Troy Dye Overview
Position: Inside linebacker
Height: 6’3
Weight: 231 lbs
School: Oregon Ducks
Troy Dye 2020 NFL Draft Profile
There were many impact players for the Oregon Ducks that helped contribute the rebuild back to PAC-12 Conference champions. Head coach Mario Cristobal and quarterback Justin Herbert will be the individuals that will be given the main accreditation. It was a whole team effort that got the Ducks to their 12-2 record last season and their first PAC-12 Conference title since 2014. Outside linebacker Troy Dye was an instrumental player for the defense as a four-year starter for the Ducks. In his four years, Dye accumulated 391 total tackles, 234 solo tackles, 41.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five interceptions, 14 pass deflections, and four forced fumbles. This past season, Dye accounted for 84 total tackles, 52 solo tackles, 9.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four deflections, and two forced fumbles.
Dye created a great career with Oregon as he was selected as a three-time second-team All-Pac 12 from 2017-to-2019. There are many attributes that made Dye a reliable and consistent outside linebacker at Oregon. His ability to chase down the ball carriers from endzone-to-endzone and his reliability in coverage are his best traits. While these traits were great in college, there are not as essential for outside linebackers in the NFL. Therefore, he will go into the 2020 NFL Draft as an inside linebacker. He won’t be a pure mike as he does have the traits/patience of a zone defender as most mikes do. There are situations where he could play weakside linebacker if he was in a deep passing game scheme.
Strengths
- Fast and smooth mover;
- Has incredible range to run from sideline-to-sideline;
- Has the ability to deliver hard punches;
- Great tackling radius;
- Can blitz efficiently despite being thin;
- Great man coverage player;
- High football IQ;
- Physical enough to contend with tight ends on blocks or coverages;
- Outstanding change of direction mover.
Weaknesses
- Thin frame;
- Can get beat with power;
- Has difficulty moving through traffic especially on pursuit angles;
- Can get lazy in the zone coverage schemes;
- Easily tricked into play-actions;
- Can get caught and pulled into the block from offensive linemen on blitzes;
- Doesn’t read the plays quickly;
- Has a tendency to not the environment around him;
- Not powerful enough to deliver hard hits.
Comparisons: Zach Cunningham
Teams with positions needs: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Third Round
Bottom Line on Troy Dye
Dye was a tremendous impact player for the Oregon Ducks’ defense in his four-year career. Now he has a chance to be a key defensive impact player in the NFL. His talents as a tackler, playbook leader, and man coverage are highly established. He has wide versatility as a linebacker as a mike or a weakside linebacker. He will not be the main middle linebacker in a 4-3 defensive front, and he will not be a big sacker in the pass rush. Whoever selects on April 23rd through 25th in the 2020 NFL Draft, they will have to utilize him efficiently and not force him into a role.
His attributes as a playmaker defending the run and pass make him a perfect defender against offenses in the league. If given time to develop as his weaknesses in the zone coverage and be able to be aware of his environment, he will be a much efficient player. Most teams will look at him as a safe pick, but he could develop into a much more reliable linebacker in the league. He will fit well with a defense that needs a man coverage linebacker in a 3-4. He can also fit with a defensive scheme where the weakside linebacker spreads to the secondary unit.
Main photo:
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