Guards, Tackles, Centers, Demotions?
There's a nice writeup on Grantlad today about college tackles who move to guard in the NFL.
Ihttp://grantland.com/features/guard-tackle-interior-offensive-linemen-nfl/
Lots has been discussed here with Mags and Braden switching around, I highly recommend the whole writeup and would love input from those who know more about football than I do.
Like the physical requisites, there’s a specific set of mental attributes that separate whether players are suited to play inside or out. Joe Thomas, the best left tackle in football, has famously short arms, but no lineman alive is calmer and more unflappable when pass blocking. “The key to playing on the outside is understanding angles,” Bentley says. “It has nothing to do with how tall you are. It has nothing to do with how long your arms are. Does that help? Yeah, it can help, but that’s not the no. 1 requirement.”
Kelvin Beachum, who stands a relatively paltry 6-2 and manages to play left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, gets by the same way.
When Birk, a taller-than-average center who played tackle at Harvard, made the move inside during his rookie year, his interior education came courtesy of Jerry Ball. By 1998, Birk’s rookie season, Ball was 34 and seven seasons removed from the most recent of his three Pro Bowls, but still, dealing with the 330-pound nose tackle was a daily chore. Ball would torment the rookie, inching farther inside before the snap, baiting Birk into thinking he meant to crash hard across the center, only to dart back toward his original gap as the ball was snapped. “He really made me realize it’s about more than just power,” Birk says. “There’s a lot of thinking that goes on in there.”
August 20th, 2015 at 11:38 AM ^
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August 20th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
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August 20th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
Don't OT's and centers usually have the highest Wonderlic averages? Even higher averages than QB's?
August 20th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
Vince Young, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, Jeff George, Chris Leak, Terrelle Pryor, Oscar Davenport - all QBs - all with incredibly low Wonderlic scores.
August 20th, 2015 at 2:16 PM ^
Yeah Terry Bradshaw is damn near illiterate, like Charlie.
August 20th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^
The last time I checked, I believe that was true - the NFL average is something like 20, but OTs sat at an average of 26 and centers at 25 at last look. The next two on the list were quarterback and guard, as I recall. The bottom of the list tended to be heavy on defensive positions.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
Not to mention communicating with the other lineman, especially when it comes to pass protection. Defenses can stunt the tackles, and obviously bring pressure from anywhere. I think this is one of the reasons our 2013 line was so terrible: the guys were young and hadn't had enough full-speed game experience to understand pass blocking and the adjustements necessary.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
yeah pretty sure ive seen studies indicate that LT and C consistently post the highest wonderlic scores (on average) after QB. its certainly no be-all end-all and theres many pieces to the puzzle, but higher IQ's can only help.
similar to strength at point of attack or long arms, practical intelligence is never a bad thing and only adds value as another tool in OL's (or any players) toolbox.
obviously the best players at all levels are typically those who not only have the most "check marks" next to their name but consistently best utilize those assets on the field. and IQ, adaptability and thinking on ones feet arguably help OL as much as anywhere else, particularly compensating of less physically gifted players
August 21st, 2015 at 12:47 AM ^
August 20th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
Regarding size, I think there was about a six-year stretch where no Michigan offensive tackle was below 6'6". Before Mason Cole (6'5"), I think the last one was Steve Schilling (before he moved inside to offensive guard).
August 20th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^
...gets nowhere near the recognition he should. Dude was a monster in that game--he was borderline unstoppable with the "up & under" from the NT spot.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
Outside of the original madden games, some of my best childhood memories come from that game.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ^
In just about every position there is a delicate balance between intelligence and skill. You can argue how much of the physical skill is learned or God-given I suppose, but it takes the right mix of both to be a star at the highest level. That ratio varies by position, but I suspect there would be some obvious trends out there if you had the right data to compile it. Here are some examples:
- David Terrell and Braylon Edwards were the best receivers I've ever seen at Michigan. And yet Chris Calloway and Jason Avant have had far more successful NFL careers despite not having the raw talent or physical attributes.
- Drew Brees and Russel Wilson defy every QB stereotype for NFL quarterbacks with regard to size and probably arm strength why Ryan Leaf and others had all the physical talent needed.
I think some positions like RB or DE emphasize physical skill more than perhaps OL or Safety, but all of them take the right amount of balance.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
couldnt agree more. and its ultimataly all about who finds the appropriate balance and best utilizes their skills on the field of play
August 20th, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^
August 20th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
The other issue with tall interior linemen is they block the passers view downfield. I know that we have some tall QBs but if you have a guy around 6' and his guards and center are a half foot taller than him it can be difficult to make downfield reads.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
Dude was 6'5". One of the best C Michigan ever had, and a hell of a pro too.
August 20th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
August 20th, 2015 at 1:59 PM ^
August 20th, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
I think people get too caught up in a couple inches when evaluating O linemen. 6-4 is plenty tall enough to play tackle. 6-6 is plenty short enough on play guard. I mean I've literally read evaluations about guys that are 6-3-7/8s sayng they lack height and in the next paragraph about another guy 6-4-1/8 than they'll say is plenty tall enough. 1/4 inch? That means nothing. The Lions have a plus LT right now who only fell to them because his arms were like 1/2 shorter than the scouts wanted. 1/2 inch? Reiff is becoming one of the top 10 LTs in all of football.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^
i was a hockey goalie - therefore, can play tackle.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
probably would be solid at pass protection at least
August 20th, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^
if by "solid" you mean "injured immediately", then i agree with you.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
As a goalie myself, I'll vouch that you've got powerful legs and are a "knee bender" rather than a "waist bender"
August 20th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
butterfly
August 20th, 2015 at 3:31 PM ^
August 20th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^
Great article. There isn't as many stories out there about the OL. For some reason, people like talking about QBs, RBs and WRs on offense. I don't know why.
August 20th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
but those positions have stats so its easy to track performance. Also, when watching on TV you follow the ball so the OL usually only gets seen or discussed when there's a sack or a missed block leading to lost yards.
August 20th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^
I see the advantage of guys just a hair shorter on the inside.
The old football saying "Low man wins" is true.
BUT it doesn't mean taller guys can't gitter done to.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:46 PM ^
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August 21st, 2015 at 12:37 AM ^
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