Why Dominique Easley is a risk who will reward the Patriots

Six. That is the number the New England Patriots use to designate prospects who they consider "dirty starters," implying they are talented enough but something — anything — is holding them back from taking the next step.

X. That is the letter the New England Patriots use to designate prospects that have had injuries or are injury risks coming out of college. Unless it's a late gamble, they’ll be avoided.

Former Florida Gator and first round selection Dominique Easley is both. He is arguably the best interior pass-rusher in the draft, when healthy. He has the ability to ruin an entire play by himself, if not an entire game.

At 6-foot-2, 288 pounds, he lacks ideal height. But he’s startling, with a first step that will beat anyone off the line regardless of their jersey. His hands are electric; they make each moment of contact seem like a thunder strike. His motor is never-ending, continuously buzzing at quarterbacks in backfields like bees.

But he's also injury prone, having shredded ACLs in both knees, making him a significant gamble for any team that drafts him.

So why did the Patriots draft him with their No. 29 overall pick?

Ask the Tennessee Volunteers' offensive linemen.

Down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Gators, Tennessee's hopes of rallying a comeback rested on possibly their final drive. Their offense lined up with three receivers split across the formation and a shotgun quarterback ready to move the ball downfield.

In the trenches, Easley was head-up over the center, on the ball. The clock ticked away ... 6:17 ... 6:16 ...

The center snapped the ball and slid two steps to his right, then looked away from Easley, fearing to make eye contact in case of a possible matchup occurring.

Easley, instead, focused on the left guard, taking one step to his right and shifting his body over before unloading a hammering right hand that jarred the blocker so hard that his body turned sideways. His back now faced his fellow linemen, leaving a gaping hole for Easley to burst through.

When Easley powered through the B-gap with heavy steps, he didn't see the running back coming in his direction with his arms loosely dangling, ready to ram his right shoulder into the oncoming rusher. When he did, Easley spun into the center of the backfield and forced the quarterback to make a throw under duress without room to step up … 6:13 … 6:12 .. 6 ...

If you don't believe the Tennessee Volunteers, ask the Miami Hurricanes' offensive linemen.

Minutes into the third quarter against Miami, Easley lined up at the nine technique defensive end with hands and feet dug into the dirt. There was no tight end across from him, but there might as well have been considering how far he was from the left tackle.

He leaned forward from the line and lightly jogged, his arms by his side, his eyes focused on the running back and left tackle. He watched the running back slowly release out of the backfield, wondering if he would be chipped like he was against Tennessee. Simultaneously he sized up the left tackle.

The running back ultimately leaked out of the backfield, allowing Easley to press his right cleat into the grass and shift his weight toward the left tackle. He threw his right shoulder into the blocker, popping him back into the backfield, then powering through choppy step by choppy step like he's climbing a mountain. Each step generated more power, so much power that it overwhelmed the left tackle, who grabbed on for dear life.

Two plays, two pressures, and no sacks. This was Easley’s collegiate career in a handful of plays. He never racked up many sacks, totaling an eyebrow-furrowing 5.5 in his four years at Florida. Weren’t pass rushers supposed to rack up sacks?

Not to mention, he lacks ideal size and has an injury history at the knees, the same body parts that defensive tackles arguably put the most pressure on. Why was he a first round pick again? Why, of all teams, did the Patriots select him?

Here’s why: sacks are overrated. A pressure is a pressure is a pressure. If Easley flushes a quarterback out of the pocket, forcing him into a turnover, he’s given his team better field position — which Bill Belichick obsesses over — than a sack and subsequent punt would.

Additionally, the pressures he racks up also apply to run defense. Just ask the Miami Hurricanes again.

The Hurricanes thought they had running room. They were in shotgun set with three receivers spread, two to the formation’s left and one to the right. They sneaked in a tight end to the right as well, essentially creating a doubles set. It looked promising against the Gators’ soft seven man box.

Easley, meanwhile, was lined up across the right guard at the two technique. He didn’t care about the Hurricanes’ plans. When the Hurricanes’ offensive line slid right altogether, Easley went to their left …

The risk is great, there’s no doubt about it. Easley’s game is built around explosiveness, plowing through offensive linemen with violent moves that leave them picking their quarterbacks up off the ground, patting their chest to signal fault.

But the potential return is worth it. The quickest way to shred an offensive gameplan is down the middle.

Belichick and the Patriots know all of this. They’ve searched, researched, medicaled, worked out, and watched Easley. They know he’s an X, but they’re hoping that he stays healthy at least to be a Six.

Maybe even a 6.5.