STRENGTHS
Travis has the size, strength, power, and some unique hidden athletic talents to be a monster Defensive Lineman for the team that selects him. He has surprisingly quick feet and believe it or not, can run the circle, bending with more ease than most other defensive linemen. He has the athletic talent to rush the passer from the inside as well as collapsing the pocket and disrupting the rhythm of an offensive play. Because of his quickness to get into the backfield and disrupt he can play in a 1gap or 2 gap defensive line scheme. He has some pass-rushing skills and this makes it easy to use him on the nose. Travis will demand a double team by the offensive lineman when they are run blocking or pass blocking because he changes the line of scrimmage in his favor on every snap of the ball.
CONCERNS
Travis just needs to get quicker off the snap and quicker getting off his blocks so he can finish with more consistency.
BOTTOM LINE 1.94
As I stated before, Travis has the potential to be a monster Defensive Lineman. He requires a double team on every down or he will make you pay. As most of you might know by now, as far as I’m concerned, this is the type of defensive lineman that is required to be on the field for your defense to have a good and consistent pass rush. A pass rush starts with the collapse of the pocket and double teams on the inside so that your edge rushers can be one on one to beat their man. Travis will give you that collapse. He will also require double teams when offenses are run blocking and that means your linebackers are free to make plays against the run behind or at the line of scrimmage. My projection is that Travis will get you 3 to 5 sacks a year against double teams and your Edge Rushers and Linebackers will make a lot of money in free agency playing alongside him and behind him. I don’t know or care what round Travis will be selected in. I don’t care what technique or position on the defensive line you pigeonhole this kid into, so you can justify his draft status. I don’t care if you rotate him and that makes you believe his position is less valuable. I’m telling you that without a Defensive Tackle/Lineman with his unique talents, you will not have a consistent pass rush or a dominating playoff defense. These are the facts and they are undisputed.
