Moving from red flags to green flags, this is a highly detailed breakdown on Bud, a pretty long read but worth it imo:
http://www.thefootballeducator.com/alvin-bud-dupree-kentucky/#ixzz3Zuutl5ti
Alvin “Bud” Dupree
College: Kentucky
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-4 Weight: 269lbs
Speed: 4.56
Athletic Ability
Q.A.B.: 7 Quick Feet: 7.5 C.O.D.: 7.5 Flexibility: 7.5 Coordination: 7.5
Summary:
Dupree is a special athlete in terms of his quickness, fluidity, and twitch. He routinely displays cat-like COD in space, turning his hips smoothly in coverage, and closing on the ball extremely fast. For a 269-pound person it’s rare. His spectacular Combine only confirms the athleticism on tape. His balance isn’t as consistent as you would like to see which is the only reason his QAB isn’t a perfect score. He tends to absorb blockers and get a narrow base, negating any chance of having great balance when engaged. However, the capability to play with balance is evident in more space versus cut blockers and around the edge in pass rush situations. He routinely washes cut blocks down, keeping his feet churning, and keeping speed. He also has displayed excellent balance and coordination running the arc to the QB. He uses the straight arm move a lot, keeping his shoulders perpendicular to OL while using his arm as a pivot to get to the QB, showcasing an ability to bend while maintaining leverage and strength.
Section Grade: 7.4
Competitiveness
Toughness: 7.5 Clutch Play: 6.5 Production: 7.5 Consistency: 7.5 Team Player: 6.5 Pride / Quit: 7.5
Summary:
Dupree plays with tremendous fight on a consistent basis with only one loaf from my count in the 5 tapes I saw. The vast majority of games he fires off the ball and most impressively plays snap to whistle. This is most evident in pass rush situations. Even if he gets pushed past the QB off the edge, he never gives up on the play, often getting sacks when the QB is flushed from the pocket and he is there to greet him with a big hit. He also shows discipline (although without a lot of consistency) in his outside rushes by pausing to keep the QB in the pocket rather than run around him, which he capitalizes on by breaking off and making lots of tackles on swings, screens, and dump offs. One area of concern speaking to his consistency and clutch play is the tendency to absorb blocks, forming a narrow base at the POA versus the run, resulting in some preventable big gains. He also will crash down when filling too aggressively, opening up big cutback lanes for the RB. He needs to play with better leverage versus power. Dupree came to Kentucky as a TE & moved to WR before switching to OLB in ’12, DE in ’13, and a hybrid role in ’14. He also has had tremendous consistency in his production since becoming a starter in 2012 as a sophomore.
Section Grade: 7.2
Mental Alertness
Learn / Retain: 6.5 Instinct / Reaction: 7 Concentration: 7.5
Summary:
Dupree has been on a rising trajectory since arriving on campus in terms of improving his on the field play. He has gotten more physical in the tape from ’13 to ’14 (albeit I only saw 1 ’13 film) and has handled his substantial responsibilities/position switches on the field very smoothly. An area of concern is the continual display of reacting to blocks in the run game rather than initiating the contact. This can get him engulfed at times and out of position to make tackles. His instincts recognizing formations and locating the ball are refined as he often catches himself very quickly on misdirection, screens, and the read/option while reacting to the ball quickly and with exceptional speed. This speaks to his concentration on the field. He is a tuned in player that stays aware of the ball rather than getting tunnel vision to one area. He often breaks off blocks from the outside to track back inside, making tackles in bunches all over the field.
Section Grade: 7
Strength / Explosion
Body Type: 8 Durability: 8 Explosion: 8.5 Play Strength: 7
Summary:
Dupree has a very thick, well-rounded dispersion of muscle with especially developed triceps, giving his arms rare bulk, as well as good thickness in his quads. With 32 5/8 arms his best fit would be as a standup 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 SLB in a Von Miller type role. He hasn’t missed a game since being named a starter in 2012 but did suffer torn ligaments in his hand after the ’12 season, recovering in time to not miss a game. Dupree’s raw explosion leaps off the screen, especially considering his playing weight of 265. His lower half is incredibly twitched up and he is very sudden in his movements, capable of changing directions smoothly/quickly, which brought me to the SLB role where he can really be a special player. He shows the ability to get under bigger blockers, stand them up, and maintain position at the POA while also being able to dominate TEs, stacking/shedding with ease due to a strong lockout and rip/pull (where his triceps come into play). He doesn’t hold up as consistently in the power run game, particularly versus double teams as well as you’d like due to him absorbing blocks, likely due to focusing on the ball rather than his man first. It leads to him getting jolted at times and he will need to learn to take care of his man first, before reacting to the ball
Section Grade: 7.9
Ability Overview
6.5 READ & REACT
Reads the snap exceptionally well which allows him to look like he’s shot out of a cannon at times. Does an excellent job of breaking off his pass rush to react to the ball, routinely chasing down dump offs, draws, and screens. Also does a nice job versus the read/option recognizing it quickly. Struggled at times when filling on down blocks with over pursuing the ball/taking bad angles instead of keeping shoulders square and staying disciplined. This resulted in outside cutback lanes for RBs too often
8.5 INITIAL QUICKS
Dupree is a very twitchy athlete who is incredibly sudden in his movements both out of his stance and laterally. This also serves him very well in coverage versus smaller players as he is able to stay with them more times than not. The Combine only reinforced the freaky explosion displayed on film
7 PLAY STRENGTH
Has the strength in both his upper & lower body to halt momentum, stack, and shed TEs with ease but his average use of leverage at times negates it. Once his technique is cleaned up the strength is there to hold up at the POA more consistently. He has a very strong lockout due to powerful, thick arms
6.5 USE OF HANDS
Dupree flashes heavy and fast hands coming off the edge using a rip as well as a very powerful push/pull technique versus the run. He also uses them to knife through gaps, generating a lot of penetration. His punch on the stack needs to become more consistent as well as developing pass rush moves as he doesn’t have enough and no real inside counter
6 SHED BLOCKERS
Shows the capability to shed with power and quickness, disposing of TEs easily and can break off OL as well, just needs to become more consistent in doing so particularly when head up vs bigger/stronger blockers
5.5 RUN AT HIM
Has the tools (exceptional quicks, heavy hands, length/strength to explode and jolt on contact but lacks consistent leverage at POA & gets sealed too often
7.5 PURSUIT / RANGE
Has the initial quicks/foot fire paired with more than enough speed to close angles on skilled players as well as catch from behind. Excels sorting through trash and being comfortable with it near his feet
7 TACKLING
Able to separate ball from man as he unlocks his hips and explodes into people with heavy hands on contact. Occasionally will lunge into guys rather than wrap
8.5 CLOSING BURST
Covers a ton of real estate very quickly with long, fast strides. Special click & close player for his size
6.5 POWER RUSH
Shows the ability to convert speed to power and push the pocket on occasion. Has a very strong rip move that he uses more than anything else
7.5 SPEED RUSH
Giving him this grade based on one of the most explosive first steps in the country. Often blows by OL (both OTs & OGs) while showcasing a nifty dip move as well as his most commonly used move: the straight arm. Has very good flexibility in his hips & ankles to sink around the edge. Overall hand work is limited and will need to develop more efficiency here but has the bend and burst to be really special
6.5 ERRORS
Overall a very smart, tough player but needs to shore up his use of leverage versus power. Plays hard all game but will have a loaf here and there that stands out. Will need to refine his technique when filling on down blocks by keeping his shoulders square and taking better angles to the ball in pursuit
Section Grade: 7
Critical Factors
7 COMPETES
8.5 INITIAL QKS
7 INSTINCTS
8 PLAY SPEED
7 PLAY STR
8 SIZE
Section Grade: 7.6
Final Summary / Overall Grade: 7.4
Combine Notes:
11’6 Broad Jump, 42.0 Vertical, 4.56 40 yard dash, 32 5/8 arms, 9 3/4 hands
Strong Points:
Rare size/speed combo with superb definition throughout his body. Has excellent lower body explosion. Possesses a tremendous get off and snap anticipation. Has the bend and flexibility to drop his hips, bend his ankles, and close to the QB. Looks very fluid in space for his size, generating lots of production outside the tackle box with excellent ball location & closing speed. Scheme diverse player with experience lining up all over the field.
Weak Points:
Lacks consistent leverage at the POA, particularly head up where he tends to expose his chest and get sealed/moved off the ball too often. Filling on down blocks he often takes poor angles to the ball, resulting in easy cutback lanes for ballcarriers. Tries to beat OTs to the QB with pure speed rather than technique. Needs work on his hand usage/placement. Will take a play or two off a game.
Summary:
Alvin helped lead his high school to a state championship in basketball while starring as a tight end/defensive end on the football team. He came to Kentucky as a tight end before moving primarily to the defensive side of the ball as a freshman. Dupree (senior) is a three year starter with experience both as a DE in a 4-3 scheme as well as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme. He finished his career with 247 total tackles, 145 solo, 37 TFL, 23.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 INT, and 2 blocked kicks. His senior season saw him finish with 74 total tackles, 45 solo, 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT (pick-6), and a blocked kick. Dupree has lined up on both the left and right sides as well as in a 2pt & 3pt stance. When standing up on the edge he routinely will slide out above a slot receiver and play in space.
Dupree’s body type has large frame with thick, evenly dispersed muscle throughout his upper and lower halves including extremely defined triceps, giving his arms a rare thickness to them. His playing weight was listed at 264 before coming to the Combine at 269. He has long enough arms to play DE in the NFL but is better suited for a 34 OLB or a 43 SLB, capable of sliding down to DE on 3rd downs. Dupree has exceptional burst out of his stance, capable of beating OTs to the edge and knifing through the interior for TFLs. He is a hyper-active pass rusher who wins with sheer speed and effort. He consistently keeps his feet firing to the QB and through contact, getting a lot of sacks with effort. When he gets pushed past the QB on the edge he continues his pursuit, often catching them from behind or outside of the pocket. He doesn’t show a variety of pass rush moves and needs to develop an inside counter. He relies too much on his speed off the edge. He does possess a nice straight arm move due to a strong lockout and the ability to sink his hips, bend his ankles, and close the gap to the QB but his hand usage isn’t great and will need work developing better hand placement. Dupree is an average run defender who struggles with technique. He often exposes his chest and is late to shed, usually due to watching the ball too long before disengaging. His leverage is inconsistent but he shows the ability to fire low and win at the POA at times. He excels in pursuit, showing the balance/coordination with trash around his feet and he consistently washes cut blocks down without losing hardly any speed. Off the edge in the run game he has the strength in his lockout to set the edge but will need work on filling on down blocks to weak side runs. He often takes poor angles either by not filling and floating down the LOS, getting washed out or by filling too aggressively and turning his shoulders, leaving him susceptible to cutbacks. Dupree has extensive experience dropping in coverage and in space, displaying fluidity to click/close on the ball exceptionally well due to rare explosion in his hips and legs. He makes a lot of tackles in backside pursuit, showcasing outstanding range, and he meets ballcarriers with aggression/heavy hands.
Dupree would not be a very good fit as a 43 DE due to his aforementioned rawness against the run but rather looks like a plug and play 34 OLB. A role he hasn’t played in but I think he could excel is as a 43 SLB. His experience in space, speed, and athleticism would serve him well tracking down the ball and covering TEs and he could slide down to DE on 3rd downs as an impactful edge rusher. If he can improve his technical flaws versus power he has all the ability to be a dynamic, every down playmaker at the next level.
Value – Top 15 Projection – Top 15 Pro Comp – Ahmad Brooks
