Name: Ra’ Shede Hageman
Position: Defensive Lineman
College: Minnesota
When you look at the Bears post free agency depth chart, new comers Jarred Allen and Lamar Houston undoubtedly step in at the starting defensive end positions, which the team should feel good about. However, questions loom on the interior of the defensive line is Tracy Robertson and Stephen Paea, and even bigger questions arise when looking at the overall depth of all four positions as well.
Ra’ Shede Hageman is a physical freak, measuring in at 6’6” 316 pounds with athleticism to make your jaw drop. What separates him from his peers is his ability and experience lining up anywhere and everywhere on the defensive line. Because of his versatility, Hageman was plugged in at the nose tackle, three-technique, and defensive end spot for the Gophers in Minnesota.
This is a huge advantage for whatever team grabs him in Mays NFL draft, but would be especially useful for the Bears who could start him on the inside at either tackle position, right away. Goes with out saying an aging Allen and Houston will need breathers on the outside, something Hageman would be more than comfortable with, allowing the Bears to not skip a beat when rotating their lineman.
Again, with the Bears lack of talent and depth in their line, Hageman’s versatility to be effective from multiple positions is something that would be extremely beneficial to the team and defensive coordinators, allowing them to be more creative in their schemes, sub packages, and play calling.
Impact as a Rookie
Hageman’s biggest strength can also be uses against him. While he has the experience lining up all over the defensive line in Minnesota, he was never able to get truly comfortable and fine tune a specific aspect of his game, resulting in a big gap in consistency.
Hageman has been scrutinized for his stretches of quiet play, and is something that causes concern for coaches when debating his value, and if he is worth the investment of a high first-round pick. None the less, the raw potential and ability to be dominate at the next level is there, and will be up to the coaches to seek out his untapped potential.
History shows that lineman in general have a easier time adjusting into the NFL compared to other positions as the majority of their game is still based off strength and instincts. Looking specifically at the Bears situation in Chicago, it's more than reasonable to assume Hageman would be plugged into the defensive tackle position from day-one and could be very effective playing next to Jarred Allen who still demands double teams.
What Hageman did best for the Gophers was get into the backfield and disrupt plays, so put in the right system Hageman could notch close to double-digit tackles for loss, while opening up more sacks for the edge rushers on the outside.
What Ra’ Shede Hageman Does Well
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more physically imposing player than Hageman, who’s big frame and long arms are as intimidating as they come. That part you knew, what you didn’t know is how nimble and quick a man for his size can move, making him one of the most athletic prospects in the draft pound-for-pound.
With his burst off the ball and strength, Hageman is consistently pushing his opponent backwards into the backfield, disrupting running plays, and collapsing the pocket. His athletic nature and quick bursts in short areas help you understand how this prospect was a former tight end not long ago, and when he converts that quickness into strength, its a rare combination thats near impossible to defend.
What Ra’ Shede Hageman Struggles With
When he’s on he’s on, but when he’s not he’s gone. Watch the tape and you’ll forget who your watching, as Hageman will disappear for long stretches of games for no apparent reason. A flaky motor is typically the cause of inconsistent play for a defensive lineman, which is certainly the case for Hageman, who looks to take plays off more than you’d like. Hageman also looks lost at times trying to locate the ball, raising flags about his football IQ and shows how little he really understands about the positions he is playing.
He also was a major flop down at the Senior Bowl, failing to win a lot of one-on-one match ups that many expected him to breeze through, which ultimately earned him the “underachiever” label from their on out. Hageman will win with his pure raw talent alone, but its clear he will need to be coached up and taught the basics all over again when trying to transition to the NFL.
Check out our exclusive interview with Hagemen here.