Tamba Hali (01/2006)

Position:

DE

School:

Penn State

Height:

6' 3"

Weight:

267 lbs.

General Variables:

31 out of 40

Size:

8

Strength:

8

Speed:

7

Athleticism:

8

Position Variables:

29 out of 40

Run stopping:

7

Pass rushing:

8

Technique:

7

Attitude:

7

Positives:

There is a lot of like about Tamba Hali.  He's got a thick, muscular, compact frame, with a good wingspan, and a ton of upper body strength.  As a DE at Penn State, he has shown that he is just as capable as running down backs, and working up the line to stuff the run, as he is coming off the edge and blasting quarterbacks.  Hali possesses a very explosive first step, playing with great intensity.  He has some experience at DT, as well as dropping into coverage.  A great natural athlete, who uses his athleticism to overtake offensive players.

Negatives:

Oh no, he's a "tweener."  Big deal.  Yeah, he's really only about 6' 2" and with a hand on the ground, he does get pushed around at times by bigger players.  However, these are things that would only effect him more if he were to play a 4-3 DE, or as some wackos have said, bulk up and play a 4-3 defensive tackle.  Blasphemy!  This kid is a 3-4 OLB, born and raised.  One negative that he does have, that may or may not be resolved in the off-season, is the lack of elite speed.  How well he runs in workouts, will go a long way toward determining how early he's drafted.

Overall:

Hali is a fascinating prospect.  In most games, he looks like he could be a shorter version of Shawne Merriman, or a bigger Demarcus Ware.  I think this off-season will be big for Hali, because if he can show up in shorts, and show he's athletic enough to make plays without his hand on the ground, and can move well laterally, particularly in run support, he could make a huge move up in the first round.  With all the 3-4 teams in the NFL now, a kid this big and strong, who can blitz and play the run, is a goldmine.

Final Word:

CHARACTER ― This young man, a lot like Mathias Kiwanuka, is not only an elite football prospect, but a quality person, and for many teams that really matters.  No, he may not be able to come in, and impact a defense in his rookie year at OLB, like a Shawne Merriman, but there's not doubt the talent is there.  He's also a hard worker, always striving to improve himself.  He'll be in a starting lineup early in his rookie year, and that will be bad news for opposing offenses.

Curtis Popejoy

Scouting Director