Offensive Lineman in the 2010 NFL DraftApril 14, 2010
Face it, the Offensive Line also known as the Big Uglies make offense go. If you can’t protect the quarterback long enough for him to get a pass downfield you’re not going to win. How many times do we see QBs get eons and eons of time and leave the game with clean jerseys and those teams normally win. If you can’t get a good push to run the ball you might not win. (The leauge has changed so much in recent years, remember when it was mandatory to run the ball to win games.) There are four major components of a good offensive line: Left Tackle, Guards, Center, and Right Tackle. The Left Tackle protects the QBs blind side. Third to QB and CB the LT is the most important position in football. He has to be a super athlete and he’s often times matched up one-on-one with the defense’s best pass rusher. The guards are like the terriers of the O-Line. They’re tenacious, smaller than tackles, and they are just quick annoying battlers that do what it takes to get the job done. Guards do need a great push at the point of attack so they can move bodies, they also must be athletic for pulling and overall just be warrior. The Center is CPU of the entire ship. He’s the QB of the O-Line, he makes all of the blitz calls and is the overall leader of the the line. The Right Tackle may not be as athletic as the left tackle but he’s definitely more physical. Most teams run the ball to the right making the right tackle extremely important.
The top two tackles in this year’s class are Trent Williams of Oklahoma and Russell Okung of Oklahoma State.
Trent Williams
Vitals: 6′5″ 315 lbs.
Speed: Great
Punch: Amazing, comes with a mean streak
Feet: Too pretty
Run Blocking: That’s his game
Pass Blocking: Overshadowed because of his excellent run blocking abilities, but he can hold his own.
Intelligence: Okay
Athleticism: Super athlete
Toughness: Tough as a Goodyear condom
Comparison:Ryan Clady
Pros: via NFL.com, Williams has great height and a wide enough frame to support more bulk. Plays angry and finishes blocks. Strong enough to push defenders. Sets feet quickly and can slide with athletic d-lineman. Hits hard and establishes great position run blocking. Three-year starter with solid feel and instincts.
Cons: via NFL.com, Needs to fill out his frame or will struggle with the bull rush at the next level. Feet are only above average and he may have limited range in pass protection. Does not always take proper angles when run blocking.
Overall: via NFL.com, Williams is an intense run blocker that played on the left side his senior year but will find a better fit as a right tackle at the next level. He has good size, but could still add quite a bit of bulk after a few years in the NFL. He does a good job of playing over his feet on run blocks which allows him to sustain blocks and redirect with movement. Once he smells blood he will drive opponents into the ground. As a pass blocker he shows good technique but lacks the top lateral range to stay with premier pass rushers coming off the edge.
Russell Okung
Vitals: 6′5″ 307 lbs.
Speed: Good
Punch: Great hands with explosive finish
Feet: Very good
Run Blocking: Great
Pass Blocking: Bread and Butter
Intelligence: Extremely smart player
Athleticism: Uber
Toughness: Very
Comparison:Joe Thomas
Pros: via NFL.com, Okung possesses prototypical size for a left tackle. Has started at tackle since his true freshman season. Maintains great balance with almost elite feet. Neutralizes the speed rush by setting fast. Shows a mean streak which helps in the running game. Engages defenders with long arms and has the straight-line speed to get to the second level.
Cons: Okung does not have many holes in his game. At 6’5″ he will play tall at times and his height makes it difficult to always keep low and change directions laterally against quicker defenders.
Overall: Okung is a prototypical left tackle in that he has rare size and long arms that allow him to control and steer pass rushers on by the pocket. He shows excellent balance and body control but will occasionally overextend or reach for the block which keeps him from sustaining blocks as long as he could. Okung should be an early draft pick on the offensive line and has the body type that teams are looking for when it comes to protecting the blind side.
Guards
The position is clear cut. I’m riding on his potential here, but Mike Iupati from Idaho is the clear cut #1 guard in this year’s class.
Pros: via NFL.com, Iupati has terrific size for an interior blocker. Plays with a lot of toughness and tenacity. Exhibits outstanding power in the running game and in pass protection. Has very good body control and balance. Possesses great short area quickness and really jolts defenders. Appears to have heavy hands in pass protection.
Cons: via, NFL.com, Lacks adequate speed for the guard position. Must improve his instincts for the game and get better dealing with complex defensive line play. Because of sub-par speed, downfield blocking needs to get better. Struggles to get to the second level in the running game.
Overall: via NFL.com, Iupati is a massive guard that started three years at Idaho although he did miss some time in 2008 after dealing with offseason shoulder surgery. He is one of the more powerful blockers in the draft and once he gets his hands on opponents it’s pretty much all over. Iupati was born in American Samoa and English is not his native language which can slow down his progress when it comes to learning new schemes and the playbook. While it may take Iupati a bit longer to develop into a front line player, he could have a long and productive career once he settles in.
Centers
As with the Guard position, the clear cut #1 Center this year is Maurkice Pouncey of Florida.
Pros: via NFL.com, Pouncey has the size and quickness we look for in an interior offensive lineman. Has the versatility to play both center and guard. Exhibits great awareness and can handle complex defensive line play. Really active. Displays impressive body control and balance when getting out in front in the running game. Plays with good leverage.
Cons: via NFL.com, Not too many holes in his game. Durability is a concern after Pouncey underwent torn labrum surgery. Could benefit from playing with a higher degree of tenacity. We’d like to see him more consistently finish off his blocks and fight until the whistle.
Overall: Pouncey is a versatile lineman that has lined up at both center and guard. He is a squatty, quick-footed athlete that can roll his hips to redirect and adjust to movement or sink his hips to hunker down against a powerful bull rush by big nose tackles. He is quick with his first step after the snap and quick to get a fit with his hands but will let his weight get too far forward at times. Pouncey had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder in May of 2009 and durability could become a concern down the road. He should be quick to see the playing field thanks to his versatility.
That’s, all I got,
Ricky Writer
