Watch Mike Daniels play against Oklahoma in last December’s Insight Bowl and you’ll immediately know why GM Ted Thompson spent a fourth-round pick on a defensive lineman who will probably never see more than 30 snaps in a game. The former Iowa star won’t be a starter because he’s too short (6’0) to play end in a 3-4 and too light (290) to play nose tackle. What he will be, however, is a disruptive pass rusher. And that’s why he could be to the Packers what Steve Kerr was to the Bulls in the 1980s – a specialist who helped turn an already great team into a dynasty.
I became enamored with Daniels while watching him dominate the Sooners. He was far and away the best defensive player on the field that night, but I never considered him as a possibility for the Packers because of his size. That was my mistake – and it’s why I’m not a GM. Thompson always talks about drafting good players regardless of where they project in the National Football League. By selecting Daniels, he put his money (or in this case, the team’s money), where his mouth is.
Daniels ran an eye-opening 4.86 at the NFL Combine in February, but he’s not just extremely fast for a player his size. He also has a lightning quick first step and natural explosion. That, along with a non-stop motor, is what should make him an effective pass rusher at the next level. One scout compared him to Drake Nevis, who was drafted out of LSU in the third round by the Indianapolis Colts a year ago. I can see the similarities. Both players were very productive at big-time colleges, both players are very quick and both players were devalued by scouts because of their size. However, I see Daniels as a better overall prospect. He’s slightly more athletic and he’s more explosive.
So why was such a talented prospect still available at the end of the fourth round? There are two main reasons. The first is his lack of size and strength. He’s simply not big or strong enough to start in a 3-4, and over half the teams in the league are currently using that scheme. This obviously didn’t dissuade Thompson, but most general managers wouldn’t be willing to use a pick that high on a part-time player. And as any regular person knows, the smaller the group of prospective employers, the smaller the chance of getting a job. The other reason is his history of injuries. Daniels suffered a number of concussions while at Iowa and he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum after the bowl game.
With Daniels, second-round pick Jerel Worthy, free agent Anthony Hargrove and holdover B.J. Raji, the defense should be able to generate consistent pressure up the middle in 2012. That didn’t happen last season when Jarius Wynn, C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal all struggled to get within five feet of the quarterback. This new foursome may not be fearsome, but it should be pretty good. And if first-round pick Nick Perry plays up to his enormous potential at outside linebacker, the days of quarterbacks sitting in the pocket all day and picking apart the secondary should be over. That’s why the only people more pumped-up about this pick than me are named Woodson, Williams and Shields.
Love this player, Mike “The Whirling Dervish” Daniels, finally some real quickness for our DL. I know Worthy was drafted for his quickness and wiggle but this guy will make him look slow in comparison, that says a lot.
If you look at the draft picks Perry, Worthy and Daniels some would say they fit better in a 4-3 and if thats the case maybe Dom will run some type of hybrid 3-4 with Clay standing up Daniels/Worthy the 3 technique, Raji/ Pickett the NT or 1 technique and Perry at RDE with his hand down in a 3 point stance.
These are good football players and when you have those you fit the scheme around the player not the other way around.
This year’s draft featured a lot of players I had never heard of including Daniels. That’s why I’m not paid to scout.
Right there with you Michael…Never thought TT would consider Daniels. Very happy he did and I expect him to do great things.
Daniels played on a very good DL two years ago. Clayborn, Klug, Binns, Ballard.
Last year other than some flashes from Binns he was IT on the Iowa DL. No one else deserved blocking.
He is super quick and I am excited to see what he and Worthy can do. Both fly off the ball. Daniels gives you 100 percent effort all the time.
Get him 20-30 snaps a game and he will make some thing happen
Iowacheese,
What do you know about Binns? Seemed to be a guy who made plays: pass knockdowns and always around the ball. Undersized at 6-1 but thought he could play OLB in the pros. I know he had a DUI in 2010.
The Huddle Report had a 1st round grade on him. He was signed as a UDFA by AZ.
Binns was MIA most of the year. He got more attention this year…granted. But he made plays off of what Clayborn, Daniels, Klug and Ballard set up for him.
He has great wingspan and knocking down passes is his thing. He can tie his shoes without bending over.
Not good in space…not a candidate for a 3-4 backer.
The huddle report must not have ever seen him play…..and had a ghostwriter
Thanks…
The Huddle Report talent rating is based solely on tape study. He specifically pointed out knocking dowm passes. Like anyone else he’s been right when others are wrong and vise versa. I hear you feel this is the versa.
Dallas is making Mike Jenkins available, cheap. He’s recovering from serious shoulder problems but if healthy, he’s a damn good player. If I recall correctly, word on the street was that TT liked him when he came out but DAL grabbed him first. He’s still only 27 years old. Maybe risk is too high because of shoulder but trade payment can be made conditional on lots of things.