I know it's early....and much of the draft talk has been circulating around the Dline in lieu of Jenkins' injury. Of course, I'm on the d-line bandwagon....I believe our 1st rounder should be spent on a defensive lineman. But I also recognize that the depth of our oline is lacking...as we all know, guys like Woody and Faneca aren't getting any younger. So if I'm Tanny...i'm looking to spend a 2nd rounder on the oline...or even trade up to grab one of the blue chippers available in the first round. I don't watch a ton of college football....so I'll leave it up to our resident experts like Mr. E and WW85 to provide more insight into this thread.... I mean...granted this is all speculation at this point...since we're still in the midst of the 2009 season....and we've yet to see who'll declare out of college. But it's 6am here, and I feel like yakkin' about some of the pigs that could be available So here's a few names....who do we think will be a good fit to protect our franchise QB for years to come: T-Russell Okung (Oklahoma State) - looks like he can play both sides of the line. Probably won't be there when the Jets pick...but it's nice to dream. T-Trent Williams (Oklahoma) - A perfect fit to replace Woody at RT...as he started there in 2007 & 2008. T-Adam Ulatoski (Texas) - Another guy that can play both sides of the line. He's a tower at 6'7. EDIT: feel free to throw it any other names....this thread was created with the intention to talk about all things "oline"....I'm curious to learn about the late round gems that could be available as well
Good idea for a thread...I'll try to give some quick stuff on some offensive linemen. My rankings are based off of potential, so they may seem "off" to some. 1. USC's Charles Brown is a super athletic left tackle. I can see him rising a lot just like Baylor's Jason Smith and our very own D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Brown is a converted tight end...in my opinion, the best pass blocker in college football right now. CB gets to the next level on running plays...plays with a mean streak. Top 5 2. Maryland's Bruce Campbell (awesome name) is a huge left tackle prospect. Very athletic for a guy of his size. GREAT footwork. No real weaknesses in his game, but he does have a problem with staying healthy. Top 5 3. Iowa's Bryan Bulaga is the next great Iowa Hawkeye lineman. Kirk Ferentz knows how to produce NFL caliber linemen and Bulaga is definitely one of those. The best offensive lineman in the Big 10 - he's missed some games this season, so that could sway his decision on going pro early. Top 15 4. Rutgers' Anthony Davis is a beastly run blocker. Davis is more than likely going to play right tackle or even guard at the next level. Sometimes, Davis is a lazy POS, which is scary. I think his lack of work ethic can be blamed on a non-competitive team. If someone can motivate this kid, then he'll be a monster. Late first, early second. 5. West Virginia's Selvish Capers has one of the quickest first steps that I've ever seen, but he doesn't play in a pro-style blocking system at WVU. Capers will shoot up boards because he'll have a ridiculous combine. Look for him to go late in the first round. Wait, no Russell Okung?!? I don't like this player...he's extremely overrated in my opinion. OK State's offense gets the ball off so fast that Okung isn't required to hold his blocks for very long. On paper, he looks like an excellent pass blocker though. I also don't like what I see in run blocking from this guy.
I think you still can find talent on the O-line deep in the draft... when you get a d linemen or WR RB QB etc they have to be a game changer if you select them in the first. I dont think a OL will come in from College and be an immediate game changer.
Joe Thomas might of been the only one to make a immediate impact... Jake Grove, Marcus McNeil, Deuce Lutui , Willie Colon, Chris Kemoeatu, Max Starks, Nick Kaczur, Dan Koppen these are just of few of the players selected anywhere from 2nd rd-6th rd.. The whole steelers and patriots line is built with players not selected in the first so i cant see the reasoning..
Ouch lol I like Davis a lot, midway through the 2007 season Ray Rice was "struggling". They plugged Davis in at guard and I don't think he had less than 100 yards rushing in any game after that. He is a hell of a run blocker, any chance he'll be available in the second?
I'm not saying we don't need a T... actually I think we need one because Woody is getting up in age and I hope 2010 is his last year with us... but when, talking about OL depth, did Turner or Hunter ever let the team down? I can't remember one time when they were brought in a game and got beaten miserably by the D. Not once! I'm not saying we have two pro-bowlers on the bench but we have prob the best OL coach in the league and if he kept them 2 around for so long maybe they can be more than just serviceable. I especially like Turner, I hope he gets more reps as I'm sick of seeing Faneca beaten on crucial downs. Let's not forget we also have Slauson on the team and the same logic applies. He was recruited in college by Callahan, he was prob drafted by Callahan and he is now coached by him and learning under Faneca and Moore. Shouldn't we be optimistic about this guy since we have so much faith in Callahan as an OL coach? If and when we bring in a T I hope it's to replace Woody... not to mess with the current OL depth which I think is fine, especially at G.
We haven't had a serious injury on the offensive line...thank god for that. That's why Hunter and Turner have seemed okay. They have no business starting in the NFL.
all but one player the point being is you find talent in the later rounds for Oline who can still produce...
No, he's not. The guy's been getting beat all year. I was very high on him before the college football season started - in fact, he was my top tackle prospect...but without Loadholt and Robinson on OU's line, he's been exposed. I still think Williams will go pretty high (late first, early second). He's not a true left tackle prospect. The guy's will be better suited at right tackle in the pros.
Who would you rather have starting at guard for you if you were the Pittsburgh Steelers? Alan Faneca is his prime or Trai Essex in his prime? There's a difference in talent there. First round linemen are USUALLY the best of the best. Occasionally, teams will find talented offensive linemen in the mid rounds...OCCASIONALLY. The best linemen in the NFL are first rounders: Joe Thomas - Browns Steve Hutchinson - Vikes Ryan Clady - Broncos Bryant McKinnie - Vikes Jordan Gross - Panthers Jammal Brown - Saints
I disagree... Turner came in for Moore for half a game this season and he was very good in the run block and I guess ok in pass block since I didn't notice him getting beaten. Every other time he came on as an extra blocker he did well. Hunter was drafted in the 3rd round (so I guess he had some potential back then) and is the one who works harder in the weight room (TJ's word). Someone said you you recognize good coaches not by how their starters play but how the resrves play... and I have faith in Callahan. It's ok, we have two different opinions and I respect that . I must admit I was also looking forward to what RT you would suggest in this upcoming draft... BTW is any T from Nebraska coming out ? PS I'm not saying they would be good starters over a prolonged period of time (actually I think Turner would), just that they are more than adequate backups (as I pointed in another thread).
I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Jake Long has made an immediate impact on my Dolphins. He went to the Pro Bowl his rookie year and deservedly so. Left Tackles go in the first round for a reason. A top LT is insanely hard to get because a good one never hits the free agent market. The teams who draft them tend to keep them forever.
Ryan Clady deserved to go instead of him, he was better last season and is a lot better this season, arguably the best LT in the NFL. Long went to the pro bowl because he was the first overall pick and was more well known. Not that Long is a bad player, Clady is just better.
Brown's done for the season and McKinnie is good, but not great. If I were to make a top 10 best linemen of 2009 neither would make the list. Jahri Evans is the best active Saints linemen. He was a 4th round selection in 2006. Michael Roos is a tremendous left tackle for Tennessee. He was a 2nd round selection in 2005.
I didn't say the best offensive linemen of 2009, did I? I know Brown is out for season, but when he's healthy, he's dominant. Also, Mount McKinnie is arguably the best run blocking tackle in the NFL...I guess he's only "good" though. Michael Roos is a very good tackle, but I was only listing first rounders.
