Buddy Can You Spare A Guard?

To say Tom Marino was disappointed in the guard contingent in this years player draft would be a huge under statement. In his 34 years as a professional scout he can’t remember a time when he has seen as flawed and lean a group of professional prospects.

I personally was dumbfounded and I’m sure most scouts and offensive line coaches throughout the league were frustrated by the lack of quality offensive guard prospects in this week’s upcoming player draft. When watching many of the seemingly top players at the position, I literally found myself repeating the same three word phrase over and over again, “Finish the block!”

My top ranked prospect, Andre Smith (a guard projection) was a major disappointment. Although very effective in a limited area (handling bull rush and getting movement inline), I though he didn’t come off the ball, lacked stamina, didn’t fit on blocks and was a virtual spectator on the backside. I would really question his ability to handle the speed rush from the left tackle position (always in chase mode) and his ability to handle inside counters was disturbing. When his uneven 2008 season play is coupled with his very strange combine actions and poor school workout, one is left to wonder; can this player become the backbone of my offensive line?

I not going to be making that decision Saturday evening, but if I were, I certainly would be looking in another direction to upgrade my football club.

What’s even more frightening to me was the fact that I saw many of the same shortcomings in my number two ranked offensive guard prospects, Duke Robinson from the University of Oklahoma. Both players are athletically gifted big men, but ultimately I believe both will ultimately break your heart.

Like the aforementioned Smith both my third and fourth rated guard prospects were college tackles. I don’t think Eastern Michigan’s Thomas Lang is the second coming of John Hannah, but I was pleasantly surprised with his balance points, striking power, use of hands, range, quickness and ability to adjust on the move. Oregon State’s left tackle Andy Levitre is a knee bender with good feet, but I was concerned with his short arms, punch and hand placement. Both are in my opinion middle of the draft type players.

In my opinion, teams looking to upgrade or build for the future would be best served by adding a June cap casualty or continuing to work with practice squad or young back ups.

Offensive Guards

RK	Name	School	HT	WT	40	GR
1	Smith, Andre	Alabama	6040v	332v	5.36v	1.22
2	Robinson, Duke	Oklahoma	6050v	329v	5.36v	1.31
3	Lang, Thomas	E Michigan	6037v	316v	5.24v	1.33
4	Levitre, Andy	Oregon St	6025v	305v	5.35v	1.35
5	Johnson, Herman	LSU	6072v	364v	5.58v	1.36
6	Urbik, Kraig	Wisconsin	6052v	328v	5.39v	1.41
7	Feinga, Ray	BYU	6041v	331v	5.34v	1.45
8	Vasquez, Louis	Texas Tech	6046v	327v	5.29v	1.46
9	Bright, Travis	BYU	6042v	321v	5.29v	1.52
10	Walker, Brandon	Oklahoma	6025v	306v	5.18v	1.58
11	Isdaner, Greg	West Virginia	6034v	325v	5.48v	1.53
12	Canfield, Trevor	Cincinnati	6040v	307v	5.32v	1.68
13	Kemp, Andy	Wisconsin	6046v	307v	5.49v	1.73
14	Allen, Roger	Mo Western	6033v	326v	5.29v	1.78
15	Person, Ben	Ohio St	6035v	302v	5.07v	1.79

Free Agents

	Name	School	HT	WT	40	GR
	Green, Tyronne	Auburn	6016v	309v	5.42v	1.80
	Rogers, SirVincent	Houston	6035v	307v	5.39v	1.80
	Thompson, Ron	Abilene Christian	6023v	323v	5.41v	1.90
	Fanaika, Paul	Arizona St	6053v	327v	5.61v	1.90
	Olsen, Seth	Iowa	6045v	306v	5.25v	1.90
	Dedrick, Doug	Iowa St	6036v	301v	5.13v	1.90
	Slauson, Matt	Nebraska	6050v	316v	5.31v	1.90
	Rehring, Steve	Ohio St	6070v	332v	5.61v	1.90
	Davis, C.J.	Pittsburgh	6020v	308v	5.57v	1.90
	Parker, Anthony	Tennessee	6017v	297v	5.12v	1.90
	Ryan, Greg	W Kentucky	6037v	305v	5.34v	1.90
	Stanchek, Ryan	West Virginia	6033v	298v	5.36v	1.90
	Dockery, Cedric	Texas	6031v	316v	5.47v	1.90
	Durand, Ryan	Syracuse	6045v	307v	5.15v	1.90