CASEY HAMPTON
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

#64-CASEY HAMPTON University of Texas Longhorns 6:01.0-321

ANALYSIS
Positives... Throwback to another era when players competed with injuries that would sideline most people...Wide-framed tackler with a thick chest, wide hips and big thighs...Has sudden movements to get on the edge of a blocker...Very instinctive, reacting quickly to running schemes...Knifes through the line with explosion...Easily defeats the isolated blocker with strength and all-out effort...Loves getting on the center's head, as it allows him to burst quickly into the backfield to push the pocket...Very effective at flushing the quarterback out...Stacks the run at the point of attack, coming off the snap with a low, powerful leg drive...His low center of gravity allows him to gain leverage and opponents must use double-team blocking in order to contain him...Very active with his hands, working them across the face to defeat blockers.

Negatives... Shorter than ideal and this causes problems when trying to fill the rush lanes and the center gets assistance in blocking him out...Can push the pocket, but seems to lack the closing burst needed to get to the quarterback consistently...His size could be a problem in a two-gap system...While he delivers punishing hand swipes in closed quarters, he can get reckless while operating in space...Does not possess sustained speed, working better in the short area...Arms are shorter than ideal (31 ½-inch length)... Needs to lose some bulk to increase his stamina.

CAREER NOTES
The two-time All-American is one of the strongest defensive linemen in college football, boasting a 465-pound bench press...Tough, durable field leader who started 37 straight games for the Longhorns...Became the first defensive lineman to lead the team in tackles two consecutive seasons (1999-2000)...Team with Shaun Rogers in 2000 to give the team its first defensive tackle tandem to earn All-Conference (Big Twelve) honors since Ray Dowdy and Greg Ploetz in 1971 (Southwest)...Simply dominates vs. the run, as Texas allowed only 110.9 yards rushing per game in 1998, 105.7 yards in 1999 and 94.0 yards (lowest since 1983) in 2000...Was a prep tailback before gaining 50 pounds prior to his junior season in high school...Finished his career with 43 starts in 50 games... Recorded 329 tackles (177 solos) to rank eleventh on the school's all-time record list...His 329 hits were the most by a down lineman since Steve McMichael totaled 369 (1976-79)... Registered 9.5 sacks for minus 74 yards and 54 stops for losses of 173 yards... Only Kiki DeAyala (60, 1979-82) had more tackles behind the line of scrimmage in the history of Longhorn football...Also registered 56 quarterback pressures and caused nine fumbles.

REMIND ME OF... Former Houston Oilers great Curly Culp, the godfather of all nose guards.

GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL... Dirt is the color of his uniform. Bright red is seen in his eyes as he zeroes in on the quarterback. If Curly Culp has been reincarnated, Casey Hampton is him. What a PERFECT fit for New England's interior line problems. Hey Buffalo, you pay attention too.

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