Da’Shawn Hand has a lot to prove, will he prove it as a Redskin?

Da’Shawn Hand, DL
School: Alabama | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 282 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 4th Round or 5th Round
NFL Comparison: David King

College Statistics

Player Overview

Da’Shawn Hand needs to prove himself. Hand was the number one recruit in the nation in 2014 from Woodbridge, Virginia no less in a class that included Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and Leonard Fournette. Everyone in Alabama has been waiting for Hand to take over especially after the departure of Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson but it didn't happen. Hand’s career production has not lived up to his recruiting status but that does not mean he can’t be a productive player at the next level on the right team with the right coaches. Hand will need refinement in all areas of his technique. He has yet to figure out how chain pass rushing together moves consistently, disengage from blocks consistently, and dip his shoulder coming off the edge to win the leverage battle. When Hand puts things together he can really be quite disruptive. He has a strong punch and his pass rush move of choice is a bull rush. Hand has been having a good week at the Senior Bowl by most accounts and I’m sure he will hope to carry that momentum through the weekend and into the Combine.

Strengths

• Good size and build for the position. He has a well proportioned thick build and is rumored to be a beast in the weight room.
• Regularly practices good arm extension and overall actually has good hand placement on opponents.
• When sent on stunts through the interior on the line he was noticeably more effective at creating pressure than off the edge.

Weaknesses

• Doesn't play with consistency or adequate technique. Upper and lower body aren't always in sync.
• Lacks consistent block shedding ability and locked up with his opponent.
• Doesn't play with the aggression or speed you expect from a player with his physical skillset.
• Limited by injuries the past couple of years.

Let’s see his work:

More Da’Shawn Hand videos

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

This was a difficult profile to write. I was expecting to see more of Hand than what I did. I am looking for reasons as to why Da’Shawn Hand never lived up to his potential during his collegiate career but I can’t find anything. Nothing downing his work ethic, nothing about red flags, and nothing else really that could be a factor in affecting his play other than a knee injury that limited him at certain points. Hand was expected to achieve Jonathan Allen level greatness once given the opportunity but it never materialized. The good news for Hand and the good news for potential suitors is that he has appeared to dedicate himself to starting out with a new/clean slate. Hands size and build allow him to be scheme versatile and his wheelhouse is supposed to be creating pressure from the DE position. Hand so far is having a very encouraging week at the Senior Bowl and has impressed people with several of his practices. Hand’s fit on the Skins really depends on the level to which he can be developed. Hand does have the physical skills to play DE in a 3-4. He has shown flashes that he could be a very effective pass rusher. If all goes well for him he will be one of the biggest value picks of the draft if things don’t go well we probably won’t learn anything we already don’t know. I think a team will gladly take a chance on Hand on day 3 of the draft given his physical skill set. I’m not confident that team should be the Redskins.