BTSC Draft Forum: Evaluating Georgia OG Cordy Glenn

After discussing Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill as a possible target by another team (trading into the Steelers spot at 24th overall), the BTSC Draft Forum is now moving onto players the Steelers may draft themselves.

First up is Cordy Glenn, the mammoth G/T prospect out of Georgia.

The 6-foot-5, 346-pound Glenn fits the Steelers' desire to bring in offensive linemen who can play more than one position. His height and length make some see him more as a tackle, while his bulk and explosiveness seem to fit the profile of a guard.

For better or worse, the Forum's impression of him is mixed.

I just don't think he is a 1st rounder at the moment. I've only seen one game of him at G and he looked kind of awkward moving around in that role. He was shaky in pass protection and he couldn't stay on his man when he was run-blocking. I actually think he may make a better RT than G, being that he looks a lot better run-blocking when playing OT. Maybe after the combine I will think he is a 1st rounder, but he is a high 2nd to me now. Would rather have a pure G like Kevin Zeitler in the 2nd.

- Parris Brantley (a.k.a. StoneColdSteel)

It's worth mentioning that Glenn started 50 games along the offensive line at Georgia, tied for the most in school history with Clint Boling (4th round pick by Cincinnati in 2010). Of those 50 starts - 28 came at left guard, 18 at left tackle and four at right guard. Some feel he's best suited to the the interior of the offensive line.

Cordy Glenn to me is going to be an NFL guard. His absolute ceiling would be RT, but he'd need a lot of work on his mechanics. I think he lacks the natural elite athleticism to be a LT. He has the strength to keep rushers out of the pocket face to face, but he can struggle when blocking in space. He does great work with his hands, but lacks quick footwork in pass protection. In run blocking, Glenn has great lower body work that allows him to get a great push. If you compare him to Decastro he is probably a bit stronger, but DeCastro's technique and mechanics are far superior. Anyway, I think he would automatically be the best guard on the Steelers and with coaching could be one of the better OGs in the league. Definitely worth the pick at 24.

- John Stephens

Others feel he is more of a tackle prospect.

I know everyone is projecting Glenn at Guard, but I can see him playing OT in the NFL. Glenn played LT this past season at Georgia, and played well enough to be selected All SEC first team, making him one of the top offensive lineman, in the best conference in college football. Glenn moves better than Marcus Gilbert, has longer arms, and is a couple of pounds heavier than Gilbert was when he entered the draft. I watched Glenn play against LSU this past season, and he had no problem holding off the pass rush, against the best defense in college football.

Glenn has great feet, is able to stay low in his stance, and has good balance when engaging defenders. The same skill set he was able to display playing at LT, would also apply to LG. Add to that, that Glenn was able to play at a high level, against some of the best defenses college football has to offer, and I don't see how a team can go wrong drafting him in the first round.

- Greig Clawson

It's hard to see a player as big and versatile as Glenn falling out of the first round, and it seems likely he'll land somewhere in the 20s if he tests well at the 2012 NFL Combine (Feb. 22-28).

His footwork will likely keep him away from the highly-coveted left tackle position, but that isn't to suggest he could not play there. Branden Albert had really only played guard at the University of Virginia, since left tackle was locked down during his collegiate career by D'Brickashaw Ferguson (4th pick overall in 2006) and Eugene Monroe (8th overall in 2009). Albert was very highly rated at guard, but wanted to prove his position flexibility and ended up being selected 15th overall by Kansas City in the 2008 NFL Draft. He has since played every snap of his professional career at left tackle.

Glenn's versatility is key. If he could not only develop into a starting guard but also a quality back-up tackle, the Steelers would have more flexibility should heavy casualties again ravage the offensive line.