BTSC 2009 Steelers Draft Analysis: The Offensive Line

by BadMaafala on Mar 18, 2009 7:38 AM EDT Comment 21 comments

Previous posts by Bad Maafala:

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Introduction: Improving The Offensive Line in 2009

As I said in my intro post, I don't think we should stick with our newly instated Zone Blocking Scheme for the running game (from now on referred to as ZBS, per steelguy99). However, if the Steelers have any plans to change it, they're keeping them top secret, so I'm doing this chart with ZBS type linemen in mind.

In the ZBS, a premium is put on pass blocking, athleticism, lateral agility, and intelligence. Elite strength isn't quite as important, neither is pulling ability. However, considering that we're going to face NT's like Rogers, Ngata, Williams, and Wilfork on a regular basis, we're going to want to consider a Center's ability to handle those guys in both the running game and pass protection. Lower body strength is key, as is playing with proper leverage and firing off the ball quickly. At Tackle, it'd be nice to get a top tier athlete who could make us more comfortable when speed rushers come after Ben's blind side.

The 2009 OL Class & BTSC Value Chart

Last year, the quality of the OL class got talked about a lot, but this year has more top tier talent and better depth. While there is possibly a void at the Guard position, I can't remember a year that there were so many strong, intelligent, athletic, and versatile Centers (see commentary below). At Tackle, there are 2 guys who are going in the top-5, a good group of well-developed, pro-ready types available after them (Britton, Tupou, Kropog, Cadogan), and an impressive set of elite athletes who should be available in later rounds who could develop into top flight Tackles (Beatty, Meredith, Fulton, Vollmer, Murtha). There should be good values in most rounds, which will keep the Steelers from reaching or making an expensive trade to make sure we get "our guy".

With so much quality depth, we're in a great position to stay put, trade up, or trade down, depending on how the board falls. If we get a legit shot at Oher for a 1st and 3rd rounder, it might be worth it. Britton would probably be worth 1.32 if he's there. The early to mid 2nd has some good values at center if we traded down from our 1st or up from our 2nd pick. If we don't like our options in the first two rounds, we could still take two quality linemen in the 3rd. After that, there are some flier and backup types for depth and potential starters down the road.

**BTSC 2009 NFL DRAFT VALUE CHART FOR OL PROSPECTS**
	Mid 1st	Late 1st	Early 2nd	Late 2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th-7th
TACKLES	Michael Oher, Andre Smith	Eben Britton	William Beatty	Jamon Meredith	Gerald Cadogan, Troy Kropog	Xavier Fulton, Sebastian Vollmer	Lydon Murtha, Jason Watkins, Andrew Gardner	Joel Bell, Andrew Hartline
INTERIOR LINEMEN (C/G)	******	******	Alex Mack, Max Unger Eric Wood	******	J. Luigs, A. Levitre A.Caldwell, T. Canfield	Tyronne Green, Augustus Parrish	A.Q. Shipley, T.J. Lang, Cecil Newton	Jon Cooper, Anthony Parker, Edwin Williams
MAN BLOCKING SCHEME ONLY	******	******	******	Duke Robinson, Phil Loadholt, Herman Johnson	Kraig Urbik, Fenuki Tupuo	Jaimie Thomas	Alex Boone, Louis Vasquez	Ramon Foster, Andy Kemp, Ray Feinga

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About Some Of The Prospects: OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Andre Smith (Alabama) - Best looking OT on tape, unwilling to follow the typical path of a top NFL prospect. Could be a huge steal at 1.32, could be a flameout. The talent is there, so I would give him very hard look to see if the attitude is a long term problem, especially considering he was an upstanding teamate/citizen before the bowl season started.

Eben Britton (Arizona) - Smart and well rounded OT prospect. Pro-ready, very good technique, may not have an elite ceiling. If we draft for tape, I could see us picking him at 1.32

William Beatty (UConn) - Has shown top notch athleticism on tape and has a ridiculous vertical for an OL, but his lower body strength is a liability right now and he has less than perfect technique. Had an outstanding senior season. Has a very high ceiling if we dive headlong into the finesse ZBS offense.

Jamon Meredith (S. Carolina) - Elite athlete who appears to be fairly intelligent, but doesn't have great production. Despite his 31 bench reps at the combine, he doesn't play very strong or aggressively. Risky pick, but high upside.

Gerald Cadogan (PSU) - With all the talk about Shipley, we’ve neglected a potentially better pro off I80. Even though he’s not the best fit in the ZBS, Cadogan could be a very good value in the third. He’s well rounded with a solid frame and build, solid athleticism, good intelligence and character, and good technique. He might be an upgrade right away at RT.

Xavier Fulton (Illinois) - Has the tools to be a top flight OT in the NFL, but is still learning the position. Short for LT, but has long arms. I wouldn't mind giving him a look with Faneca's comp pick.

Lydon Murtha (Nebraska) - One more amazing athlete without great tape. He wasn't really on the map for a lot of people before putting together one of the most ridiculous combines I've ever seen for an OT. He literally finished first among OT's in 10, 20, and 40 yard splits, vertical, shuttle, and cone drills. He slacked off in the broad jump, missing first by an inch. I question how much these numbers should raise his stock, but it does show that he's a very good athlete by a number of measures. If the Raiders don't take him earlier, he'd be an interesting option in the 5th or 6th. He also has some injury concerns.

About Some Of The Prospects: INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

Alex Mack (Cal) - A lot is written about him elsewhere on this site. Not the ideal ZBS center, but would handle big NT's better than some. Very well rounded game. He's probably the best center of the class, but not by everyone's opinion. Is he worth spending a first on when there are a number of other similarly good centers?

Max Unger (Oregon) - Incredibly intelligent and versatile lineman. He could be a very solid center or guard, and he could fill in decently at tackle if needed. Very tough and competitive.

Eric Wood (Louisville) - Very strong, good athlete, could play guard or center in zone or man blocking scheme. Best workouts of any center, could develop a couple areas more - leverage, lateral movement/pass blocking

Jonathan Luigs (Arkansas) - Luigs has everything you're looking for in a zone blocker - he's very smart and aware, he has good lateral agility, and he's a solid pass protector. However, he has fairly poor lower body strength and could really struggle to handle the big NT's we're going to see every year. Sean Mahan, we have not forgotten you.

Antione Caldwell (Alabama) - Not your ideal ZBS center, but he is well-rounded and can anchor against NT's. He should be ready to step in early. A poor man's Mack.

Tyronne Green (Auburn) - Still learning offense after starting college as a DT, but he's strong and athletic and could ultimately be a solid center or guard. He'll need some time to develop, but could be a good value.

A.Q. Shipley (PSU) - Tough as nails, very determined, but he'll need all the determination he has to make it in the NFL. He's too short and not enough of an athlete (despite a very solid combine) to be a sure-fire prospect at center. Still, you have to like his character, and I'd think he'll at least be a passable backup.

Cecil Newton (Tennessee) - Small school prospect who was dominant against sub-par competition. Very good athlete and pass blocker that projects well as a ZBS center or guard.

Jon Cooper (Oklahoma) - Part of a very productive Oklahoma offense. Very good in pass protection, great athlete, sounds like a perfect fit as an IOL in the ZBS. He needs to get stronger and he did have some strange weight fluctuation that will have to be medically checked out to ensure he's not Kendall Simmons or Sean Mahan.

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Good work

I also could see us drafting Britton at 32, as he may be there. However, with the signing yesterday of Essex, the Steelers have now positioned themeselves to draft Best Available Player (or, if you go by value in your OL and DT charts, a DT rather than an OL).
I like Tyronne Green as a developmental-type (ala Ike Taylor) lineman.

However, one thing that will be interesting to see is if Mike Tomlin and BA tinkers with the ZBS and uses it not as their primary schem but only as a complement. If there is one thing that Tomlin has demonstrated is that he does take a good look in the mirror and adapts.
There is enough evidence during the past two years to suggest that it will be evident to the coaching staff, as it is evident to us, that the ZBS is not more successful than a power running game. We’ll see. I think that should be a topic for another discussion.
BM, great post as always.

by The_Nation_in_Mexico on Mar 18, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

I’m really torn up about the ZBS. If we’re going to have a $100M QB, we should protect him with good pass blockers and build our offense around his arm. BUT, if we don’t have the personnel, there’s no point in using the ZBS. I’d like to think Tomlin is going to fix up the offense, but he sure hasn’t changed up the personnel or coaching, so we have to be careful assuming it will dramatically get better just because our defense got better.

As far as mixing and matching the ZBS with man blocking, I’m pretty sure most teams employ both at times, but probably every team uses one or the other predominantly based on their personnel. If you want to keep your QB upright, you’re talking about small, athletic blockers who will struggle in a power running scheme. However, the genious of the zone blocking scheme is that it uses pass blocking skills (guarding an area, maintaining leverage while playing in space, adjusting to defenders coming at different angles) in the running game. If you don’t have small, athletic pass blockers (and believe me, we don’t) sticking them in a zone blocking scheme isn’t going to make them better pass protectors; it’s just going to make them as bad at run blocking as they are at pass blocking. It’s not surprising, then that we finished 29th in YPC running, and 29th in sacks per dropback.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 18, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for this insight...

Very helpful. Taking your defensive line analysis and assuming Oher and ASmith are gone by 32, who would you draft if you were Kevin Colbert: Britton, Hood or Jackson? Those three were slotted in your late-first column. Of course, the Steelers could draft other positions (eg corner), but let’s stick to the trenches for the moment. Which guy would you take? Or would you get one of the centers who are going to go early second round. Is that a reach you avoid?

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Mar 18, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hood

We know DL in this system take a little to develop and this guy seems a very good fit for the 3-4.

by The_Nation_in_Mexico on Mar 18, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

I’d be surprised if all three are available, but if they were and there weren’t any other fallers, I like Hood the best of those three. All three would be quality picks and would help us out in the near term and the long term with a pretty low bust factor.

Considering there are so many quality centers, I’m inclined to wait on them if there’s someone else I like or if there’s a decent trade down option. If it was Mack, Unger, and then nothing I would be a lot more inclined to take one in the first before they were all gone.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 18, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as my reasoning with Hood, he looks pretty close to pro-ready to me (although he’ll have to learn a new position with us) AND he is strong and athletic enough that he still has upside. I think Britton would be a very solid starter and an immediate contributer (and upgrade over Colon), but if I have the option with my first rounder, I’d like to get a guy with a high ceiling. Britton is closer to that undesirable “finished product” label.

On the other hand, if we drafted Britton, maybe we’d finally see what Colon could do at OG, haha.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 18, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unger missing from chart

Don’t see Unger’s name in the chart but I’m guessing he is early second along with Mack and Wood.

MR, of your three choices at 1.32 Hood is the most likely to still be available. Jackson is almost sure to be gone, maybe even in the top 16 picks. Britton might not be far behind that and potentially a target for trading up. My choice of the three would be Britton.

by steeler.lifer on Mar 18, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good catch

I fixed it. Blitz helped with the formatting and stuff on this post, then I edited some more, so I think a thing or two got lost all the transfering.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 18, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea whoops

It was in a wacky ass place, sorry, tried to transfer it all over. Note to all – use FireFox on BTSC. Editing on IE will give you fits. Sorry Bad.

by Michael Bean (Blitz) on Mar 18, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Britton is one year yonger and could even fit as LT with some more weight on, and that could make someone jump on him.

O sales tickets,...and let D rest a little, and D Win Championships.

by YeOldeMexFan on Mar 18, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Alex Mack only 20 bench reps at 225 lbs

Guys, check out Alex Mack’s workout numbers at his Pro Day on March 19 via Gil Brandt from NFL.com:

He measured in at 6-foot-4 1/4, 307 pounds. He had a sensational workout in the position drills and ran a 5.17 and 5.23 in the 40, posted a 28 1/2-inch vertical jump, an 8-foot, 10-inch broad jump, a 4.75 short shuttle, a 7.31 three-cone drill and did 20 bench press reps.

Do you want your center of the decade to only be someone who can bench press 225 lbs. 20 times while going up against Sean Rogers and Haoliti Gnata twice a year? I think this drops him from the first round.

By the way, Eric Woods of Louisville at 6’3 and 7/8 inches, 310 lbs did 30 reps on the bench, 5.23 40-yard dash, 30.5 inch vertical with a 7.56 on the 3-cone drill.

And A.J. Shipley, 6’1’’, 304 lbs, did 33 reps on the bench, 5.23 40-yard dash, 31-inch vertical leap and 7.46 on the 3-cone drill.

And this is from C/G Doug Legursky (who the Steelers signed from their practice squad to the regular roster) from his Pro Day a year ago, 6’3’’, 312 lbs., 36 reps on the bench, 5.22 40-yard dash, 28-inch vertical, 7.71 on the 3-cone drill.

Who still wants Mack at pick no. 32?

by datruth4life on Mar 19, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that is pretty weak

by Michael Bean (Blitz) on Mar 19, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yo truth

hit me up sometime soon. need to talk good sir.

by Michael Bean (Blitz) on Mar 19, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In anchoring against those larger tackles, lower body strength and leverage is a lot more important than your ability to bench press. Mack, Unger, and Wood are all very good center prospects because of their athleticism, intelligence, lower body strength, and polish. Also, people who just looked at the drill numbers all complained about Unger’s combine, but the real scouts that were there came away impressed. Both Mack and Unger are still fine prospects – it’s all about the tape.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 19, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for these posts

These are great, BadMaafala! I really appreciate these posts.

At this point, I’m really hoping for one of those top centers or a good OT at 1.32.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Mar 19, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

great info Bad

my thoughts
1. bench press? who cares, as I mentioned in a combine post, it’s all about funtional strength…bench press numbers don’t mean squat (pun intended :) Mack is plenty strong enough.

2. Shipley- Steelers seem really interested, really interested. I think they have talked with him now on 3 seperate occasions. He did win the award for best interior lineman…could be a steal in the 4th. Who does fo like better mack at 32 or Shipley in 4th?

Also, Bad you said Shipley was too short. I disagree. I think 6’1 is probably the perfect height for interior lineman. It’s all about leverage. I feel the same way about RB’s. Leverage. James Harrison is probably closer to 5’11 than he is 6’…leverage.

3. Legursky. I love his potential. Some of the things I read about him last year were very impressive. Could be a diamond in the rough at C/G.

by SteelerMike on Mar 20, 2009 12:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2.

The only thing about them meeting Shipley so much that makes me wonder is you always hear that teams play games this time of year. They feign interest in players that they aren’t so interested in to get other teams to avoid those they are really interested in.

Everything I’ve heard of Shipley sounds good, though.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Mar 20, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with Shipley’s height is that his arms are even shorter than they should be for a 6-1 guy. That doesn’t mean he can’t succeed, just that he’s at a disadvantage to 6-3 centers with normal arms who can keep 6-5 DT’s at bay a little better.

He’s a great college center, but no matter how good he is, he’s going to have to improve in the NFL if he wants to be a decent starter. Things that limit his upside like natural athleticism that isn’t great and short arms can make his ceiling lower than guys who aren’t as polished but have prototypical bodies. Still, Tom Nalen was a similar type and he worked out just fine.

As for Legursky, I don’t know much about him, but I won’t get too hopeful until I see him beat someone out for a job or roster spot – as opposed to getting one by default.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 20, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great breakdown

Great job BMF. As you say, the blocking scheme (and the existing playbook in general) is a huge factor in the evaluation process of potential new players. I look at a team like the Houston Texans which has average talent on the O-line, a shaky QB, one great WR, a really good TE and a slashing running back … and they produce one of the best offenses in the league because they are committed to a system and have an outstanding offensive mind running the show in Gary Kubiak (probably better suited as an OC rather than head coach). Last year they drafted an OT in the first round (Duane Brown) who was considered a reach but was undoubtedly recommended by their highly-regarded O-line coach because he was a fit for their zone blocking system. He started as a rookie and while he was far from perfect, he proved he was obviously not a reach for the Texans. They waited till the third round to draft a running back who was the kind of slasher with good receiving ability that their system demands … and Steve Slaton turns into a star. The mixed bag of tricks that Bruce Arians produces makes it very difficult for the Steelers’ linemen. Arians tries to do a bit of everything and so that means the offensive line has to do a bit of everything. Probably no surprise that our two most effective linemen were the most experienced and most intelligent (Starks and Hartwig). One of the reasons why I like Britton, Cadogan and the three top centers is that they are all reportedly very bright guys and to some extent leaders on their teams. Wood and Mack get particularly high marks for leadership, intelligence, toughness and non-stop effort and that sounds like a good package of skills to bring into the Steelers’ line.

As for the chart above, it looks bang on. Two of the fifth-round value guys look very interesting, OT Andrew Gardner and OG T.J. Lang. Gardner was injured, hurting his ranking but apparently now fully recovered and testing well. Lang played tackle at a lower division but played well at guard in post-season all-star games. He could be a guard/tackle swing player with higher potential than a fifth-rounder.

by steeler.lifer on Mar 20, 2009 3:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one who is frustrated with the (lack of) direction of the offense. That’s an interesting theory about intelligent, more finished product types being a better fit on the OL. Basically what it sounds like you’re saying is we have no confidence in the offensive position coaches (particularly OL) growing their own talent, so we should look at guys who don’t need great coaching to succeed. That’s pretty true right now, and more than a little disturbing.

However, if Tomlin and Colbert recognized this, they probably would have fired those coaches or at least looked for replacements, so I don’t know if it will affect how they draft.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Mar 20, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not exactly but close

Just about every rookie at every position needs good coaching to succeed in the NFL, and to give the OL coach some credit the Steelers’ pass blocking improved somewhat in the second half of the season. But yes I think it would be better to pick linemen who have something going for them besides ideal physical measurables and “potential:”. Toughness, self-motivation and intelligence go a long way to making a good offensive lineman.

by steeler.lifer on Mar 20, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs