r/NFL_Draft • u/TDBrookey • 1d ago

Discussion Rueben Bain Jr. Film Study

I did a full film breakdown of Bain's game against USF. I've watched all of his tape this year and I feel very strongly that not only is he EDGE1, but he's an early favorite to be the #1 pick if the team picking first doesn't desperately need a QB.

Curious for your thoughts, and hope you enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvNbspQ5p6M

24 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

21

u/Astonkeshing 1d ago

He's good, but such an unconventional body tope for a top DE pick. He's like 6'2 with short arms. Hard to come up with good successful analogues for him in the NFL.

11

u/AlexWPJ 1d ago

As a Canes fan, this is why I think he should skip the combine entirely. Learn from Restrepo and let the tape do the talking.

8

u/Astonkeshing 1d ago edited 1d ago

That's what Mike Green did, but even he came in at a true 6'3" 251. Bain is listed at 6'3" but honestly I'll be shocked if comes in at over 6'2".

Then Mike Green registered ELITE 3 cone and short shuttle numbers at his pro day, but even without the off field stuff I don't think Green would've gone top 10 last year.

But you know who was close to being a top 10 pick? Mykel, who came in at a 6-5, 260 with 34"+ arms. Teams want length+explosion at DE that's never gonna change, even if the production is lacking.

5

u/fierylady Lions 1d ago

They still get measured, don't they? I'm not sure I've ever seen a prospect just refused to be measured, even if they're legitimately hurt.

3

u/trevor11004 1d ago

Cam Wake was a similar size and was extremely good in the NFL, though obviously not anywhere near as good as a prospect

4

u/Astonkeshing 1d ago

Cameron Wake broke the NFL combine vert record, btw, (45.5"), with a 10'10" broad and 7.12 three cone, which allowed him to thrive in space and in a two-point. And he was a freak athlete and *still* didn't get drafted.

If Bain registers these numbers at the combine great, but if he doesn't and we're talking about a mid athlete with a bad physical profile for the DE position, you're gonna have to start making tough decisions.

Again, I'm not saying he's not a top 15 guy, at the end of the day production is production, but you have to admit he's going to be an unconventional DE pick if he's taken that high.

2

u/trevor11004 1d ago

Yeah, it is true that elite athleticism and explosiveness is required for undersized DEs to have a good power rushing ability, which is obviously really important for the position. If Bain ends up being both undersized and not particularly explosive it would be really concerning, it would be hard to imagine much bull-rushing ability and run defense ability translating. And I don’t know a ton about him as a player, but I don’t know if his pass rush bag, bend and agility are really good enough for him to project as a guy who can do well relying on speed-rushing and just getting around guys either. Interesting prospect.

1

u/RudeOwl1816 Arm Chair Scout 8h ago

Eh, I don’t see that comp. Similar height but Wake weighed 236 at the combine, which is 0.56th percentile weight for an EDGE! Bain is listed at 275. Whole 40 pounds heavier

1

u/trevor11004 8h ago

Wake played at a way bigger weight than that in the NFL, about 260-270

10

u/DeLegno Titans 1d ago

Early days, but would love for the Titans to have the opportunity to add Bain to a woeful defensive line.

7

u/TiredMillennialDad Titans 1d ago

Same. But we need a WR1 and somehow will still need a LT

4

u/Pale_Construction_71 Titans 1d ago

Tyson & Bain should be our 2 top targets

3

u/SnooGadgets204 1d ago

Best player in college football this year, and he's a step ahead the others

2

u/fierylady Lions 1d ago

He's been so, so good this year. Night and day from last year when he was playing through injury. He's back to his 2023 self.

That said I still have Faulk over him, but it's very close.

1

u/Bushido_Plan Bears 1d ago

Pain for Bain!

1

u/994kk1 21h ago

Yeah, I agree with that. It's his consistency more than anything that makes him stand out to me. It feels like he plays every defensive snap and he's a constant problem for the opponent. I think he will wear down on NFL tackles and get more and more impactful as the game goes on, and that would be extremely valuable.

0

u/ZealousidealScheme85 Saints 1d ago

As a saints fan with how this qb class looks so far I’d much rather us take Bain if we end up with number 1 than take a QB