The '06 Draft Pass Rushers:

Mathias Kiwanuka

August 26, 2005

By Fred Pasek

When the draft rolls around in April of 2006, there will be 32 teams lined up around the corner, hoping for a chance at a handful of players who will have proven themselves over the 2005 season to be pass rushers worthy of high draft picks.  Each of these players will have a “signature move”, a move they will rely on as their most effective at getting to the quarterback.  Invariably, this move has a direct correlation to the player’s physique and strengths.  DraftBoardInsider.com has taken a closer look at the best moves of some of the most likely players to fill the top of the 2006 NFL draft board.

Mathias Kiwanuka, DE ― Boston College, 6’7”/262 lbs. [official bio]

Kiwanuka put pressure on quarterbacks in his junior season consistently enough to lead the Big East in sacks for a second consecutive year with 11 1/2, and gathering 25 1/2 tackles for loss, leading the conference in that category as well.  He is consistently listed among the top ten prospects on draft boards and should be one of the first few names called by Taglibue from his podium.

Kiwanuka’s signature move is one not usually associated with linemen standing 6’7” and 260 lbs. ― that move being the outside speed rush.  With his unique physique and excellent foot speed, he makes this one of the most feared moves in college football.

On their first offensive play against Kiwanuka’s Eagles, the University of Connecticut decided to get Dan Orlovsky involved quickly, calling a quick out pattern to the slot receiver in the right flat off a five step drop.  The receiver didn’t have far to go and Orlovsky was simply to release the ball immediately after taking his fifth step.

As the offensive lineman has to be set before Kiwanuka is, Kiwanuka has the advantage of lining himself up far enough outside of the tackle that the man can’t get his hands on him at the snap, and close enough for a tight line to the quarterback.  In this case, he lined up two yards outside the uncovered right tackle.

At the snap of the ball, Kiwanuka raced straight up field.  In three giant strides, Kiwanuka had overtaken the tackle, who was forced to slide out quickly, putting him in parallel position to the tackle, relative to the line of scrimmage.  Kiwanuka’s speed in getting out of the blocks and his stride (possibly the longest of any player in the upcoming draft) force opposing tackles to either turn and “run with him” (in which case, he can simply cut behind them for a cleaner shorter route to the quarterback) or slide out frantically as fast as possible to try to keep up (which few can do).  Also, the speed with which the tackle is forced to slide out puts him in an awkward position, opening him up to a power move in mid-stride.  Ordinarily, a tackle can absorb a power move from an outside speed rusher, as the speed rushers are generally smaller men; but, in Kiwanuka’s case, if he turns and charges, it’s 260 pounds of muscle, something which generates far more inertia.

In this case, the tackle tried his best to keep up with a classic slide, but Kiwanuka used another of his physical gifts, his enormous wing-span, to swat the tackle’s right shoulder with his left arm, slowing his slide enough that, on the following step, he could rip his right arm up from underneath, around the tackle’s right side, hooking his right elbow and triceps and locking them into the tackle’s back.  The following step of his right leg placed Kiwanuka cleanly behind the tackle with his elbow locking the tackle from regaining ground.  This gave Kiwanuka a clean shot at the quarterback, and he closed the distance quickly, burying his right shoulder into Orlovsky’s chest just as Orlovsky’s foot landed in the fifth step of his five step drop, which hurried the throw.

Kiwanuka’s size makes it difficult for tackles to try to arm block him unless they are squarely in front of him.  His long arms mean he can take a slightly deeper path to the quarterback and still reach him from behind.  His combination of speed, long limbs and strength make Kiwanuka’s outside speed rush very difficult to stop, making him one of the most prized pass rushers in the upcoming draft.