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Dee Ford was a terror off the edge for Auburn, and now he'll be rushing quarterbacks for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs selected him with the No. 23 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Ford spoke with SB Nation's Dan Kadar and explained how he developed his skills to make up for some of his shortcomings, like size.
Ford's game is built around speed. That comes both naturally, and as a necessity. Ford is a 6'2, 250-pound defensive end. He's not a 6'5, 270-pound ultra athlete like other top pass rushers. Instead, Ford has relied on his speed and hustle to get by.
"I'm naturally fast for my size. As far as what I do with my game, you have to have a plan as a pass rusher," Ford said. "I picked two or three moves that I really love to do, and I perfected them. I really perfected them."
Ford was a two-year starter for Auburn and earned first-team All-SEC honors last year as part of a defensive unit that led the Tigers to the SEC title in 2013. In his final season the Tigers, he compiled 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, leading the team in each category. Over the course of his college career, he totaled 27.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks.
Ford was particularly impressive during his time in Mobile for the 2014 Senior Bowl, where he was a dominant force in the week of practice. That showing translated to the field, where he earned MVP honors after recording two sacks and a pass deflection.
Ford's trip to the NFL Combine caused more harm than good after he was forced to sit out due to doctor concerns. But, he had a strong showing at pro day on the Plains, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and throwing up 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench.