Broncos Film Room: Who is Kasim Edebali?

The 2017 NFL offseason has not been kind to the outside linebacker spot opposite Von Miller for the Denver Broncos.

The position’s first loss came with the retirement of future Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware. Then, in late May, Shaquil Barrett went down with a hip injury that should sideline him at least until Week 2, and Shane Ray should have the same timeline in his rehab, after injuring his wrist a few days ago.

All of a sudden, a position Denver has strongly prioritized through free agency and the draft, around the pass rush and secondary, is now depleted heading into the start of the season.

A group of young pass rushers is expected to fill in, as guys such as Vontarrius Dora must build off a strong 2016 preseason to emerge. 2017 second-round pick DeMarcus Walker should also contribute to some extent, though he’s not a true “stand-up edge,” which is what the Broncos need.

The player that’s most experienced and ready to contribute from the remaining group is Kasim Edebali, who the Broncos signed in the offseason to a one-year deal. The former New Orleans Saint is entering his fourth season in the NFL after going undrafted out of Boston College. His background is quite interesting and is covered masterfully in our exclusive interview with him here.

Who Edebali is on the field, though, is still an unknown to most fans and media members. In three seasons, with only two starts, he’s tallied some intriguing production, most notably his eight sacks in the regular season.

Edebali’s best season came in 2015 when he racked up five sacks with the Saints and seemed ready for a breakout the next season. Though there were some moments, the breakthrough never came.

However, given his impressive production in limited time and the fact that Edebali’s done the most damage when he’s started, there’s some promise there. Considering all this, it was time to get back to the lab and watch Edebali’s tape to figure out what type of player he really is and what should truly be expected of him when the season kicks off. He’ll be expected to produce as opposing offenses will be able to key in on Miller more than ever.

Strengths

• Edebali has powerfully strong hands that he’s learned to groom with time – showing a major improvement from his days at Boston College. He stuns linemen and jars them back to create space for himself.             
• He plays like a former undrafted free agent who’s hungry, possessing a relentless motor.
• Kasim is very strong, plays with great leverage, and has a powerful bull rush. 
• He’s an excellent run defender who plays soundly and attacks his gap responsibilities. He’s a strong edge setter against the run as well.
• Edebali stands out for his strong, wide frame that allows him to plug gaps in the run game.
• He’s flashed a spin move that he uses fairly often with good results.
• Plays with good pursuit, uses his motor well and runs plays down from the back side. He gets a lot of tackles and even sacks on his second efforts.
• The former Saint has been productive when given a chance. He had a sack in every NFL start he’s ever had and has three sacks in his only two starts. He’s also an efficient closer, using his strong hands to bring down the passer when he gets into the backfield.
• He finishes plays with bad intentions. You feel Edebali when he brings you down to the ground.
• He’s a fourth-quarter playmaker; I went back and watched every NFL career sack he’s ever had, and the overwhelming majority were in the final quarter.
• Edebali plays with good instincts and active hands and can make some plays tipping balls at the line.
• He’s also shown himself to be a useful special teams player and a very reliable tackler. While not the most explosive off the snap, Edebali has shown some impressive speed running plays down with nice straight-line speed.
• Most of all, Edebali’s awareness really stands out. He never gives up on plays and always circles back to the ball, often making an impact by simply hustling and sticking with the play.
• As one of the stronger outside rushers on the team, Edebali is also a competent situational pass rusher from the inside. Where his ability to play with strong hands, power, and leverage shine.
• Kasim’s victimized some very talented NFL left tackles, particularly two former Colorado products in Nate Solder and David Bakhtiari. 

Weaknesses

• Edebali isn’t a speed rusher. His first step isn’t impressive, and he won’t beat many guys that way.
• He’s also far from a flexible athlete who can slip under opposing offensive tackles pads with ease while attacking the outside.
• He’s not a true 3-4 outside linebacker, his build and athleticism will make him somewhat of an awkward fit in his new position. He’s played primarily as a hand-in-the-ground end in his career.
• The German-born rusher is still developing his pass rushing arsenal. He likes to use a spin move but will mostly only win with his bull rush and secondary pursuit.
• He doesn’t create tons of pressure right off the bat winning on his first move; he’s a pure hustle player. Very different from Ray or Miller.
• He’s fairly untested in coverage and could be a liability if dropped back as a linebacker.

What it all means

When Ware went down with some injuries during the 2015 season, Barrett emerged as a valuable substitute. In 2016, Shane Ray broke out of his shell, putting up eight sacks. 2017 could be Edebali’s time to join that club.

It’s certainly a big opportunity for the fourth-year pro who’d give Denver yet another valuable asset rushing from the outside or inside, making the Broncos an even more lethal rotation when everyone is back to full health.

The tools are all there as he’s been productive in limited time and on a struggling pass rushing unit, but the greater point with Edebali is that he never quite took off with the Saints. He never became the consistent playmaker that demanded playing time. After a disappointing 2016 season, it’s reasonable to wonder if 2015 was just a flash in the pan or if Edebali really can be a solid rotational edge defender.

His sack-per-snap production from his best season (2015) is close to Miller’s and better than Shane Ray or Khalil Mack’s from last season. If Edebali can get back to performing with that type of efficiency getting after the passer on a per play basis, watch out.

His conditioning in the first month of the season as Ray and Barrett rejoin the team will be crucial and don’t overlook his ability against the run which could allow him to have an impact with the team beyond Week 2.

Kasim Edebali has had an unusual path, and he’s had some opportunities to take the next step before in the NFL, but never quite like this one. It’s now or never for the up-and-coming player as he’ll get to play opposite Miller and with the best secondary in the NFL. His skills certainly suggest that he just might be up for the task.