Randy Gregory is the enigma for the Dallas Cowboys at the moment. His fall on draft day due to a failed drug test at the combine was and is well documented. Teams were afraid to take a risk on a player that not only used a banned substance (marijuana), but lacked the discipline and common sense to avoid using it during that time period. Failing the drug test at the combine is the ultimate sign of immaturity.
This immaturiy persisted in this pros and led to a four game suspension to begin the 2016 season. At the moment it would appear as though teams were right to pass on the pass rusher out of Nebraska at the moment. Charles Haley (noted troubled player in his day) has taken to Gregory as somewhat of a mentor; if he can get through and Dallas can get Gregory on the football field what will they be getting?
The main knock on the field aside from him being small framed was talk pre-draft about his “get-off”. “He was slow getting out of his stance” according to his draft profile by Lance Zierlein on NFL.com. I went back and watched some tape to see if this were true and if so I wanted to find a reason/possible fix.
There are three reads that a defensive end will typically make depending on the defensive scheme/play call. The one depicted in the following video is a tackle read. Gregory (and any other DE executing a tackle read) will appear to react slowly in this instance because he is reacting to the tackle’s first move. Considering that his assignment is to read the tackle and then react Gregory’s reaction time is about as good as could be expected here:
The tackle read is designed more for run stopping/containment then it is for pass rushing so you wont see as many sacks and QB pressures from DEs in these situations. That doesn’t mean pressure can’t be generated when executing a tackle read as Gregory displays in this next play:
Next is the snap read. This is designed with pass rush in mind much more so than the tackle read. If executed correctly the defensive end will move simultaneous to the offensive linemen as opposed to immediately after. This is because he is no longer reading and reacting to the OL’s initial movement, instead he is reacting to the snap of the ball. Here we see Gregory’s ability to blow by the Michigan State LT (Jack Conklin # 74 went on to be selected 8th overall in the draft so he’s no slouch either) using a snap read:
He was however stopped in his tracks by the guard on the play, but this is evidence of his ability to get by the initial OL blocking him with his quick get off. The additional pressure forced a bad throw and Gregory showed the awareness and soft hands to coral the interception. Here is another example of Gregory rushing out of a snap read:
Again he showed a great get off, but this time he was stone walled by Conklin, once the very talented LT got his hands on him.
In this clip Randy Gregory is executing a snap read again. I am including this not only as more evidence of his quick get off, but also evidence of a very underrated aspect of his game…power. Because Gregory is a speed rusher it is often assumed that he lacks power but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Watch how he manhandles the Miami LT:
By the way that LT he abused is Ereck Flowers who went on to be selected 9th overall by the New York Giants. I doubt he is excited about lining up across from Gregory two times a year.
The cadence read is the most aggressive of the three reads in terms of pass-rushing. Here the DE is reading and anticipating the QBs cadence as opposed to the Tackle or the snap. If executed correctly the DE has an opportunity to get moving simultaneous to the snap and just before the OT which is a tremendous advantage, especially for a speed rusher. Here is an example of Gregory executing a cadence read:
Gregory moved nearly simultaneous to the ball moving and a split second before the LT giving him the advantage early. The LT and OG were both able to get shots on him that managed to slow him down however.
How well has Gregory’s ability to get off at the snap translated? He may have been slowed by injuries and is still seeking his first sack, but take a look at what he did in his very first NFL game. In the first clip Gregory gets off quickly, fakes to the edge and then quickly cuts inside. He was held on the play, but still pressured the QB into a poor throw and very near interception:
In the following play Gregory gets inside once more, gets held once more and this time flushes the QB out of the pocket:
This final clip sshows Gregory exploding out of his stance and around the LT, beating him to the edge:
I have concluded that barring injury and poor decision making Gregory should be a great asset as a pass rusher based on the film I’ve studied. His first step is explosive and his get off is great. I will be watching with a particular interest to see how quickly he gets acclimated post suspension, in hopes of a smooth transition.
