NFL Draft Film Analysis: Would the Cincinnati Bengals be a Good Fit for T’Vondre Sweat?
At 6-4 and 362 pounds, T’Vondre Sweat is a massive man. In 2023, Sweat was awarded the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top lineman.
He was the recipient of the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Award and was a unanimous first team All-American. It’s amazing to watch from a nose tackle, but it’s amazing for any player. Sweat became the exception to the rule that that position doesn’t usually get the glory.
The former 3-star recruit wasn’t expected to dominate college football the way he did in 2023; prior to this season, he was only named to the preseason All-Big 12 Second Team.
Let’s talk about what makes him a unique player and how he dominated the previous campaign.
Where He Is Most Effective
When faced with combo blocks and double teams, sweat is virtually immovable. His ability to do this is one of his strongest suit and is essential to being a successful nose tackle. He not only frees up his linebackers by keeping these guys off of them, but it’s amazing that even when he gets doubled or combo blocked, he still makes the play.
A defensive tackle weighing more than 350 pounds rarely perspires. He’s not like most of those guys; he can move. Whether he fires the ball into his gap or slants it across the face of the opposing offensive lineman, he can win with his get off.
When teams dare to block him one-on-one in the run game, Sweat can reset the line of scrimmage with strength commensurate with his size. When he gets the chance, he will take his opponent and force them back into the ball carrier.
His ability to rush passes is a direct result of his strength in the run game. He can bull rush his opponents against their will and squeeze their pocket with plenty of juice.
His hands are a little unpolished. His timing and placement of these moves currently hurts him, despite the fact that he has a variety of moves and they are devastating when they land. He misses these moves far too frequently, which allows opposing offensive linemen to clamp down on him.
There have been rumors from some insiders that he struggled with football motivation before this season. His failure to participate in the senior bowl made matters worse. To demonstrate to the NFL that he is serious about playing at the next level, he must weigh in at a healthy weight at the Combine.
At nose tackle, sweat is the whole package.
Sweat is the best run defender in the middle of the defense because of his ability to destroy opponents when he is singled up and to render double teams useless.
He performs flawlessly in every role as a run defender, thanks to his enormous size, strength, and unexpected mobility. As a rookie, he seems like someone you can pretty much plug and play and expect good production against the run. The next level will require him to read his opponent and respond quickly because things will move more quickly there.
