If Shaq Thompson’s versatility makes him an ideal player to fit into Rob Ryan’s variable defense as an inside linebacker, then Dante Fowler Jr. is the ideal player at outside linebacker. To be honest he might just be the ideal player for the Saints in the first round period. Fowler provides the Saints with an athletic Pass rusher who can complement Galette who is also able to actually play the linebacker position. I firmly believe that Vic Beasely is flat out the best Pass Rusher in this draft, but the Saints need a player at 13 who is more than a one trick pony (doesn’t mean that Beasley IS one, but he could be). In that regard Fowler is probably the best OLB in this draft.
What makes him so good?
Fowler is as close to a complete player across the board as you are likely to get as a rookie. He has solid speed and very good burst, his technique is also very good, and perhaps most importantly Fowler has a tremendous motor. He is extremely aggressive and gives consistent pressure while also having good enough athleticism to be able to drop into Coverage at times. Fowler is solid, but not spectacular, when it comes to run defense, but he has the potential to develop into a total package type OLB. If the Saints took Fowler they could have both him and Galette on the field at the same time, which would definitely give opposing teams a great deal to think about.
If there is one thing that really sets Fowler apart other than his motor, it’s his lower body. Fowler isn’t just fast, he is fluid. It’s a term that is certainly thrown around a lot, but anyone who has played team sports past a certain point knows what it means. A guy who is ‘fluid’ doesn’t have the half-second gap between one move and the next that allows you to attack him…they just flow from one thing into the next. Fowler is a guy like that. Some of it comes down to being an instinctual player, but Fowler also has the raw physical tools to turn that fluidity into a tremendous weapon.
Where is he weakest?
Fowler’s aggressive nature is definitely a double-edged sword at times as he will often be so eager to get into the back-field (and after the QB), that he will miss out on the subtle fact that the QB no longer has the ball. This can obviously lead to big runs and is also a trait the Saints are already all too familiar with (hi Galette). Still, Fowler comes out as a player with a strong work ethic so good coaching should help him curb his excess enthusiasm…but then again…do we really want him to? Fowler’s biggest weakness is definitely the run game, but it’s not really in that he sometimes is too aggressive. His real issue is that as things stand now he is too light in the pads to be able to counter teams that are willing to consistently attack him in the run game. He may very well be able to counter that problem by spending some time in an NFL weight room, but until he does it could make him a liability. The release of Lofton further compounds that problem (until/unless addressed in FA), and the Saints weren’t particularly good against the run even when they had him.
My verdict:
If he drops to 13 (pretty much not gonna happen) I take Fowler in a second. He brings a very solid rush to the team while also lacking any significant weaknesses. He is a true OLB with rare versatility and an ability to be lined up at multiple positions (something he did at Florida and something Ryan will LOVE). In many regards Fowler could be the single best player the Saints could take at 13. It’s too bad there is almost no chance he drops that far.
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