The 2020 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Joe Bachie 2020 NFL Draft profile.

Background

Position: Linebacker

Class: Senior

Size: 6-foot-2, 231 pounds

2019 stats: 72 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, four passes defended (in eight games)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLoajkzWw4

Bachie was a two-time captain for Michigan State and was having a solid senior season. Then he failed a drug test for PEDs, which made him ineligible. Since that point, he has not appeared for the Spartans and the senior is now preparing for the NFL.

He was a freshman in 2016 and earned some playing time down the back half of the season. The 2016 season was not great for the Spartans, as they won just three games. In 2017, Bachie was voted team MVP and was named All-Big Ten Third Team. The Spartans won 10 games when Bachie was a sophomore including a win in the Holiday Bowl. For his junior season, Michigan State won seven games, but lost the Red Box Bowl. He led the team in tackles for the second year in a row and was named All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches. Bachie had 79 tackles as a senior with the Spartans going 4-4 in the eight games he played.

Michigan State’s leader will have to answer questions about the PEDs at the NFL Combine, but for now he will be prepping for that event. With good workouts, he could improve his stock from his current projection of a mid to late-round pick.

Strengths

Bachie is an intelligent linebacker. He can call a defense for an NFL team and understands what offenses are trying to do. Once the ball is snapped, he can diagnose plays well. He navigates through the defense well to get to the ball carrier. Bachie makes up for his deficiencies in other areas with his awareness.

His ability to stop the run will be something NFL teams love. Because he can diagnose plays quickly he usually has a good read on where the ball is going. He then takes good paths to the football and can get skinny to get through blocks. Bachie sheds blocks decently as well.

He is able to tackle ball carriers really well. If he can get a player within his grasp, he doesn’t let many people break tackles. This helps him to be a great run defender, as ball carriers don’t typically break big gains when he is near. His tackling ability also helps against the pass, as he can stop screens and short passes early by making tackles.

Weaknesses

His athleticism will hurt his draft stock. He doesn’t have great quickness or speed, which will hurt him in a variety of areas at the NFL level. Bachie will be tested running sideline to sideline and in coverage because of the better athletes on NFL offenses.

Bachie’s coverage skills will hold him back at the next level. He can be beaten in man to man coverage by shifty athletes in the pros. Although he has a lot of experience playing zone defense at Michigan State, he wasn’t very consistent, as he lost track of receivers behind him a decent amount of times. This could limit him to being a two-down linebacker.

While he can rush the passer decently, he lacks the ability to truly be disruptive. This also could keep him off the field on third downs and late in games. He is also a mike linebacker, so he won’t be rushing the quarterback very often.

Projected Draft Range: Fourth Round-Seventh Round

Make sure to check out our brand new NFL Draft page for more content!

You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!