape from his best game, integrates key statistics and athletic testing numbers, and discusses his potential fit and value for the Cincinnati Bengals in the upcoming NFL Draft. Is he the answer at edge rusher in the first round? Tune in to find out! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more Bengals draft analysis, and don't forget to join Joe along with Dave Lapham on the second night of the NFL Draft for the 3rd Annual First Star Logistics Bengals Draft Party that will stream live on this channel.