Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Pittsburgh Steelers No. 79 Javon Hargrave
The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a look at Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive tackle Javon Hargrave who could be an immediate impact talent.
There are exactly 79 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. In the meantime, we at NFL Spin Zone are going to profile a player each day as we countdown the days to kickoff.
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The Countdown to Kickoff series began with a look at number 99 Joey Bosa and has continued on everyday since (check out all of the posts here).
There were plenty of strong choices to profile at number 79, including Rob Havenstein, Brandon Brooks and rookie Ronnie Stanley. However, it was another rookie who stood out as the best choice.
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Let’s take a look at Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
Hargrave was a personal favorite of mine from the 2016 NFL Draft. I looked at him as the second-best interior pass rusher in the entire class, trailing behind only Sheldon Rankins who went 12th overall to the New Orleans Saints.
Hargrave was an absolute dominant force in college, piling up an incredible 37.5 sacks through his collegiate career. Hargrave showed an impressive combination of power and quickness up front, making him an absolute force to be reckoned with.
Unfortunately, Hargrave was never considered a highly-ranked draft prospect, as he played his college ball at South Carolina State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic College. He was dominant, but Hargrave was not playing against fellow NFL prospects.
The 6’2″, 305-pound Hargrave is a big and physical presence up front, but his ability to make plays in the backfield is primarily duo to his impressive quickness and overall athleticism that will undoubtedly play at the next level.
Hargrave’s skill-set is one of a traditional three-technique defensive tackle in a four-man defensive front. That is why I was so surprised to see the Steelers taking Hargrave in the third-round (89th overall). The Steelers are a traditional 3-4 team who rarely play true a four-man defensive front.
While Hargrave can certainly play nose-guard or five-technique defensive end, 3-4 defensive lineman are typically two-gap defenders who simply help open up plays for their teammates. Making Hargrave strictly a two-gap defensive lineman would hold back his potential at the next level.
That being said, it appears the Steelers play a more hybrid 3-4 defense these days, with their defensive ends lining up as a four-technique on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle, as opposed to lining up right across from the tackle in a five-technique.
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This allows them to shoot the gap between the offensive guard and tackle and make plays in the backfield both against the run and in the pass rush, similar to a three-technique defensive lineman would in a four-man front.
When the Steelers first drafted Hargrave, I thought he landed in a bad situation for his talents. However, after further review of their defense, Hargrave is actually in a great position to showcase his ability on the interior.
The Steelers have adapted the new NFL in recent years, and their hybrid 3-4 defense is actually a great fit for a one-gap penetrating interior stud like Hargrave.
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With the Steelers having so much trouble finding quality players in the secondary, having an interior pass rushing star like Hargrave is a great benefit. I expect huge things out of this rookie defensive lineman both in 2016 and beyond.