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2009 NFL Draft Big Board: Interior Offensive Line
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 23rd March, 2009 - 11:17 am
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The guards and centers in this draft are an exceptional group, especially the centers. While these players rarely populate the first two rounds, as many as 4 centers and 3 guards will merit strong consideration on the first day. When you consider that several of the tackle prospects also have potential at guard, this just might be the most promising guard/center class since the expansion to 32 teams. The dropoff at guard is pretty extreme after the top 6-7, which could mean a bit of a 3rd round bubble and then a prolonged drought.
Several of these players fit at both positions. I’ve sorted them based on what I believe to be their best NFL potential position, though that does not mean they will not wind up playing other spots on the line.
Centers
1. Alex Mack, California. 6’4”, 311.
Summary: Extremely athletic and muscular. Tall but very flexible (during Senior Bowl week he did a complete splits, then popped up without using his hands--try that one at home) and has a solid base. Fires out aggressively to engage, and has excellent hand and shoulder placement in run blocking. Maintains leverage with great leg drive and hand/wrist strength. Very competitive and feisty. Has a rare aptitude for engaging and pancaking defenders in space and at the second and even third level. Tremendous short-area quickness for his size. Adept combo blocker. Very smart both on and off the field. Not as stout in pass protection, and his lateral agility is not top notch. Tends to lean instead of sliding his feet to pick up blitzers or stunts/twists. Needs to bend at the knees and use a stronger base more consistently. Got away with leaving early on screens a lot but did a great job leading the charge.
Forecast: I’ve gushed over Mack as the best C prospect in years. While further film study has dimmed my overall view and exposed some warts, he is still an All Pro caliber player who can start right away in the NFL. 1st round, and he’s special enough that teams will move up to get him.
2. Eric Wood, Louisville. 6’4”, 310.
Summary: Tall and agile anchor who shows great power and leverage for his height and gait. Extremely quick snap, and he fires out of his stance with balance and purpose. His quickness off the snap and aggressive attack jump off game film. Very good knee bender who consistently gets his hands under the shoulder pads of interior linemen. Strong leg drive in run blocking. Experienced line leader who has made line calls in a variety of offensive systems. Recognizes blitzes and coverages well. Slides to the sides with balance and under control, though it’s a little deliberate. Needs to work on finding targets in space, does not anticipate the action of the defenders very well. Not a good cut blocker on the edge or on screens and traps. Will snap the ball low at times. His hand punch isn’t as solid as most guys in this class. His skills do not mesh well with more elaborate zone blocking teams
Forecast: His height and ability to fire off the snap stand out, and his pass blocking and straight-ahead run blocking are definitely strengths. Teams that like inside running and play action passes with longer drops will value Wood in the 2nd-early 3rd round.
3. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas. 6’3”, 301.
Summary: 2007 Rimington Award winner as the best collegiate center, and was a finalist in 2008. Very agile, heady all-around center. Quick snap that is always to the same spot, including in the shotgun. Arkansas ran the Wildcat package with Darren McFadden and Luigs did a great job snapping and then firing out to the second level and cutting. Real smart, makes correct line calls and adjustments. Very solid hand placement, gets arm extension and gets his hands just under the shoulder pads adeptly. Learns quickly from his mistakes, won’t get beat by the same move twice. Always plays with his head up and on a swivel. Has the speed and footwork to effectively seek and engage at the second level, and he’s an excellent downfield cut blocker. Not as physical or pugnacious as most centers, though he does play hard to the whistle every play. Relies more on proper angles and momentum to get movement in run blocking, not a real pile mover or drive blocker. Doesn’t anchor well against more powerful tackles (see Ole Miss game).
Forecast: Widely regarded as a finished product and safe pick, he reminds me of Matt Birk without the snarl. Could sneak into the 2nd round, but the 3rd is more likely.
4. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama. 6’3”, 303.
Summary: Quick on his feet and blessed with natural athleticism, Caldwell started all 4 years at Bama and at every OL spot but LT. Real intelligent, observant leader who graduated with honors in under 3 years. Very good at getting out to the second level in run blocking and also at flying out to lead screens. Great mirror skills inside. Does a good job of getting under the pads of defenders. Never stops moving his feet. Good short area quickness, but it evaporates after his initial burst. Lacks weight-room strength in his arms, shoulders, and wrists. Struggles to get much of an interior push. Can get turned and pushed. Will lean out over his toes at times, and savvy DTs can pull the chair on him every so often (see LSU and Utah games).
Forecast: In normal years Caldwell would be at the top of the C list, but the staggering talent of this class makes him seem less appealing. His lack of bulky strength is a concern as more teams use a 0-technique NT in a 3-4 front. Still a solid 2nd/3rd round prospect who will sit atop some teams draft boards at the position.
5. Cecil Newton, Tennessee State. 6’2”, 294.
Summary: Small school stud with great lineage, as his dad played in the NFL and his brother is the backup QB at Florida. Lightning-quick snap that gets to the same spot every time. Very quick and light on his feet. Natural knee bender who plays with great balance. Gets into defenders quickly on run blocks and does a great job establishing and maintaining leverage. Exceptional speed for the position allows him to fire out to the second level. Good seek and destroy blocker in space. Did not allow a sack his entire senior season and graded out with 3 perfect games, according to one AFC West scout. Has rare mirror skills in pass protection, slides his feet with ease and shifts his weight quickly so he’s never caught leaning or too far over his toes. Absolutely dominated in the FCS, but the level of competition in the OVC is far inferior to even the MAC or WAC, let alone the NFL. Light for the position, could stand to add 12-15 pounds of muscular bulk. Does not have the brute strength in the trenches some teams want. Needs to improve his initial punch. Can be driven backwards by larger bull rushers that he’ll encounter in the NFL.
Forecast: His lack of weight and prestigious competition get Newton overlooked, but he leaps off game film with his quickness and very sound technique. If he can handle the jump in the level of competition, Newton can become an above-average starter for years. 5th-6th round and a sleeper you want on your team.
6. A.Q. Shipley, Penn State. 6’1”, 304.
Summary: Rimington Award winner as best collegiate center. Fiercely competitive grappler who never gets outworked. Compact build. Very solid anchor who gets good leverage and keeps his balance. Very adept at making line calls, real strong football IQ. Respected leader with impeccable character--his teammates and coaches rave about him. Good feet, has no problem with combo blocks or peeling off and helping his guards. Has almost freakishly short arms. Lacks power in his punch and stronger tackles can collapse his arm extension. Not a pile mover--thrived on giving max effort every snap and on his great conditioning as much as he did superior talent. Will get caught with his feet too close together. Not much of a threat at the second level. Very old school style, which will endear him to some schemes but make him a misfit in others.
Forecast: 3rd-4th round for the right team who compares to 2008 3rd rounder Kory Lichtensteiger, though not as big. He’s the kind of guy coaches hate to cut.
7. Robby Felix, UTEP. 6’3”, 302.
Summary: Physical 4-year starter who run blocks as if he’s wrestling a bear. Real mauler-type who gets excellent leg drive and arm extension. Naturally strong but has clearly been a weight room regular too. Plays with snarl and ferocity, though he keeps it under control. Very much a phone-booth pivot, does not have great quickness or get to the second level well. Suffered the same type of stroke as Tedy Bruschi, which raises flags for some teams.
Forecast: 5th-6th round talent, but his mild stroke could lead him to go undrafted.
8. Edwin Williams, Maryland. 6’2”, 308.
Summary: Undersized but very athletic and quick. Had some games where he looked very impressive, others where his lack of bulk and upper body strength were a major liability. Williams has great feet, good short-area quickness, and looks very good pulling and trapping. Really struggles in the phone booth, and gets little drive or push in run blocking. Tends to stand straight up in pass protect mode.
Forecast: Scouts either love his potential if he can bulk up, or see a guy who won’t survive the first 2 weeks of training camp. I respect his athleticism and drive enough to believe he’s worth developing with a 7th round pick.
9. Brett Helms, LSU. 6’1.5”, 296.
Summary: Savvy leader with good quickness and great technique. Very competitive, plays beyond the whistle every snap. Undersized and not strong for his size. Better blocker on the move and in space, really struggles in-line to get any sort of push or anchor.
Forecast: He doesn’t lack for fight, but this dog really lacks the size and strength teams want in the middle. His intelligence and ability in space will get him drafted in the 6th-7th round by a zone blocking team.
10. Ryan Shuman, Virginia Tech. 6’2”, 300.
Summary: Late-blooming, squat powerhouse. Smart, savvy, and very physically strong. Did not show much NFL potential until the second half of his senior year, when he appeared to finally grasp the concept of playing on his toes and how to functionally use his strong legs and arms. Has dramatically improved his short-area quickness in preparation for the draft, which is good because he really needed to improve in that regard. Still more plodding and stiff than most, but if Shuman can continue to improve he can stick as a utility G/C. 7th round or UDFA.
Other Centers
Ryan McDonald, Illinois--I mention him because he’s a great, intelligent young man who happens to be a product of my local high school (West Ottawa HS, Holland MI). He’ll get a look in a camp, but on the gridiron he’s more like an undersized RT playing C.
Alex Fletcher, Stanford
John Cooper, Oklahoma
Jonathan St. Pierre, Illinois State
Dan Gerberry, Ball State
Guards
1. Duke Robinson, Oklahoma. 6’5”, 330.
Summary: Big, nasty pile mover. Very thickly built but has surprising quickness and agility for his size. Fires off the snap and aggressively attacks defenders in run blocking. Has the brute strength to open and seal holes, getting good leg drive and hip roll. Good arm extension and wrist strength. Slides his feet well and rarely loses balance. Plays with a distinct, street-fighting style of arm and hand action. Can absorb the toughest bull rushes and not give ground. Has flashed some ability to get downfield and lead the charge, though his speed and second-level blocking ability are very straight-line. Doesn’t really extend his arms for a punch, but rather waits for the defender to close in a little and then gives a hard slap. Not real adept at finding targets in space, though he has a knack for allowing the runner to get in his wake and keep him safe. Gets accused by some of inconsistent effort, though I haven’t seen much of that.
Forecast: Came back to the pack a bit after entering the 2008 season as a clear-cut #1 guard and surefire 1st rounder. His nastiness and polished power still get him the highest grade, but it’s doubtful Robinson comes off the board before #40 overall.
2. Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin. 6’5.5”, 328.
Summary: Tall but agile and mobile. Excels at pulling and engaging targets off tackle and just off the line. Good combo blocker, delivers a quick, hard jolt down. Has long arms and extends them well with power and a tough punch. Fairly light on his feet--has played tackle and acquitted himself nicely. Very strong upper body. Durable 4-year starter in a power-running offense. Not real quick. Tends to play tall, doesn’t reliably sink his hips or drive with his legs. Relies on his impressive size and upper body strength rather than proper in-line technique too often. Lacks foot speed. Had some issues recognizing blitzes. Not as nasty as some teams want at RG.
Forecast: Some scouts see a bit of a G/T tweener, but I like Urbik’s length and power inside; reminds me of a bulkier Eric Steinbach or Jahri Evans, though not as nasty as either guy. Mid 2nd-early 3rd rounder who brings added value with his developmental potential at RT.
3. Greg Isdaner, West Virginia. 6’3.5”, 324.
Summary: Tall, physical junior who declared early, a rarity for guards. Very good in pass protection, uses his length and long arms well. Solid initial punch. Great feet, has good lateral agility and balance. Picks up blitzes and late rushes well. Good run blocker on the move, which should translate well to zone blocking schemes. Stood out in pass protection as being able to stop his man, then help his mates quickly and adeptly. Plays upright and does not consistently bend either his knees or at the waist. Lacks a strong base, can be driven backwards. Not a mauler in run blocking, better in space than the phone booth. Will whiff on cut blocks downfield.
Forecast: His pass blocking skills are very good, and his mobility in run blocking will endear him to teams that run a lot of spread-out formations, but he’s not for power running teams. 3rd rounder and gaining momentum.
4. Andy Levitre, Oregon State. 6’2.5”, 305.
Summary: Great technique stands out. His mechanics are textbook and rarely break down; his feet, arm extension, and knee bend are great. Adept at getting to the second level and engaging, though he can be deliberate in getting out there. High football IQ, understands what the defense is trying to do and knows how to counter it. Has played tackle but will likely move to guard due to lack of height, speed and arm length. Very good mirror skills and short-area quickness. Handled quicker defenders very well, showed great anticipation and quick reaction. Sets up quickly in pass protect. Has an odd build--short arms and big thighs with skinny calves (relative to other Gs). Had trouble with more powerful interior players during Senior Bowl week, needs to work on sustaining his anchor after absorbing the initial surge. Not quick to get outside or out in front at the second level. Only flashes the snarl and tenacity that many teams covet.
Forecast: 3rd-4th round
5. Herman Johnson, LSU. 6’7.5”, 368.
Summary: Mountain of a man, one of the biggest babies ever birthed at nearly 16 pounds. Very large framed and heavy, but Johnson is not as fat or unathletic as his weight would suggest. Tremendous hand punch and arm extension that jars defenders backwards. Plays on his toes and maintains balance during contact. Great hand strength and has solid placement on run blocks. Locks his elbows but keeps his shoulders flexible to adjust. Fires off the snap well. Shows decent recognition of blitzes and switches. Has problems with smaller, shorter defenders who can get into him quickly or under his initial surge. Does not have much lateral agility. Will lunge and lean and surrender leverage if he misses with his punch. Very uncomfortable moving backwards or kicking outside, gets very upright. Shows good effort in getting downfield and in space but whiffs as much as he engages. Handles the questions about his size with a warmth and lightness that reveal a good heart. Has played some right tackle and wasn’t that bad for a slow-footed behemoth.
Forecast: His sheer mass and surprising initial quickness remind many of Leonard Davis, who moved inside to guard and became a Pro Bowler, and that merits consideration in the 2nd round. But Johnson was inconsistent and there are concerns he’s actually too big, which could drop him to the 75-100 overall range.
6. Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati. 6’4.5”, 303.
Summary: Very solid, polished run blocker with great power and hand placement. Real strong arms and shoulders, and he sinks his hips and drives with his strong legs very well. Plays with an edge. Not much lateral agility and his footwork regressed during a senior year where he failed to meet expectations. Had major problems with smaller, speedier tackles and ends who came inside. Lunges and grabs instead of sliding his feet. As one GM opined in Mobile, “Once the book got out on (Canfield), nobody told him he needed to write more.” Appeared stiff and overly anxious in Mobile, and that impression characterized his interviews at the Combine. Played much better in ’07, where he moved more fluidly and did a much better job of using his hands.
Forecast: If teams cut him slack for his off ’08 campaign and look back to his ’07 and years prior, he’s still a 3rd round prospect with rare toughness and proficiency as a run blocking force. He’ll never be quick or a great athlete, but not all teams look for that in their guards. If the focus winds up solely on ’08, he could be waiting until near the end of the draft before Canfield’s name gets called.
7. Max Unger, Oregon. 6’4”, 306.
Summary: His versatility is Unger’s calling card. Has played all across the OL at Oregon, most recently at C. Projects best at guard. Very tough competitor and hard worker who fires out with authority. Demonstrated great durability and leadership skills. Good combo blocker who has the short-area quickness to control a larger area than most. Has a nice initial punch. Smart and quick to pick up blitzes and provide help. Gets out in front on screens and draws/traps nicely. Has a bit of a problem as a jack of all trades, master of none. Was simply horrible in center drills during Senior Bowl week; snaps were all over the place and he struggled badly with the QB under center and a NT over him. Lacks anchor strength, which he compounds with inconsistent feet. Gets his feet too close together in pass blocking, and will cross his legs and twist his hips at times. Cannot sustain his initial surge, poor leg drive. Lacks the powerful arm extension and lateral agility to handle tackle duties without significant improvement.
Forecast: I’m much more bearish than most on Unger, who I see as a quality 6th lineman but with too many limitations to start at any position. He’ll likely be drafted in the 40-60 overall range, though I do know at least one team that has a 6th round grade on him. Caveat draftor.
8. C.J. Davis, Pittsburgh. 6’2”, 308.
Summary: Compactly built, powerful pile mover. Very strong base and he understands how to use it. Not shy about being physical or angry. Really sinks his hips well and uses his strong wrists and shoulders to turn defenders and seal the hole for the runner. Sustains his blocks well and plays beyond the whistle. Has some ability to pull and trap, though he’s not quick afoot. Shorter than teams like. Lacks confidence in his footwork; he often fires forward in pass protection rather than trying to set up and slide his feet. Despite being short, defenders have shown they can get under his shoulder pads and stand him up. Does not react quickly to stunts or blitzes. His teammates and coaches (HC Dave Wannstedt coached in the NFL for years) spoke well of him and his work ethic, so teams will be more apt to take a chance on him.
Forecast: If playing guard was just about run blocking, Davis would be no lower than 2nd on this list. But his lack of height and stiffness in pass protect are problematic and will likely render him a 4th/5th round pick.
9. Roger Allen, Missouri Western. 6’3”, 326.
Summary: Small-school mauler who plays like the defender violated his sister. Real strong initial punch that jars the defender backwards, and he follows it with a powerful arm extension and leg drive. Blunts bull rushers very effectively. Absolutely dominated his level of competition and showed progressive improvement in his technique. Plays heavy-legged and doesn’t get to the second level with the quickness teams want. Generally stays low in his stance but needs to work on keeping leverage when he moves laterally. Coming off sports hernia surgery that wiped out his workout prep for the Combine and bears further scrutiny. Making a huge leap in level of competition, though interior OL is the easiest spot to do that. Still learning the position after starting as a DT.
Forecast: Underexposed and still a work in progress, Allen will likely require a “redshirt” year to adjust to the NFL and fully heal from his hernia surgery. A team with patience and a good OL coach could really get rewarded for a 6th-7th round investment.
10. Jaimie Thomas, Maryland. 6’4”, 329.
Summary: Very physical big man who carries his weight a la Warren Sapp--big around the middle but not unathletic or lacking quickness. Better pass blocker than run blocker, very good at absorbing bull rushes and staying in front of his man and fighting. Really struggled in run blocking if the target wasn’t right in front of him, though he delivers a powerful surge and leg drive when he finds his target. Often plays with lazy hands. Has a nasty habit of putting his head down when he is engaged. Doesn’t always use all his tools; he’s more athletic and talented than he often shows, preferring to just brawl and lumber around.
Forecast: 5th-6th round, and he’ll be a real pleasant surprise if his OL coach connects with him and pushes the right buttons.
11. Maurice Miller, Ole Miss
Summary: Real strong but a G/T tweener; too slow and lumbering to play T, not aggressive enough or flexible enough in run blocking to make it as a guard. Some scouts have hit him with the dreaded “soft” label. He shows good knee bend and foot sliding in pass protection but it simply goes away when he run blocks. If he can fix that, he’s probably a better RT prospect than G because of his size. If not, he’s a physical utility lineman with developmental potential. For what it’s worth, he graded out higher than Michael Oher in 7 of the Rebels’ games in ’08 according to their coaching staff. 6th-7th round.
12. Travis Bright, BYU
Summary: Real tall with a weightlifter’s physique and power. Solid hand placement and arm extension, good hip roll. Nice hand punch. Real pile mover with strong leg drive. Very stiff, has almost zero flexibility or lateral agility. Inconsistent knee bend that gets worse as the game wears on. Very old-school mentality and functionality, which is right for just some teams. 6th-7th round.
13. Paul Fanaika, Arizona State
Summary: Real big, mauling in-line blocker who showed enough desire and improvement to merit longer looks by teams that covet power and size up front. Real plodding and stiff and still somewhat raw in technique. Has the attitude and coachability that there is real promise this giant hunk of granite can make a nice statue-type guard. 7th round or UDFA.
14. Louis Vasquez, Texas Tech
Summary: Two years ago TTU produced the very similar Manny Ramirez, a guard built like a refrigerator with great power and phone-booth blocking skills. Ramirez has proven unable to handle the quickness and agility required in pass protection, and lacks the speed and athleticism to get out to the second level in run blocking and on screens. Vasquez is a little quicker and more nimble on his feet than Ramirez, but he’s not as natural at bending his knees or as powerful with his initial hand punch. Has some potential if he can transition from their mano-a-mano, wide-split blocking scheme. 6th-7th round.
15. Seth Olsen, Iowa
Summary: Short-armed and not athletically built, but he has developed a very effective technique for using what God gave him. Relentless fighter with sound fundamentals but limited athleticism. I heard two different teams mention how impressed they were with his interviewing skills. 7th round/UDFA
16. Andy Kemp, Wisconsin
Summary: Your stereotypical Badger lineman--real strong, stocky, smart, crafty, edgy, kind of stiff, slow, struggles with quickness, holds too much. The NFL has long drawn upon the land of beer and cheese for guys like Kemp, and he’ll probably be drafted a round or so higher than what comparable talents from other schools would be, though Kemp has the mentality and football IQ that coaches love. 5th-6th rounder.
17. Cedric Dockery, Texas
Summary: His brother Derrick has carved out a nice career, which provides hope that Cedric can overcome his inconsistent college performance and blossom in the NFL. Tore his right ACL two years ago and plays like he never recovered, often babying the leg and clearly not playing with the base or leg drive he had earlier. Strong and nasty, but a bit plodding with both his feet and hands. 6th-7th round based on name value.
Other Guards
Ryan Durand, Syracuse--in many summaries above, I brought up a lack of athleticism. Durand makes most of those guys look athletic.
Anthony Parker, Tennessee--injury at the Senior Bowl killed his draft stock.
Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State--undersized and not aggressive enough for most teams. Has enough skill to prove me wrong.
Tyronne Green, Auburn--moving up a draft board near you and will likely be drafted in the 5th-6th round. Caveat draftor, as he only played well in about 3 games last year.
Stephen Jonas, Colgate--sorry tweens, he’s not the “Bonus Jonas”.
Louis West, Henderson State--no chance of being drafted, but he’s 6’8”, 407 pounds with the slowest 3-cone drill time I’ve ever seen. Coming soon to a WWE arena near you...
- Jeff Risdon is RealGM's senior football writer and draft expert. He may be reached at Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com
