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Shane Ray NFL Draft Scouting Report Audio Version listen to ‘Shane Ray Scouting Report’ on audioBoom Print Version Shane Ray is a defensive lineman entering the 2015 NFL Draft. Ray played his college football in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the Missouri Tigers. He is currently listed at 6'3 and 245 pounds. He provided a stout pass rush for the Missouri Tigers this year as he totaled 14.5 sacks. With his current size at being 245 pounds, one would think he would fit in better as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme, rushing the passer. However, if he is able to put about 15-20 more pounds of muscle onto his frame, reaching 260-265 pounds, he would be a great fit in a 4-3 defensive scheme as a defensive end on either side. Strengths When watching his game film, you can clearly tell that he is an extremely talented athlete. However, what made me fall in love with Ray was his ability to use his football intelligence on the field. Shane Ray has an elite first step, perhaps the best in the draft, which he can use to run past the tackle and get to the quarterback. With that being said, he doesn't ONLY rely on his speed to get to the quarterback. You can watch his bait the tackle by coming off the ball a little slower at times, playing with power. He is able to use his hands to get off of blocks. He will bait the tackle by playing with power and his hands for 3-4 plays in a row and then when the tackle gets comfortable, he uses his elite speed to run right by him. I was able to see Shane Ray in multiple games use his hands and power to drive the tackle back, pushing the pocket right into the lap of the quarterback. Ray has the ability to diagnose plays very quickly and work himself off of his block and put himself in position to make a play on the ball, whether it is a run or pass. There were times when teams played the read-option against Missouri and Ray was rarely confused by the read-option. I was able to see Ray diagnose screen passes almost instantly and pull off of his rush to the quarterback and guard the running back on the screen. He was also able to diagnose screen passes very quickly and put himself in position to fill a gap, limiting the receivers running lanes. His ability to diagnose all of these different plays on the fly, whether it is the running back screen, wide receiver screen, the read-option, these are all good instincts you hear about and good football intelligence and awareness. One of the things that impressed me about Shane Ray other than his football intelligence was his tackling ability. In the several games I watched I never saw Ray try to simply "arm tackle" or "shoulder tackle" an opponent. Ray was always outstanding in his ability to wrap up the ball carrier and is a very sure tackler. In watching multiple films on a player, you get to see how they react to different types of players. Often times people who are good versus a power running back are often lacking versus a speedy running back. However when I watched Ray play against a speedy running back who liked to utilize his speed to get to the edge before cutting up-field, I was able to see Ray play with great gap awareness. This type of gap awareness would make him a good run defender versus an NFL team such as the Philadelphia Eagles who like to get LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles use their speed and quickness to get to the edge and make a dynamic play. Shane Ray is a great NFL prospect. He shows speed, awareness, intelligence, the ability to use his hands among many other traits that will most likely let him hear his name called on day 1 of the NFL Draft in the first round. Weaknesses Some of the weaknesses I was able to see came in the running game, which isn't surprising for a talented pass rusher. However when matched up with guards he is often times over powered. Ray will occasionally take a bad angle on runs at the snap and quickly be washed out of the play. When Shane Ray decides to use his speed rush, he will occasionally run too far and get caught behind the quarterback, allowing him to easily slide up in the pocket. When Ray decides to play the power game against offensive lineman, he will occasionally be stone walled at the line of scrimmage. Comparison Shane Ray has drawn comparisons to the likes of Von Miller and Bruce Irvin. It is easy to see why he is compared to these two due to the burst he provides as an edge rusher and his relentless effort he gives. Final Thoughts Shane Ray is a great NFL prospect. He shows speed, awareness, intelligence, an outstanding motor, and the ability to use his hands among many other traits that will most likely let him hear his name called on day 1 of the NFL Draft in the first round. Be sure to check back with www.sportstalkline.com for more scouting reports in the near future! Join the discussion on Twitter @JMiller1387

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Scouting Report Shane Ray - Defensive End

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