Purdue's Kawann Short looks to improve consistency this season

Unquestionably Purdue's top NFL Draft in several years, senior defensive tackle Kawann Short is looking to be even better this season.

In 2011, Short finished with 54 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was named second-team All-Big Ten by coaches and was at times dominant. But at others, he was wildly inconsistent. Short addressed his inconsistency at Big Ten media day on Friday.

"A lot of plays, I took off last year — I wasn’t really that dominant guy, then two seconds later, I’m that dominant guy again. That is really not acceptable; I’m really not that guy to be doing that. So it’s just being consistent, and doing what I need to do."

Short could learn much from former Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy. Throughout his career with Michigan State, Worthy had bouts of inconsistency and didn't play up to his obvious potential. That's largely why he slipped to the middle of the second round in this year's draft.

At Purdue, Short is used in a variety of ways up front. He typically flips from one- to three-technique, but has also lined up outside. His burst off the snap is good, but his effort lapses really show up on film.

The effort concerns could have led to Short receiving a third-round grade from the NFL Draft advisory committee. That grade played a major role in his decision to return to Purdue.

Read more about Short here and on Hammer and Rails.