STRENGTHS - Muscular and well built, Montgomery definitely looks the part of an NFL DE "on the hoof." While he lacks explosive quickness off the ball as a pass rusher, he does get out of stance and set to take on OL run block fast. By maintaining good knee bend/leverage, positioning and using hands well, Montgomery consistently takes on OL run blocks strong at the POA, carries out responsibility, sheds and makes tackle. When offenses try to run block him with a TE, not only can he easily make the play, but he flashes the ability to dominate TE and blow up play behind the LOS. While he lacks premier speed, he has good enough playing speed to chase down ball carrier in pursuit along LOS on running plays away. His playing strength enables him to jolt and drive OT backwards when he bull rushes, can disengage and pressures QB. In addition, he shows his strength with a strong and violent outside "club" move to jolt OT inside so he can get around the corner. Even when his initial pass rush move is not effective he often gets pressure on the QB through a combination of great effort, intensity and strength. He has versatility to be effective as DE in a 43 scheme & as an OLB in a 34 defense.
WEAKNESSES - Montgomery is more a smooth and fluid athlete than an explosive one and is productive due to effort, strength and use of hands. He lacks the explosive first step and speed to threaten the corner as a speed rusher. He has no real variety of pass rush moves and struggles to consistently pressure the QB vs strong OT's; especially on quick hitting passes due to his lack of explosiveness. When he defeats a block, both pass and run, he lacks the elite speed and explosive closing burst to finish plays outside of a small area. Although he has some experience dropping off the ball into coverage, he is not smooth or fluid playing off the ball and looks a bit stiff and mechanical.
SUMMARY - Despite being hyped as being better than Barkevious Mingo entering the 2012 season, we have always felt that Mingo's athleticism gave him the edge. Strong and powerful at the POA, Montgomery is very productive against the run to his side and gets pressure on their QB through effort, hand use and playing strength. Overall, I do not expect Montgomery to be a first round pick because he reminds me a ton of current Ravens' OLB Courtney Upshaw and Chargers' OLB Jarrett Johnson. He will likely never be a star player, but Montgomery has what it takes to be a productive starting OLB in a 34 scheme or DE in a 43 defense. I would not be shocked if the Patriots drafted him because he could be a good starter at OLB and could drop down into a 3-Pt stance when they switch into 43 alignments during the game. .