Philm Study: Raekwon Davis the A-Gap Destroyer

Raekwon Davis is a unique player in the NFL

The Miami Dolphins are seeing a few of their rookies come on strong early in their young career. Tua, Hunt, Kindley, Jackson, and Jones are all proving effective and productive in their rookie season. While somewhat of a ‘late bloomer’ for this draft crop of fast starters, Raekwon Davis is fast proving to be one of the most effective rookies of the 2020 Draft with his excellent run defense. His tall stature is an oddity for a player deep in the interior of the D-line, but a rare combination of power, movement skills, and size has allowed him to dominate. If his play even continues at this level without any more growth, the future looks very bright for both Davis and the Phins interior defensive line.

Davis is a new era nose tackle?

Yeah, everyone wants Reggie White, who could do it all at an elite level and play up and down the line. The problem is teams are lucky to even find interior D-linemen who can be elite at one position or one role. Big and fast men who can even stay afloat on the NFL interior line are very, very rare. And if they prove to do more than just tread water, even in a limited capacity, a GM is lucky indeed.

It’s very early, but the tape of Davis keeps getting better and he is proving to be a dominating force in the A-Gap on run downs with potential in the pass rush as well. Davis is a modern version of the big, squat DT’s that ruled the interior line of scrimmage before this pass-enhanced era. Vince Wilfork was one of the best ever at the spot and he dominated for a decade with the Patriots. We Phins fans know how effective he was all too well. Miami passed on him in the draft and two more absolute studs in Ngata and Vea. BUT, it looks like they landed a real winner with Davis… for a much cheaper price.

Davis is starting to come into his own by dominating the A-Gap

1. 1st Play: Davis has good straight-line speed and would have made the tackle down the line if not for a blatant hold. Sometimes you wonder about the NFL refs eyesight.
2. 2nd Play: Davis demands the double because centers can’t handle him alone. His power allows him to hold ground and make the second blocker stick instead of getting to the next level. This frees up the LBS, which is perfect for a 2-Gap role and a primary job for a nose guard.
3. 3rd Play: Davis demands a double and frees up Wilkens to make the play. He does suffer a bit from angle blocks because he is so tall… but, he has been improving his leverage and seeing more success when the double angle blocks him.
4. 4th Play: One-on-one is usually a disaster for O-linemen.

1. 1st Play: Even doubles aren’t very effective without an angle block. Again, this frees up the other D-linemen.
2. 2nd Play: Power, balance, and decent speed turn Davis into a wrecking ball when he tracks down the line.
3. 3rd Play: Power and length is brutal one-on-one. Centers don’t stand a chance. Davis dominates the A-Gap.
4. 4th Play: Davis controls the A-Gap and forces the RB to the B-Gap. Just forget running at him with a single block.

1. 1st Play: Davis is an athlete with quality agility enough to avoid the cut.
2. 2nd Play: Domination of the line of scrimmage and the agility to cut back. It doesn’t take the best football software to recognize the immense physical dominance! I had no choice but to show it twice!
3. 3rd Play: On the downside, Davis only has one tool in his pass rush. The bull rush is effective but can be neutralized with leverage. Rome wasn’t built in a day… the kid will grow.

Davis, Wilkens, and Seiler make for a tough Phins interior

What we are seeing is one of the most gifted athletes the Dolphins have had in a long time. While I wrote in August that maybe Davis would replace Godchaux as the nose tackle in 2021, I didn’t think he’d get this good this quick. It’s really shocking how good he’s getting. Davis bumped up his weight from 317 to 330 in the offseason, so it appears this is the role Brian Flores had intended for him. It also appears Davis was given an opportunity to do more as a 3-Tech, but 0-2i Tech guarding the A-Gap was clearly where he was at his best. And so far his ‘best’ has been very good with PFF ranking him the 34th best interior linemen in the game!

It usually takes a couple of years for defensive linemen to be effective… If Davis is this good this early, what does the future hold for him?!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little Philm study… and Fernando this was for you! Go Phins!!!