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The Falcons have made it clear they think this is a deep class for defensive tackles, and surveying the landscape, it’s clear why. You have players like Sam Houston’s P.J. Hall potentially going in the middle rounds, and offering at minimum a really intriguing rotational piece.
Let’s jump right in.
Who?
When you think of drafted players by Dan Quinn, you think of explosiveness. Every single one of the 19 players that have been drafted since Dan Quinn took over in 2015 share a common trait. They all tested higher than the 70th percentile in one of the following at the combine: 40 yard dash, 3 cone, or broad jump. Numerous picks have tested higher than the 70th percentile in multiple combine events,and many have even reached extraordinary numbers in the high 90 percentile. (Beasley with a 98, 91, 98, Keanu with a 96 in the broad, etc) The 70 percentile is the minimum, it seems, because Akeem King and Jake Rodgers hit those numbers and were 7th round picks in 2015.
That being said, if you crunch all of these numbers up, what if I told you that there is a guy who tested in the 98 percentile in the 40 yard dash, and the 95 percentile in the broad jump? Sounds like a great wide receiver, or if Falcons history serves, a great EDGE player.
What if I also told you, that this particular player in four years of college ball tallied 284 tackles, 86.5 of them for loss, 42 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions, and 14 blocked kicks? Yes, you read that right. His season by season tally for tackles for loss was an insane 24, 19, 24.5, 19. His sacks were impressive with 12, 11, 13, 6. That is just so much production for a speedy player off of the edge, right?
Oh wait, he’s also 6’1 and 310 pounds. And he is a defensive tackle. His name is Patrick (PJ) Hall, and he went to Sam Houston State. Which is probably the reason you haven’t heard of him.
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Hall is 310 pounds, but played on the edge early on into his college campaign, which speaks volumes about his quickness. He did not get a combine invite, and his testing numbers were from his pro day. His pro day has been getting him some buzz, and that truly spectacular college production is finally drawing some real attention from scouts and analysts.
At @BearkatsFB pro day today, DL P.J. Hall measured 6-0 1/2, 308, ran 40 in 4.83/4.71 seconds, had 38 VJ, 9-8 BJ, 36 lifts. Wow!
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) March 26, 2018
Moved from DE to DT. Quick off ball but slows down. Reminds some of Aaron Donald. My pick to be earliest non-combine invite drafted. https://t.co/kVWNlxPH6f
I'm trying to figure out why there isn't more talk about Sam Houston State's P.J. Hall. I get that he isn't going on day one or day two, but he is a good football player with disruptive potential and loads of production. Maybe it is just his size. I just know he can play.
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) March 26, 2018
I agree with these guys. Where will he be drafted is up in the air, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that he tests well in the things that Dan Quinn appears to care about, and the production that suggests he could be very good, regardless of his level of competition.
The question is, with the Falcons likely taking a defensive tackle in the first, would they add another one in the mid rounds? If Quinn believes they should, PJ Hall definitely should be one of the names the team considers.