ESPN: Top 4 OL evaluations and how they fit

I love how people are bashing Andrew Thomas as of late, I hope he drops and we can scoop him up. Just put on that LSU tape and watch him dominate K'Lavon Chaisson.

Good ol tape fatigue. Cimini is a hack, I hope JD would be smart in that regard.

 

I think any of the top 4 will help the Jets, obviously there will be some better than others, but I think ll are good picks. The question is: are any of the ones that might be left at 11 better than Lamb or Jeudy if one or both are still there? Frankly I don't there is anyone on this board, or anyone not named Joe Douglas, who knows the answer to that question.

In addition to the basic player profile and attributes, they have to weigh scheme fit, coaching, fit with other players, all things most of us (if not all) have no real knowledge of.

Left to my own, I'm still leaning towards an OT...IF he's someone that Douglas believes can fit right in quickly, even if that means starting as RT and then moving to LT next year. But not having the in depth knowledge I mentioned, I'd probably take Lamb or Jeudy if there, rather than hope the OT available would work out.

 

It is my understanding that he is not a good scheme fit for the Jets spread zone-blocking scheme. He's a better run blocker than pass protector and with "lazy feet" that could spell real trouble for Sam. I think I read somewhere that he has a problem with inside moves. If so, in a spread scheme, that would spell real problems for Sam and maybe for Bell too.

 

If I remember this correctly, the Jets blocking scheme uses wide splits so Thomas doesn't fit that bill. Any of the other 3 fit it though.

 

I don't think that's true that he isn't a fit for zone blocking. He knows the terminology in terms of the wide-zone blocking scheme, because they ran in in Georgia. He has long arms, and I don't think he lacks athleticism either. I do think the combine showed us there are other OTs that can REALLY move. He's being overlooked right now and I don't know who said he was a better run blocker then pass protector, but that guy rarely gave up pressures in the best conference in football.

See for yourself. The below is a trend you see in all of his tapes.



He's no Joe Thomas, but I think he will be a very good LT for a long time. He is probably the best pass protector in this draft.

 

Thanks for the video. I saw Georgia play several times, and he always looked solid to me. One or more scouts said that he has "lazy feet" and I'm pretty sure I read that he is susceptible to inside rushes. KurtheJetsfan doesn't think that either Thomas or Wills would be good fits for our scheme.

Yes, he has VERY long arms.

I'll see if I can find those scouting reports for you.

I'm no expert, but I don't like the way Thomas handles Chaisson on the inside rushes. On the very first play there is one, and Chaisson could have easily blocked the throw if Fromm had thrown it then, maybe even intercepted it. On the other two, Fromm had to stop, move left and re-set, which could mess up the timing on a route.

 

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/andrew-thomas?id=32195448-4f02-5763-1c5b-1459b2c5ddf0

Weaknesses

• Lacks prototypical build and limb thickness
• Is a little heavy-legged in his second-level climbs
• Tight hips limit lateral movements and pad-level battles for leverage
• Top-heavy into initial contact and doesn't get hips unlocked
• More mauler than mover
• Needs to improve foot positioning to help steer and secure kick-outs
• Pass slides are choppy and lack desired smoothness
• Anchor against speed-to-power has more give than you want
• Gets caught leaning and over-extending in pass pro

https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/andrew-thomas/eGlH3R2cHb

Marino
Run Blocking - Powerful worker in the run game. Does well to unlock his hips, accelerate his feet and create movement. Lethal working combos and down blocking. Long, physical and aggressive when pushing around SEC defensive linemen.

Pass Blocking - Love how he brings the fight in pass protection. Has exciting moments of framing blocks, leveraging his hips and keeping rushers at the end of his reach. There are times with twitchier rushers where he can give up a step and he gets top heavy when recovering, leaving his feet behind. Has some erratic moments reaching his set points, particularly on vertical sets and he fails to get enough depth. Has some room for growth but his peaks are outstanding and he has the physical gifts to improve.

Blocking in Space - Only average on pulls/climbs. Can get better with the angles he takes releasing into space so he can more consistently connect with moving targets. If he lands his punch on back seven defenders, it’s game over.

Power - Outstanding power throughout his frame. Executes with good leverage and posture to maximize his functional strength. Punches are heavy and violent. Does well to absorb power and anchor in pass pro when he gets squared up. Rarely loses a rep on account of a lack of strength.

IQ - Experienced executing pro concepts and techniques. Has been challenged with a variety of pass sets. Aware and alert in pass protection. Keeps his head on a swivel and comes off/pass off blocks as needed. Timing is generally precise and he has a strong understanding of his role within the play.

Feet - Has the foot speed needed to win. I wouldn’t call him an explosive mover and he can struggle to keep pace up the arc with speed off the edge so cleaning up his pass sets is necessary. Has to be more consistent with his feet when rushers gain a step instead of being so reliant on his upper body to recover. Love how he keeps his feet engaged in the run game.

Hands - Does a wonderful job of playing with extension and winning with first contact. Does well to place and fit his hands. Timing and location of his punch is precise. Delivers powerful punches that stun pads.

Balance - Has some lapses with body control. Base can narrow and he gets top heavy at times in pass protection. Contact power and balance is generally outstanding in the run game. Easily absorbs power, leverages his hips and showcases a sturdy anchor.

Versatility - Profiles as a left tackle at the next level, ideally in a power scheme. May have some challenges in a vertical passing offense where deeper drops from the quarterback are frequent until he cleans up his pass sets.

BEST TRAIT - Power

WORST TRAIT - Footwork

RED FLAGS - None

NFL COMP - Ronnie Stanley

A three-year starter at left tackle for Georgia, Thomas enters the NFL experienced in a pro scheme and executing against the best opponents college football has to offer. As a run blocker, Thomas is outstanding and profiles as an immediate impact blocker in that regard. With that said, there is a need for growth with his footwork in pass protection to develop consistency handling speed. There may be some lowlights early on as he irons out his technique but Thomas has all the gifts needed to become a high quality left tackle in the NFL.

Harris
Andrew aligns at LT for the Georgia spread offense. He is a sufficient proactive athlete for the position. In the run game he has shown the ability to get out of his stance and “reach block” a 7 technique if necessary. Shows good initial quickness out of his stance and can easily get to cut off on run plays. His tenacity and inline power allows him to get good vertical movement in the run game. He displays a physical block temperament on double teams and good athleticism to engage LBs at the second level. In the passing game, he is sufficient. He displays a very good short set anchor from a 2point stance, while still doing a very good job maintaining the width of the pocket. He has excellent latch strength in his hands. He’s physical and strong at the point of attack. He needs to do a better job using his length on the perimeter. He doesn’t play with great bend, but He shows good balance and is rarely on the ground. As the game progresses, his technique will falter a bit and has shown instances of being a waist bender later in games. He will get his shoulders over his toes and will lunge at times. As a result, shorter pass rushers that can bend and get the edge, have given him some issues on the perimeter. Inside moves and counters presented some adversity in the LSU game. Has sufficient anticipatory instincts on twists and games. Needs to become more consistent handling the cross face and redirecting laterally in the NFL. In the NFL he is a Right Tackle with true positional flexibility to play Guard. I don’t believe he is an ideal Left Tackle in the NFL, but could play there in a pinch, if necessary.

Crabbs
Pass Sets - He's best in quick sets — sufficient on the edge on vertical sets but he'll get tested with bursty rushers and have to extend, flip his hips and chase up the field in order to keep rush angles steep. His foot speed isn't his greatest quality but length and wide base often protect him.

Length/Extension - The dude has vines for arms — he's got a ton of length and shows good timing to implement strikes with efficiency to land blows and negate first contact with defenders. Appreciate his extension skills on the edge, he needs it to protect the boundary in pass pro.

Balance - You don't often see him conceding space, a testament to his ability to absorb contact and not get uprooted. He redirects well and while he can be prone to chasing, he isn't a real leaner and is able to maintain functional control of his feet. Too strong to get pushed around.

Hand Technique - Strike timing and variance is quite good, maximizing his value to win at first contact. Grip strength is terrific and he's often locking in tight, low hands on the numbers of defenders. Will torque and escort defenders out of gaps.

Power at POA - The Notre Dame game is the most fun you'll have watching someone drive block this year — he's blasting defenders off the ball on every single play. Dominant presence up front and moves piles of bodies, not just his individual man assignment. Blue chip quality.

Football IQ - He's disciplined up front to avoid chasing chaos in space. His angles out of his stance are quite crisp and allow him to win on the second level. His man exchanges on twists and stunts are sufficient and he trusts his length to maximize his range.

Functional Athleticism - A little clunky when he's tasked with getting lateral along the LOS or taking deep pass sets against wide alignments. His ability to work across face and hook on outside runs isn't great because his lower half isn't super dynamic. But he's plenty quick when he's flashing forward.

Anchor Ability - Brute strength is incredible. He'll squat and absorb even the heaviest of hands with little issue — dominating presence on the edge when tested with 5T alignments or odd fronts. Haven't found anyone who can get under his pads and collapse him off the edge.

Flexibility - Isn't overly impressive here when you ask him to unlock his hips to the sideline. No issues with leverage, pad level or rolling hips through contact but he's a bit stale on drive/catch in vertical sets or as he looks to work cutoff blocks that test his lateral range.

Competitive Toughness - Brawler who is constantly at the throat of his defender. He's nasty, plays with attitude and thrives in gap/power runs to play through the end of the whistle and escort defenders out of the picture. He's got all the raw power and natural strength you'll ever need to bump bellies.

---

Best Trait - Power at POA

Worst Trait - Foot Speed

Best Film - Notre Dame (2019)

Worst Film - LSU (2019)

Red Flags - None

Summary - Andrew Thomas projects as a high end starter at the NFL level, but he doesn't appear to be a universal prospect and his pro team would be well served to feature a lot of power rushing concepts between the tackles and implement West Coast offense tendencies in the passing game. Thomas' movement restrictions on the edge will allow dynamic pass rushers to test him on an island and deep passing offenses featuring QBs holding the ball longer won't maximize his skills.

 

Reid
Background: The Thomas family is known for their gargantuan stature and athletic background. Thomas’ uncle, Darrel Thomas, played basketball at Samford and another uncle, Emmanuel Jackson, who played at Stephen F. Austin. A four-year varsity starter at Pace Academy (GA), Thomas quickly went from being the oversized and uncoordinated freshman to a highly touted five-star prospect. He was a part of one of the best offensive fronts in Georgia private school history. He helped his the program win the 2015 state championship, which was the first ever in history.

Thomas is known for his quiet and laid back demeanor, but his hidden talent is that he is a musician. He started playing the drums and piano in middle school and it’s a hobby that has stuck to him since then. A high academic individual, Thomas took a liking to Notre Dame because of the tradition and it’s top-ranked business school, but in the end, he wanted to stay closer to home and allow his family easy access in order to see him play, but the comfort with then newly named head coach Kirby Smart was also a key selling point, which is why he chose Georgia.

Thomas’ name was thrown into the mix and labeled as a depth piece prior to training camp, but at its conclusion, his name sat atop the depth chart. Starting all 15 games as a true freshman in 2017, he became only the fourth to start a season opener at offensive tackle and the first since John Theus (2012). In 2018, he transitioned to the left side and started all 13 games that he participated in. He missed one game (Middle Tennessee State) because of an ankle injury, which he suffered against South Carolina.

Much was expected from Thomas during his junior season in Athens. Named as a team captain prior to the season, he started in all 14 games. Surpassing the hype after a breakout sophomore campaign, he was voted as a first-team All-SEC selection for the second consecutive year. Thomas was also the recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is given to the best blocker in the SEC. He became the first Georgia offensive lineman to win the award in 21 years.

Scheme Fit: Man/Power Blocking

Round Projection: Early-Mid 1st Round

Positives (+)

Strength/Power: Thomas possesses a true bruising downhill type of mindset. He’s at his best when allowed to overwhelm stationary or still targets while he remains on the move. The star Georgia offensive tackle is able to fire out of his stance and transition his movements into power very quickly. He contains heavy hands and also a punch that swiftly enables him to latch onto down defenders in order to stall their process immediately. He has lots of clever victories in that he's able to quickly cancel out rush moves because of his brute strength.

Savviness: Pre-snap, Thomas keep his eyes and head on a swivel to stay alert of late appearing targets that may signal edge pressure or blitzes of some sort. One of his best traits is being able to recognize tight techniques head up to inside of his shoulders, which signify twists or stunts are soon to follow. Once seeing the defender crashing inside, he gives a hard push to their desired destinations, and patiently awaits the impending looper from the opposite direction. He not only prepares himself for the action, but also alerts the guard directly beside him.

Anchor/Hip Strength/Size: The living definition of a player that looks the part, Thomas has a round and stout upper-half with an equally as complete lower body. This helps him have an ideal frame for an offensive tackle. He's an exterior protector that possesses all of the elements it takes in order to be classified as a potential upper-tier starter. He not only has the body structure, but also the game to back it up and plays with an aggressive demeanor.When feeling threatened, he’s able to nail his feet into the ground and use them as pillars to prevent ensuing pressure. Possessing a thick lower half, he uses it to his advantage by gathering momentum out of his stance to generate upward force in order pave running lanes on down blocks.

Negatives (–)

High Hand Targets/Waist Bend Panic: When exiting his pass sets and initiating targets for his hands, his most consistent has been near the top of rushers shoulder pads. A bit high and it causes many inconsistencies with maintaining control throughout the duration of the process. High and wide execution makes it easier for defenders to disengage from his grasp and it leaves him with a wider than normal base. When beaten up-the-field, he defers to laying on defenders with most of his upper body weight instead of trusting his feet and power to help him reposition in order to win the rep. When deferring to this technique, he leaves his inside shoulder open, which gives free access to rushers for potential wins inside. This results in him falling off blocks or all the way to the ground because of the lack of control.

Flexibility: Thomas isn't the most springy blocker out of his stance. Quick footed and up the field steppers can cover ground on him and attack his technique in a hurry. This is where his panic button does show up and he relegates into becoming a leaner, which is his last ditch effort to slow down rushers. Both LSU (2018 and 2019) games were prime examples of how quick accelerators or gifted vertical movers can present issues for him.

Overly Violent Mindset: Thomas frequently treats games like a street brawl. That’s the type of attitude that he brings to the table. His aggressive demeanor can also be used as a disadvantage against him though. Wise rushers, who are good with their hands will flash them early, but not intending for them to go in those initial places, but they will then quickly re-adjust to their desired spots during pass rush moves. These types of counter/bait tactics are ones that Thomas has frequently fallen victim to.

Projection: Thomas' combination of power, sturdiness, and awareness helped him become one of the best offensive tackles in the SEC from an early age. Possessing a thick trunk and a beefy upper half, he has the requisite strength throughout his frame in order to dislodge defenders at the point of attack. An above average athlete, he also has the foot quickness in order to match and mirror as a pass protector.

Hands that are like vice grips, his best asset is the movement he's able to generate on the first level prior to climbing to others. With a consistent anchor, he can also nail his feet in the ground to halt the process of rushers attempting to attack him down the middle. As a result, his current traits make him an ideal candidate to play either tackle spot and experience success quickly. He has the characteristics to eventually become a top 10-12 offensive tackle in the league with continued development.


From the Cimini article on ESPN:

Jets fit: Scouts are mixed on Thomas, whose pass-protection skills need to be refined. If Becton, Wills and Wirfs are off the board, and the decision comes down to Thomas versus the top wide receiver, the smart call would be the receiver. Thomas can play left and right tackle, and he'd bring some punch to the running game, but his footwork can get sloppy at times. He can't be ruled out because he has strong intangibles (Douglas is big on those) and big-time talent. The decision could come down to whether they believe he can be coached out of his technique issues.

They said what?!

• "Yes, there are flaws. Sometimes he gets overextended. He doesn't have as much raw power as a Wirfs or a Wills. But I think he's the most game-ready, and he's the most battle-tested at left tackle. And he still gives you some athletic upside." -- Cubelic
  
  
• "He's a safe bet. Very, very fundamentally sound. Run block, pass block -- he can do it all." -- NFL scout
  
  
• "Not an ass kicker. You saw that with his strength in Indy." -- NFL coach
  
  
• "He's got a lot of technique problems, but his size and movement are elite. I just feel like his technique is sloppy, but he's such a good athlete. His footwork is lazy at times. I'm not calling him lazy, but to be consistent at the NFL level, to be a Pro Bowl player -- because that's what you want [with a high pick] -- you want to draft a consistent, Pro Bowl-caliber player. He has that ability, but I believe he has to work a whole bunch on his technique." -- Baldinger
  
  
• "I have no concerns. He's pretty special." -- NFL scout

 

I agree with Kurt on this. Wills is overrated and I think he has the most negatives as I have said previously. Thomas will be a solid LT for years but is better in man coverages. Georg8a did run some split but not a lot. And also I think his ceiling is the lowest while he's also the most pro ready imo. I still like Becton more, but he is probably the biggest developmental prospect. He could fill in at RT while he develops though. And Wirfs is an absolute physical beast. The most athletic. But again he needs to develop.

 

Thomas has gotten a bad wrap because of tape fatigue. Supposed experts want to say he'll struggle with any sort of speed, yet everytime he ended up matched up against a blitzing OLB or corner he absolutely swallowed them. Same with the way he dominated all the SEC pass rushers. He's going to be a stud.

I think Becton has the highest bust rate of the four. Not to say it's that high, but he's such a massive man that it's possible he won't be fast enough with his technique (in terms of hands and footwork) or play with a good enough pad level and leverage to be effective. Trent Brown and Alejandro Villanueva are the only mountain men of his type in the NFL. And while both are solid, neither are dominant per say.

 

According to what I read in the scouting reports, the bold is not true. I don't think it's tape fatigue at all. I think as people scouts and others started studying him more closely, they began to see the flaws that were there all along, just weren't noticed early because of how good Georgia and how well he seemed to be doing.

I think he will struggle early in pass protection, but be very good vs the run. If he can correct his technique issues, I think he will be a great OT in a man-blocking scheme. I think he will never be that good in wide zone blocking scheme.

 

I agree with Kurt as well.

 

These things are a lot of times smoke and mirrors too. I've been watching a lot of tape on Thomas and he certainly looks to be the best OT in this draft to me. He was extremely impressive to me for a variety of reasons. I think he would be fine in any scheme honestly. He's the tackle I'm hoping for as of now, I still got to research and need to watch tape of Bechton, so maybe he looks even better, but, Thomas looks really good to me last year.

 

I think Thomas has fallen to the background a bit with the rise of Wills, Becton, Wirfs but only in the eyes of the mock draft experts and not in the eyes of the NFL.

I think Thomas ends up being at worst the second OT off the board and very likely the first.

As far as the Jets are concerned I’d rate the 3 WRs as better talents than all the OTs but would certainly understand if OT was the pick at 11 given the depth and talent at WR in this draft.

 

Agreed, I don't think Andrew Thomas's game is "pretty" by any means, but he gets the job done. His technique will get better over time, but the guy has a great feel for the game. Becton or "Hulk" definitely has the highest bust rate, he just beats the shit out of people, his technique is probably the worst out of the 4 (or 5 if you include Jones). I could see some edge defenders make him look really bad, if they put together some good moves w/ potential counters.

 

Thomas was widely considered the #1 tackle before the combine and now he's #4? I really hope other teams buy into that and he slips to #11.

 

It's true, that teams definitely put false info out there to get players they like to drop to them, but NFL.com and thedraftnetwork are not team affiliated, they should have no reason to blow smoke. Maybe those analysts don't know what they're talking about. I believe that Kurt does, however. I respect his opinion greatly and I think he knows more about OL play than perhaps any other poster here. He doesn't think Thomas will be a good fit for our scheme. Wills, either.

 

I like Kurt's opinions when it comes to the draft too, I don't always agree with him, well, a lot of people though. Ha

I like the research and film study I do and trust what I like. I think that's how everyone should be honestly. I'm not always right but I feel like I've been on the better side of right than not over the years.

I like the versatility and athleticism of, Thomas. I like how consistent he's been in the strongest conference in college football. Especially last year, he's gotten better and better by a decent amount, every year. Which tells me he is very coachable as well.

His tape last year is really good, I am not an OL expert by any means but I understand schemes, gap assignments, and a general understanding on what you look for from an OL.

A lot of these flaws people are labeling him as, I don't see. Some stuff I wonder if it's not intentionally being done because he still accomplished keeping his man from getting home way more times than not. His feet look very good to me, he is very good at recovering when beat even, which shows that he is a very good athlete in his own right.

I'm hoping we take him personally. That's my opinion though.

We shall see.

I am not a big fan of Wills. I don't hate him either though. I just think he is the worst of the top three OT prospects.

 

I hear ya. I make up my own mind too, but I take into consideration what analysts say. Thomas got the job done and did improve last year, but I totally see the negatives the analysts have reported. He leans too much. He is susceptible to inside rushes. I think he's coachable, but not scheme diverse. I think he will be a very good, if not great LT in a man blocking scheme. I think he will only be a little above average in a wide zone blocking scheme. I once wanted him, but as I studied him more, I no longer do.