Beehive Buzz: Defensive Lineman

In this edition, we look at some of the big maulers on defense.    Mulitalo has excellent size and length to play the edge or the interior positions. He has an excellent bullrush with a good burst to get to the Quarterback. He is a disruptor and a player for whom offensive line coaches have to gameplan. He has the ideal size and strength to play the interior and is too strong and quick for most linemen, double-teaming him will create mismatches outside for his teammates. When lining up as an interior lineman, his first step is deadly, he puts offensive linemen in a disadvantageous spot and Mulitalo is already in the backfield disrupting the play. Mulitalo isn't just a rusher, his awareness and active hands allow him to anticipate when the Quarterback is looking to throw and will use his hands to interfere with the Quarterback's passing window. Deflections and tipped passes are something he is good at when not getting to the Quarterback and has soft enough hands and is athletic enough to make a play and come away with an interception. He is an athletic big man who can drop back in coverage, be responsible for the flat, and has good quickness to cover his area. He has the discipline on RPOs to not crash the interior and shows gap integrity to ensure a big play doesn't happen on his side. Mulitalo diagnoses plays quickly, and on jailbreak screens will eject from his rush assignment, find the intended receiver, and negate a big play or stop his rush and anticipate when the Quarterback is about to release the ball and get his paws in the air and disrupt the pass. Mulitalo is one of the best defensive linemen in the state.     Moala has excellent size and strength to take on double teams, shed them, and still get to the backfield. Moala is a physical mauler and puts his size into offensive linemen to wear them out by the second half. He makes you feel his strength, when he gets to the Quarterback or the playmaker with the ball, he makes you remember how it felt. He showcases sheer domination as an interior rusher. Moala has an excellent motor, uses that to his advantage, and is a headache for opposing coaches to gameplan. He has an excellent burst and closing speed to get to the man with the ball. He doesn't tackle you, he looks to tackle through you. Moala is an excellent run-stuffing defensive tackle who has patience and keeps gap integrity. Moving him off his intended path is not an easy task, and neither is trying to contain him with just one offensive lineman, Moala poses many problems and is one of the best defensive tackles in the state.     Lotulelei has the versatility to line up anywhere on the defensive line. He has the strength and presence to be an interior rusher and the quickness and active hands to be an edge rusher. Lotulelei has a quick first step that allows him blow past an offensive lineman. When working as a defensive tackle, Lotulelei has an excellent bullrush and utilizes leverage to his advantage. He'll get under the pads of the offensive lineman and push him into the backfield, or get the offensive lineman off balance and then use his lateral quickness to side-step him and get to the backfield. When lined up as an edge rusher, his first step is quick and gets the offensive lineman out of position and he uses his active hands to thwart him away and is free to make a play. During run plays, he holds up well. If he's engaged with a lineman, he has the strength and technique to shed him and get to the runner. He has good patience as well, on RPOs he won't crash the running back and leave the backside clear for the Quarterback to pick up chunk yards. Lotulelei does well with bigger lineman and utilizes leverage and strength well.     Afu showcases good acceleration and bursts off the line with good lateral movement to beat his blocker. He has an excellent motor and will chase down a play opposite to where he is lined up. Afu can work as an edge rusher and as an interior defensive lineman. When he grows into his frame, he'll be a versatile piece and a menace wherever he lines up. Afu utilizes leverage well and his first step gives him an edge to get the Offensive Lineman out of position. He does a good job holding the edge and shedding his man to make a play. Afu is a young prospect with a bright future and an excellent awareness of making a play.     Makaafi has great size and strength to be a game-changing interior defensive tackle. He is an instinctive player and gets great leverage. Makaafi is a disrupter in every sense. He has a great bull rush and uses his size to get under the pads of his blocker. He has the strength to get into the backfield and blow up a play before it develops. Makaafi is light on his feet and will disengage his blocker to make a tackle on a runner away from his side of play. He does an excellent job blending power and speed and finds various ways to make an impact on the defensive line. Makaafi is an active defender that won't be deterred by a single blocker. Because of this, he needs to be double-covered to ensure he doesn't disrupt an opposing team's game plan. Because he draws so much attention, he frees other players on the line to make a play. Overall, Makaafi is a player that should continue to grow into his frame and continue to be a playmaker and one of the bright young interior defensive linemen in the state.    That was our first look at guys on the front four on the defensive line. We'll be back to cover more guys in the beehive state next time.

In this edition, we look at some of the big maulers on defense.