Brooks Reed takes on a tackling dummy on the first day of camp, Aug. 1. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Arizona sent three defensive ends into the NFL Draft — second-rounder Brooks Reed (Houston), sixth-rounder Ricky Elmore (Green Bay) and seventh-round selection D’Aundre Reed (Minnesota).
Brooks Reed is drawing positive reviews as he makes the conversion to outside linebacker. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said this after evaluating the team’s first preseason game:
“Brooks Reed didn’t have the sacks, so to speak, but when you went back and watched the game, I was very encouraged by him. I thought he did a nice job.”
Meanwhile, Elmore appears to be struggling while trying to make the same position switch to outside linebacker.
Wrote Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (one of our Gannett partners):
Time may be running out for Ricky Elmore.
The rookie sixth-round pick just hasn’t shown enough in his conversion from collegiate defensive end to NFL outside linebacker. That’s not to say he won’t but at this point, he looks like a candidate for the practice squad unless another team claims him off waivers.
The Packers had hoped Elmore could become a pass-rushing threat like he was at the University of Arizona, where he had 21 1/2 sacks over his final two seasons while playing with his hand on the ground. But Elmore hasn’t shown the strength or quickness to beat NFL offensive tackles. That was evident again in the one-on-one drill on Wednesday, when he couldn’t beat undrafted rookie Ray Dominguez, who easily has the worst record among all offensive linemen in the drill.
The one-on-one pass rushing/pass blocking drill isn’t the end-all definition of a player, but it can be telling. Elmore has lost eight straight one-on-ones, has a 1-10 record in the drill, hasn’t won a rep since Aug. 4 and his only victory came against Dominguez.
As for D’Aundre Reed, he was impressive early in camp, according to reports, but he has been sidelined lately because of a calf injury.