| February 15, 2006 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 12:02 AM |
BillsZone.com takes a look at the players available in the 2006 NFL Draft and how they fill the needs of the Buffalo Bills. This week, we take a look at offensive tackles.
QB- RB - FB - WR- TE - C - G -OT - DT - DE - OLB - ILB - CB - S
One of the best OT prospects to hit the draft in many years, Ferguson may have gone as high as #2 or #3 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft had he come out after his junior season. Has rare athletic ability for the position. Impeccable footwork. Scott Wright’s Draft Countown describes him "A big dancing bear". Extremely quick and agile with outstanding mobility... athletic enough to carry a black belt in karate. Balance is outstanding. Has long arms. One of the best in a long time at pass protection. Brick has a large frame with a lot of growth potential. While rated as the top OT in the college ranks, he still has a lot of upside. Known for being a very durable and reliable player. Has a ton of experience having started at left tackle as a true freshman. Character and intangibles are outstanding. The only knock on him may be his size, as he bucks the trend of the mammoth 320-lb. tackles. Began his career with the Cavs at 260 lbs. and has been doing a good job of adding weight but he needs to continue to get bigger and stronger. Still a bit undersized by pro standards and could get pushed around a little, especially in the run game. May play a little soft and could stand to show more of a killer instinct and some extra attitude.
He is the type of rare franchise left tackle that doesn't come around very often- thought of as in the Anthony Munoz mold as a career stalwart at the position. Whether he adds the needed weight or not Ferguson will still be a top notch OT prospect he won’t last past the top 10 picks. His athleticism is extremely rare and teams love the fact he went back to school for an extra year. Will be a player franchises build around. He is a lock to go in the top 10, probably in the top 5 overall picks. He would be a steal if he lasted until the Bills 8th pick.
Eric Winston has good size and is one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the nation. He is an excellent pass-protector who relies on intelligence and technique to defeat defenders rather than overpowering them. Widely considered the best tackle prospect in the nation at the start of his junior year, he had to set aside his plans to leave school early when he blew out his knee in Miami’s fourth game. The Hurricanes missed Winston badly and saw their rushing average drop by 30 yards per game without him. He is an extremely bright player who finished his degree in International Finance and Marketing in just three years and he is currently working on a second degree in Political Science. He has the athleticism and quick feet scouts look for in a franchise left tackle. Like D’Brickshaw Ferguson, he needs to increase his size and strength and he does have a good frame to work with. He leads by example with an outstanding work ethic and serves as a vocal leader in the locker room as well. Some may question Winston’s durability due to the knee injury he sustained as a junior; however he did make a full recovery and seems to be back to his old self once again. Eric Winston has just a little over two years of playing experience as a tackle so he is still learning the position. If Winston’s knee checks out, he will be in the mix with Ferguson to be the first offensive lineman drafted. Winston is similar in many ways to Robert Gallery, another tight-end-turned-tackle, who was the second player drafted in 2004. Should be available at the 8th pick for the Bills, will probably go somewhere between selections 8-15 in the first round.
McNeill is a mountain of a man with a nasty on-field persona who is an imposing physical presence. He has the "mean streak" you like to see in an offensive lineman and is possibly the most dominating run blocker in college football. Marcus is quick out of his stance and has the ability to get to the second level and take out a linebacker in the running game. Tremendous athlete for his size and has great feet. Moves laterally extremely well and it is not easy to get around him. He proved his toughness as a sophomore when he played through an injury to his lower back. McNeill is a better run blocker than he is a pass blocker but he is not a liability in pass protection. He has long arms which allow him to keep defenders away from his body; however he will struggle at times against speed rushers. Has good playing strength. Smart player with top intangibles who wants to get better. An all-around performer who is a major factor as both a run blocker and pass protector. As a pass blocker, he has good feet and gets some good initial pop. He will sometimes set up off balance and doesn't give himself a chance to quickly redirect. He must do a better job of establishing a good solid base and keeping himself under control when speed rushers are coming around the edge. With Top 10 draft measurables, his weaknesses may see him drop to the middle/late first round due to a strong OT draft class. Will play too upright at times due to his height. Has some medical issues with his back and neck that will have to be cleared...Will get caught leaning. Will get lazy and lose concentration at times. Needs to refine and become more consistent with his technique. Is not as explosive as you would expect a guy with his mass and dimensions to be. Needs to work harder to avoid being the next Mike Williams. Will most likely go middle to late first round, the second or third OT taken.
Scott is a seasoned tackle prospect with ideal size. He has been known to be a very intelligent and hard working individual. Scott has started all 4 years at Texas, showing improvement every season. Demonstrates a quality surge in the running game, and solid fundamentals in pass protection, keeping his shoulders square to the pass rusher. Scott recognizes defensive line stunts and zone blitzes and makes sure that he picks up the right player to protect his quarterback’s blind side. Has a good combination of size, strength, and athleticism for an OT. He is tall and has the frame to add more bulk in the future. He has long arms (82 inch wingspan) which allow him to keep defenders away from his body. He is an excellent pass blocker who only gave up one sack as a junior in 2004. His athleticism allows him to effectively pull as well as get to the second level in the running game. However he isn’t a dominant run blocker and he lacks the "mean streak" you like to see in an offensive lineman. He has proven to be a very durable player, having only missed one game due to injury during his career at Texas. Scott does have problems on occasion against speed rushers and he doesn’t always finish his blocks. He was a deep snapper in high school and was the backup deep snapper at Texas. He could help the team that drafts him in that area as well. Suffers from bouts of inconsistency. An underachiever who doesn't always play up to his talent level. Not very physical. Doesn't always finish and lacks a nasty demeanor. In terms of measurables and physical tools this guy is the total package and the majority of his faults are correctable. Scott’s smarts should help him through many of the challenges that offensive linemen typically face when thrown into the lineup as rookies. He has a chance to develop into a top NFL left tackle in time. Has the potential and ability to be a top left tackle in the NFL. Son of former NY Jet TE Ray Scott. Projects to be drafted in the bottom third of the first round.
Justice has a good deal of starting experience against top competition, having started three of the last four years at right tackle for the Trojans. Justice has almost as much upside as any tackle in this draft. He is not quite the explosive athlete D’Brickashaw Ferguson is, but he’s up there with any other tackle in the draft. He has a good combination of size and strength for a tackle and has the frame to get even bigger in the future. Winston Justice has the ability to play right tackle or the ever important left tackle in the NFL. He has played RT his entire career, but that is Matt Leinart’s blind side, so he has experience protecting the QB’s backside. Justice is a very good athlete, with the ability to adjust to counter moves by defenders. In the run game, he shows the ability to control his man at the point of attack to open up holes for his backs. He has as much upside as any tackle in the draft and should be a first round pick in April Winston is an excellent athlete with the quick feet you look for in a tackle. He rarely gets beat by speed rushers in pass protection. He has been very durable during his time in college with only a couple minor injuries. He did have surgery on his shoulder after his freshman year and he missed two games with an ankle injury as a sophomore. The biggest question when it comes to Justice is his character. The only question is how far his character issues will drop him on draft day.
Ryan O'Callaghan is a great All-American offensive tackle that dominates defenders. He led the way for one of the best rushing attacks in college football. He can make all the blocks, pushing defensive lineman into the secondary. Has great technique and adequate athleticism for his size. Will help any teams rushing attack and can start right away in the NFL. Has great size and a massive frame. Extremely strong player who can be dominant...Outstanding run blocker...Tough and physical with a nasty demeanor on the field...Smart with great instincts...Has good balance and can anchor...Once he locks on it is over...A hard worker and team leader with top intangibles...Has a lot of experience and has led the way for some prolific Pac-10 offensive attacks. Has a history of injuries to both of his shoulders and durability could be a very real concern. He is a little slow and unathletic at times. You will almost never see him pull because he lacks speed and athleticism. He can dominate defenders strictly with size in college, but will not be able to rely solely on his size. Could potentially have to move inside to guard at the pro level but he has experience as a starter there. What you see is what you get and if it's a big mauling right tackle you are in the market for then this is definitely your guy. He is a huge force that will translate well into the NFL. The team that lands this massive offensive tackle will be very happy with what they get. Look for him to be a second-round draft pick.
Andrew Whitworth has concluded an excellent career at LSU winning awards along the way. He’s started since his freshman year and earned Freshman All-American honors. Last year as a junior, he was named 1st team All SEC for his success on the field. Whitworth has the ideal height and wingspan for an NFL tackle. An above-average athlete, he is proficient at using his hands to stymie pass rushers, and he moves well laterally. As his 39 game ironman streak suggests, Whitworth is a competitor with a blue-collar approach to the game. Whitworth has ideal size for an offensive tackle. He’s tall, had a nice frame, and has long arms. He sets up quickly in pass protection to keep lineman at bay. In the running game he shows the ability to lock on to a defender and create space for his backs. Whitworth has also shown the ability to get out and block on the move. He has played a lot in the SEC and should be able to provide an immediate impact in the NFL. Whitworth has the tendency to stand tall at times, and is vulnerable to double moves by defensive ends. He does not adjust very well to counter moves. He is more of a jack of all trades type, and does not dominate in any one area. Whitworth lacks the athleticism and footwork you look for in a left tackle. He could be a player that begins his career at right tackle, then moves to the left side a couple years down the road. Andrew Whitworth doesn’t have the upside that some of the other tackles in the class have; however, he one of the most prepared to come in and start in the NFL immediately. In a deep tackle class, Whitworth is up near the top. He projects very well as a left tackle, but does not have the upside other tackles may have. He’s as experienced and as durable a lineman as you will find and that will endear him to a lot of teams. He looks like a solid second round selection. May make a great pick for Buffalo’s 2nd round if they opt to address needs on the defensive side of the ball in round 1.
3 inches short of seven feet tall, Jeremy Trueblood blocks out the sun. Solid across the board, he is not lacking in any physical area. He has good size, long arms, he can set up in pass protection, and is a very good run blocker. Perhaps his best attribute is the nastiness he plays with on the field. He will play until the whistle blows and is very tough. Those seem to be traits BC requires in their lineman, because they are always tough. Trueblood is a very solid offensive line prospect. He won’t dominate at the point of attack and won’t lock down every pass rusher he faces, but he can definitely play. His height can cause problems for him. It makes it easier for defenders to get under his pads, which causes him to lose leverage. Trueblood lacks the footwork and athleticism you look for in a left tackle. Will probably be a right tackle in the pros. Mobility is only average at best and he won't do much in space. Struggles to handle speed rushers .Lacks a sturdy base. Needs to get stronger. Has a limited upside. With the depth at offensive tackle in this years draft, Trueblood is not an elite prospect, but he could carry a Top 50-75 grade come April. If he slides, and the Bills are looking for OL help in the third round, he would be a decent fit. 
Daryn Colledge picked a bad year to be a senior LT in the NFL draft. He’s one of the best left tackle prospects for this draft that will not get the limelight he deserves. Then again, he was virtually ignored as a HS prospect from North Pole, Alaska. He has excellent athleticism and can mirror rushers’ moves and keep them off his quarterback. He’s also plays with a lot of strength on the field, and can dominate at the point of attack. He’s the complete package as a tackle prospect.
He is a technically sound pass blocker who played in a pass-oriented offense. He does a good job against speed rushers and he possesses the attitude you like to see in an offensive lineman. He isn’t a dominating run blocker and he may need to bulk up some to handle some of the larger defensive linemen in the NFL, but he does have a good frame to work with. Other than size and run blocking ability, the only other knock on Colledge is the fact that he didn’t play against the highest level of competition. Even though he plays with power, Colledge could stand to gain a few pounds. The bulk will help him better handle the wear and tear of a full season in the NFL.. Outside of D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Eric Winston though, Colledge has as much potential as any lineman in the draft. He will be a solid 3rd round pick.
Adam Stenavich has been a standout college performer since his freshman season.. He does not back down from anyone, and will battle until the whistle blows. He plays with excellent technique. He has good balance and quick hands to keep defenders contained in the passing game, and gets good leverage in run blocking. He is very experienced at left tackle, but has the strength and toughness to play RT or OG at the next level. Has great size, and played very well in the Alamo Bowl against a strong Nebraska defense. Showed he was a competent pass blocker, and the ability to move the pile in the running game. Doesn't have the great athleticism of Ferguson or some of the other elite prospects. Stenavich is only an average athlete. His technique allows him to keep guys at bay most of the time, but there are plays where you need that ability to counter, and he just cannot do that. He has a ton of experience at LT, but he probably will not play there at the next level. Has all the tools to succeed in the NFL, and should make a very solid right tackle for whoever drafts him. He is a very solid right tackle prospect though, and should be able to play immediately at the next level. Most teams fall in love with upside, so Stenavich may not rate very high on some teams boards, but he will contribute to whatever team is smart enough to draft him. Look for him to go early in day 2 of the draft.
QB- RB - FB - WR- TE - C - G -OT - DT - DE - OLB - ILB - CB - S