Sleeper NT Prospect - Terrance Knighton

by bamock on Apr 4, 2009 2:33 PM EDT

Many fans are worried that the best DT talent in the draft, the talent Polian is likely to pursue, are still a bit undersized and may not address our need for a bigger bodied DT to require double-team in the middle and/or plug holes. Should we miss out on a DT in the 1st round and not draft a player like Terrance Taylor in the 4th/5th Round... we might look to bring in Terrance Knighton who played at Temple in the MAC Conference. Take some time to take a look at Knighton and let me know what you think.

Terrance Knighton - Temple

Photo
Pre-Combine Video

6'3", 321 lbs.
4.93 40 Yard Dash, 4.64 20 Yard Shuttle, 7.22 3-Cone
21 Bench Reps, 29 Inch Vertical

SENIOR SEASON STATS

54 Tackles, 19 Assists, 7.5 TFL, 1 Sack
5 PD, 1 FF, 3 FR, 1 BK

ANALYSIS

NFLDraftScout

Strengths:

Good height, length and girth for his position. Better-than-expected straight-line speed and change-of-direction ability, able to sniff out and disrupt screen plays. Will chase plays downfield. Strong upfield rush, either up the shoulder of his defender or splitting double teams. Uses his long arms to wrap up in the open field or track down ball carriers coming through the hole. Flashes violent hands, especially when his man retreats off the snap in passing situations. Active knocking down passes and blocking field goals because of his push, arm length and large hands. Keeps cut blocks off his knees. Athletic enough to quickly jump on loose balls and get down quickly in short-yardage situations.

Knighton's attributes, along with his size, make him an intriguing prospect as a potential NT for the Colts. From the positives on his scouting report, it seems that he can do all the kinds of things the Colts would look for from a NT. An ability to penetrate, ability to keep blockers from his knees, vision to knock down passes, ability to bull rush and size to fill the hole make him a player that the Colts may very well look to bring in for camp competition for the NT spot.

Weaknesses:

Might be a nose tackle and three-technique "tweener." Not particularly explosive off the snap. Doesn't play as strong as his size would indicate and he will stand after the snap, giving up leverage. Need to use his hands more consistently at the line to free himself to make plays or to bull rush his man into the pocket. Doesn't have many pass rush moves. Must be more consistent pressing after the initial pop.

As is expected with most players who come from smaller programs, Knighton does have to work some on his technique. He'll need to not stand straight up after the snap, use his hands more consistently, and develop some pass rush moves potentially. But clearly, Knighton has all the attributes the Colts would likely look for as a project NT.

Keep an eye on Knighton as the draft nears an end and undrafted free agents begin to sign with teams.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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I say

Let’s give this guy a shot. Where is he coming off most people’s boards? 5th, 6th? I truly don’t think BP will take a first round DT, unless a premier talent drops to us. And if we don’t, then a Terrance Taylor like pick-up is very likely, as well as a player like this if he is there in the 6th. I could live with something like this:

1) Duke Robinson – OG, Oklahoma
2) Rashad Jennings – RB, Liberty
3) Jason Williams – WLB, Western Illinois
4) Michael Hamlin -SS/WLB, Clemson
4b) Terrance Taylor – DT, Michigan
5) Augustus Parrish – OT, Kent State
6) Terrance Knighton – DT, Temple
7) Quan Cosby – WR, Texas

Or something similar. And yes, that is 27 year old, 5’9" Quan Cosby in the 7th. Take a flyer on a guy who may play a role as a phenomenal slot receiver for 4 or 5 years, as well as an excellent return man. Or replace him with another disposable part of your liking.

I also wish I had time and motivation to blog at Speed Blue Nation

by Bullard47 on Apr 4, 2009 7:06 PM EDT reply actions

I like your mock. And I completely agree that BP isn’t going to draft a DT in the first anyways.

This line will remain in my signature until the Colts draft Rashad Jennings in 2009.
Oh and I write words and stuff for Stampede Blue.

by KingRichard on Apr 5, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

So who is going to play UT?

Foster? I still think he is too small. And what would Brock’s status be? Backup DE and 3rd down DT?

I like this mock you just put up there, especially the position by round you have (RB, LB early and WR late).

by AceOfSpades on Apr 5, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

well

Indy wanted to move Brock back to DE this year. The DT issues kept the switch from being total, but Brock was out there a lot. Robert Mathis started a total of 2 games, because they moved him back into more of a specialist role (where he led the team in sacks*, tied his career high and made his first Pro Bowl).

Mathis/Brock at LE, Foster/Dawson at UT, Taylor/Knighton/Johnson at NT, Freeney at RE

*his previous career high was also as a specialist with 0 starts, but 11.5 sacks in 2005.

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Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
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by shake n bake on Apr 5, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you see anything wrong with that picture?

They still need an upgrade at UT…someone that can penetrate, but also provide run support. A guy like Jerry or Hood.

It keeps coming back to that for me.

by AceOfSpades on Apr 5, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Foster and Dawson

Foster at NT was a desperation move, but I think back at UT he’ll be very good.

by shake n bake on Apr 5, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

from what I heard, they were going to move Brock to DE on running plays and then move him back inside on passing downs kind of like a jack of all trades.

by ColtsFanNChiTown on Apr 6, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

he was starting at DE

and playing a good amount of DT. Last I heard they didn’t want him at DT full time anymore because he gets too beat up inside and because limiting Mathis’ snaps actually makes him a better pass rusher (I’m going to write a post on that right now).

by shake n bake on Apr 6, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

I would like to see more Brock on the inside. I think with a stand-out NT, moving Brock back inside would be something that the Colts would strongly consider. I also hope they look at moving Dawson to DE on run downs in place of Mathis – at least as a test. I think Freeney/Brock/Taylor/Dawson on Run downs would be very stout. Actually, this combined with Having a solid tackle and end rotation could improve both run d and pass rush.

I’m looking at something like this, on run downs:

RE Freeney
UT Brock/Foster
NT Taylor/Mookie/Knighten
LE Dawson

WLB Jason Williams
MLB Gary Brackett
SLB Clint Sessions

CB Marlin Jackson
CB Kelvin Hayden

SS Bob Sanders
FS Antoine Bethea

On pass downs:

RE Freeney/Howard
UT Brock/Foster/Dawson
NT Taylor/Mookie/Knighten
LE Mathis/Curtis Johnson

MLB Gary Brackett
SLB Phillip Wheeler

CB Marlin Jackson
CB Kelvin Hayden

“Apache” Safety Micheal Hamlin
SS Bob Sanders
FS Antoine Bethea

I also wish I had time and motivation to blog at Speed Blue Nation

by Bullard47 on Apr 5, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh

I would rather get a standout DT early in the draft and grab a guy like Knighton or Taylor in later rounds to shore up everything in the middle.

To me, Brock = Dawson if they are looking to solidify run defense on the end. Brock is alright at UT on passing downs too.

There are just so many possibilities and attempting to see into the future gives me a headache sometimes. BUT I LOVE IT!

by AceOfSpades on Apr 5, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

the guy sounds intriguing

has the looks of a good pick

"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."

by psvirsky on Apr 5, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

Sounds talented

And the MAC has a good history of pros. I would like to see us pick up a sleeper like Knighton or Lonnie Harvey from Morgan State.

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by Colts Homer on Apr 5, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Very Intersting

Seems like a pretty good value for a late round selection and has many of the attributes that the Colts have been lacking in a true DT run stopper for several years now.

I am impressed with this guy on paper at least.

by AceOfSpades on Apr 5, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

From sources in the NFL via a Danish source...

He is on several teams radar at the moment. Especially Tampa is into him, but also Philly and NE has scheduled a private workout with him. Is he possibly too big for a T2-defense? He seems to being mentioned as a 3-4 NT, instead of a 4-3.

BTW, the Colts seems to be interested in the following players, so if anyone know anything about them, please reply :)

Andrew Johnson, RB, Akron (transferred from Miami, and is apparently the fastest RB in the class. At least according to the Colts)
Jake Richardson, P, Miami of Ohio (Didn’t have a special teams coach during his tenure with Miami (OH) so he’s “self-educated”, and he’s drawing interest from half a dozen teams)
Steven A. Jackson, CB/KR, Forth Valley State (Is quite the athlete – reportedly he ran a 4.2 40 recently – both really small. Is drawing interest from at least 3 other teams)

by jocre on Apr 6, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions