Having a strong interior of the offensive line is a very important, yet underrated part of a football team. QB’s have pressure up the middle, love to be able to step up in the pocket and pass the football. Teams that use the zone blocking scheme like guards who are agile enough to combo block, then get to the 2nd level and get a hat on LB’s, while teams that use a power man blocking scheme like guards who are big, powerful, and can bury the man in front of him. Here are the top guard prospects in this year’s draft according to my film study.
1. OG/OT Brandon Scherff 6’5 319 lbs rSr. Iowa (#36 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
10 yard: 1.78 Bench Press: 23 Short Shuttle: 4.57 3 Cone: 7.18 Arm Length: 33 3/8
Strengths: Scherff is the number one guard on my board, but is my sixth ranked T. While I believe that he could play RT in the NFL at a good level, I believe guard is his best position. He’s a punishing 1 on 1 run blocker, takes the guy in front of him and pushes him off of the football. Displays good functional strength, the bull rush rarely works vs him in pass protection. Has good awareness and ability to pick up stunts and blitzes. Perfect fit in a power man blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Has some issues with DL that have lateral quickness. Plays with an high pad level at times.
2. OG/C AJ Cann 6’3 313 lbs rSr. South Carolina (#42 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Bench Press: 30 reps Arm Length: 32 5/8
Strengths: Cann is a powerful driving force as a run blocker. Has a great initial burst off of the line of scrimmage, fires out low, opening holes for RB’s. Plays with a nasty, mean streak. Really good in pass protection, has a strong base, shoots his hands well, anchors down, doesn’t get beaten with power. Has good vision and awareness, picks up stunts and blitzes pretty well. Teams had him workout at C on his pro day as well. I like him more in a man blocking scheme, but he could fit in a zone blocking scheme as well.
Weaknesses: Cann can have some issues moving laterally at times, stopping DL from shooting the gaps. He flashes some ability to get to the 2nd level, but has to do a better job at getting a hat on his target.
3. OG Laken Tomlinson 6’3 323 lbs rSr. Duke (#49 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
10 yard: 1.86 Bench Press: 25 reps 3 Cone: 8.17 Short Shuttle: 4.87 Arm Length: 33 5/8
Strengths: A four year starter at RG, plays with tremendous power and leverage when run blocking. Can take the man in front of him and move him off of the football. Reminds me of Detroit Lions guard Larry Warford. In pass protection, he plays with a strong base, has a heavy, powerful punch. Has a strong lower body and overall great core strength, the bull rush doesn’t work against him. During Senior Bowl week, he had great battles with NT Danny Shelton, opening scouts eyes to what kind of prospect he is. Has good vision, adjusts well on the move. MBS fit.
Weaknesses: Average lateral quickness, and is a little stiff. Has issues at times with quick and agile DL. At times he’s a half step slow sliding left or right to guard the gaps.
4. OG Tre Jackson 6’4 330 lbs Sr. Florida St. (#55 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
10 yard: 1.92 Bench Press: 20 reps 3 Cone: 8.40 Short Shuttle: 5.30 Arm Length: 32 5/8
Strengths: Power player, heavy hands, and has surprising movement ability. Flashes the ability to get to the 2nd level and get a hat on LB’s. Has strong, thick, lower body that he uses to drive guys off of the line of scrimmage. Provides a solid pocket in front of the QB in pass protection, when sound technically, he’s hard to get through or around. Fits in a MBS or ZBS.
Weaknesses: Plays with a high pad level at times, leaving his chest plate open, becoming vulnerable to the bull rush. Can be overanxious at times, leaning forward, getting caught off balance in pass protection.
5. G/T Jamon Brown 6’4 323 lbs Sr. Louisville (#84 on the Big Board) Grade: Grade: 3rd Round(6th round as a T)
Short Shuttle: 4.70 3 Cone: 7.36 Arm Length: 34 3/8
Strengths: Played tackle in college, powerful prospect who translates better inside at G as a pro. At his best in a phone booth, where his heavy hands and core strength flourishes. Handles the bull rush very well in pass protection. Flashes some ability to pull, got out on in the open and make blocks on the move. MBS fit.
Weaknesses: Gets sloppy, bends at the waist instead of the knees, allowing himself to be beaten to the outside or inside quickly.
6. G Jarvis Harrison 6’4 330 lbs rSr. Texas A&M (#113 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
10 yard: 1.83 Bench Press: 26 reps 3 Cone: 7.51 Short Shuttle: 4.62 Arm Length: 33 1/2
Strengths: Three years worth of experience starting at both guard positions, and even played a few games at LT due the injury. Thick, shout, lower half, has heavy hands, very strong lower half. Is pretty nimble for a guy his size. Powerful run blocker that knocks guys off of the ball on a regular basis, gets to the 2nd level on a regular basis. Provides a solid pocket for the QB in pass protection, rarely gets beat with power, uses that thick bottom to stop the bull rush. Has good vision and awareness, sees the delayed blitzes and DL stunts well.
Weaknesses: Has to do a better job of maintaining his blocks once he gets to the 2nd level. He’s so strong, he got away with playing with bad pad level at times. He also has some issues moving laterally, dealing with quick DL that try to shoot the gaps.
7. G Josue Matias 6’5 309 lbs Sr. Florida St. (#116 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
Bench Press: 21 reps 3 Cone: 8.19 Short Shuttle: 5.12 Arm Length: 33 1/8
Strengths: Matias is a guy who didn’t test well at the combine, but when you put on his tape, you see a guy who just knows how to play football. He has good movement skills, gets to the 2nd level on a regular basis, gets his hands on LB’s, perfect for a ZBS. Decent in pass protection as well, uses his length to his advantage, keeping pass rushers at bay. Shows the ability to get out in the open and make blocks on sweeps and screen passes.
Weaknesses: His awareness and recognition when teams use DL stunts or send delayed blitzes must improve. He’s is a step late, allowing penetration to the middle of the pocket. He’s tall, and plays with a high pad level at times. He also must work on ridding himself of the habit of bending at the waist instead of his knees.
8. G/C John Miller 6’2 303 lbs Sr. Louisville (#131 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
10 yard: 1.87 Bench Press: 29 reps 3 Cone: 8.20 Short Shuttle: 4.75 Arm Length: 33 1/4
Strengths: Very good run blocker, real physical at the point of attack, opens big holes for RB’s. Fires off of the ball quick and low. Has a low center of gravity, strong and stout inside during pass protection. He hasn’t played center in college, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s asked to make that move. Perfect fit in a man blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Miller has heavy legs, lack of lateral mobility is a concern. Had issues versus DL with speed.
9. G Arie Kouandijo 6’5 310 lbs rSr. Alabama (#135 on the BIg Board) Grade: 4th Round
Arm Length: 34 1/8
Strengths: Tall, long, and well put together. Looks the part. Has good functional strength, can anchor down and handle to power rush from DT’s. Uses his length to his advantage, keeping defenders at bay in pass protection. Flashes the ability to get to the 2nd level and get blocks on linebackers. Not a roadgrader, but he’s a decent positional blocker. Fits in a ZBS, but also could play in a MBS because of his overall strength.
Weaknesses: He lacks very good lateral quickness. Has to learn to play with a good pad level on a consistent basis.
10. G/C Ali Marpet 6’4 307 lbs Sr. Hobart (#137 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
10 yard: 1.74 Bench Press: 30 reps 3 Cone: 7.33 Short Shuttle: 4.47
Strengths: Was a Division III standout at Hobart College, earning an invite to the Senior Bowl. He opened eyes during the week, showing that he had the talent to compete, and the ability to learn quickly. Show at the combine that he measures up athletically with any interior lineman in the draft. Has good functional strength, decent movement, and is tough. Played LT in college, but teams like him as a guard and center.
Weaknesses: Was able to get away with some bad habits technique wise because of level of competition. He has to work hard at perfecting his craft.
Other Guards who earned draft worthy Grades:
11. G/T Jamil Douglas 6’4 304 lbs rSr. Arizona St. (#171 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
12. G/T Jeremiah Poutasi 6’5 335 lbs Jr. Utah (#179 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
13. G Adam Shead 6’4 338 lbs rSr. Oklahoma (#188 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
14. G/C Miles Dieffenbach 6’3 303 lbs rSr. Penn St. (#190 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
15. G Leon Brown 6’6 346 lbs Sr. Alabama (#191 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
16. G/T Jon Feliciano 6’4 323 lbs Sr. Miami(FL) (#213 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
17. G/T Robert Myers 6’5 326 lbs Sr. Tenn St. (#221 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
18. G Ben Beckwith 6’3 306 lbs rSr. Miss St. (#262 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
Muslim Football Scout 