Knowns and Unknowns – Malik Herring was a rotational player until early in 2019, when he got the nod as a starter, his Junior year. He displayed raw talent during his time at Georgia and at 6-foot-3, 280 lbs. had good stats on the pass rush, for QB pressures. One analyst had him rated quite highly
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going into 2020. As a Senior, in the Covid-19 shortened season, he had 15 pressures and 19 the year before. That’s what Chiefs appraisals had to be focused upon.
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His first-step explosion to get in the backfield and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage is another positive trait.
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Some Background
The difficulty in assessing Herring is due to his lack of starter reps in college, which was limited at first as a Junior and expanded from there. He played solid football when he was on the field, was spotted in on the Interior but even then he was the size that would be considered a “Tweener” who was more fit for the outside than inside. His size is a good fit for the NFL as a DE. In 2019 and 2020, Herring got the chance to show why that fit on the outside was the right place for his skills. His QB pressures for both seasons was very good noted above. Malik was also considered an elite run defender either way, but his pass rush evaluation was top notch.
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Herring, wearing #10 here, does a spin move to get in on the sack:
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How was Herring appraised, pre-draft?
He just plain did not have starter snaps enough to obtain a good evaluation from NFL scouts. He is not a pure athletic talent either. He is not an interior defender who could translate inside in the NFL and due to that fact and the lack of time as a starter on the outside, he probably was not considered a talent to pursue heavily especially due to the ACL tear at the Senior Bowl Practice after the 2020 Season. These two factors combined is probably why he was not selected in the 2020 draft.
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When he entered the virus shortened season, It was known where he fit on the DL. It appeared that he had sound technique both as a run defender and a pass rusher. Herring displayed his ability to get into the opposing pocket with his QB pressures. I think you see the point and how he came to Veach’s scouting crew’s attention and how he arrived in K.C. as a UDFA. I do not think he’s an after-thought invite.
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Pass Rush
Herring has a quick first step and the explosiveness to get into the opposing backfield. He causes problems for Tackles to block him and that is why, when he lined up on the outside, he was able to chalk up so many pressures. His sack production though is not evident. You can see him use his hands in this practice play as tweeted by Spencer Shultz (a Ravens fanatic) at the Senior Bowl:
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Run Defense
Malik Herring’s run defense was also good. During his senior year had notched 26 solo tackles on his scorecard. I am sure that he has the raw ability to reap benefit from intensive NFL Coaching at the next level. I am not sure where he goes from here. I don’t expect him to make the roster and if he is retained, it will be due to progress he makes in camp. Then he’d reap the benefit of being able to develop further if assigned to the Practice Squad. You can see SI.com and their “2021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: 3-4 Defensive Ends” here, as well as below
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Senior Bowl Invitation
As Herring ended up his Junior year on a high note and H.C. Kirby Smart thought highly of Herring. In a piece by Mike Griffith for DawgNation, called: “Georgia Football’s Most Underrated Defensive Player: Malik Herring,” Smart said:
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“Malik can be a good player, (but) he’s gotta hone in and do the little things right, and he’s gotta be a little more mature and serious about things to be the player we want him to be… He’s talented, though, and he’s played well. He’s just gotta mature some.”
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At that point, PFF had Herring as the 7th rated among defensive linemen. Note, that Christian Barmore who was drafted was ranked 12th. As a Junior he did not play in the first game and Smart told him that if he practiced hard and showed improvement he would get in games. He ended up starting 9 games as the season progressed to end up with the PFF appraisal that he received. His Senior season it was even more evident that Malik Herring had “something” and received an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Jake Rowe, for 247 Sports, wrote a piece before last season began called, “PFF lists Georgia’s Malik Herring as SEC’s top returning DL” in which he says,
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“When Malik Herring decided to come back for his final year at Georgia, it was a massive boost to a Bulldog defensive…. According to Pro Football Focus, it also gave UGA the top returning defensive lineman in the SEC.”
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He was showing well during the Senior Bowl workouts as noted, but tore his ACL, a set back that he had to face as the 2021 draft was approaching. Some might say that Herring’s real draft value was obscured by the higher profile of Azeez Ojulari, a Georgia DE who was taken at #50 overall by the NY Giants.
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We Wait to See
The disaster with the knee injury clearly was a problem for Herring for the draft. PFF’s outlook for him at the Senior Bowl was quite high, but then the injury occurred. It is not surprising that Herring received the invite to the Senior Bowl as he was showing well. By this time he was a top Defensive Line prospects in the SEC according to PFF.
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I can say this for him, he let the injury roll off his shoulders and appears determined to make it in the NFL. Malik Herring demonstrated his advancing skill set, suffered a set back and now his outlook in 2021 is his opportunity to move forward with the Chiefs. Obviously, with so late an injury, Herring did not participate in Georgia’s Pro Day nor will we see him early in practice and camp. Mark this one under P… for potential.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-udfa-focus-on-de-malik-herring/#disqus_thread)
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At noon today, I’ll address some of my thoughts about racism
being expressed here on ArrowheadOne, in a piece called:
Isms and Schisms: Vacuum Off
