Dynasty Scouts IDP Spotlight: Vic Beasley

Doug Green

beasley

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Turn back the clock about 15 months. People are preparing for the holidays while record snowfall is covering America. Down at Clemson, pass-rushing specialist Vic Beasley is considering entering the NFL Draft, with many saying he could be a first-round selection along with teammate Sammy Watkins after standout seasons, culminating with a victory over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl.

Beasley ultimately decided to return to school for his senior season while Watkins was drafted by Buffalo with the fourth overall pick.

Fast-forward to the end of the 2014 season. The Tigers lost their first game to Georgia by 24, then fell in overtime to Florida State three weeks later to start 1-2 and the shine seemed to come off the season. Even though Clemson finished the season 11-3, the team and Beasley’s luster seemed to have dulled. The senior from Adairsville, Georgia finished the year with 12 sacks, but those were touting him just a season before had soured, saying he was too skinny while not showing enough power.

During the NFL Combine, Beasley put his doubters in their place. He was measured at 6’3” and weighed in at 246 pounds, up from a reported 225 at the start of the 2014 season. Then the Beasley buzz really started to grow. He put up 35 reps in the bench press, best among defensive linemen, demonstrating the power that people said he was lacking.

But he wasn’t done there. His 40-yard dash (4.53), vertical and broad jumps, 3-cone, and 20-yard shuttles were all best among defensive linemen. Coming into the weekend, he was being projected towards the end of the first round, maybe the second. By the end of the weekend, Beasley had turned back the clock to the end of 2013, propelling himself back into the discussion for the first top pass-rusher off the board.

Game Analysis

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Clemson played No. 1-ranked Florida State on September 20th, 2014. The Tigers came into the game with a 1-1 record but were facing a Seminoles team without Jameis Winston, who was suspended. Looking to protect its backup quarterback, Florida State started the game by double-teaming Beasley, who was playing as a 4-3 right defensive end. This strategy was effective against Beasley, but allowed teammate Stephone Anthony to hassle the quarterback in the first quarter.

The second quarter was a different story though, as the ‘Noles began to focus on Anthony, which left Beasley in one-on-one situations. With 13:27 to play in the first half, the senior picks up the first of his two sacks of the night. Beasley flashes around left tackle Cam Erving, running untouched to the quarterback. At the 9:06 mark, Beasley pushes two linemen back into Sean Maguire’s face, forcing him to roll to his left. Once he’s outside the pocket, Maguire attempts to get off a pass, but Beasley disengages, gets his hands up and knocks down the attempt.

Beasley’s second sack comes with two minutes left in the first half. His displays his trademark explosive first step, then knocks down Erving’s hands, quickly getting on his inside hip. Once that happens, it’s game over. Beasley rips past Erving, dips, then wraps up Maguire from behind. During the replay of the sack, ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit notes that Beasley’s technique is the biggest improvement from the previous season.

Fit

Beasley played most of his time as a 4-3 defensive end with his hand on the ground. Like most of the elite pass rushers in this draft, Beasley’s weakest part of his game is in pass coverage. Despite his lack of coverage skills, he is a good tackler in space. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said when he was with the Baltimore Ravens and the team drafted Terrell Suggs, they only brought him on the field on third down. Suggs went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors that season, then developed into a good run defender. Jeremiah said the team that drafts Beasley may very well follow a similar plan. During an interview after the combine, Beasley said NFL teams were envisioning him as a 4-3 end similar to Cameron Wake, while he himself tried to model his game after Denver’s Von Miller. NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks compared him to Miller’s teammate, DeMarcus Ware.

Draft Prospects

In his latest mock draft ESPN’s Todd McShay placed Beasley with the New Orleans Saints at pick 13. Colleague Mel Kiper noted in his Thursday press conference that he didn’t think Beasley would make it out of the top ten, calling his combine performance “phenomenal” while pointing out his strong college tape. NFL Network’s Brooks lists him as the No. 11 prospect on his Big Board 2.0.

Fantasy Outlook

Strictly based on his skill set, Beasley deserves to be near the top of your IDP draft. If he lands with the Saints, like McShay has projected and you play in a sack-heavy league, he needs to be the first player off the board. In New Orleans, he has Cameron Jordan to learn the ropes from and to take pressure off of him. Plus, Rob Ryan’s aggressive scheme will help generate numbers. If he lands somewhere inside the Top 10, as Kiper suggests, his better fit may be Atlanta at No. 8 rather than Chicago at seven, since the Bears are transitioning to a 3-4 defense.

If Beasley goes as high as third overall to Jacksonville, he could be a cornerstone player for Gus Bradley and his 4-3 defense. Jacksonville invested heavily into the offensive side of the ball in the 2014 draft, so it’s logical to think Bradley and his staff could look at upgrading the defense this season.

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