Let's look at the facts: 1. The guy is 6'6" and 330lbs at 22 yrs old... physically he can play anywhere he wants along the O-line. 2. "nearly every scout who has evaluated Iupati on film says he has the footwork and athleticism to be an NFL left tackle." http://www.sportingnews.com/college...pects-ross-iupati-strive-join-suh-first-round 3. We aren't looking for the classic all-round RT. We are an elite running team and we need a RT we can run behind. Look at Woody, he started as a C, then a G and now he is our RT not because he is an elite pass protector but because we can run effectively behind him (and Moore). 4. He'd have one year to split time/learn behind our awesome O-line. Callahan also is a great O-line coach. 5. Worst case scenario is after a year or training he is deemed unfit to play RT... and he can slide in and take the place of Faneca, at LG, who in a year or two will retire/get cut anyways! And also having trained for a whole year as a T he can slide in there in case someone gets hurt for a couple of games. We'd have nothing to loose with this pick... best case scenario we get our replacement for Woody, worst case scenario we get our replacement for Faneca! So what do you guys think? PS Again I can't stress enough that every team is different and looks for the particular skill-set that fits its philosophy... I wouldn't want Iupati as an RT project if I was the Chargers or the Saints GM... but for the Jets it would be a selection that makes sense.
First, at best the Jets are drafting at #25...let's hope they're drafting at #32. Iupati will probably be gone when the Jets are OTC. If Iupati was available, he would be on my very short list. If the Jets drafted Iupati, I would put him in at LG or RT....those would seem to be the best fit. Faneca has played well at times....his age is showing his inconsistency.
What I've learned in recent drafts is that except for those guys considered top 10 consensus picks there are always many surprises in the rest of the draft. I never thought Maualuga could fall as much as he did... same for some other guys. At this time of the year the only players I'd exclude from our draft talks are either the sure top 10 draft picks (Suh, Berry etc) and guys in positions we clearly don't need (QBs, ILBs etc). As of now I have no idea wether Iupati will fall out of rd 1 or be taken somewhere in the mid-first round... but he would be a good value pick in the 25-32 area so I count him as a possibility. Plus it's your fault if I like Iupati so shut up and back me up on this
You're right nothing is etched in stone. My best guess as of Jan 13, Iupati will be drafted around #20. Iupati IMO, is the highest rated guard in at least 5 years..even higher than Grubbs, who went in the mid/late 20s. It's very difficult for a GM to spend a huge amt. of money on a guard. I like Draftafullback's point ....Iuputi will be an All-Pro guard, not too sure about RT. When something isn't broke don't fix it...leave Iupati at guard for the sure thing.
I think Iupati may become a left tackle prospect in the eyes of some GMs. He's that athletic. I would want him on the Jets as a dominant run blocking guard, but he's definitely good enough to move out to RIGHT tackle. I don't know if he'll pan out at left tackle. In a relatively weak left tackle class, Iupati could make some noise.
In a weak class of tackles he could go earlier then if he was in say last year's draft. Either way he'd be a great prospect for the Jets to draft.
I was actually thinking about that this morning. Iupati and Anthony Davis are, in my opinion, two potentially elite guards that have the ability to also play either tackle spot in the NFL. Iupati would have more potential at left because he can move better than Davis, but their run blocking skills would translate very well to the right side. I have the two of them sitting as 1a and 1b at the top of my guard rankings, but their versatility will have them going earlier than most like to rate their top interior linemen. If the Jets were to grab one of these guys I'd imagine they would probably start out at Right Tackle taking over for Woody before moving inside to replace Faneca when the staff is sure he's done.
Davis moves better than Iupati. He's a legit, and very talented, LT prospect. I've got Iupati as the best G in the draft and potentially the best overall OL. I do think he can play RT, but his upside at G is elite.
He's big and mobile enough. Besides for LT...and even that can be worked around...most OL prospects are usual similar. Most G's are G's because they aren't as tall as tackles, but Iupati's 6'6 height kind of kills that.
I don't believe Davis has the mindset or agility to be a great Left Tackle. Davis is a guy that can be very effective pulling and moving around in the run game, but there's a clear weakness there when it will come to facing top notch pass rushers. He is very good when he gets his hands on linemen because he's so strong, but an end with a quick first step and any sort of moves will school him. In addition, he's just too hot and cold to think he can survive at a position where he won't be instantly dominant.
I've found myself thinking this often enough, and it's definitely a possibility. That said, I think Davis is more likely than Iupati to get taken seriously as a LT prospect. I'm not in love with any of these LT prospects...none are in the class of D'Brick/Thomas/Long as prospects. Hell, I don't even see a Eugene Monroe here...And I like Brandon Albert better as a LT prospect than Iupati. Albert would have been a sick pickup at G in '08...the Gholston year that will live in infamy.
Wohooo... Mayock just said he expects many teams will want to plug in Iupati at T... http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-senior-bowl/09000d5d815e21fd/O-Line-spotlight
I think we have to take a real good look at him. Seeing how Faneca and Woody are near the end, its a perfect fit. He could replace either position and learn from some great ones. Unless an elite defender slides, this is the way to go.
