Commentary

Draft Lab: Marvin Austin's stock

The UNC defensive force is NFL-ready, but he has two key drawbacks

Originally Published: October 27, 2009
By KC Joyner | ESPN Insider

Defensive tackles are often the most difficult defensive players to grade because they don't have the statistical highlights of their brethren. Defensive ends can tally sacks, linebackers can rack up tackles and defensive backs can collect interceptions and passes defensed -- but defensive tackles by and large don't have a standard statistic or two to lean on.

That is one of the reasons I enjoy breaking down tape on interior linemen. The performance metrics I use gauge dozens of areas unmeasured by standard play-by-play sheets, and this is especially helpful in quantifying the level of play for blockers and defenders in the pit.

It can even help those players who are already known as being top prospects. North Carolina Tar Heels defensive tackle Marvin Austin certainly qualifies as one of these (see Scouts Inc. analyst Steve Muench's post from last week), but the metrics show four specific areas where Austin has superior skills:


To find out the four key areas in which Austin excels -- and the two in which he could use work -- you must be an ESPN Insider.

KC Joyner

NFL Insider
  • NFL and CFB analyst for ESPN Insider
  • Known as "The Football Scientist"
  • Uses proprietary metrics from game tape study

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