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http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/patriots-draft-preview-offensive-tackles/
Patriots Draft Preview: Offensive Tackles
Patriots current roster/ needs: At the moment, offensive tackle is the most uncertain position on the Patriots roster. And it all hinges on whether or not they bring Matt Light back. If they do, they can take a flyer on some project pick in the late rounds, like they do practically every year. Some Thomas Welch/ George Bussey/ Clint Oldenburg type that needs a lot of work but they take to see if they can develop him into a player. If they don’t sign Light, then tackle becomes one of their top priorities and at the very least they’ll need to use one of their five in the top 74 to grab someone who can step in right away and protect the World’s Most Important Surgically Repaired ACL.
When it comes to all O-lineman, the Patriots have a definite type. They pass on the big, heavy Jersey Barrier types and sacrifice size for athleticism. The premium is on guys who can take a quick first step, get around the edge fast and throw blocks for their quick passes, smoke routes and bubble screens. Which is why they struck gold with Sebastian Vollmer. He’s huge, but the most impressive part of of his game is how solid his footwork is. Seabass is never caught off balance and rarely gets beaten to the outside by a quick twitch move. And he’s got the versatility to switch back over to the left side if the Pats decide 10 years with Light is enough and they’re going with a rookie RT. Nick Kaczur is probably gone since pre-lockout, he refused to accept a pay cut. So again, at this point no one knows they’re thinking, so we’re all just spitballing.
Positional overview: Offensive tackle is supposed to be one of the strengths in this draft class. Sporting News gave the position an A+. NFP lists 5 OT’s that they see as rookie or 2nd year starters. CBS Sports has 8 coming off the board by the time the Pats make their 5th pick at #74. So this is a good year to be looking reload. Again, if that’s what they’re trying to do.
The consensus best tackle in the draft: Tyron Smith, USC. 6-5, 285, 5.08
Everyone likes his strength, his athleticism, the way he finishes blocks and the program he comes from. Though as Pee Wee told Simone when they were talking about their dreams, “Everybody has a big ‘but’…” But… Smith is a little undersized. He’s been adding bulk, hoping to get up to 300 lbs by the time he’s playing, but there’s some worry it’s too much weight too fast. And but… he projects as a LT in the pros but he’s been playing RT in college. It doesn’t make a lot of sense that you move him to a tougher position at the next level. Still, the Patriots could keep him on the right and move Seabass, but someone’s going to take Smith off the board way before they’re on the clock.
The latest in a long line of solid linemen who are no strangers to Mary Ann’s: Anthony Castonzo. BC. 6-7, 305, 5.21.
BC has become Trench University. Every other year they turn out another solid 10 year starter at offensive or defensive line. Damien Woody, Dan Koppen, Chris Snee, BJ Raji. And now Castonzo, who’s as NFL ready as any OT in this draft. He started 50+ games at the Heights and has been at LT for the last 3 seasons. A few rank him at the No. 1 or 2 in this draft class. And even the worst anyone has said is that he won’t be a spectacular pro, but he’ll be solid. I’m guessing he’ll be Joe Thomasish.
Best college resume: Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin. 6-7, 314, 5.40
As Carimi is fond of pointing out, in school he regularly faced four different guys who are expected to go in the 1st round: Adrian Clayborn of Iowa, Cameron Jordan from Cal, Ryan Kerrigan of Perdue and his own teammate in practice, JJ Watt. So he keeps saying he’s the best tackle in the draft. Plenty of scouts though think he’s just a big, immoblile load. And the riskiest pick in the group.
Fruit from the Belichick coaching tree:
Marcus Gilbert, Florida. 6-6, 329, 5.41.
Fun fact: Gilbert’s father was a Secret Service agent who protected Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Marcus though, comes from a Spread Offense and it’s damn near impossible to project these guys who spent their whole college careers up in a 2-point stance into a pro system. It’s one thing to protect the president, or God’s Own Son Tim Tebow. But this is Tom Brady we’re talking about and we don’t need any trainees on his blind side, thanks.
James Carpenter, Alabama. 6-4, 320, 5.22
He’s played in an NFL ready offense, was All SEC at LT and is tough and strong. But he’s not super agile and is seen as more of a RT in the NFL.
Small school sleeper: Ben Ijalana, Villanova. 6-3, 320, 5.37
A lot of scouts are smitten with Ijalana. But as you’d expect of a guy his size playing in Villanova, he stands out on film. I just have doubts the Pats would take a guy who hasn’t faced elite competition and a behemoth like him doesn’t fit their M.O.
The ideal Patriot: Nate Solder, Colorado. 6-8, 314, 4.90
The knock on Solder (rhymes with Boulder) is that he only did 21 bench presses at the Combine, where, by comparison, Gilbert did 30. But there’s no question he’s the most versatile/ athletic tackle in the group. He’s a converted tight end. He’s still learning the position but he’s already worked his way into the top of a talented group. He won a couple of different awards for work ethic and leadership and had a 3.93 GPA in college. And I think because he still needs to develop and his Spongebob like performance on the weight bench, he’d be a steal in the late 2nd-early 3rd. Anyway, I’d love to see what Dante Scarnecchia could do with this kid.
Guy the Pats have held a workout with: Solder.
The Pats will take:
If they keep Light: Solder.
If they let Light go: Castonzo.
Patriots Draft Preview: Offensive Tackles
Patriots current roster/ needs: At the moment, offensive tackle is the most uncertain position on the Patriots roster. And it all hinges on whether or not they bring Matt Light back. If they do, they can take a flyer on some project pick in the late rounds, like they do practically every year. Some Thomas Welch/ George Bussey/ Clint Oldenburg type that needs a lot of work but they take to see if they can develop him into a player. If they don’t sign Light, then tackle becomes one of their top priorities and at the very least they’ll need to use one of their five in the top 74 to grab someone who can step in right away and protect the World’s Most Important Surgically Repaired ACL.
When it comes to all O-lineman, the Patriots have a definite type. They pass on the big, heavy Jersey Barrier types and sacrifice size for athleticism. The premium is on guys who can take a quick first step, get around the edge fast and throw blocks for their quick passes, smoke routes and bubble screens. Which is why they struck gold with Sebastian Vollmer. He’s huge, but the most impressive part of of his game is how solid his footwork is. Seabass is never caught off balance and rarely gets beaten to the outside by a quick twitch move. And he’s got the versatility to switch back over to the left side if the Pats decide 10 years with Light is enough and they’re going with a rookie RT. Nick Kaczur is probably gone since pre-lockout, he refused to accept a pay cut. So again, at this point no one knows they’re thinking, so we’re all just spitballing.
Positional overview: Offensive tackle is supposed to be one of the strengths in this draft class. Sporting News gave the position an A+. NFP lists 5 OT’s that they see as rookie or 2nd year starters. CBS Sports has 8 coming off the board by the time the Pats make their 5th pick at #74. So this is a good year to be looking reload. Again, if that’s what they’re trying to do.
The consensus best tackle in the draft: Tyron Smith, USC. 6-5, 285, 5.08
Everyone likes his strength, his athleticism, the way he finishes blocks and the program he comes from. Though as Pee Wee told Simone when they were talking about their dreams, “Everybody has a big ‘but’…” But… Smith is a little undersized. He’s been adding bulk, hoping to get up to 300 lbs by the time he’s playing, but there’s some worry it’s too much weight too fast. And but… he projects as a LT in the pros but he’s been playing RT in college. It doesn’t make a lot of sense that you move him to a tougher position at the next level. Still, the Patriots could keep him on the right and move Seabass, but someone’s going to take Smith off the board way before they’re on the clock.
The latest in a long line of solid linemen who are no strangers to Mary Ann’s: Anthony Castonzo. BC. 6-7, 305, 5.21.
BC has become Trench University. Every other year they turn out another solid 10 year starter at offensive or defensive line. Damien Woody, Dan Koppen, Chris Snee, BJ Raji. And now Castonzo, who’s as NFL ready as any OT in this draft. He started 50+ games at the Heights and has been at LT for the last 3 seasons. A few rank him at the No. 1 or 2 in this draft class. And even the worst anyone has said is that he won’t be a spectacular pro, but he’ll be solid. I’m guessing he’ll be Joe Thomasish.
Best college resume: Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin. 6-7, 314, 5.40
As Carimi is fond of pointing out, in school he regularly faced four different guys who are expected to go in the 1st round: Adrian Clayborn of Iowa, Cameron Jordan from Cal, Ryan Kerrigan of Perdue and his own teammate in practice, JJ Watt. So he keeps saying he’s the best tackle in the draft. Plenty of scouts though think he’s just a big, immoblile load. And the riskiest pick in the group.
Fruit from the Belichick coaching tree:
Marcus Gilbert, Florida. 6-6, 329, 5.41.
Fun fact: Gilbert’s father was a Secret Service agent who protected Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Marcus though, comes from a Spread Offense and it’s damn near impossible to project these guys who spent their whole college careers up in a 2-point stance into a pro system. It’s one thing to protect the president, or God’s Own Son Tim Tebow. But this is Tom Brady we’re talking about and we don’t need any trainees on his blind side, thanks.
James Carpenter, Alabama. 6-4, 320, 5.22
He’s played in an NFL ready offense, was All SEC at LT and is tough and strong. But he’s not super agile and is seen as more of a RT in the NFL.
Small school sleeper: Ben Ijalana, Villanova. 6-3, 320, 5.37
A lot of scouts are smitten with Ijalana. But as you’d expect of a guy his size playing in Villanova, he stands out on film. I just have doubts the Pats would take a guy who hasn’t faced elite competition and a behemoth like him doesn’t fit their M.O.
The ideal Patriot: Nate Solder, Colorado. 6-8, 314, 4.90
The knock on Solder (rhymes with Boulder) is that he only did 21 bench presses at the Combine, where, by comparison, Gilbert did 30. But there’s no question he’s the most versatile/ athletic tackle in the group. He’s a converted tight end. He’s still learning the position but he’s already worked his way into the top of a talented group. He won a couple of different awards for work ethic and leadership and had a 3.93 GPA in college. And I think because he still needs to develop and his Spongebob like performance on the weight bench, he’d be a steal in the late 2nd-early 3rd. Anyway, I’d love to see what Dante Scarnecchia could do with this kid.
Guy the Pats have held a workout with: Solder.
The Pats will take:
If they keep Light: Solder.
If they let Light go: Castonzo.