One of the primary functions of the Tampa 2 scheme deployed by Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith is its emphasis on defensive linemen getting upfield to the quarterback.
Smith coached a defense with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2000 that featured a future Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle in Warren Sapp, who generated as many as 16.5 sacks in a single-season playing as a defensive tackle in the Tampa 2.
For as much as Smith’s scheme emphasizes linebackers, there is a place for a disruptive three-technique defensive tackle.
According to Mark Schofield from the Touchdown Wire, Georgia’s Jordan Davis would be the type of interior defensive lineman who could provide a pass rush from inside.
In preparation for the Combine and the NFL draft, Davis has been working with pass-rushing specialist Chuck Smith, and the idea is clear. Prove to the NFL that he can be a three-down player:
UGA DL Coach @TravionScott got @jordanxdavis99 moving like a cheetah 💨
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Added this NFL Combine & Pro Day Drill in training Today.
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His ceiling is so high. He should be a Top 10 NFL Draft Pick. I know what they look like, he’s one🙌🏽
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•#DrRush #PassRushFamily #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/oJjXe87KAF— Chuck Smith #DrRush (@chucksmithnfl) January 25, 2022
The tools are there, as we saw in those clips. The potential is there, and now with the athleticism on display in Indianapolis, teams now probably feel a bit more comfortable buying into the idea of Davis early in the draft.
Where, if you ask me, he should have been all along. His ability and versatility up front, his destructive nature against the run, and the potential for him to be a true disruptive force as an interior pass rusher, makes him perhaps the prototypical interior defensive tackle for the modern NFL.
The Texans pick No. 3 overall in Round 1, which is much too high for Davis. However, the Texans also have a selection at No. 13 overall, which is decent value for the former Bulldog.
Houston re-signed Maliek Collins and saw last year’s sixth-round defensive tackle Roy Lopez make gains throughout the 2021 campaign. Adding Davis would give the Texans a younger, talented defensive tackle to man the inside.
