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Bills Claim OT Conor Mcdermott | GIF thread

Erik Turner
09/04/2017
DB+

The Bills had a busy Sunday making a flurry of moves which included claiming the Patriots 6th round draft pick OT Conor Mcdermott. Mcdermott is a 6’8″ 307 pound tackle who played left tackle at UCLA. Over his final three seasons he allowed 8 QB sacks, 12 QB hits and 30 QB hurries.

 

UCLA Film-Courtesy of Krosssover

 

Rushing Game

 

 

Mcdermott blocks down and the running back converts.

 

Mcdermott uses really good hand placement inside the frame of the defender. As the defender disengages, he resets and then uses his length to ‘wall’ off the defender.

https://streamable.com/rqe6l

 

These are the type of blocks that translate well into Dennison’s offense. The defensive lineman execute a gap exchange, he adjusts accordingly and works to the play side of the DT. Would like to see him stay engaged a tad bit longer.

https://streamable.com/paxem

 

He is very tall and has issues with pad level. He fires out much too high especially compared to the defender. But his length and pure athleticism allows him to drive the defender inside. Relying on his athleticism play in and play out will not work consistently in the NFL.

https://streamable.com/tcg25

 

You will notice that he isn’t much of a drive defender, he primarily uses his body and angles to ‘seal’ off defenders. But he exhibits a good series of ‘drive’ and ‘catches’ to help open the inside gap.

https://streamable.com/2esbf

 

Here is a play that Dennison and the offense tested out the entire preseason. It looks like inside zone but it is actually called ‘duo’. It’s called ‘duo’ because of the double team on the defensive tackles. It’s the perfect concept for the Bills’ offensive line because it maximizes the power they harness.

https://streamable.com/s4c0d

 

Great hand placement up under the defensive lineman but what I really like is his footwork. As the defender tries disengaging, Mcdermott keeps his feet moving so that he keeps his hand and body in position to stay engaged.

https://streamable.com/adek6

 

The running back ends up bouncing the play wide, but look at the fluidity and positioning shown by Mcdermott.

https://streamable.com/9cpi4

 

Mcdermott’s balance is off but he does a good job of keeping his body in position, securing the defender then driving him where he wants to go.

https://streamable.com/ssqzw

 

Here the offense asks him to block down on the 3-4 defensive end but his angle and approach is wrong. This was one of the few times that he didn’t use his body and or angles well.

https://streamable.com/5sec9

 

Mcdermott does a great job of firing out, winning the hand position and then he exhibits very good torque and footwork to turn and open the hole.

https://streamable.com/bm9dm

 

Bruins run an outside zone run and he does a great job of sealing the gap for the running back. Watch him again get his lower body into position. Not the strongest lineman, especially in the lower end. But that isn’t out of the ordinary when it comes to zone blockers. Athleticism and ability to get into space is a priority.

https://streamable.com/z3s1s

 

He struggles to gain leverage and set the edge consistently. Powerful edge players make it look easy.

https://streamable.com/3qjvj

 

But his athleticism can be used from time to time to pull into space.

https://streamable.com/8yg1q

 

Passing Game

According to Pro Football Focus he was 18th in pass blocking efficiency with a 97.4 rating. But what I found even more telling was his efficiency in 5 step drops which was 35th overall with a 96.1 pass blocking efficiency. On 7 step drops he was 1st overall with a 96.8 pass blocking efficiency which would help the Bills on deep drops for Taylor and on play action passes. He ranked 11th in pass blocking efficiency on passes that took over 2.6 seconds..The ability to hold blocks on deep drops and play action could prove to be quite useful if given a chance to start.

His athleticism should be an asset in the passing game, especially when defenders want to rush wide. Very good technique and fluidity shown on this angle set. Never has to turn or open up. He is able to stay square the entire play.

https://streamable.com/utswc

 

Pretty weak stunt by the defense and Mcdermott smoothly passes the defensive end off to the guard and then kick slides to stay with the defensive tackle.

https://streamable.com/v560t

 

He works really well with the guard on this play. The defense tries another game but he stays composed, doesn’t chase, passes on the looper and picks up the defensive tackle.

https://streamable.com/vnyyg

 

I really like his ability to mirror and stay square on outside rushes.

https://streamable.com/05a31

 

Mcdermott executes a vertical set on third and long and he lets the defender get into his chest. The defender then uses his power to bull rush Conor. He does manage to anchor, but by that point he is in the QB’s face.

https://streamable.com/nkes8

 

 

 

As I noted several times, his athletic ability, length and hand placement are good. The rusher tries countering but Mcdermott is able to reset his hands and stonewall the defender.

https://streamable.com/4n8k5

 

 

He is very good at kick sliding to the junction point or the line that the rusher wants to take to the top of the QB’s drop.

https://streamable.com/s5gnd

 

 

Not bad technique shown by Mcdermott here. Garrett beats him off the snap but Mcdermott never comes out of his kickslide. Always stays square, but Garrett gets the inside with a sick spin move.

https://streamable.com/111ip

 

I thought Mcdermott did a decent job versus an elite defender in Garrett. For most of the game he was able to mirror any speed rush by Garrett. Where he struggled was when Myles broke off the speed rush and rushed inside as the QB hit the top of the drop. It is readily apparent though, that Mcdermott’s biggest weakness is versus bull rushes.

https://streamable.com/7c1bq

 

Overall, I believe that Mcdermott was a solid pickup and a player that could develop down the line. He needs to increase his strength and add a few pounds as he currently doesn’t have enough power to move defenders in the run game when necessary or the strength on the backend to anchor consistently. But is an obvious fit in the outside zone run game that Dennison wants to employ. I like his abilities better on the backside of zone runs, plays that allow him to either reach, cut or climb to the second level. This ability is crucial to the success of these kind of runs because those assignments really open up the ‘bang’ or ‘bend’ lanes that can lead to big plays.

I really like his feet, length and overall athleticism. He has a very smooth kick slide and is able to carry it out for a very good distance. Especially on angle sets. Mcdermott is fluid, smooth and is able to meet the rusher at the exact junction point that the rusher wants to use. His head is always on a swivel and he doesn’t chase jammers or loopers on games and stunts. He was asked to sit on an island a ton at left tackle at UCLA and he held his own.

I think with as much zone run concepts and five step drops the Bills will run, Mcdermott is a great fit. Nice job by the scouting department.

Scouting | Waivers

Erik Turner

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