When the Seattle Seahawks selected defensive end Frank Clark out of Michigan with their first pick (63rd overall) in the draft, all of the discussion was (rightfully) about his off-field and character issues. His selection was a huge risk, and the fan base was divided on if he should be allowed on the roster.

All of the talk about his arrest last season meant that there was no time to discuss his actual football skills. For better or for worse, Clark is now a member of the Seattle Seahawks. It is time to discuss what we’ll see when he finally takes the field in a Seahawks uniform.

What They Said

While Frank Clark’s off-field concerns dominated his scouting reports, there were some common threads in the parts on his football skills. As you can see from the quotes below, Clark is clearly a good football player.

Multiple profiles cited Clark’s lack of overall athleticism as a weakness. Supposedly he’s an “effort and motor” guy in the eyes some scouts. Interestingly, while he is a high-effort player, he is also extremely athletic.

Clark’s pSPARQ is better than 95.7 percent of NFL defensive edge rushers. So while he has a great motor, he is also one of the best athletes at his position in the NFL.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Downhill defensive end who can play on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Has the power to control the edge and is able to disengage and finish as a tackler. Fires out of stance with good burst upfield as pass rusher. Keeps pad level low and converts speed to power. Gets shoulders turned when he rounds corner as pass rusher, gaining leverage advantage.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports:

Powerful build with good body thickness – added 60+ pounds the last four seasons, working hard to develop his growth potential…quick first step upfield with sustained momentum to work off blocks and win the edge, taking sharp angles to the pocket…active, quick hands to work through blockers with excellent push-pull technique…sets up his moves and appears to have a rush strategy, making adjustments throughout the game.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report:

Frank Clark is a powerful, disruptive pass-rusher built to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. He uses his lower-body strength well to power his first step and generates good straight-line speed to penetrate the line. Against the run, he’s stout at the point of attack and is a high-effort player to make plays there.

What I See

Looking at Clark’s game film, it is easy to see what the Seahawks were trying to add to the roster when why drafted him. Clark is a complete player. He combines great athleticism with a high motor while displaying many traits that will allow him to be successful in the NFL.

Clark lacks the high-end speed to get around the corner and get to the quarterback the way Cliff Avril does. Instead, he wins with power. He displays great hand usage to get into the body of the defender and can bull-rush defenders back into the quarterback.

Clark’s quick first step and pass-rushing style mean he should excel on the inside at the three-technique position on passing downs. He didn’t rush much from the inside in college though. He was simply too powerful for college OTs to deal with so his lack of speed didn’t matter.

Another thing that stands out was Clark’s ability to read plays and not get fooled by misdirection and play-action. He keeps his head up and reacts quickly.

Clark displays a great anchor against the run. He was rarely pushed back, allowing him to stand up well both at the point of attack or when asked to set the edge. Michigan even asked him to 2-gap at times, and he displayed the strength and skill to do so effectively.

Overall thoughts

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player remind me of Michael Bennett as much as Clark does. Clark has an amazing first step, and excels at turning that speed into power. Combined with a high motor and polished hand usage, Clark was able to take over games defensively for Michigan.

Clark practically lived in the backfield. At times he was almost completely unblockable. While he’ll be facing better offensive linemen in NFL and will have to work harder to have the same level of success, there’s no doubt that he has the talent to become a great player.