Kennard Lang
DE, Miami
Height: 6-3
Weight: 277 (USA Today reports 255)
40 Speed: 4.80
ESPN Reports:
Mel Kiper AVI
/ Quicktime
Notes: An All-America football player in high school who also played
baseball and
basketball. Redshirted in 1993. Was named Big East
Defensive Rookie of the Year in '94,
when he started at defensive right end from Game Four on
and had 51 tackles and eight
sacks. Started at defensive left end the past two seasons
and was a second-team All-Big
East selection both years. Had 73 tackles and 31/2 sacks in
'95. Collected 66 tackles and a
team-high 111/2 sacks in '96.
Positives: Has gotten bigger and stronger without losing
any speed. Has long arms. Good
athlete but not an exceptional one. Can run and get up the
field. Has some moves and
pass-rush skills. Can swim over the tackle. Really came on
as a pass rusher in '96, when he
had 11 1/2 sacks. Can be physical vs. the run. Has some
strength and explosion.
Negatives: Not quite as overpowering vs. the run as you
would like a defensive left end to
be and is not as fluid or agile as you would like a
defensive right end to be. Will look a little
straight-linish at times and does not have great
change-of-direction or flexibility. Does not
always use his hands well and will get wired to the blocker
at times. Has some athletic
limitations and stiffness in his play. Is not the athlete
fellow DE Kenny Holmes is. Took too
many downs off late in the '96 season and was not that
productive down the stretch.
Summary: Was more physical and intense in '96 than teammate
Kenny Holmes, but Lang
did not look as agile or athletic as Holmes. Was probably
the Hurricanes' best defensive
lineman over the course of the year, but Holmes was the
better player at the end of the
season and is the better athlete.
USA Reports:
Second-team All-Big East in 1996. Led the Hurricanes in sacks with 11.5.
Strengths: Has excellent quickness, solid pass rusher
Weakness: Undersized, lacks big frame.
AllSports reports:
Second-team All-Big East in 1996. Entering the NFL after junior
campaign. Led the Hurricanes in sacks with 11.5, the fourth best
single season total in school history. Finished his three-year
career with 190 tackles and 22.5 sacks. In the mold of former
Hurricane Daniel Stubbs. Has excellent quickness, making up for
lack of size. Solid pass rusher.
Sportsline Reports:
Like his teammate, Kenny Holmes, Lang is a size-speed prospect that
experts feel has the potential to develop into a
premier pass rusher on the next level. Last season, he managed a team-high
11.5 sacks and 66 tackles. Like Holmes,
Lang is a well- coordinated athletic lineman that is fluid and agile for
his size. He is active and energetic, plays with good
intensity and aggressiveness, and exhibits explosiveness off the ball.
Also, while not overpowering, he's been known to
give bigger tackles fits both when rushing the passer and playing the run.
However, while his speed and athletic ability are
his primary attributes, he is far from being a finished product. He is not
especially strong or powerful, does not currently
possess real good pass rush moves, and, despite his above-average athletic
ability, does not make as many plays as he
should. He also appears to have some difficulty getting free from the
double-team, will get turned around at times and
tends to get controlled against running plays that are directly at him.
Nevertheless, he is considered a rising star by many
experts and could develop into a very good pass rusher under the guidance
of a good defensive line coach and more
playing experience.
Sporting News Reports:
Lang also plays the strong side. He understands leverage,
keeps linemen off his chest and doesn't stay blocked,
which
explains his 11½ sacks. He plays a more complete game
than
Holmes but without his explosive speed. He's also stiff
and
robotic, which is why some NFL teams project him at
tackle.
He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1996.
Might be a better player
than Wilson and Holmes in five years. But not right
now.
Listen to
Atkin's analysis over Real Audio!
Thanks to Wes
Casserly says they liked his attitude. ``I don't know what the other
people think,'' new defensive line coach Earl Legget said, ``You rate what
you see, and we felt that he was our guy. ... He has a bit of a mean
streak about him. When things were really tough on the field, maybe
they're behind, he's one of the ones who steps up and would make a play
for Miami.''
Lang described himself in this way ``Off the field, I'm nice, but once
I'm on the field, it's business. I believe my assets are leadership and
the mentality to go out and give it my best every play.''
Casserly had Lang rated as high as Sharper and Rudd, but said that the
need on the defensive line was stronger than that at linebacker.
Thanks to play10
CBS' evaluation of Washington's first pick
There's more to this guy's future than with his past. He has
long arms and good hands (to shed blocks) but he needs
work on his technique. You would like to think that the 17th
pick overall has more polish on getting to the passer, but
give the Redskins credit for sticking to what they needed to
build up most - a pass rush.
Grade: C
Gil Brandt of ESPN gives us a B+ for our first round pick.
First-round pick Lang, No. 17 overall, will play defensive end and could
make offenses think twice about
double-teaming Sean Gilbert every play. But Lang tried to play down
expectations of being an instant savior.
"I'm just a puppy going into a grown man's game right now," Lang said. "I
haven't played one down in the NFL. I've got
to prove myself first."
Lang said he left Miami after his junior year because he felt he had
accomplished all he could in college, noting that coach
Butch Davis "stopped cussing at me that much, so I've must've been doing
something good."
Nolan was impressed with the way Lang didn't quit after spraining his
ankle on a water sprinkler midway through his
workout for the Redskins. "He fought to get it done," Nolan said. "Some
guys say, 'Hey, I've got another workout. I'm
done.' "
"It was a once in lifetime opportunity," Lang said of his decision to not
to stop. "I had to take it."