The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Showing a more powerful style
Bringing personality, McKinley also adding brawn to pass rush.
FLOWERY BRANCH — Takk McKinley’s had a few more moments this week where his subtle, yet super-sized personality merged with the clues he keeps dropping so as to make you wonder if this guy needs a nickname now.
This is a man who already has flashed a sense of timing for the dramatic, comedic, football and perhaps dark arts.
So, with inquisitors surrounding the Falcons’ 2017 first-round draft choice the other day and
probing for feelings about coach Dan Quinn’s suggestion that No. 98’s ability to play brawny has come as a surprise, there came a pause.
Drama.
“He said that about me?” McKinley said as he surely knew media helicopters were circling because his role will grow Sunday against the host Lions as fellow defensive end Vic Beasley is parked by a hamstring.
Comedy.
Really, the 6-foot-2, 250pound Oakland native who came to the Falcons towing a shoulder freshly repaired by knives and screws and who knows what also brought a reputation as a raw dragster off the edge.
Yet on one of his first reps in training camp, he jacked up an offensive lineman as if the guy were hopping backward off a sidewalk into the street.
McKinley may not yet be refined in technique, angle, nor handwork, but he drilled Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers a couple of times Sunday night, and he’s getting work done with power tools. That has surprised. “With Takk, we knew he had speed and was a tough competitor. We probably couldn’t tell as well off the UCLA tape and can see now the power that he can generate,” Quinn said. “Sometimes in college in a zoneread style of play, you’re staying at the line of scrimmage …
“It’s a hard challenge to evaluate the college guys sometimes because they play in the option, especially in some conferences.”
So maybe Takk’s rap was pinned to the way he was deployed in college, or perhaps the fact that his mucked-up shoulder — an injury that for the better part of his final two colleges debited accounts — left shade.
Or maybe both. Check out these predraft scouting reports on McKinley:
■ “No pass-rushing moves … one-trick pony speed rusher … mid-rounds …” – walterfootball.com
■ “Redirected too easily … needs to continue to add play strength … success predicated on effort over rush talent and functional power …” — NFL.com
McKinley received a first-round grade from some scouting services, and everybody acknowledged his athletic ability and effort level, but nearly all summaries suggested a power outage akin to hurricane fallout.
He’ll have you know that he’s better at some things than some might think and more than willing to work toward the four-year, $10,216,530 contract he signed, with $7,893,367 guaranteed, including a $5,570,204 signing bonus. Like, you know, playing bully.
It’s possible that McKinley is taking on critics, deploying his power game more than he should to prove points.
“I kind of like to see
‘I think you guys see he really does have the power. He’s not just a speed rusher who can stay outside.’ Coach Dan Quinn On Takk McKinley
where I’m at as far as being physical,” he said. “Going to the next level you’re going against grown men and … I just want to test it out. If I can power them I can power anybody, so sometimes it’s opportunities where I should use my speed, but I want to see if I can bull-rush these grown men.”
He’s made an impression on Quinn.
“I think you guys see he really does have the power,” the coach said. “He’s not just a speed rusher who can stay outside. He’s got the ability to collapse and push a pocket. We love the physicality he plays with.”
It seems McKinley embraces theories of evolution and creation.
In building a social-media niche, especially a video of himself that he put on Twitter after signing his contract, he grew a fan base.
Yet he shut it down the Monday before the Falcons’ opener at Chicago, explaining that it was a distraction.
After firing up his Twitter account again this past Monday night, two weeks after he shuttered himself, the big guy with the new wings tattooed on the underside of his arms said he did so because, “I got tired of watching puppy videos.” Whatever that means. When you’re created to be one thing, like, say a guy who can make a bee-line to a quarterback, and you can grow to where you might go overland elephant lordstyle to plaster the passer, credit may be earned for evolving. And you establish yourself as a creator of interest.
“You always preach speed, first step, get-off, etc., etc., but Takk got a little dark side to him, and once that bull rush come out, that’s what that is,” McKinley said of his power push.
Dark arts.
Looks like the man can play with force, and he wears a helmet, so how about a nickname? Takk Vader?
After two NFL games in which he registered a modest one tackle and one assist — on running plays, no less — a field is growing around the Falcons’ first-round draft choice, a guy summoned to be a pass-rushing force.