Is health a concern?
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/20/2008
A healthy Glenn Dorsey would top just about every draft board in the NFL, or be second behind Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. But is he healthy?
That's the multimillion-dollar question for the Rams should Dorsey — the defensive tackle from Louisiana State — be available at No. 2 overall in next weekend's draft.
"There's 32 (team) doctors; they have 32 different opinions," said Tom Marino, a longtime NFL scout who's now an analyst for Scout.com. "You're talking about a guy that's the No. 2 pick in the draft. It's going to be $5.5 million, $6 million per year for the next five years. That's hard to swallow if the guy's going to be on the IR."
Publicly, the Rams have consistently said they are not concerned about Dorsey's health, particularly the stress fracture Dorsey suffered in his right leg in 2006. Billy Devaney, executive vice president of player personnel, said any medical questions the team may have had on Dorsey have been answered satisfactorily. Advertisement
Some league sources say X-rays show there is a dark spot, or small line in the area on Dorsey's leg. Is that a sign of healing? Is there a chance it can fracture again?
When asked about the injury, Dorsey told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine: "I had a hairline fracture my junior year on my right tibia."
Dorsey said it happened when he bumped against something in the weight room, and that it has not been an issue.
"Not at all," Dorsey said. "I did it summertime my junior year, and I played the whole year with it. … I have not missed a game since I got to LSU. Who does not go through a season without getting bumps and bruises? I don't think it's an issue at all."
Even with some nagging injuries last season (knee, hamstring, back), Dorsey played well enough to sweep almost every honor imaginable in college football. He was a consensus All-American and the Southeastern Conference's defensive player of the year. He also won the Nagurski, Lombardi, Outland and Lott awards.
"He's as good against the run as anybody I've ever seen, bar none," Devaney said Saturday. "And like a lot of guys, I think he will be a better pass rusher in the NFL. He has the ability to be a top-notch pass rusher."
LSU's scheme was designed to have Dorsey tie up blockers and let teammates run free on defense. It didn't highlight his pass-rushing skills. Nonetheless, he still managed seven sacks for the Tigers.
But none of those statistics, accolades or awards can top what Dorsey received in the BCS title game in January against Ohio State.
"The national championship is the ultimate award, so I feel like I have achieved everything I wanted to," Dorsey said.
At least at the college level. The next goal for Dorsey is to be the No. 1 pick overall.
"Without a doubt," Dorsey said. "You want to be that guy that gets his name called first. You want to set yourself up to go as high as possible. That would be a dream."
But it looks as if Miami is settling in on either Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long or Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. That could leave the Rams looking at Dorsey with the No. 2 overall pick. What would it be like for Dorsey to play in defensive coordinator
Jim Haslett's system?
"It'll be great," Dorsey said. "I just need an opportunity. Any team that gives me an opportunity, I'm going to give them 100 percent."
But for any team that drafts him, Dorsey said he will bring "my heart and soul. That is all I can do. I stayed at LSU an extra year (instead of turning pro early) because I had a commitment to LSU. I try to work hard. I like to give it all I got."
If Dorsey were a Ram, he would be paired with Adam Carriker at tackle in the team's base defense, with La'Roi Glover and Clifton Ryan rotating in off the bench.
"(Dorsey) is a powerful guy," said Marino, who once scouted for the Rams. "He converts speed to power. He's very, very strong. And powerful. Explosive. I think his range is good. He's disruptive inside. And he gives you a presence inside that (the Rams) don't have."
Earlier in his career at LSU, Dorsey said, he learned from two teammates who are now NFL defensive tackles: Kyle Williams of the Buffalo Bills and
Claude Wroten of the Rams.
"Kyle is a mentor to me," Dorsey said. "He taught me how to come out and play hard no matter what. Claude taught me how to use athleticism in the game. He wasn't a big technician, but he was a gifted athlete. I took from both of them."