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Nick Fairley DT Auburn |
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Ht: 6’4″
Wt: 298
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| Strengths: | ||
| Has the ability to be an unblockable force. Quick off the snap which allows him to get a jump on most lineman and helps him bull rush his way into the backfield. Surprising athleticism for a guy his size, capable of chasing down ball carriers. A high-energy guy. | ||
| Weaknesses: | ||
| Work ethic is definitely a concern. Barely made an impact until he turned it on in 2010 and suddenly he developed into the game’s premier defensive lineman. Strength is good, but it’s clear that he doesn’t kill himself in the weight room. There’s definitely reason to wonder if he was simply seeing dollar signs all season and will morph back into a non-factor once he cashes in. He’s a dirty player, and behind closed doors I’m pretty sure he’d admit it. Repeatedly flagged for late hits, many of which would have drawn hefty fines and possible suspensions in the NFL. | ||
| Comments: | ||
| In terms of pure talent and potential, Fairley may be the best player in this year’s draft class. However, concerns about his work ethic and dirty play should make teams at least pause to consider the potential ramifications of drafting a player like this. The dirty play alone won’t scare anyone off – any coach would rather have a player who plays to hard than someone who’s too soft – but it does raise a red flag that’s worth looking into. Ultimately Fairley’s talent is too great for him to fall far in the draft, but he is definitely a boom-or-bust prospect and there could be a few teams that chose to pass because of the character issues. | ||
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