2012 NFL Scouting Report: USC Trojans DE Nick Perry Prime Candidate for New York Jets as OLB

Sunday, February 19, 2012

By Nate Kuester
Senior Writer

Trojans defensive end Nick Perry will likely need to take his hands off the ground while moving on to play at the next level.

The talented defensive lineman is expected by some to make the transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. That is not his only option of course, but it does appear to be the best fit to reach his maximum value in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. Rex Ryan and the Jets will no doubt consider Perry in their 3-4 scheme and this seems like a great fit for both.

It is of course worth noting his experience at his position in college will attract attention from teams who will still evaluate him as a prime 4-3 defensive end. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks may find Perry is a good fit in their 4-3 scheme. After all, it was Carroll who recruited him to USC back when he was a highly sought after prep star.

Perry is on the verge of taking that first explosive step into his pro career. While we're on the topic of that "first step", his was the most explosive in all of college football this past season. When he lines up and takes that first step, he bursts up through the pads of offensive lineman and dominates across the line despite being considered a bit undersized to play on the front four.

At 6'3" and 250 pounds, Perry's initial speed and quickness off the edge are his greatest assets. That is clearly evident when looking at his performance against top-tier talent. There are some former and potential first-round draft picks who could attest to just how disruptive he can be.

While he is a proven thorn in the side of opponents, Perry also exercises good judgement and allows his patience to take over when necessary to make the play. He is a force to be reckoned with, however he isn't overly aggressive in his pursuit and blocking assignments.

The Pac-12 first-teamer made a solid impression during his junior campaign with the Trojans by leading the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks in 2011, along with his 55 tackles. The most recent season should help erase the disappointment of a forgettable 2010 season.

It is absolutely obvious Perry has learned to effectively capitalize on his strength and quickness, but he also possesses above average technique, he could use some work in his counter moves. Perry rarely gets beat off the snap, however if he loses the advantage of quickness for any reason he tends to give up his leverage and fails to alter his attack.

Because of his challenge to re-adjust once he has lost the advantage against the bigger beef on the line, Perry is best suited to play the outside linebacker position in a 3-4 defense. The move would allow him to use that power and speed to attack more effectively. It would also enable him to drop back in coverage, which he has shown an ability to do well already.

Perry's quickness of feet make him an ideal pass rusher who is very hard to stop once he sees the play develop. The talented pro prospect has done his part to impress with his quick and smart decision making abilities, and Perry's rich athleticism is a hard attribute to overlook.

Perry's run-blocking will need time to develop and that is another reason why it might be better to pull him from the line into that linebacker spot. He could also benefit from bulking up some because he is considered to be undersized for the NFL as a defensive end, and will have to work harder to compete at the next level.

Still he is player who will be an immediate contributor for any team that wants to call his name during the draft and you can bet it will come in the first day. Perry is worthy of first round consideration and should he fall to the second, he is an absolute steal.


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