NFL Draft 2014 Preview (29 page)

Ht: 6-5 3/8 | Wt: 297 | Sp: 5.16 | Arm: 33 1/8 | Hand: 10 1/4

History:
Nashville native who won a state championship and competed in track and field (throws) as a prep. Redshirted in 2009. Started all 12 games at left tackle in ’10. Started all 13 games in ’11 — seven at center, four at LT, two at left guard. Started all 26 games at LT 2012-13, allowing just two sacks. Two-year captain.

Strengths:
Quick out of his stance. Natural bender with athletic, coordinated movement. Light on his feet and can work his hips. Keeps his hands inside and can pop and recoil. Shuffles, slides and mirrors. Gets to the second level with ease and can wheel around the edge as a puller. Durable, versatile 51-game starter — has experience playing all across the line. Highly respected, passionate, no-nonsense vocal leader.

Weaknesses:
Average length. Is not built for power. Needs to bulk up and get functionally stronger. Light anchor — stressed by power rushers. Does not jolt defenders with his hands. Average explosion/pop on contact. Inconsistent connecting with moving targets and fitting on linebackers. Has had difficulty filling out his frame and maintaining weight.

Future:
Experienced, intelligent, competitive, athletic, strength-deficient zone blocker. Has everything you want intangibly and has developmental value, but has to make significant strength gains and perfect his technique to survive against longer, more powerful NFL defensive ends. Has worked out as a center in the spring and might be most natural inside.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

ORT CYRUS KOUANDJIO, #71 (JUNIOR)

ALABAMA
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Grade: 5.75

Ht: 6-5 3/4 | Wt: 322 | Sp: 5.59 | Arm: 35 5/8 | Hand: 10 1/4

History:
Last name is pronounced “KWON-joe.” Parade All-American and elite recruit out of Maryland’s DeMatha Catholic. Was a reserve as a true freshman in 2011 when he appeared in eight games before suffering a season-ending torn left ACL and MCL against Tennessee. Started all 26 games at left tackle 2012-13. Combine medical/James Andrews opinion?

Strengths:
Excellent body mass with extremely long arms. Uses his length to push rushers wide — day trip to run the arc on. Has the ability to drop anchor and stymie the bull rush. Can latch onto, control and maul his man. Can hook and seal or widen the hole in the running game. Flashes the ability to bury defenders. Will be a 21-year-old rookie and has clear potential — is physically gifted with raw, moldable tools.

Weaknesses:
Has heavy legs and lacks ideal foot quickness for blind-side protection. Footwork and hand use have to be coached up — looks clumsy at times. Carries his hands low. Struggles to subdue counters and gets beat across his face — limited lateral quickness and needs to strengthen power step and inside punch. Average contact balance — too often bends at the waist and slides off blocks. Inconsistent clearing his feet through traffic and spends too much time on the ground. Labors to cut off fast-flowing linebackers and sustain on the second level. Could stand to develop more of a mean streak. Tied for the slowest 40-time (5.63 seconds) of any participant at the Combine.

Future:
Massive, long-limbed, inconsistent, overhyped college left tackle whose sheer dimensions, raw tools and high ceiling are far more appealing than his snap-to-snap performance at this stage of his development. Has enough length and anchor strength to survive on the left side, though he will never be a dancing bear, and he projects more ideally as a bulldozing right tackle in a power scheme.

Draft projection:
Top-50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“He looks the part, but he leaves you wanting more too. He tends to play short-armed and a little top heavy and lets guys into his body. He is not a great puncher. He sets his hands late. I don’t see a lot of snap to him. In pass pro, he handles the outside rush and can handle the speed-to-power transition because he can sink his (butt) and is hard to run through. He’s not a real powerful type — he tends to fall off blocks way too much. I’m not sure I would touch him in the first round. When I was in the school, he was really struggling. (The coaches) try to sell him hard, but it’s hard to really bite. A lot of (scouts) are talking about him in the third round.”

C TYLER LARSEN, #58

UTAH STATE
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Grade: 5.20

Ht: 6-3 5/8 | Wt: 313 | Sp: 5.25e | Arm: 31 1/2 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
Married. Brother, Cody, played defensive tackle at Southern Utah, and latched on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Tyler was a two-way lineman who also lettered in basketball as a Utah prep. Appeared in two games as a freshman in 2009, but strained his left MCL and redshirted. Started all 51 games at center 2010-13. Played through a herniated disc injury in ’12, had post-season surgery and sat out ’13 spring practice while recovering. Rimington finalist in ’13, the third straight year he earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors.

Strengths:
Excellent size — sheer mass to wall off. Generally holds his ground. Can sit and anchor and replace his hands. Good awareness. Consistent gun snaps. Was a rock for the Aggies — started 51 career games.

Weaknesses:
Has short arms and struggles to sustain. Not explosive or powerful. Very average athleticism and flexibility to maneuver and torque. Limited lateral quickness to slide and recover. Too easily tossed aside and cannot recover. Slow-footed — struggles to cut off fast flowing linebackers. Not a nasty mauler. Measured the shortest wingspan of any offensive lineman at the Combine.

Future:
Big, experienced, wall-off zone blocker with a ceiling as a serviceble starter, though questionable versatility detracts from his appeal in a league offering few center-only spots. Has to be a masterful technician given his short arms and pedestrian athleticism.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take: “
He is big, but he has short arms and it allows (defenders) to get into his body. It knocks him back some.”

OLT CHARLES LENO JR., #78

BOISE STATE
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Grade: 5.25

Ht: 6-3 7/8 | Wt: 303 | Sp: 5.20e | Arm: 34 3/8 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
High school offensive tackle-defensive end out Oakland, Calif., where he also lettered in basketball. Redshirted in 2009. Appeared in 10 games as a reserve in ’10. Started all 13 games at right tackle in ’11. Started all 26 games at left tackle 2012-13.

Strengths:
Outstanding arm length. Solid base in pass protection and can bump, steer and mirror. Understands fit and positioning. Can work up to the second level with ease. Flashes pop in his punch. Very durable, experienced three-year starter.

Weaknesses:
Lacks substance in pass protection and can be moved off a spot and walked back to the quarterback. Tends to bend at the waist, overextend and lose positioning — average recovery speed. Carries his hands too low and does not shoot them with violence. Is stressed by speed and struggles to cut off the rush. Does not play strong and catches too much.

Future:
Long-armed, soft-bodied college left tackle most ideally suited for a role as a versatile, swing backup in a zone-blocking scheme. Has not learned how to translate his
athletic ability and explosion to the field, yet possesses enough length, agility and untapped talent to find a role for a patient offensive line coach. Could warrant interest inside as a guard or center where he has help on each side. Similar to Packers OT Marshall Newhouse.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

OLT TAYLOR LEWAN, #77

MICHIGAN
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Grade: 6.18

Ht: 6-7 | Wt: 309 | Sp: 4.87 | Arm: 33 7/8 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
Prepped in Arizona, where he transferred to Chaparral High as a senior and won a state championship while playing offensive line for the first time (defensive end previously). Redshirted in 2009. In ’10, overtook upperclassman Mark Huyge in Week Four — started nine of the final 10 games at left tackle, sitting out against Wisconsin (head). Started all 39 games at LT 2011-13, winning the Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award his last two seasons. Team captain. Was invited, but did not participate in the Senior Bowl.

Strengths:
Accomplished, four-year starter vs. Big Ten competition. Clean kickslide in pass protection. Good knee bend, footwork and recovery quickness to handle outside speed and inside counters. Very good balance — is seldom on the ground. Is quick climbing to the second level to reach linebackers. Plays with intensity and the game is very important to him. Tough and very durable. Produced the best 40-yard time (4.79 seconds) and broad jump (9’9”) of any offensive lineman at the Combine.

Weaknesses:
Is not a gritty, physical finisher. Has a lean lower body and does not explode on contact. Can be inverted by power and does not carry a load in his hands. Could do a better job recognizing and adjusting to the outside blitz. Quirky personality that can be easily misunderstood.

Future:
An experienced, finesse left tackle with the length, agility and temperament to hold down a starting job for a long time. Is nuanced in pass protection and would fit best in a slide-lateral movement, bucket-stepping, zone-based blocking scheme. Similar in mold to Patriots 2011 17th overall selection Nate Solder. Outstanding Combine performance could elevate his draft status.

Draft projection:
Top-15 pick.

Scout’s take: “
He is not very big genetically in the lower body. Everyone is saying he is a top pick. He graded out at the bottom of the first for me. ... He is a little bit different. Not all the coaches will like his personality. But he is tough. He loves the game.”

ORG BRANDON LINDER, #65

MIAMI (FLA.)
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Grade: 5.26

Ht: 6-5 5/8 | Wt: 311 | Sp: 5.34 | Arm: 34 1/2 | Hand: 10 1/4

History:
Won a state championship at Florida prep power St. Thomas Aquinas. As a true freshman in 2010, played 12 games and had five starts as an extra blocker in UM’s “jumbo”personnel package. Started all 12 games at right guard in ’11. Was sidelined by a cracked rib during ’12 fall camp, but started all 12 games. Missed ’13 spring practice with a left PCL sprain. Was the Hurricanes’ offensive MVP in the fall, starting all 13 games, including 10 at RG and three at right tackle.

Strengths:
Terrific size. Engages with urgency and works to gain positioning. Can lean and seal. Good hand placement. Functional anchor when his base and posture are technically sound. Ideal makeup to battle in the trenches. Plays with his head on a swivel — alert to threats. Nasty finisher. Outstanding personal and football character. Smart vocal leader. Tough, durable and experienced (42 career starts).

Weaknesses:
Adequate athlete. Limited explosion — cannot overpower defenders. Plays short-armed (average sustain). Tends to lunge and slip off blocks. Body control and contact balance wane in space and on the move. Is late to cut off linebackers and struggles the farther he has to go.

Future:
Big, experienced, highly competitive, short-area base blocker at his best in a phone booth. Lacks ideal power and athleticism, but has football intelligence, leadership traits and a bulldog’s mentality. Should earn a spot as an interior backup initially, but brings grit to the line and has the makeup to outplay his draft position.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

C COREY LINSLEY, #71

OHIO STATE
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Grade: 5.18

Ht: 6-2 5/8 | Wt: 301 | Sp: 5.03 | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 7/8

History:
Prepped in Ohio where he also was a state champion discus thrower and state champion and All-American shot putter. Played through a shoulder injury as a senior. Redshirted in 2009. Appeared in six games as a reserve in ’10 and 10 games as a reserve in ’11. Started all 12 games at center in ’12 despite hurting his foot against Illinois in early November. Had it surgically repaired and sat out the following spring. Started all 14 games at center in ’13. Team captain.

Strengths:
Stout base. Works to re-anchor. Jolting punch. Strong upper body to latch onto and control defenders in short area. Generates movement in the run game. Understands angles and positioning. Excellent weight-room strength — bench-presses 500 pounds and squats a small house. Smart and dependable. Communicated all the line calls and checks. Is tough and will play hurt. Hardworking team captain with leadership traits.