The View From Here

In the golden age of offensive football (constructed by the golden age of defensive penalties), the biggest debate at the top of the draft is between two defensive tackles: Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh. A lot of draftniks (ESPN’s Todd McShay, CBS’s Chad Reuter, SI’s Don Banks) think McCoy is better. Everyone else thinks it’s a close race.

WHY?

Gregg Doyel of CBS is the only guy to point out how crazy this argument is. He cites stats (Suh’s 2009 totals are better than McCoy’s career numbers), the most glaring of which is that McCoy has 14 career sacks and Suh, considered to be the inferior pass rusher, had 12 this season. He had a quarter of McCoy’s CAREER sacks against Texas alone! He also brings up the argument that Suh was the entire defense for Nebraska and McCoy was surrounded by all Americans.

Me? I go back to the Eye Test.

When you see McCoy on film, you see the Sooner line break down the defensive line and McCoy wrapping up the ball carrier.

When you see Suh on film, you see a Scooby Doo Monster.

For those who can’t remember, a seminal plot point of every Doo was the part where Shaggy, Scooby, and the occasional rest of the gang run from the monster, who towers over them, arms outstretched. This sequence would often be interrupted with an image of the Gang in a band, the monster on drums. But anyway…

There are two other factors that are hindering the no-brainer-ness of this argument. The first is that many scouts are limited by comparison. What do you hear most often about guys in the draft? Eric Berry is the next Ed Reed. Sam Bradford is the next Matt Ryan. Gerald McCoy is the next Warren Sapp. There hasn’t been a Suh before. There wasn’t a LeBron either.

The other factor is that program prestige sometimes creeps into the conversation. Sure, Nebraska is a big time program, but it’s not Oklahoma. At least not these days. That’s where the insane logic of Jimmy Clausen comes in. The reason anyone likes Clausen at all is because he was the top recruit in the country. Back in the day, Sebastian Telfair was a prodigious commodity. None of it means anything, just watch the tape.

Now, this may be irrelevant because if the Rams like Sam Bradford at all, they’re going to take him instead of a tackle, especially in a dome. But at least with the second pick, Jim Schwartz, king of the defensive line, will make the bold declaration as to who is better.

Here’s the last part of the eye test: McCoy and Suh are nearly the exact same size (both 6’4”, Suh is 15 pounds heavier). Who looks bigger?

The eyes have it. Give me Suhby Doo.