Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe earned rave reviews for his performance at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. Few would have doubted Poe’s status as one of the top defensive linemen available in the 2012 NFL Draft prior to the event. His Monday workout cemented that status.
All Poe did was run a 4.98 second 40-yard dash, not bad for a 346-pound defensive tackle. Poe’s workout results confirmed what the film reveals about his style of play and ability level. Nose tackles with that kind of explosion and athleticism are rare commodities, and the Steelers might not get a shot a Poe with the No. 24 pick in the draft.
Poe is being compared to another standout defensive lineman, one who the Steelers know very well: Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
The comparisons between Poe and Ngata came from Mike Mayock, the NFL Network’s draft guru. According to Steelers Depot, Mayock noted that both players have the ability to play all along the defensive line and can “get skinny” to shed blockers on their way to the backfield.
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