Bills sign sleeper DE George Gause

[X-Era]

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/11482315.htm

Looks like a real sleeper.

Heres ESPN's write up:

George Gause
DE (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/position?id=31) | (6'4http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/nfl/trans/7_8.gif", 275, 4.8) | SOUTH CAROLINA (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/school?id=2406)

Scouts Grade: 57

Flags: (S: SPEED) Player lacks ideal speed at position <table class="tablemed" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr height="18" valign="middle"> <td> View by: Round (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/round) | Player (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/players) | NCAA School (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/school) | Position (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/position) | NFL Team (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/team) | Flag (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/alert)http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/in.gif | All Ranked Players (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/rankedPlayers)http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/in.gif | NFL Draft History (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/histround?year=2004) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!---Insider promo--> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" class="tablesm" align="center" bgcolor="#ececec"> <table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center"> You are signed into Insider http://espn.starwave.com/i/in.gif and have access to the exclusive draft content below. </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table class="tablemed2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td> Strengths: Has good size and strength. Has the frame to get even bigger and stronger. He is an active player with good athleticism for his size. Lacks top-end speed but is quick and fluid. Has good initial quickness and short area power. Has long arms and does a good job of keeping separation. Shows good awareness as a pass rusher and will knock down his share of passes at the LOS. Is big and strong enough to hold his ground versus the run when he plays with leverage. Is a much better fit vs. the run as an outside DE. Also is instinctive and will do a good job of disengaging and pursuing the ball carrier.

Weaknesses: Does not have good top-end speed. Lacks the burst to consistently turn the corner as an edge rusher. Does not show a wide-array of pass rush moves and needs to do a better job in that area  particularly as an interior rusher. Lack of leverage hurts him the most. He allows blockers to get into his body too often and doesn't do a good enough job with his hands when it comes to disengaging.

Overall: Gause appeared in nine games and started one as a true freshman in 2001. He has been a fulltime starter at either DE or OLB since his sophomore season in 2002. He played in and started 11 of 12 games as a junior in 2003, finishing with 37 total tackles and five sacks. He started all 11 games as a senior in 2004 and finished with 40 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Gause has excellent size, is powerful and athletic. He has played DE and OLB in a 3-5-3 scheme and also has experience as a traditional DE in a 4-3, which is the role he played in as a senior. He has the potential to play both inside and outside as a versatile defensive lineman in the NFL. He also shows some athletic ability when asked to drop on zone blitzes. While his upside will give him a chance to sneak into the first day of the upcoming draft, the team that selects him will need to be patient with Gause, as he is a risky prospect that is unpolished and largely undisciplined at this point. He will need to be motivated and coached extremely well in order to reach his full potential in the NFL.

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> * Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?page=ScoutsInc)</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[LifetimeBillsFan]

A number of people who posted in the UFA threads last night were very high on this guy and will be delighted that the Bills signed him!

He sounds like a "project" with some real potential.

[kardshark19]

WOOHOO! Thats who I hoped for. :up:

[mysticsoto]

I would have liked them to look at Adell Duckett (DE), but I guess this guy doesn't sound too bad...

[Jayhawk]

put some weight on him and lets see.

[Jan Reimers]

Just as a "for instance" The Sporting News had him as the number 10 DE in the draft, while Scout.com projected him as an early 5th round pick.

[mysticsoto]

Doesn't seem like a bad guy to pick up.

From nfldraftcountdown.com:

<table align="center" border="0" height="150" width="70%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"><td colspan="3">Strengths: Good athlete...Tall with a lanky frame with long arms...Very strong...Does a good job versus the run...Versatile and has played a number of different positions.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"> <td colspan="3">Weaknesses: Doesn't have elite speed or quickness...Needs to work on and refine his technique...Plays too tall...Needs to add some weight.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"> <td colspan="3">Notes: Has played both linebacker and defensive end for the Gamecocks...Underrated prospect whose stock is on the rise.</td></tr></tbody> </table>

And from nfl.com:

ANALYSIS

Positives: Well built with long arms, high-cut frame, big bubble, thick thighs and good muscle development in the upper body … Shows some quickness off the ball and strong hand usage to disengage … Has the ability to shed blocks quickly and clog the rush lanes … Has the speed and range to chase down the line … Strong wrap-up tackler that will give up his body to get to the ball … His hand placement and moves (rip, swim) allow him to create pressure … Plays with a good motor in his pursuit and has enough agility to drop into coverage and make the open-field tackle … If given a free lane, he can close quickly on the quarterback … Has adequate mental ability and ball recognition skills.

Negatives: When he gets high in his stance, he exposes his chest and blockers quickly get into his body, causing him to struggle to shed … Loses leverage at the point of attack when taking on double teams, as he struggles to split … Needs to stay at a lower pad level to prevent blockers from locking on … Accountable player, but will only do what is asked in the weight room … Stays tied up too long and has difficulties making the tackle when the action is directed right at him … Body appears too stiff for him to get proper knee bend … Relies too much on his rip moves as a pass rusher and needs to develop better club and swim moves in order to gain quicker penetration.