INDIANAPOLIS – The three prospects who can help the Titans the most at the position where they need the most help all have flaws.
Arvell Reese, David Bailey and Rueben Bain all spoke about them on Wednesday as Mike Borgonzi shared thoughts on options who can help the Tennessee rush the passer at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“They’re all a little bit of a different flavor,” Borgonzi said. “All really good players.”
Let’s have a look at all them.
Arvell Reece
Reece seems to be emerging as a guy the Titans might not have a crack at with the Jets at No. 2 and the Cardinals at No. 3, unlikely to take quarterbacks.
He played more off the ball than on the line at Ohio State, but he said teams have been asking him what he wants to do.
“I think I am an outside linebacker, edge potentially,” he said. “I think I’ve got a lot to get better at outside linebacker and edge, but as far as pass rushing and coverage, but I think I can adapt to it quick. …I’m pretty decent at both.”
Borgonzi: “Reese is versatile; he’s done a lot of different things. Played off the ball, played as a pass rusher, he’s got length. He’s got explosion. …I think a lot of teams see him as that pass rusher. He split his time. He can certainly play off the ball too. But if you have the trait as a rusher, usually that brings you more value if you can do that.”
Rueben Bain
Bain said teams haven’t been asking him about his short arms. And why would they? It’s not much of a discussion topic. The film shows what he can do with what he’s got and it’s not as if they’ll change.
"None of the teams seem too concerned with it,” he said about his arms. “As long as I can talk the talk and walk the walk, play with technique, nobody really asks me about it.”
He’s also advertising his singular focus.
“I eat, sleep and breathe football, that’s all I do,” he said. “I don’t have no other hobbies, no other real interests outside of football. That’s all I care for.
Borgonzi: “Bain is more your power guy. Can kick down inside. Some guys have long arms and they don’t know how to use them. Ans some guys have shorter arms and they use them better. It’s all about extension and using your hands properly. (The short arms,) I didn’t see much of it, no.”
Bain said he killed his interview with the Titans.
“He did really well, yeah,” Borgonzi said, while emphasizing he was impressed with all three players.
David Bailey
“I’m known as a pass rusher, I definitely do need to improve on the run game, also becoming a student of the game, expanding my knowledge of football in general,” he said. “I took a good step from junior year to senior year. There is just so much stuff I can work on. I can become a great player, taking that next step.”
He raved about the coaching staffs at Stanford and Texas Tech and said he models his game after Von Miller’s.
I was struck by how thick he is.
Borgonzi: “Bailey’s had a ton of explosion this year off the edge. He’s got length. He’s got speed coming off the edge. …He’s a power player. You see him line up at that wide nine, but he’s also big enough, because he’s got that lower body, to kick down inside as a rusher. So it’s more of a big end for us that can do a little bit of both.”
Stay tuned for an episode of The Paul Kuharsky Podcast, with Dane Brugler discussing this trio more.
