Protecting the blind side for Morris

Submitted by VictorValiant on
The left tackle is the most important OL position because he protects the blind side of a right-handed quarterback. With Magnuson on board the team has a true left tackle. However, in his 4th and/or 5th year, he may be primarily blocking for Shane Morris, a lefty. I don't expect Magnuson, or whoever has a lock on the position to move to RT because it may hurt his NFL draft stock. What should the coaches do right now to have the blind side protection for Morris? Go after a left tackle type who is willing to play on the right or just see who pans out to be the best pass blocker?

Litt1e Rhino

June 12th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

Have you taken notice on how recruiting is going? I think we will be just fine in the RT department. No worries the coaches will take care of this issue

DGDestroys

June 12th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^

whoever has a lock on the position to move to RT because it may hurt his NFL draft stock

The number 9 pick in the draft, Tyron Smith, played RT for USC last year. I don't think it would necessarily hurt their draft status.

tricks574

June 12th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^

Normally RT get drafted lower because the LT in college are just the better lineman. Smith is an odd case, because even though he is an exceptionally talented tackle, he wasn't the best one on his team. He would have started at LT for almost any other team in the country.

DGDestroys

June 12th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^

Certainly, I know of Matt Kalil, the kid's a stud. But his concern seemed to be that if placed on the right side, you're inherently less appealing to NFL franchises. And that's not the case. With a lefty QB, any tackle will have the same opportunity to display his athleticism and talents as if he were on the left side.

Zone Left

June 12th, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^

The side of the line doesn't matter. Lineman can switch sides. If the Dolphins had a lefty QB, Jake Long would switch to RT. you're overthinking things.

wresler120

June 12th, 2011 at 3:13 PM ^

Recruiting big offensive linenment right now. Ben Braden is 6'6 280 and will likely play left tackle at Rockford this year. But, he has played right tackle to this point. They are also targeting Jordan Diamond at 6'6 290 and Eric Olson at 6'6 270. Hoke wants to build a beefy offensive line, and with the way he is recruiting OL right now both the RT and LT are going to be big and strong. All of these offensive linemen will be playing LT in high school this year, but there is only one starting LT in college. Once they get on campus Hoke will know which fits better at LT and who he wants at RT keeping in mind he will likely have a left handed QB very soon. Thus, both sides will be solid pass blocking tackles.

bdsisme

June 12th, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^

Hoke's going to have the same problem when he recruits a left-footed field goal kicker.  He'll have to recruit a field goal holder who can hold while on the LEFT hand side.  What a tragedy!

maizenblue92

June 12th, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^

It won't hurt LT stock blocking on the right side. It does not matter what side a tackle is on as long as he is blocking the blind side. If you are the RT for a left-handed QB NFL scouts see that as a future left tackle. 

Space Coyote

June 12th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^

People can move from outside to inside.  Height is occassionally an issue, and it's not as easy as every technique is the same, but most guards at the college level still played tackle at the high school level.  Look at Schilling, he did pretty well.  It will take some coaching and beef, but that is typical with most o-line recruits and shouldn't be too big of an issue going forward.  I suspect both of the more unheralded o-line recruits to move inside eventually.

LSAClassOf2000

June 12th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^

Left tackles on the left, right tackles on the right, and the ambidextrous tackle is the new "center". 

Actually, there is Caleb Stacey, and I believe he's guard. Give the staff time - there will likely be a few, but I think by far the priority has been defense, both up front and the secondary. 

tricks574

June 12th, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^

This question gets asked a lot whenever anyone talks about lefties, and in the end it doesn't make much of a difference. Teams put their best pass rusher on the right side, or left if you are on offense, and are hesitant to flip them around on the odd occaision that they play a lefty QB, so it makes sense to keep the line as is to match up better man on man.

turtleboy

June 12th, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^

we could have a 2014 or 2015 true freshman RT start, or maybe even later. We'll also be installing prominent blocking TEs and could end up running numerous 2 TE sets to overpower other college front 7's and give Morris plenty of protection. Even if we end up taking 6 linemen in this class we still have the ability to take up to 4 more next year. If we had a superstar Jake Long clone RT in this class he'd play 2012-13-14 and 2015, if Morris redshirts and only starts his junior-senior seasons then he'd play 2016-17. We have years to worry about this. There's time.