Twitter Film Study Pt. 10: Six Defenders You Need to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're now ten parts into the 'Twitter Film Study' series and at this point, we've studied a little of everything. This time our focus is back on the defensive side of the ball, taking a look at six athletes all doing their part to keep their opponent out of the endzone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/thehonestupdate/status/1762173885053866051","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/thehonestupdate/status/1762173885053866051 </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">If you want to be on the next edition of ‘Twitter Film Study', be sure to add your film to the thread above!</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["954375"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='954375' first='Dean' last='Vincent'] is incredibly disruptive coming off the edge for Pinnacle's defense. With the combination of his active hands and quick feet, opposing offensive linemen are rarely able to get a solid grip on him. On the off chance someone does get ahold of him, he keeps his motor churning and finds a way to get away and attack the ball-carrier. Vincent does an exceptional job running stunts and using his speed to confuse the offense. It's not just speed though, he has the sheer strength to move people out of his way on his way into the backfield. When he breaks into the backfield he shows off his speed again as he wreaks havoc. With his strength, neither quarterbacks nor running backs are able to slip out of his grasp once he gets his hands on them. With 15.5 sacks and 22 hurries in his junior season, Vincent is a player coaches are going to have a close eye on going into his senior year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f701"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18791264/655aec892ab0e70a00dba9f6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f7db"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739451"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='739451' first='Hyatt' last='Lang'] does a great job of getting into the backfield for Gilbert Christian, and he makes it look effortless. He has long arms and uses them well to quickly maneuver around linemen. Once he gets into the backfield he does a great job of securing the tackle, again using that length to bring backs to the ground. Lang finished his sophomore campaign with a whopping 26 tackles for loss. Another reason that number is so high is because of his impressive speed. Even when opponents run the ball away from Lang, he still has the quickness to chase down running backs and bring them down from behind. He has a way of bending his body and slipping through the cracks to break into the backfield as quickly as possible. As he continues to get stronger and more able to force his way through the trenches, he's going to be a handful for offensive linemen to stop on their own. Lang's already listed at 6'3” 200 lbs and if he gets any bigger, one likely won't be enough.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f844"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13564758/65676eb6b019fa06840a5441' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f863"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["410430"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Playing in multiple spots for Basha's defense, Percy “Trey” Knox uses a combination of some really impressive footwork mixed with a nice feel for the game. What stands out most when throwing on his film is how explosive of an athlete he is. His first two steps are always incredibly twitchy and allow him to get up to full speed in the blink of an eye. In man-to-man situations, that speed and agility are on full display. He's always right in the hip pocket, ready to use his active hands to attack the receiver's hands and break up the pass. He moves so naturally when switching directions, always very smooth – and it all comes from his hips. Looking like they're on a freshly greased swivel, he can flip his hips when receivers make their cut and use those explosive first steps to never lose an inch of positioning. Knox is relentlessly working his way back from an injury, but there's no doubt that he's already made a name for himself by putting up impressive numbers in his sophomore season against great competition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f8bd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://vh.hudl.com/p-highlights/User/18087512/64fd36f44deb2d007c075cdf/0e00c739_720.mp4?v=CBCA049A2DF1DB08' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f8dd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["704779"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='704779' first='Akhir' last='Harris'] is a linebacker coach's dream. With his speed and physicality, not only is he flying all over the field, but he's making his presence felt everywhere too. When it comes to blitzing, it's more than just his speed: he's a natural. Whether it's attacking the spot the pulling guard just vacated or keeping the blitz hidden until just before the ball's snapped, Harris has plenty of ways to get through the trenches. There's one particular play where he walks up at the last second and splits the tackle and guard (they had no chance to get up out of their stance in time) and he got to the QB/RB exchange so fast that the handoff hadn't even happened yet. Not knowing which one to tackle, Harris launched himself full speed through the quarterback and brought both of them down in the backfield at the same time. His physicality shows up in nearly every play; seemingly kicking into an extra gear just before he meets the ball-carrier to deliver the biggest hit. Averaging 12.2 tackles in his junior season, Harris will have plenty of eyes on him as he enters his finial year of high school.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f935"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16110556/65a00e5ad226320ac4519f6c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f952"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["498274"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='498274' first='Elijah' last='Taylor'] uses his speed in every aspect of his game. He's another player who does a great job of timing his blitzes well. With how quickly he gets going, bigger offensive linemen often end up grabbing air instead of Taylor. What stands out most about Taylor's speed, is actually his willingness to use it. Even if he's on the opposite side of the field with the play going full speed in the other direction, he's still going to turn on the jets and try to make the play. Often times he ends up doing just that. Taylor wasn't used like a typical linebacker either. He was doing everything from lining up with his hand in the dirt at the line of scrimmage to playing in the back end of the secondary, and everything in between. Versatility like that is incredibly rare and coveted by coaches.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f9a6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19555659/64ea4d9bd21b9406044a9c6c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002f9c2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1198082"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Listed at 6'0” 155 lbs, [player_tooltip player_id='1198082' first='Andrew' last='Shaw'] moves fast and plays big – a dangerous combination for offenses. It's also a perfect combination for a safety: he has the size and physicality to be reliable run support, while having the speed to protect his team from big plays over the top by speedy wideouts. Shaw's a u0022jack of all tradesu0022 when it comes to coverage too. He matches up well with tight ends that can't get away from him and has no trouble overpowering the smaller receivers at the line of scrimmage. If he's able to add some more weight to his impressive frame over the offseason, Shaw could see his game take a big jump. As someone who's asked to attack the quarterback at times, that extra strength could really help him move the bigger offensive linemen out of his way on his way to the quarterback. One of the things that stood out most during Shaw's film is how quickly he reads and reacts to the play as it's developing. Whether its a pass or a run, his quick reactions often put him right in the thick of the action. With another year of experience under his belt and another offseason of work, Shaw's stock is sure to rise in his junior campaign.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002fa21"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18212546/6575432a5b3cf70d84e08478' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6605f9002fa49"} /-->