Irish guard Nelson brings nasty disposition to Colts’ line
A true New Jersey tough guy just joined the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive huddle
Notre Dame All-Ameican guard Quenton Nelson has built an intimidating reputation with his penchant for body-slamming opponents to the ground, then pouncing on them so they can’t get up to make the tackle.
Nelson was selected sixth overall by the Colts in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday and is charged with protecting injury-prone quarterback Andrew Luck.
Nelson plays the game with controlled aggressiveness but has an edginess to him. Nelson had a bunch of older siblings and cousins and takes out his childhood frustration on defensive linemen.
“I would say the nastiness probably comes from being the youngest and getting picked on a lot; had a lot of frustration to take out on the football field,” Nelson said. “So, yeah, I want to play nasty. I play clean, though.”
And plays the game well. The 6-5, 325-pounder is strong, mobile and mean. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 35 times at the scouting combine.
The native of Red Bank, N.J., is massive with 33¾inch arms and 10½inch hands.
A former teammate of Texans starting center Nick Martin, Nelson is a monster at the line of scrimmage. He has ideal size, power and technique.
The Colts traded down from their original third overall pick to sixth and acquired three secondround draft picks from the New York Jets.
Drafted sixth overall, Nelson said at the scouting combine he deserved to go within the first five picks. Some scouts and analysts characterized Nelson as the best overall player in the draft.
“I think I should be talked about in that regard, the top-five conversation,” Nelson said. “You have guys (defensive linemen) who are dominating the NFL right now. You need guys to stop them, and I think I’m one of those guys. You talk to quarterbacks, and they say if a D-end gets on the edge, that’s fine. They can step up in the pocket and make a throw. A lot of quarterbacks, if given the opportunity, can do that. So that’s what I give is a pocket to step up in, and I think I also help the offense establish the run through my nastiness.”
Titans pick up linebacker
It comes as no surprise Mike Vrabel’s first draft pick as Titans coach is a linebacker.
Working in tandem with general manager Jon Robinson, the former New England Patriots All-Pro outside linebacker selected Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans with the 22nd pick. The move followed a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
Evans is an athletic inside linebacker who was an All-Southeastern Conference selection as a senior. The 6-3, 232-pounder recorded 21½ career tackles for losses and 14 sacks.
Evans is a big-time hitter and explosive. He could gain more polish in pass coverage to be a true three-down linebacker.
Evans had 74 tackles last season, 13 for losses and six sacks.
Evans is regarded as a talented, ascending player who should benefit greatly from Vrabel’s tutelage.
Jaguars reinforce defense
The Jacksonville Jaguars, instead of drafting athletic Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson to push starter Blake Bortles, picked University of Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan in the first round with the 29th selection.
Bryan makes a formidable defense even better. He’ll team with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Calais Campbell inside.
Bryan recorded 40 tackles, six for losses and four sacks last season before declaring early for the draft.
The 6-4, 291-pounder draws high marks from scouts for his athleticism, intelligence and ability to penetrate the backfield. He’s run the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds, bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times and has a 35inch vertical leap.
Bryan is the son of a Navy Seal who grew up in Casper, Wyo., where he was an all-state offensive and defensive lineman.