|
NCAA Scouting
2013 Draft – Interior Offensive Line Rankings
by Paul Emery
April 12th 2013
For new readers it’s worth quickly going through how I do things. If you are looking for a consensus ranking or something that copies from elsewhere, then this isn’t the place! I watched 278 games this year, I like to watch full games rather than the cut up prospect clips on YouTube (which I do use to break ties or where I can’t get full games), so I can get into the flow of the game and really understand when a big play is needed etc. I try and watch the top prospects at least 6 times, the middle rounders 3 to 5 and the later rounders at least a couple of times. I rate each game I see, work out an average and then build in the Combine/Pro Day numbers (see my two Combine articles).
These rankings are therefore my personal position boards and are in no way meant to predict who will be taken first in the Draft. Someone might be taken in the top 10, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I think he will make it in the NFL after all there are busts every year, so why shouldn’t rankings differ?! I’m sure NFL teams boards vary far more than the media believe.
I have no contacts in the NFL and have kept it that way on purpose so their opinions don’t change my mind. I always trust what I see on tape. However, this does mean I am not party to which players are character or medical red flags outside of what is in the media. I take into account medical to a degree, but will ignore character red flags outside of a mention in the text as I don’t know these prospects personally and it’s unfair to judge them (e.g. last year I had Janoris Jenkins as my number one CB). With that said, let’s get started with the offensive tackle class.
The interior offensive lineman is a very strong class for 2013. I’ve not spent hours deciding who is better at guard and who at center, as in past years that effort just seems wasted, so let’s get straight into it!
Tier One
1. Jonathan Cooper North Carolina. Only post Combine has Cooper been discussed as being the first interior lineman off the board and it does make you wonder if anyone actually watches tape. It’s really obvious from tape study that Cooper is extremely athletic and indeed that part of his game can be called elite. He played lighter than his Combine weight of 311 lbs, which explains some anchor problems on occasion (the lack of a Bowl game for North Carolina helped him as he had more time to prepare for the event). He is a very exciting guy in the run game, where he can pull extremely effectively and was a perfect fit in the new North Carolina spread offense.
In pass protection I thought his technique really improved from 2011 to 2012. He had some anchor problems against bigger guys like Maryland’s A.J. Francis, but on the whole he was able to sit in his stance and win battles on a consistent basis. His hand placement is excellent and he can mirror with consummate ease. At 6’2 he could be best at center, but either way despite this not being a position taken early in the Draft, I would think in this class he should be in contention for a top 10 placing.
2. Justin Pugh* Syracuse. Pugh has excellent tape. Not ranked highly by the media prior to the Senior Bowl (he was the first junior to play in the game), I thought a good week in Mobile could vaunt him into the top 15. But his week stalled when his arms were measured at 32, he’s a good 2 short of the ideal minimum for the position. In the Senior Bowl game itself, Cornelius Washington (34 arms not the longest at DE by any means) got into his chest and gave him some problems. So, thus I have pushed him inside to guard, but clearly I really like him to have him above Warmack.
He showed at the Combine excellent balance and change of direction with very good short shuttle and cone drill times for a zone based team I think he’s going to be a nice consolation prize if they miss out on Cooper. He could be an emergency tackle, but I think his arm length means he’s best at guard. He has really nice feet though, so to me is still a really good prospect.
3. Chance Warmack Alabama. I usually prefer power guards above mobile ones, but perhaps I’m shifting the way the league seems to be, but I think more so it’s Warmack’s tape which didn’t blow me away. He dominated Manti Te’o in the BCS championship game and when he gets engaged on a man he dominates. But I do question him in pass protection, where he doesn’t sink his hips low enough and at times is far too upright, even for a shorter guard (6’2). He doesn’t offer the same movement skills as Cooper or Pugh and I think that limits what you can do with him. Power teams will probably have him ahead of Cooper and Pugh and if I were GM of such a team, I would have him there as well. But for a general board, his overall tape and lack of athletic ability means he finishes up here.
4. Larry Warford Kentucky. Let’s say Warmack is a mid first round pick and then we’ll say Warford is a mid second round pick in terms of value I don’t think there’s so much between the two that taking Warmack in the first makes sense. I’d take the Kentucky man in the second and I think their careers may be similar. Warford is also a power type. If you can find some tape against Georgia’s John Jenkins, then that’s worth a watch as he dominated a prospect many think will be a first round pick. His main weakness is that he gets himself over extended too much in the run game he lunges at his man and two or three times a game will end up eating a facemask full of dirt. He’s more patient in pass protection and sits in his stance very nicely. He’s not the best athlete and will need to watch his weight, but he’s a very good player who happened to be on a poor team and hasn’t got the publicity he deserves.
Tier Two
5. Brian Winters Kent State. Winters played left tackle this season for the resurgent Golden Flashes, but his body type is that of a guard and it will no doubt be his pro position. He dominated in the MAC far more than Eric Fisher, but not having the same body type and Combine numbers won’t be drafted anywhere near as high as the Central Michigan man. Opening holes for a nice duo of backs, he spent more time run blocking than in pass protection. However, he did show he can sit in his stance and anchor. He had a couple of problems during Senior Bowl week, but on the whole looked like an aggressive guy who will suit a power team perfectly.
6. Dallas Thomas Tennessee. Thomas moved inside from left tackle to guard as a senior. His stock is on the decline due to a torn labrum which has meant he has been unable to workout in the post season for scouts. In a phone booth area, Thomas shows some elite traits. He has an excellent initial punch and does a really nice job sitting in his stance in pass protection. Outside of this, things are not so good. His feet don’t look quick and he struggles to adjust to quicker defenders. He’s not great getting to the second level. Interestingly, he’s not a mauler in the run game but doesn’t display the quickness one would expect for a 302 lb prospect. There is some concern in that regard, his best option may be to add 10/15 lbs and get stronger but technique wise inside at times he looks better than this ranking, but overall he ends up here.
Tier Three
7. Barrett Jones Alabama. Jones may well start the year on the PUP list due to a lisfranc injury. These injuries are a little tricky and it may see him fall in the Draft later than most expect. His tape in 2012 was mixed he had a couple of games where you thought first round but equally some when you were thinking more mid rounds. Certainly the Texas A&M; game was not his best, struggling against quickness inside. Jones versatility is a major plus, having started at guard, tackle and center for the Crimson Tide. His best pro position for me is guard, but he could stay at center because of his intelligence he would be an emergency tackle only. It’s a shame the injury could cost him some money as he’s one of the best characters players in this draft.
8. Travis Frederick* Wisconsin. Has experience at guard and center, might be slightly better as a guard for me as he doesn’t always get low enough but his shotgun snaps are crisp and accurate. Shows some nasty, will finish blocks. That can work against him at times as he gets himself over extended reaching for blocks, so just needs to be a little more patient. Showed he can sit in his stance and anchor, at the odd time his feet went back and out rather than sitting in his stance just needs to trust his technique more. Not the greatest athlete in the world and needs to get stronger, but has solid tape.
9. Oday Aboushi Virginia. A college left tackle, Aboushi has not had a great post season. He struggled at the Senior Bowl and his Combine workout was not good. He might be a touch tall for guard (6’5), but I don’t think he has the foot speed to stay outside as a pro, so he will need to move inside. He actually has some pretty good tape. Shows power and a nice aggressive attitude on tape. Needs to clean up his hand placement, lets his hands drift outside too much and got called for holding a few times in games I watched. His hands are all over the place setting up in pass protection, particularly when he’s stressed against edge speed he’s heavy footed and so might better inside. He is slightly taller than ideal for guard, so must play low if that’s his pro position.
Tier Four
10. Alvin Bailey* Arkansas. Bailey played in the Petrino offensive system which uses strong and weakside offensive lineman, so he flip flopped between left and right guard all the time. He does make effort to sit in his stance in pass protection, but even with his knees bent he will over extend and bend at the waist too much. He has long arms, so doesn’t need too must correct that major technique flaw. Looks OK in short areas, but struggles to adjust against quicker DT’s. Oddly his movement skills were good at the Combine, so there’s a mismatch between tape and workout numbers. Should improve with coaching.
11. David Bakhtiari* – Colorado. In many ways Bakhtiari is a poor man’s Justin Pugh a college left tackle who lacks the length to stay outside as a pro. At 299 lbs, his Combine workout was not great and certainly some better movement skills are required for a lighter guy (although he did show up well in the bench press). Has some technique issues. Can sit in his stance and deliver a nice initial punch in pass protection – but hands come from low and outside at times thus gets a bit grabby may draw a few holding flags. Didn’t show he can anchor against power, being under 300 lbs being the principal issue here, which can be corrected (still under 300 at the Combine despite not being in a Bowl game…). Shows some nasty in the run game, will get over extended at times, but I like that part of his game. Has some things to clean up and overall I’m not quite as high on him as some others.
Tier Five
12. Jeff Baca UCLA. Has experience at tackle and guard (plus also a few snaps at center this year), but overall looks like a pro guard to me. One benefit from watching full games rather than cut up tape is you can see players on the sideline clearly a leader for the team. Had a really nice Combine workout the second ranked on my scale at the position. Can sit in his stance in pass protection trusts himself to do this more at guard. Versatility is a plus and has athletic upside. From tape looked like a tough guy who will stick on a roster, his Combine numbers boosted him up even more.
13. J.C. Tretter Cornell. Played left tackle in college, but struggled against edge speed so a pro guard or center. Unfortunately missed the Senior Bowl due to injury, so there’s still a level of competition check box left blank… He did have an excellent Combine workout, the highest on my scale of the interior lineman. Must work on sinking his hips more, did show he can sit in his stance and mirror but wasn’t consistent. Clearly was concerned with edge speed, his left foot was way off the line looking to get a head start. Hands were low setting up in pass protection, but playing inside he should be able to resolve that issue. Good zone blocking scheme guy plays square in the run game and can get to the second level and engage. Might not be drafted on day two without the level of competition check, but athletic numbers and intelligence should see him off the board fairly quickly on day three.
14. Hugh Thornton Illinois. Had some better tape than this ranking dictates, but wasn’t consistent with it. Started at tackle in college, but didn’t look comfortable there at the Senior Bowl, so likely best at guard. Injured his knee at the Combine, so didn’t have a complete workout put up good numbers in what he was able to do though. Too often tended to bend at the waist and not have his feet under him, thus struggles to get power in the run game and is also off balance. If he can find the play he showed in the Wisconsin game, he can start in the NFL but needs to find consistency.
15. Brian Schwenke California. Really struggled against Johnathan Hankins in the Ohio State game, I had him down as an undrafted free agent but if you believe the hype he’s a day two guy. He did look good at the Senior Bowl and worked out well at the Combine. I watched another game (vs Oregon) after the hype to make sure and I still think a scrappy late rounder. Snaps were poor in the Ohio State game got beaten 1 on 1 by Hankins on numerous occasions not big enough to anchor against a big NT type. Plays square in the run game gives good effort, but I am not as high on him as others.
Tier Six
16. Khaled Holmes USC. Hobbled by an ankle injury, Holmes missed some time in 2012 and came back less than 100% and struggled to deal with Star Lotulelei one on one in the Utah game (before he got guard help). Like other USC center’s before him he plays a bit high, but he’s 6’3 so this shouldn’t be an issue. Looked much better in the run game than in pass protection. Gets to the second level quickly and plays nice and square. Will finish his blocks nicely. It’s a different story in pass protection defenders get under him and he got jacked back far too much (against Syracuse he was dumped on his backside on one play). Must sit in his stance or he’ll struggle to crack a roster. Very good in the run game though, which saves his ranking. Coming off a pectoral strain at the Combine, at the time of writing I have no pro day numbers for him.
17. Braxston Cave Notre Dame. Not the greatest athlete in the world and didn’t have a great post season, but his college tape was good. Tough and gritty competitor. Does a nice job winning the leverage battle. Best in short areas, not as good getting to the second level. Was tested against a trio of senior DT’s in the Oklahoma game and won most of his battles also did a nice job against Jesse Williams in the BCS Championship game. Does struggle against quickness, but I think he’s going to be tough to cut.
18. Omoregie Uzzi Georgia Tech. Uzzi has some tools to work with, but will need to be worked with extensively technique wise. Playing in a triple option offense his first move post snap was often down for the cut block and while he’ll be asked to do that some as a pro, there won’t be as much of it. Relatively inexperienced in pass protection with Tech only throwing a handful of times per game, he actually showed he has the right idea and this is encouraging. Selling Tech to an offensive lineman looking for a pro future during recruiting must be tough, but there’s enough there to think he can develop with some work.
Tier Seven
19. Sam Brenner Utah. Played mostly at left tackle in 2012, but did start 12 games at guard in 2011 and at 6’2 is most certainly an interior guy. Gets into his man quickly in pass protection and wins most of his battles. Flashed some power and won the leverage battle. Doesn’t over extend and has a solid base. No pro day numbers at the time of writing (tough getting them quickly the last two years frustrating!), so admittedly don’t have the full picture.
20. Mario Benavides Louisville. Did struggle with injuries throughout his career, but tended to play through them. Benavides is an extremely flexible lineman and looks ideally suited to a zone blocking scheme at the next level. His problem even in that system is going to be anchoring in pass protection. He does a really nice job of getting low in the passing game, but doesn’t have enough strength in his lower body to drop the anchor and stop a bull rush. I always try and imagine how a prospect would fair against Haloti Ngata and I think he would really struggle. He’s very skilled in the run game on stretch plays, holding his blocks nicely but limited in terms of his anchor which might keep him on the bench.
21. Patrick Lewis Texas A&M.; Over shadowed by the bookends at A&M;, Lewis is talented enough to make an NFL roster in his own right. Is a good college player, but didn’t have a great pro day workout so his ranking suffers as a result. Held up well against LSU, but did struggle more against Jesse Williams power in the Alabama game. Lack of athletic ability was evident on tape when he struggled to get to the second level quickly. Has the right idea technique wise though.
|
