Washington Football Team: Analyzing 2021 first-round pick LB Jamin Davis
By Ian Cummings
Tape Breakdown
The most eye-catching part of Jamin Davis’ profile is his athletic framework. Naturally, that’s what shows up on tape first. Standing at almost 6-foot-4, 234 pounds, with 33-inch arms, Davis looms over the competition, as well as his own teammates. His long frame gives him impressive reach in tackling situations, and allows him to make plays that other LBs might not be able to make.
Many of Davis’ athletic testing numbers translate onto the field as well. Davis’ 4.48 speed shows up with his sideline-to-sideline range. Davis can traverse the width of the field incredibly quickly for his size. His explosive burst helps him gain speed quickly, and at his top speed, he can run stride for stride with players six inches smaller than him. Compounding his range, Davis also has excellent hustle through the whistle, and you won’t find him taking many reps off.
In shorter ranges, another one of Davis’ most impressive athletic traits shows up: His elite lateral ability. Davis moves with incredible side-to-side twitch. Davis’ twitch, combined with his short-range explosiveness, makes it very hard for ball carriers to escape him once they enter his tackling radius. With his twitch, he can change his tackling angles on a moment’s notice, and with his burst, he can swoop in and seal the deal at the contact point.
Davis’ lateral ability is almost more observable in congestion. Things can get kind of hairy in the box, with so many blockers and defenders mixing together. But Davis has the twitch, instincts, and fluidity to navigate through congestion and hone in on the ball carrier. This also shows up around the edge, as Davis can use his explosiveness and length to snare up runs before they get started.
In coverage, Davis’ longer range traits are more visible. He has good hip fluidity for his size, and just as his range allows him to seal off outside runs, it also allows him to traverse the field and stick with pass catchers. Additionally, Davis has solid awareness in zone coverage, and he maintains good positioning when faced with 2-on-1 situations. He can also line up in different spots and maintain his effectiveness. He played at MIKE, WILL, and as a nickel with the Wildcats.
It is worth noting that Davis, while being well-sized, is a bit on the lean side, considering his long frame. There are times when he struggles to bring the requisite amount of force against blockers. Nevertheless, Davis has solid play strength, and there aren’t many bad things you can say about his physical profile.
The concerns with Davis are mainly procedural, but he’s not a bad processor. He can be late to react as route concepts develop, and like any linebacker, he sometimes bites on run fakes or counters. He’s very aggressive when triggering, but he needs to develop more patience and key awareness in the NFL. Luckily, mental traits are easier to develop than physical ones. Davis flashes the necessary instincts to be an impact player, and his potential is astronomical with his tools.