NFL Draft Blitz

4/5/06

D’Brickashaw in depth

With the NFL draft swiftly approaching one of the top names being mentioned league wide is Virginia offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson. For 3 months now many have compared him prospect wise to prestigious names like Anthony Munoz, Tony Bosselli and current Seahawk Walter Jones. But what makes Ferguson so attractive to NFL franchises? And what may scare teams away?

There are a considerable amount of defenses in the NFL who rely heavily on their pass rush to allow them to play soft "cover 2" coverages, and take away the long ball from high powered offenses. Dwight Freeney in Indianapolis is a prime example. With Freeney’s tenacious pass rushing attack, the Colts don’t have to have their undersized defensive backs try and cover WR’s all over the field. Rather, they can sit back in a zone, take away the deep pass and lay into the receivers after short gains. Freeney forces quarterbacks into settling for quick, and short passes in order to avoid sacks. How are offenses to counter players like Freeney? They can either double team him using a potential downfield reciever to assist their left tackle in pass protection duties, or they can find a top notch Left tackle with good athleticism to keep speed rushers at bay. This is where Ferguson finds his worth.

Despite the heavy crop of quality linemen in this year’s draft, Ferguson is set apart due to his freakish athleticism and wingspan. His nimble feet give him the ability to handle even the fastest pass rusher the league has to offer. To many Gm’s, you can’t put a price on that kind of asset. Nothing is more important than keeping a QB on his feet and giving him sufficient time to look downfield. So what are Ferguson’s pinpointed strengths, and what are some things he needs to get better at? Your answer is found below.

Strengths: Ferguson was a 4 year starter in college for a team that was usually in contention for Bowl bids in the ACC. As previously mentioned his mobility is second to none. His feet are extremely precise and he knows how to use them to his advantage. When you factor in his height/wingspan, which gives him great leverage, and room for recovery D’Brickashaw can make any pass rusher a non factor. He’s also very quick off the snap and displays good fundamentals. Finally, he is a player that has displayed great character on and off the field, and was even seen at the NFL combine wearing a suit in team interviews. Always dress for success.

Weaknesses: There are a lot of questions concerning Ferguson’s strength. He has the frame to add more muscle but still lacks top bulk. This leads to some struggles as a run blocker, and also against bull rushers who try to use his leverage against him. When a team takes a player in the top 5 of a draft, they tend to prefer a complete player with above average skills across the board. Although Ferguson maybe the best pass protector to come out in 10 years, his run blocking leaves a lot to be desired. Therefore the thought is that he will be able to add a lot of strength within the first 3 years in the league, in order to improve his run blocking, due to his large frame. Upside, if you will.
Overall, Ferguson is a player with freakish athleticism that can keep any speed rusher off his game, and make quarterbacks and receivers very happy in the process. If he can indeed add some strength to his upper body, he has the ability to be a very good run blocker as well, making him a complete force.

These are the reasons why many scouts and draft experts have put such a high grade on Ferguson. He obviously has some things he must improve on, but his positional importance and his upside make him a very tempting draft day commodity, and surely will be off the board before pick 10.

1/8/06

"Notes from the Trenches"

· It's difficult to conceive some of the draft circuit's disliking of Vincent Young. This is a guy with exceptional ability, who carried his team to a national championship. He did all this with a very young team around him, in one of the most tense college football environments out there. Many seem to be hooked on the concept of comparing him to Michael Vick. But after the fact that they both scramble and are both African American (no racism intended) the similarities end there. While Vick is undersized and gets by on agility, Young has great size and is faster than he is elusive. Vick is known for his deep ball but his lack of accuracy in the passing game, meanwhile Young has average arm strength and has the skills to be a very accurate QB. But what sets Young apart from Vick are 2 things.

1. He has much better pocket awareness and isn't afraid to stand in there and wait for the play to develop, while Vick takes off downfield if his first option and safety valve are both covered within 2 seconds of the snap.

2. Young makes better decisions. Rarely does he force balls unless the situation dictates such an action. He knows exactly when to use his scrambling ability and when not to. Meanwhile Vick is hesitant to let plays develop, will force balls, and will run around in the pocket until the entire defensive team is on his back.

I truly believe that Young is a superior prospect than Vick was 4 years back. He is more of a born leader, is clutch and is more mature. Is he the answer to a franchise's woes? I can't answer that. However, he is a player that should be considered to be the future signal caller of any team drafting in the top 5, without getting scared off by a completely different player who was drafted 4 years ago.

· What was stated in the last article of "In the Trenches" needs to be reiterated. The Texans will be foolish to draft anything but offensive line help in round 1. Giving up on David Carr without ever truly giving him help up front, and/or blackballing Domanick Davis who has been very productive despite virtually no help from the rest of the O, would be franchise suicide. They've passed on so many O-linemen in the past, but this draft is so chock full of quality tackles, that one of them should fit whatever it is they've been looking for. Whatever Jamal Brown, Robert Gallery, Jordan Gross and others didn't have, someone in this class does. No more excuses!

· Speaking of Offensive lineman... With the Senior Bowl and combine just around the corner where does "In the trenches" stand with its OT positional rankings?

OT'S: 1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia

2. Jonathan Scott, Texas

3. Joe Thomas*, Wisconsin

4. Winston Justice, USC

5. Marcus McNeill, Auburn

6. Erik Winston, Miami

7. Andrew Whitworth, LSU

8. Jeremy TrueBlood, BC

G'S: 1. MJ Giles, Georgia

2. Mark Setterstrom, Minnesota

3. Jason Spitz, Louisville

4. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma

5. Charles Spencer, Pitt

C: 1. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota

2. Nick Mangold, Ohio State

3. Patrick Ross, BC

4. Mike Degory, Florida

5. Ryan Cook, New Mexico

· Did the jets get less than market value as compensation for Herm Edwards departure to KC? Perhaps. But the franchise needed a change at the top one way or the other, and most likely would've fired the 5^th year head coach anyway. The fact that they got anything for him is a good thing. The better question maybe who the Jets replace Edwards with, as well as how he does in Kansas City.

· What does a team as talented as San Diego do to get back to the playoffs next season? For one, they have to find a way to upgrade the secondary. Former 1^st round picks Sammy Davis and Quentin Jammer have not lived up to potential and something must be done. Perhaps the team finally trades Phillip Rivers to move into the top 10 and select a guy like Jimmy Williams? Secondly it might help to bring in some additional Offensive line help. The chargers do a great job of getting everything out of their front 5. But aside from Shane Olivera, the overall talent is lacking. It might be wise to grab one of the elite OT's of this draft class. After all, Roman Oben isn't going to be around forever.

· Hope everyone has a great 2006 as we rejoice in the fact that the NFL draft is right around the corner!

12/6/05

Although there are 4 more weeks left to the NFL regular season, at this point it looks like Houston will indeed land the prized top pick. An offense riddled with injuries, a quarterback with no confidence, and mostly a disastrous offensive line, has all but guaranteed them a shot at draft infamy. With 4 years of football under the franchise’s belt, and a new coach to replace Dom capers surely on the horizon, this upcoming draft will undoubtedly be crucial to the team’s immediate and long term success. With this in mind, there has been a lot of talk of whom the Texans will target with the potential first pick. Reggie Bush is their rumored target, and you can’t blame any front office for liking his upside. The fact is, he’s a special player that only comes around once every 10 years. But despite this notion, the Texans would be absolutely foolish to take him instead of a franchise tackle.

Look no further than this team’s short history. The story every year has been that they have skill players like David Carr, Andre Johnson and Domanick Davis, with tons of potential, but no offensive line to compliment them and protect them. The need is so clear cut for help up front, that it’s almost blinding to the given onlooker. In the last 2 years, the team has warranted 99 sacks to the opposition. Let’s keep in mind they still have 4 games left to play in this season. Not only are you not gonna win many football games with numbers like that, but you aren’t going to keep your franchise QB very happy or healthy either. The fact is no QB, not Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Tom Brady or Joe Namath, is gonna have much success with pass protection statistics like that. It also doesn’t give the running game much hope either. Defenses can crowd the line with 8 or 9 guys, concentrate fully on Domanick Davis, because they know their front 4 will get to Carr before he can even attempt a pass downfield. It’s downright pathetic to watch. There is no way around it. It’s pathetic.

The Texans have tried to solve their O-line woes before. They made their first overall pick in their expansion draft Tony Boselli, who was previously an all pro. But lingering injuries never allowed him to even suit up one game Their second pick was Ryan Young, an up and coming right tackle at the time who had some decent success with the Jets. He lasted one year with the team, vastly underachieving, and after a short hoorah with the Cowboys a year later, is now out of football. They drafted Seth Wand who after a positive rookie season, was thought to be the answer at blindside duty. But he has since fallen into a state of complete mediocrity. Meanwhile, they have passed on several quality 1st round tackle prospects including Jordan Gross, Alex Barron and Jamal Brown, and they are now suffering the consequences. Perhaps these players weren’t as "Can’t miss" as some Gm’s would like, but when you have the dire need like this franchise has had, there is no excuse not to take a chance on a true franchise LT.

So here we are in present day. Less than 150 days till the draft. This class of offensive tackles is said to be the best since Boselli and Ogden. With prospects like D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Erik Winston deemed as "Can’t miss" type players, the Texans must not abandon the need for yet another season. No matter how good Reggie Bush maybe, what good is he or any running back behind a line that draws 9 man fronts because they can’t keep a QB on his feet? I can guarantee you, Reggie Bush is thinking the same thing. He may never get the chance to showcase his talents if the Texans do indeed select him first overall. This team has never given David Carr or Andre Johnson a true shot at being elite. They need to give them that shot before it’s too late, and they bolt to team’s with quality offensive line’s that allow them to be the all pro performers they have the talent to be. The lineman are there for the taking Houston.. it’s your move.

11/5/05

"Addressing a misconception: The college corner's transition to the NFL"

With "In the Trenches", I try to address topics that can clarify certain stereotypes about football and the draft process that fans struggle with. I usually stick to the offensive line position, because it is a position I have decent knowledge about, and also because fans have a lot of predetermined opinions about O-lineman that may or may not be true. With that said, in this edition I have decided to tackle a completely different aspect of the game. The evaluation of college cornerbacks is one of the most misconceived aspects of the game itself. Myself and other's in the know, have spent countless hours on message boards and bar stools, trying to explain how unique this position really is, and despite our efforts, the same misconceptions are made by good-hearted fans on a daily basis. Therefore I am tackling the issue once and for all.

There is a general consensus that cornerbacks who weren't super star performers in college that go in the early rounds of the draft, are "workout warriors" or busts. The same can be said for corners who were considered top performers in college, and for whatever reason slip on draft day or ride the bench in the NFL. To be a successful starter in today's NFL at Cb, you have to have top speed, agility, acceleration and the ability to jump. What young Cb's come to mind for these attributes? Deangelo Hall, Dunta Robinson, Pac-Man Jones, Chris McAllister, Justin Miller and more. Interesting to note, many of these players weren't super stars in college, and many labeled them as "workout warriors" on their respected draft days. Yes there is more to evaluating Cb talent than just computer numbers. But of all the positions on the football field, 40 times/High Jump/Agility tests matter the most when referring to Cb's. This is because on the college level, pass coverage schemes are generally watered down, and depend mostly on pressure by the front 4, and what wide receiver the defensive coordinator decides to double team. There isn't much room for a college corner to display the true skills necessary to be successful on the next level. With the speed and athleticism wide receivers possess on the pro level, a cornerback's natural ability is what is most important. He must be able to snap his hips at a drop of a hat, display a speed burst for balls thrown deep, and be able to out-jump receivers who can be as many as 5 inches taller than them.

Scouts find themselves shying away from what is actually going on the field when evaluating these young men because there are too many factors involved in a CB's ultimate success/failure at the college level to completely depend on his performance. Some of the factors are as followed.

1. Scheme Played in: If a top college corner with blazing speed and size is put into a zone oriented scheme, odds are he isn't going to make much noise outside of the scouting circuit. This happens quite often in the college game and must be considered when evaluating corner talent. Many players get put into systems that don't fit them, and as a result, they never really play up to their potential. But if scouts feel they are still a worthy early selection, they have recognized the scheme factor, and that the player's natural abilities will outshine the misconceptions in the end.

2. Safety Help: How often do you see a college corner in perfect position for the given play call, but his safety support is a good 4 strides behind, and therefore the wide receiver makes the catch, despite all the hard work by the corner? Yes, poor safety support can make any great corner, look like complete garbage. The same can be said for the opposite. Many corners can be overrated due to superior safety help which helps them look good and gain misguided fan approval.

3. Pass rush: A team's pass rush can make a huge difference in how good a corner looks. If the given Qb only has 2 seconds to chuck the ball downfield, odds are the Wr's aren't going to have much time to break into their patterns and that's gonna make the defensive backfield look a lot better than they may or may not be. By the same token, a pass rush that can't get to the Qb is really gonna hang most corners out to dry. Even the most gifted player, can only cover a division 1 receiver for so long.

4. Competition: If a corner is going up against inferior talent from week to week, he isn't really ever getting tested and therefore his stock can be greatly diluted. Again, the opposite can occur if a corner is facing all American receivers on a consistent basis.

In conclusion, not all of a corner's success comes from natural ability. Many things can be gathered about a player's chances by watching him play in college. But all the different factors must be included in order to really get a sense of what the player brings to the table. Every year I hear people call one or 2 first rounder corners busts because they weren't spectacular on the college level. The fact is these assumptions are quite misguided. If a player gets taken in the first round, there is a much bigger reason than just a 40 time or high jump. Odds are, there was a reason he wasn't successful on the college level, and there is a reason he can be successful in the pro's. If this edition saves just one fan from the overplayed, misconceived presumptions of the corner position, than I have done my civil duty.

10/15/05

The midway point

Midway through the college season, a lot things have changed and many things have stayed the same in terms of offensive tackle prospects. Despite some early inconsistencies and health concerns, the class is still shaping up to be one of the best in quite sometime. Quite the sigh of relief for the numerous NFL teams in need of talent upfront. Despite this notion, most prospects still have much to do in order to instill full confidence from NFL decision makers. Below is a list of the top 6 rated tackles and how they have fared thus far this season, with a look at how the winds are blowing in terms of their draft day stock.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson- Ferguson has been hampered by minor injuries throughout the season. However, when he has played he has been quite solid. He appears to be a lot stronger and his technique is as good as ever. He needs to take his game to the next level from this point of the season, on, in order to solidify himself as a surefire top 5 pick in the draft. Stock: Leveling off

Marcus McNeill- Marcus has fallen into quite the funk. Although he still has been solid, his technique has not been as flawless as in year’s past and he appears very tentative. He needs to go back to the basics and prove to scouts he can bounce back or he maybe in danger of dropping off the top 10’s big board. Stock: Declining

Eric Winston- Coming off major knee surgery, Eric started off very slow, struggling in games against FSU and Clemson. He’s improved since then and has shown some great intensity and leadership on the field. If he can build momentum from his progress he can climb past the declining Marcus and make himself a big pay day come April. Stock: Rising Slightly

Jon Scott- In my opinion Scott has been the most consistent and impressive of the elite lineman prospects. He doesn’t have quite the athleticism as the players ranked in front of him, but his technique and performance is flawless. He also plays with great power and intensity. Big time games against Ohio State and Oklahoma should attract scouts attention and move him up. Stock: Rising steadily

Jeremy Trueblood- Not much has changed for Jeremy in terms of what the experts were saying before this season started. He’s a guy with great size and attributes, but every now and again he lacks intensity and therefore lacks consistency. Until he learns to use his long arms to his advantage, and be more aggressive in pass protection, he will continue to be the “boom or bust” label of this OT class. Stock: Leveling off

Andrew Whitworth- Before this season started, I thought Andrew was being vastly overrated by fellow draftniks. I was proven to be very wrong. He has bounced back from a sub par junior season, to be very impressive. Andrew plays with a great mean streak and is the most aggressive pass protector in this class. If he can keep up this performance deep into the tough SEC schedule, he will help his draft day value tremendously. Stock: Rising

Other Notes:

- Either the run blocking skills have diminished extensively in the NFL or defenses are just that much faster and more physical. Whatever the case, it seems like almost every NFL team is struggling to run the ball at some point or another. Obviously there are exceptions, but for the most part, it hasn’t been pretty for fantasy owners who invested first round picks in elite running backs. The reality is the holes just aren’t there this year for most RB’s to run through. It will be interesting to see what becomes of this recent change and how offenses plan to improve the situation and/or find new ways to move the ball down field.

- How bad is the Texans O-line? It seems like every game poor David Carr is getting sacked 7 times, and is surely getting knocked down many more times than that. I can’t fathom why this franchise has neglected to address this situation every year of its existence. I realize they had some young guys they wanted to let develop and gain some cohesion, but clearly some of these players simply can’t handle pass protection on this level. All the experts screaming for Carr’s head, and pointing fingers at Andre Johnson, need look up front before they begin to judge. The skill players are useless without help from the big boys, and the Texans big boys are downright sad.

- A couple young tackles I wanted to give shout outs to who have impressed me in terms of their development. The first guy is Jamaal Brown of the Saints. I knew he’d be able to start right off the bat, but I didn’t expect him to play with the intensity and swagger he has displayed thus far in his rookie year. He really has a great head on his shoulders and he is one of the few things Saints fans can be excited about in this dismal and tragic year for their team and city. The other played I wanted to mention was Adrian Jones of the Jets. He struggled right along with the rest of his line mates early, but has looked much comfortable since being moved to blindside duty. He has one of the quicker sets of feet in the NFL, and once he develops a stronger upper body, he could be an elite left tackle for a lot of years. He gave Simeon Rice fits all game last Sunday.

9/29/05

Year in and year out, the hype comes and goes for prospects from all walks of life. Prestigious powerhouses want to flex their muscles, and small schools want to get themselves and their players on the map. Fans and scouts alike, crowd around, hoping to catch the first glimpse of the next Dan Marino or Jim Brown. Such is life surrounding the NFL draft. Within this very cycle, a lot of hot air gets blown around by the media, agents and boosters, concerning individual players. Among other factors, this can make it very difficult to tell how good a prospect truly is, compared to other players of his position from the past or present.

Over time, there have been a lot of great draftees, while, obviously, a lot of busts. The fact is, raw talent, which leads to success at the collegiate level, doesn't always translate to the NFL. Factors like injuries, System played in, personal issues and newly found flaws can turn the most promising player, into a first class bust. It is for this reason, organizations like this one, among others, exist. We're constantly trying to weed through the given crop, trying to compute every imaginable circumstance that can determine success or failure. The hope is to find the ultimate prospect for the next level. Easier said than done.

Flawless talents, at any given position, come around once every 10 years or so. These players are seen as having the ability to change the position they play for the long run. Granted, after being drafted results can vary, but regardless, these players display the tools that make talent evaluators and decision makers drool at the possibilities. Hence, this begs the question: Who are some of the best prospects ever at their position? How did these players initial mind-blowing talent, transfer into the NFL?

Let's explore.

Best Prospects Ever By Position

QB: John Elway, Stamford: The Cardinal product had an arm like no one else ever had. Also, in a time when every QB was a sitting duck, like say, Drew Bledsoe, Elway displayed the quickness and wits to use his feet to make plays. With the trade controversy that transpired, Elway created the biggest draft stir, up to that point, in NFL history. His legendary plays and accomplishments speak for themselves.

Honorable Mention: Peyton Manning, Tennessee; Jeff George, Illinois

HB: Earl Campbell, Texas: Before Ricky Williams and Cedric Benson were known as the big guns in the lone star state; Earl Campbell was blowing people's minds with long powerful runs and record breaking performances. His combination of size, power and speed made him quite the catch in his given draft year. His NFL career wasn't too shabby either.

Honorable Mention: Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State; Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State

TE: Tony Gonzalez, Cal: Tony was the first real athletic Tight end prospect to display the well rounded game and production to warrant true draft intrigue. As a Golden Bear, he had a flawless game that included great hands, jumping ability and blocking skills. Thus far in his NFL career, he has been a consistent all pro performer, and is most likely a future hall of famer.

Honorable Mention: Johnny Mitchell, Nebraska; Jeremy Shockey, Miami

WR: Irving Fryar: For his time, Fryar was a very exciting wide receiver prospect. He was a home run threat every time the ball went in his direction. That didn't change much after being drafted either. Fryar had a great NFL career.

Honorable Mention: Tim Brown, Notre Dame; Charles Rogers, Michigan State

OL: Tony Mandarich, Michigan State: Before he was known as a colossal bust, Mandarich was a dominant college lineman with unbelievable strength. Mandarich draft hype broke the door open for the term "Franchise tackle" and the emphasis thereafter to find bookends to protect the golden arms. Ego, hype, and steroids destroyed the possibilities this great talent could have offered. Just imagine what Favre could have accomplished if Mandarich had stuck around and played to his potential. Frightening.

Honorable Mention: Orlando Pace, Ohio State; Tony Boselli, USC

DE: Courtney Brown, Penn State: Strength, power and agility. That's what every scout mumbled in their sleep when thinking of this former Nittany Lion. He was simply put, a physical freak, with enough raw talent to send Joe Theisman into a nightmarish flashback of LT. Unfortunately, injury problems and questionable intensity have hampered Brown, and he is widely considered an overpriced average defensive end. To make matters worse, the 2 defensive ends that followed his selection in the 2000 draft (Shaun Ellis and John Abraham) not only went to the same team, but have both out done Brown in every conceivable notion.

Honorable Mention: Andre Wadsworth, Florida State; Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech

DT: Warren Sapp, Miami: With drug concerns, any other player beside Sapp would have been a 6^th round pick, rather than a top 10 selection like he ended up being. Warren had rare explosion off the snap, and offered more as a pass rusher than any other DT prospect ever. Warren has since changed the DT position and single-handedly caused a 3 year draft craze in the early 21^st century, in which every top DT was gone by the 15^th pick of the given draft. By the way, Sapp is a future hall of famer with a super bowl ring.

Honorable Mention: Steve Emtman, Washington; Dewayne Robertson, Kentucky

LB: Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma: Bosworth was the ultimate product of self hype. An intense performer with unbelievable strength and power, Bosworth caused quite the stir in the 1987 supplemental draft. But like many others, the spotlight proved to be far too much for him, and his excessive extremities caused him to fall through the cracks in a rather brief NFL career. We offer our greatest sympathies to lifelong Seahawk fans. We know you hurt

Honorable mention: Lavar Arrington, Penn State; Marvin Jones, Florida State

CB: Deion Sanders, Florida State: "Prime Time" was a playmaker throughout college, had an unbelievable 40 time, and made sure everybody knew it. He proved to be much more than a big talker and workout warrior, as he stands as one of the best cover man of all time and a borderline hall of famer.

Honorable Mention: Quentin Jammer, Texas; Charles Woodson, Michigan

S: Sean Taylor, Miami: I hate to put such a young player on this list, but Taylor just had it all in college. Speed, size, and amazing awareness. The attention that surrounded him was electrifying and he flourished within it. Taylor continues to grow as a player, despite some recent legal/personal issues.

Honorable mention: Ronnie Lott, USC; Shaun Williams, UCLA

So there you have it. Some of the best NFL prospects of all time. Let it be known that this isn't say that these are the only great prospects in history. Their have been many over the years and these are just some of the best that come to mind.

In reference to future articles, feel free to email me any questions/comments you may have. I'll be glad to entertain anything you have to say. GoJets218@aol.com

9/14/05

"The facts about O-lineman"

            Most die hard football fans understand the importance of having a quality offensive line. Games are won and lost in the trenches, and a quality front 5 can make the most average skill player look like an all star. This is why coaches on all levels put so much emphasis on acquiring and developing tackles, guards and centers.
            There are however, many myths that general the public buys into. This is due to the limited exposure surrounding the position, done by media outlets. Simply put, linemen just aren't as exciting as wide receivers and linebackers. Many linemen's hype or lack of is based solely on reputation, and fans just assume these players assume their media made rating, without deciding for themselves of the player's capability. So what can the average fan do to evaluate lineman better? What exactly makes a lineman good? And what linemen play beyond their hype to become one of the best? The following should lead to some inferences concerning these questions.
            Size is superficial: Many fans believe when it comes to linemen, the more beef the better. Yes, towering height and being 300+ lbs is ideal, if everything else falls into place. But it is far from essential. Bigger trench men tend to lack mobility, quickness off the snap and are more vulnerable to injuries. Compare this with lighter guys who tend to be more agile and aggressive, and size becomes a very overrated measurement.
            Fundamentals make perfect: All the strength, agility and size in the world means nothing if the player doesn't have the proper technique. Correct knee bending, square shoulders, and arm extension are key in keeping QB's off their backs. This is because Defensive linemen are taught to take advantage of blunders in technique. Very good ones can recognize a mistake immediately and a split second later, explode through the line.
            Head of the class: With all the fronts defenses throw at an offense, combined with the number of blocking schemes of the modern era, linemen need to have a good head on their shoulders. Being able to make reads and blitz pick-ups are half the battle upfront. There is a reason why top line prospects routinely have some of the higher scores on the wonderlic test come draft day.
            Agility is King: Everybody loves the 330 lb road plow that can blow even the peskiest D-lineman off the ball. But ask any Offensive coordinator what top attribute they'd like their lineman to display, and they'll all say Agility. This is because mobile linemen can do so many more things including pulling reaching the 2nd level of blockers, and roll out plays. Simply put, this gives the coaching staff a lot more flexibility when building and utilizing a playbook.
            What does it all mean? So what is the ideal lineman's skill-set? Top notch smarts to make on the field adjustments, proper technique, agility to reach the second level and a quality combo of strength and toughness in order to truly utilize their frame. That skill set may sound simple enough, but it is a very difficult package to find.

            Perfection in example: Listed below are the top 5 lineman in the NFL. These players possess all the skills mentioned previously combined with unquestioned consistency and a certain intangible that makes them the best. Make way for the ultimate offensive line, and enjoy your new found understanding on what makes a lineman great.

LT: Orlando Pace, St. Louis Rams
LG: Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh Steelers
C: Kevin Mawae, New York Jets
RG: Brian Waters, Kansas City Chiefs
RT: Walter Jones, Seattle Seahawks

9/5/05

For about 10 years now, scouts and Gm's have desperately been looking for long term answers at the offensive tackle position. Certainly, with the development of more sophisticated blocking schemes and an emphasis on cohesion, the struggle has been covered up nicely. Hence, one may ask, "Why even sought out Franchise tackles anyway, if you can be efficient with cheaper personnel?" The fact is, if you can find a true blue chip tackle, you give yourself not only a guy to build an entire offense around, but also you neutralize virtually any pass rushing menace and grant your line even more creative flexibility in terms of blocking schemes. Unfortunately, It's been accepted from most parties, that unless you have a top 10 pick in the first round, or a ton of cap space, your team isn't gonna have much luck in finding their blindside blue chipper. This leads teams to settle on late round gems, patch work veterans, and/or reaching for mid level prospects not worth of their draft position. Yes, there are exceptions, but few and far between.

There is no pinpointed reason for the shortage. Perhaps it can be attributed to the pressure on young lineman to add so much weight. A lot of players lose their mobility, and open themselves up to injury in exchange for hitting that 315 Lb. plateau. Maybe it's the more team oriented blocking schemes on the college level that eliminate athletic showcasing and can stun development. Whatever the case, all the proof you need about how limited a Gm's choices have become, is right in the pudding; Players like Marc Colombo, Kwame Harris, George Foster, and Luke Petigout were all first round picks. That isn't to say that any of them were lacking in talent or ability. Some have become solid consistent starters. But no way did some of these players match the traditional profile of an OT worthy of a 1^st round selection. Gm's are forced to pull the trigger on these mid level talents because someone has to protect the blindside of their 80 million dollar investments. So even if it means settling for less, or wasting draft day value, decision makers hold their breath and make the questionable selection.

But alas, for all those Gm's who close their eyes every time a 5 or 7 step drop pass is called, your day has finally come. Call it divine intervention, a savior from beyond, call it whatever you want. But this year's class is loaded with top tackle prospects. Whether you want an agile pass protector to neutralize Dwight Freeney or a plow for the right side who can blow Michael Strahan off the line, you'll find exactly what you're looking for in this class. The talent pool is so rich, that when you start naming off the potential first rounders at the position, you commonly forget 2-3. A lot of front offices would be happy to HAVE 2-3 OT's to put at the top of their draft board. Never mind the excess. So to all those distressed team executives trying to convince their 3^rd string tight ends to add 30 lbs to their frame in hopes for a miracle, sit back and have a cigar. Help is on the way.

Left Side Lock downs

1. Eric Winston, Miami- If Eric can bounce back from a knee injury and quiet durability concerns he's on Orlando Pace/Robert Gallery level. He has great feet, flawless technique and good head on his shoulders. What more could you ask for?

2. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia- One of the most athletic OT's to ever play college football. All he needs to do is put on a few more Lbs (6'5 295) and polish his run blocking, and he is a sure fire top 5 pick.

3. Jon Scott, Texas- You got to love his Measurable's. Jon has ideal size (6'7 315), strength and great feet. He has struggled some with speed rushers, but if he can work out the kinks, he has the talent to be a top 10 selection. Jon might be the most NFL ready of the bunch, as he has 4 years starting experience in the big 12.

4. *Joe Thomas, Wisconsin- If he declares, he will have Gm's drooling about his fierce, competitive nature. Joe is extremely consistent and technically sound. He's a hard player to hate.

Maulers from the right

Marcus McNeill, Auburn- An absolutely mammoth man (6'9 340) who completely engulfs defenders. His long arms and lower body strength make it very difficult for any pass rusher to find a seam to the backfield. He has some work to do on fundamentals, but he will make some NFL skill players very happy someday.
Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College- The latest in the great line of BC lineman. Trueblood has towering size (6'9 330) and might be the best run blocker of the bunch. Although he is an average pass blocker, if what your team needs is a road plow to the right, Trueblood is your man.
Daryn Colledge, Boise State- Not as flashy as some of the other guys of this class, but he has outstanding fundamentals, strength and character. This is a classic overachiever whose work ethic could one day make him a pro bowler.

Other Notables:

Andrew Whitworth, LSU

Davin Joseph, Oklahoma

Adam Stenavich, Michigan

*Derek Morris, NC State

Choose your weapon wisely.