NFL Draft Buzz Scouting Report:
92% Tackling
100% Pass Rush
100% Run Defense
64% Coverage
DRAFT PROFILE:
Chenal had an elite season in 2021 logged 558 snaps and recorded 87 total tackles, 4 sacks, 4 QB hits, 20 QB hurries, and a pair of forced fumbles all while missing two games of the season due to COVID-19. He was the defensive leader and was named to the 2021 AP All-America Second Team, in addition, was a finalist for the Butkus Award, an annual award honoring the nation’s best linebacker.
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
Supreme athlete with explosive hitting power, excellent speed, a frame that looks like it is calved out of rock, and decent agility
A natural leader on the Wisconsin defense - almost a coach on the field with a super high football IQ
Huge hitter with immense strength in the running game - who easily blows through lead blockers and easily handles being double-teamed. The best run defender on the team
An immense pass rusher who led the Badgers in both sacks and tackles for loss in both 2020 and the 2021 regular season
Overpowering at the point of attack who is elite as a bull rusher and has a nice swim move in his arsenal
Versitile player who could play all linebacker positions at a high level
Rarely out of position - has a great knowledge of running game concepts and seems to always be in the right place at the right time
Very good quality tackler pretty much always wraps up and brings his man to the ground
Keeps feet moving after initial contact. Jumps inside as a counter to typical rush, but needs to show a larger variety of moves.
Made Bruce Feldman's annual freak's list -- and quoted as saying:
"The 6-2, 255-pound junior (31 tackles, six TFLs in 2020) is one of eight Badgers who bench 400 pounds or more. Chenal does 420 and cleans 385. The big man clocked a 4.00 time in the pro agility and has hit a top speed of 20.95 MPH on the GPS. He’s also broad jumped 10-1."
Was at elite at the Combine putting up a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, a 40.5-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-8 broad jump
Good all-around athlete with very good short-area quickness and fluidity. Very good playing strength and has worked hard in the weight room, adding bulk and filling out his frame
Works hard to get better and gives top effort on every play. A heads-up defender who shows impressive field awareness.
Super hard worker who plays 100% on every play
SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES
Doesn't have the length that you look for in a pass rusher - has only average arms
Doesn't really have any experience in coverage
Builds to top speed and must take the right line to beat backs to the edge.
Maybe a bit too jacked up and may gain agility and quickness by losing 10 pounds
Needs work on angles and· finding receivers in zone. Fails to break down at times, grabbing shoulder pads and lunging to allow ball-carriers to elude him
Attacks the line well but may need some work stacking and shedding blocks.
SCOUTING REPORT: SUMMARY
Leo Chenal has developed into an elite dominator for Wisconsin who is equally talented as a run defender and a power pass rusher. He has incredible potential as an outside linebacker at the next level who given he used in a system that suits his skills could quickly become a pro bowl level performer. He needs to be used correctly and if played as a middle or inside linebacker with coverage responsibilities could easily disappoint.
We are higher on him than most and rate him as a high second-round pick in the coming 2022 NFL Draft. We're convinced the rest of the scouting community will likely see what we see especially after he puts on a show at the combine.
[Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
I love the pick. Begs the question... Did we run a ton of nickel and dime because hitchens sucks? Does this mean we want to move to more traditional 4-3 alignments?
The interesting thing about our draft so far is that it seems we are very committed to stopping the run. The question will be how we hold up in an afc west that is better at passing than running.
Possibly, although it's not just KC that's running mostly nickel and dime sets.
I will say this-Chenal at SAM with Gay at Will is faster and quicker than Sorensen as S3 with Niemann at Will. So your base 4-3 functions better as a pass defense with him in there than your previous 3 safety nickel.
However-if they do their usual 3 S set, you're also bigger, faster, and more athletic with Cook, Reid, and Thornhill.
OR if they want to do a traditional nickel with 3 corners, you're in good shape with Sneed, Fenton, and Mcduffie.
AND Chenal had 8 sacks last season; so there are pass rush skills there. No reason why he couldn't be part of the EDGE rotation on obvious passing downs if you wanted to, although I would expect he'd be most effective with a running start from an off-ball LB spot.
But with that physicality and elite athleticism, I wouldn't be surprised if he could be effective as part of the EDGE rotation.
[Reply]
