OT's @ the Combine

[JEFFRO]

From rivals.com:
http://nfldraft.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=778062

OT Jake Long, Michigan
The top offensive lineman in this year's class solidified a top 5-10 selection. He came in at 6-7 and 313 pounds, and did a combine best (thus far) 37 reps @ 225 lbs. He ran a 5.17 and 5.27.

OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
Just like the first day of the Senior Bowl, this guy stood out on Day 1 in Indianapolis. He is a massive tackle who checked in at 6'6" and 315 lbs. He ran very good 5.07 and 5.18 times and looked nimble in the agility drills, though he did only 21 reps.

OL Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers
This college right tackle ran an impressive 4.99 40 with a good 10-yard split time. He was second among OL with 35 reps in the lifting and looked mobile in the agility drills. He certainly helped his draft status.

OT Pedro Sosa, Rutgers
Athletic smallish tackle ran a disappointing 5.5 forty time and did only 19 reps in the lifting which hurts his draft grade significantly.

OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
This massive left tackle is not the type of lineman to shine in athletic drills. He ran a poor 5.56 time at 332 pounds, and did 27 reps in the lifting. His agility drills were only adequate, which leaves questions about his readiness to play early as a pro. He may have cost himself a first-round grade.

OT Barry Richardson, Clemson
This large prospect checked in over 6-6 and 325 lbs. He ran a poor 5.47 time and struggled with the 225 bench press as well. He is a waist-bender who continues to fall down the charts.

Long and Williams will be long gone before we pick. It looks to me that Jeremy Zuttah is the best available. But I am not sure he would drop to us either. We can hope though.
When was the last time 3 OT's were taken in the top 20???

I know some were pimping Otah, but I can't see drafting a player in the 1st round that is not ready to play. Potential upside can only take you so far.

[TMC]

What about Clady, Cherilus, Nicks, and the other OTs? I am sure they rank higher than Richardson and Zuttah.

[JEFFRO]

The names I have listed are straight from rivals.com, they didn't list combine stats for Clady, Cherilus, Nicks, or the others, at least not yet.

[JEFFRO]

I found this but it is not verified: Nebraska's Carl Nicks benched 225lbs 31 times and ran the Forty at a outstanding 5.19. His speed has to impress scouts as this is a huge man weighing in at 340lbs.

[TMC]

Well, I am building my combine spreadsheet now, but the numbers are coming in slow. All I have on Nicks is his bench, 40, and broad jump. They are what you have listed.

Now, Clady DNP due to injury. Cherilus was 6066-314, ran a 5.21, benched 24 times, and had a pretty decent 10 yard time, which shows he can move in short range.

I think Mike Pollak should have solidified himself as the #1 center off the board. Not only does he play with a nasty demeanor, he performed well at the Senior Bowl, and then ran the fastest 40 of all the linemen, threw the bar up 29 times, had the fastest short shuttle and 2nd fastest cone drill. He has came to prove something.

While the Steelers like Zuttah, his VJ, BJ, and 10 yard split are a touch behind other guys, which leads me to think he is not an explosive guy. Pollak is completely the opposite and even in drills he hit the dummies with pop and suddeness. He was jarring guys when he struck them. He also uses his hands well.....never did they slip and let his head get to the bag, like some linemen did.

I think Pollak is a better overall prospect than any other interior lineman and actually think he is better than Satele last draft, who I really liked.

[JEFFRO]

Pollak would be great if Colbert & Co. are going for a Center, which I hope, but it seems to me they always go for the higher profile positions in round 1. Thus my leaning toward the tackles.

I can't wait to see the spreadsheet you are building! Thanks TMC!

[dobre shunka]

http://fflivewire.com/players/PlayersCombine.asp?OrderBy=+ORDER+BY+LastNAme%2C+F irstName%2C+PosNameShort%2C+Team&PlayerName=&pTeamID=99999999&PosNum=11&GO=GO%21

[Steeltime]

What about Clady, Cherilus, Nicks, and the other OTs? I am sure they rank higher than Richardson and Zuttah.

Absolutely.

Richardson is terrible. He was the softest 335 lb. guy to play last year. One scout referred to him as a "Chardonnay drinker."

Pass on Richardson. He makes Kris Farris look vicious.

[JEFFRO]

http://fflivewire.com/players/PlayersCombine.asp?OrderBy=+ORDER+BY+LastNAme%2C+F irstName%2C+PosNameShort%2C+Team&PlayerName=&pTeamID=99999999&PosNum=11&GO=GO%21

Great link! Thanks!

[Tres Rios]

Hype Otah all you want but I watched the whole OL combine and he looked average to bad at every drill. I'll pass thanks. Last thing we need is another stiff and slow tackle. He looks uncoordinated.

[Tres Rios]

Oh yeah and Zuttah blew him and most other OTs out of the water. I'd take him in a second.

[Steeltime]

Last thing we need is another stiff and slow tackle. He looks uncoordinated.

Max Starks has that position locked down.

Otah looks like he is a huge guy trying to learn how to dance. But if he is available at 23, he has too much production, physical skill and potential to ignore.

I would have no problem with going with Otah in the first, Scheuning in the 2nd.

[JEFFRO]

Hype Otah all you want but I watched the whole OL combine and he looked average to bad at every drill. I'll pass thanks. Last thing we need is another stiff and slow tackle. He looks uncoordinated.

I wasn't hyping him, some local (pittsburgh writers were and I agree with you. He is a second day pick at best but somebody will reach for him I just hope it isn't us.

Oh yeah and Zuttah blew him and most other OTs out of the water. I'd take him in a second.

Zuttah improved his stock tremendously! I can't see him falling to us, but weirder things have happened.

[Tres Rios]

What physical skill? I saw a slow, not so strong, uncoordinated guy that like to try and run & block straight up and down with stiff legs. Meh.

OT is so deep I'm still holding out hope for Sweed or Bowman at WR in Rd1 then a OT then a G.

Anyone know if Zuttah would make it to us in Rd 2? If not he may be worth a Rd 2 trade up.

[Tres Rios]

I wasn't hyping him.

Didn't direct that at you or anyone in particular. After watching this combine, I don't get his hype.

[SteelerFan448]

Zuttah improved his stock tremendously! I can't see him falling to us, but weirder things have happened.

Are you talking about in the first round? If so, I'm impressed because I haven't even heard of this guy until today.

[Supersteeler]

Are you talking about in the first round? If so, I'm impressed because I haven't even heard of this guy until today.

Lol, me either.

[JEFFRO]

But if he is available at 23, he has too much production, physical skill and potential to ignore.

I would have no problem with going with Otah in the first, Scheuning in the 2nd.

Timmons had too much talent to ignore yet our second round pick out-performed him.

1st round pick should not be used on future potential. JMHO.

[dobre shunka]

Zuttah will play inside as a pro. Doesn't have the size to play outside. Thick, barrel chest, just looks like a center to me. He's played guard, but not center. But I don't think he'd have a tough time with the transition. High want-to, and mean too. He's had my interest for a while. He's been projected as a late day 2 guy, but I can see him climbing into the 3rd or 4th as poor a IOL class as this is.

Oh, and he hasn't given up a sack in over 2 years.

[kurtistb]

Zuttah will play inside as a pro. Doesn't have the size to play outside. Thick, barrel chest, just looks like a center to me. He's played guard, but not center. But I don't think he'd have a tough time with the transition. High want-to, and mean too. He's had my interest for a while. He's been projected as a late day 2 guy, but I can see him climbing into the 3rd or 4th as poor a IOL class as this is.

Oh, and he hasn't given up a sack in over 2 years.

this is the trait that I am most going to look for this year. We need alot more Hines Wards on this team, for me its all about effort.

[Steeltime]

Timmons had too much talent to ignore yet our second round pick out-performed him.

1st round pick should not be used on future potential. JMHO.

Otah has present, now potential. He played LT in college, against some decent DE's. He could play day 1 at RT.

Some players boost themselves with combine performance, including above where they deserved to be picked. Some fall lower than they should be picked because of combine showing, even when they played the position well in college and have the physical skills to do so in the pros.

I think Otah is in the latter group. He is not fluid or quick on his feet, unlike guys like Long, Williams, etc. That is why Long and Williams will be gone by 23 and Otah may be available.

But he is 6'6", 325 lbs. He played LT in college. He lifted 27 times. He can play RT in the pros, and be a starter at that position for 10 years.

That is what a first round pick is hoped to be.

[LeXX75]

Are you talking about in the first round? If so, I'm impressed because I haven't even heard of this guy until today.

Played RT for Rutgers...he is not a 1st round pick from what I saw of him at RU..he did play guard there as well ..eariler at school..he will be a better guard than tackle in the pros...seems like a workout climber to me..sometimes those really pan out..(Urlacher)..sometimes the don't (Matt Jones)...I think Zutah was the best lineman at RU this year...but still not a 1st rd pick...

[LetMePlay]

I was willing to give Otah a chance but he just does not have the feet or range to be a zone blocker. Since that what we do now we have to get OL that can move.

[The Iron is Steel On!]

but I can't see drafting a player in the 1st round that is not ready to play.

Didn't we do that last year?

[deljzc]

You guys are a bit confusing.

Zuttah was a day-2 pick before the combine. If he improved his stock, maybe it's 3rd/4th round. I'll bet any amount of money with anyone he's not drafted in the first 2 rounds.

There are approximately 10 offensive line prospects that will be taken in the first 2 rounds this year (maybe one more). This is very in line with the average over the last 4 seasons. They probably are:

Long, Clady, Otah, Cherilus, Baker, Williams, Albert, Rachal, Nicks and Collins. There are no centers graded that high, even after the combine.

If we're talking about our 1st or 2nd round picks, they should be coming from that list and that list only. Anyone else is a substantial reach.

Now I'm no expert in offensive line rating. It's the hardest for fans to do in my opinion. I think Albert's the best immediate fit for us because he could play LG in 2008 and shift over to LT in 2009 if we can get one more year out of Marvel Smith. Cherilus is an immediate starter at RT in my opinion (which allows Colon to go somewhere else) but he probably can't play LT. Williams and Baker to me are LT's only (which is okay, but we wouldn't see immediate help from them) and maybe a little soft compared to traditional Steelers O-linemen. Long and Clady are most definately long gone before we pick.

[leftcoaststeelerfan]

Pollak would be great if Colbert & Co. are going for a Center, which I hope, but it seems to me they always go for the higher profile positions in round 1. Thus my leaning toward the tackles.

I can't wait to see the spreadsheet you are building! Thanks TMC!

Mark it down, the Steelers will not draft a center with the #1 pick. No way in hell anyone takes a center with their first pick. late second/early 3rd, maybe.

[Avoid Lloyd1975]

Hype Otah all you want but I watched the whole OL combine and he looked average to bad at every drill. I'll pass thanks. Last thing we need is another stiff and slow tackle. He looks uncoordinated.

Amen brotha! You beat me to it. I watched him and I thought to myself, damn this is one of the prospect's we could possibly take in the first round, you gotta be kidding me? No freakin' way. After Timmons last year and if we were to take Otah in the first this year...Colbert should be fired.

[Coryea]

Otah will be gone before we pick, no worries of us drafting him.

[BermudaSteel]

...OT is so deep I'm still holding out hope for Sweed or Bowman at WR in Rd1 then a OT then a G...

Me too...we can't pass on BPA this year - a lot of speedy WR this year (sub 4.4)

Timmons had too much talent to ignore yet our second round pick out-performed him.

1st round pick should not be used on future potential. JMHO.

I was think the same thing...this Otah is last year's Timmons (who has yet to prove himself)...again...I'll pass on him.

Otah has present, now potential. He played LT in college, against some decent DE's. He could play day 1 at RT.

Some players boost themselves with combine performance, including above where they deserved to be picked. Some fall lower than they should be picked because of combine showing, even when they played the position well in college and have the physical skills to do so in the pros.

I think Otah is in the latter group. He is not fluid or quick on his feet, unlike guys like Long, Williams, etc. That is why Long and Williams will be gone by 23 and Otah may be available.

But he is 6'6", 325 lbs. He played LT in college. He lifted 27 times. He can play RT in the pros, and be a starter at that position for 10 years.

That is what a first round pick is hoped to be.

Please remove the phallus from your mouth...

[TMC]

Pollak would be great if Colbert & Co. are going for a Center, which I hope, but it seems to me they always go for the higher profile positions in round 1. Thus my leaning toward the tackles.

I can't wait to see the spreadsheet you are building! Thanks TMC!

By no means am I suggesting a first round center....in fact, I do not think we should take a first round interior lineman. But, Pollak should draw consideration in the 2nd or be a guy we potentially move up for in the 3rd.

I build a combine spreadsheet every year. I think it goes back to 2003 and I have all the numbers....with the odd exception of 2004. Back then, it was much more difficult to get accurate numbers....but from 2005 forward, I have a pretty good database on height, weight, 40, VJ, BJ, shuttle, cone, and benches.

It looks something like this:
NAME SCHOOL POS HGT WGT ARM HAND TEST 40 20 10 225 VJ BJ SHUTTLE CONE
Blackmon, Will Boston College CB 6002 198 4.47 2.60 1.56 41.0 11'1" 4.24 6.69
Cromartie, Antonio Florida State CB 6021 208 4.47 2.70 1.58 18 38.0 11'0"
Gordon, Charles Kansas CB 5101 183 4.60 2.66 1.59 12 35.5 9'7" 4.23 6.96

Of course, it is an excel spreadsheet and they do not cut and paste well.

[Steeltime]

I was think the same thing...this Otah is last year's Timmons (who has yet to prove himself)...again...I'll pass on him.

Can we start with the premise that none of the drafted players have actually played a down in the NFL and therefore have to "prove themselves"?

So, how exactly is Otah a project, a reach, blah, blah? Because of how he looked in shorts at the combine, when he is probably still having problems with an ankle injury?

And great comment directed at me. Very intelligent and insightful. I of course deserved to have you make a comment about me because, well, uhh, see I offered an opinion with some back-up for the opinion.

Sorry. Won't happen again.

Oh, and not to resort to facts once again, but the player who is most likely to be a first round bust is a WR. The player least likely is an OT.

[Coryea]

Oh, and not to resort to facts once again, but the player who is most likely to be a first round bust is a WR. The player least likely is an OT.

Unlesss your name is Robert Gallery, is was supposed to be a sure thing.

[LetMePlay]

So, how exactly is Otah a project, a reach, blah, blah? Because of how he looked in shorts at the combine,



But he did look bad at the combine. Does not mean he will be a bad player but he did look bad relative to the others there. The videos are now up on NFL.com. You can look the the OL demo video to look at the other and then look at his interview video which has his drills. Given our new blocking schemes rely on the OL having to step sideways in concert before they go up the field its worrying to me. I think there will be a better player at another position at 23 anyway. I want to see us take Frank Okam there.

[Garrett]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Mike Gibson from Cal in this thread. Scored very high in bench press (4th), broad jump (4th) and 3-cone (1st), indicating good strength, explosion and agility. Played RT for the Bears (a very good running and passing team - Longshore, despite his ineptitude, had all day to throw usually) but from his scores seems to me he'd project well at guard too.

C'mon...no love for Gibby? Could be a real steal in the 4th round, but this combine may have moved him up to the 3rd.

[Coryea]

Otah worked out with an ankle sprain, which is why he looked sluggish, per ESPN.

[pete]

Otah is going to be a starting tackle somewhere next year.

[LetMePlay]

Otah worked out with an ankle sprain, which is why he looked sluggish, per ESPN.

If true then I take back what I said. I think he had a bad ankle sprain a while back too.

[LeXX75]

Otah worked out with an ankle sprain, which is why he looked sluggish, per ESPN.

injury prone...we don't want him..........:D

[Tres Rios]

That was more than an bum ankle. He looked uncoordinated like a kid running for the first time. Pass.

[thatrain]

I'd be very happy with a guy like Pollak in the second.