If there is a Jay Ratliff in the 2014 NFL Draft, it's Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan. The two share many of the same traits as relatively smaller defensive linemen who excel as nose tackles. Those traits would be pure upper body power, quickness and good pass rush moves for a defensive tackle.
Timmy Jernigan 2014 NFL Draft scouting report
A powerful, disruptive defensive tackle, the former Florida State starter is a few technique flaws away from being a top-caliber prospect.
Jeff Gross
Pass rush: Jernigan has a lot of the tools to be a very good pass rusher, he’s just not quite there yet. The main reason is snap awareness. Too often, Jernigan is the last player to move on the defensive line. This allows an offensive line to get better position to keep from rushing the passer.
When Jernigan’s get-off is working, he has shown a good rip move where his power takes over. Famously against Clemson, Jernigan pulled a Clemson lineman all the way to the ground, slipped past a late-reacting help lineman and sacked Tajh Boyd. That’s about as impressive of a sack as you’ll see from a defensive tackle. He also has some versatility as a pass rusher, moving all around Florida State’s line (even lining up at linebacker a few times).
"When it’s a pass situation, when you want to go to a three-man front, you can put me on the nose guard, right on the zero," Jernigan said at the NFL Combine in February. "I can get pressure from the middle of the offense. I feel like that’s where my game changes from anyone else’s."
Pursuit/Quickness: What is so intriguing about Jernigan is his combination of power and athleticism. For a defensive tackle, he’s shown good pursuit on plays away from his area between the tackles. Jernigan shows very good quickness at the snap, at least when he’s timing it right.
Run defense: At Florida State, Jernigan often commanded double teams. Unlike a lot of tackles, Jernigan can sustain the double and still make a play. He locates the ball in a hurry and can close. He has more than enough strength to sustain and hold his spot at the line, clogging up interior running lanes.
Strength/Tackling: Pound-for-pound, there may be no stronger defensive tackle in the draft this year than Jernigan. He can handle double teams and still get disruption. Florida State would play Jernigan at the nose, especially on passing downs, and he found success in those situations because of his strength. As a tackler, Jernigan is about what you’d expect from a defensive tackle. Once he gets his hands on you, the play is through.
Technique: Stiff hips. That’s a term often associated with defensive backs who can’t change direction. Jernigan, to a degree, has stiff hips. He’s very much a straight-forward player, so when he has to redirect he gets in trouble. Jernigan also tends to come out of his stance straight up at the snap instead of staying bent at the knees. While Jernigan can rely on his incredible upper body strength in college, keeping a weak base could doom him in the NFL. He shows fine handwork, though. He keeps his hands inside a lineman’s pads uses his power to push blockers around.
Final word: To some degree, Jernigan will have to be in the right schematic fit to really take advantage of his ability. That’s why it’s always been so hard to find a good landing spot for him in the first round if he slides past a few teams in the middle of the draft. Jernigan is a powerhouse defensive lineman who has some technique flaws to overcome. If he does that, Jernigan can be a disruptive force thanks to his power and pass rush moves.
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