2017 NFL Draft Profile: Dan Feeney
Offenses running a zone blocking scheme might want to take a look at Dan Feeney ahead of Thursday’s draft. The Indiana product has showcased toughness over his time in school and could add some talent to an offensive line from Day One.
Combine Results
Unremarkable in just about every way.
Height: 6’4
Weight: 305 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 5.24 seconds
Bench Press: 26 reps
Vertical Jump: 28 inches
Broad Jump: 101 inches
Three Cone Drill: 7.52 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.68 seconds
RAF Big Board Ranking: #50
Strengths
An experienced zone blocker, Feeney has the kind of lateral quickness you need to make that kind of an offense work. Dropping out of his stance, working to the side and stepping up to the land the block is something Feeney is more than capable of.
The 22-year-old takes efficient paths into the second level and is patient when engaging in a block. Rather than over-committing himself early, Feeney waits until he gets himself in the best possible position for using those long arms to take the defender out of the play.
A decent enough pass-blocker, Feeney exhibited fantastic awareness of some of the blitzes teams were bringing in his time as a Hoosier and was able to kick out and round with ease to handle additional edge rushers.
Due to injuries, Feeney spent time playing right tackle in his senior season. Whilst he absolutely should be considered a guard, the Illinois-native showed his versatility.
Weaknesses
Like an increasing number of o-line prospects, we’re seeing an uneven weight distribution in Feeney’s frame. Top-heavy means that if his opponent gets an early and forceful shot in, it’ll be tough for our man to keep balance.
A narrow base also leads to balance issues, as force applied to outside that base will have Feeney sprawling.
Pad level will be an area where development must be seen if Feeney is to develop into an NFL guard. His tendency to pop up after the snap isn’t conducive to impacting the block for an adequate amount of time.
Injuries have also been a concern for the guard, as he lost the entire 2013 season to injury, and missed time with a concussion in 2016.
The Verdict
Dan Feeney can be an instant impact in any zone blocking scheme and brings some nice skills to the table, as well as things we’d want to see improve over time.
Draft Prediction: Round Two