STRENGTHS - Catapano is a big defensive end, especially at the Ivy League level. He shows good agility and power through contact. He has reasonable first-step quickness and adequate speed and power around the edge at the turn point. Catapano uses speed to get to the quarterback and while it works against lesser competition, he lacks a secondary move to get home. In run defense, he works to the ball and won't give up. He will hold his ground when the ball is run at him, and he locates it well enough to find it when it goes away from him. As a power pass rusher, he does an average job of recognizing and reading run versus pass, but his primary focus is on getting to the quarterback. He packs a punch on contact and can really deliver punishment to the ball carrier as he explodes through contact. He has lined up all across the defensive line and carries a good amount of versatility with him. He is a great competitor and plays whistle to whistle, displaying a great willingness to compete.
WEAKNESSES - Catapano looks stiff at times and can struggle to change direction, and teams can use his aggression against him if they allow him to take himself up the field. He does not show great explosiveness and while his first step is very quick, he doesn't possess great closing speed. He struggles to shed blockers, even at the lower level of competition. When he makes plays it is because he is relentless and outworks the opposition. Even though he shows violent hands when he uses them, he doesn't use them consistently and at times he can struggle to shed blockers. He is very aggressive and can be a liability in trying to get up the field when he reads pass when the play is a run, and his aggression can lead to a huge hole in the defense. He lacks range and doesn't possess great closing speed to make plays away from him.
SUMMARY - Catapano really looked the part on the hoof at the East West Shrine Game, showing a combination of speed and power that other defensive ends didn't have throughout the week of practice. He is a very big, powerful defensive end who has the power to anchor and hold up at the point of attack against the run. He can also rush the passer with his quick first step and ability to dip his shoulder and turn the corner with that power. While he lacks an array of pass rush moves, he has gotten by in the Ivy League with his combination of size, power and first step speed. He won't get away with that in the NFL and he will need to develop more moves to get to the passer. He is a good run defender, and he does it well when it comes at him and when he can pursue it with the effort he puts into each play. He can make plays while working down the line of scrimmage and over smaller areas, but he doesn't have the kind of athleticism to make plays all over the field. He does not have great closing speed and won't make a lot of plays that require a lot of movement. There are times when Catapano looks stiff, unable to disengage from blocks and other times when his hand usage is so good that he can't be blocked. He is an all-effort player who makes plays because he is relentless and won't give up on a play, but he is limited athletically and could end up a one-trick pony unless he can develop more pass rush moves to add to his arsenal. He is a very powerful athlete who can hold up at the point of attack, and he can add value as a rotational player along the defensive line right away. He warrants fifth-round consideration by a team looking for a tough athlete who will bring everything he has to the table each snap he plays.