Leo Chenal

Vs Run

Outstanding run defender who wins with athleticism and play strength. He processes running plays very quickly and takes generally excellent angles to the ball carrier. Against Zone runs, he has a good aiming point and blows through the back-side of a reach block into the backfield and the RB’s path. He has multiple ways to win at the point of attack against such runs, including his play strength, his vertical explosion and his closing speed. But he can be overly aggressive against Zone, with a RB who presses his keys and assesses the right time to make the cut-back, he can leave holes to exploit or get trapped on another block. When he does take a bad angle, he adjusts quickly and his speed takes him back into the play. 

Against Gap blocks and when on the line of scrimmage he can deploy excellent use of hands to leverage his gap. He’s into you first with his hands with good timing, placement and power. He plays with a low pad level and good leverage, can defeat blocks and tackle the runner in his gap. He can also use his burst and fast hands to get to the back shoulder of the blocker quickly. He plays the run with effort, aggression and toughness. He can make plays to the outside against Running Backs, he takes good angles to the outside and can tackle runners in space. Runners with a little more lateral agility than most can cause him issues in space but he will get close enough with his foot speed to make an arm tackle, which can be successful because of his play strength. When on the end of the line of scrimmage he will set a physical edge with good use of hands and play strength.

Coverage

Has some limitations in coverage, mainly due to only adequate hip mobility. As moving laterally doesn’t come as easily to him as moving forward, maintaining the proper leverage in Zone coverage can be a struggle. He has good awareness in Zone, he can periph WRs and read the QB at a solid level but doesn’t have the hip fluidity and lateral movement skills to be able to cover in-breaking routes behind him effectively, creating throwing lanes for the Quarterback. He also doesn’t have great change of direction skills laterally, so when the offense floods his zone and he has to move quickly to another threat, he can be found wanting.

In man coverage he can stay in phase with his play strength, but those receivers who are savvy enough and have good enough change of direction to evade his hands are able to win consistently against him. He can turn and run downfield with receivers because of his speed. He has only adequate ball skills as both his hand timing and placement at the catch-point can be off the mark. He’s an outstanding blitzer, using his vertical explosion, speed and power to win consistently and get to the QB.

SUMMARY
Outstanding run-stuffing LB with ridiculous athleticism for his size and excellent play strength. Dangerous blitzer. Lateral movement deficiency limits him in coverage

PRODUCTION
JR: 10 Sacks, 8 QB Hits, 99 Total Tackles, 2 FFs
SO: 3 Sacks, 8 QB Hits, 1 Batted Ball, 47 Total Tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 PBU
INJURY: None

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 5
Intelligence 3
Versatility 3
Grit 5
Scheme 3