Small-school prospects add to intriguing group. Wes Bunting
The 2010 offensive tackle class is led by a talented crop of potential left-side prospects who have the ability to anchor the blindside of an offensive line for the next 10 years. There’s also some intrigue in the form of several small-school prospects who possess a lot of upside and have only started to scratch the surface in terms of their potential at the next level.
In order to break down each prospect, the National Football Post will again be using our own numerical grading scale, focusing on evaluating prospects’ potential in terms of “starter caliber,” “dirty starter caliber,” “possible starter caliber,” “backup/depth caliber” and “free agent caliber.” The full grading scale is listed below with explanations of each grade.
Here’s our initial look at the 2010 offensive tackle class:
NFP Numerical College Grading Scale
Starter Caliber
8.0 Starts first game as a pro…a prospect who possesses rare physical attributes that have an obvious impact on the game…will instantly become one of the best players at his position in the NFL.
7.5 Becomes a starter in his rookie season…a prospect who possesses physical attributes that will create mismatches and have an obvious impact on the game…will become a premier player in the league.
7.0 Starts in first game as a pro…a prospect who possesses physical attributes that will create mismatches vs. most opponents…a featured player on a team.
6.9 Becomes a starter during his rookie year…a prospect who possesses physical attributes that will create mismatches vs. most opponents…a featured player on a team.
6.8 Becomes a starter in his rookie year…becomes a solid NFL player who has no real weakness…can’t be exploited or consistently taken out of games.
Dirty Starter Caliber
6.7 Contributes first year and starts second year…must be able to get on the field and make a contribution as a rookie…expected to start his second year in the league.
6.6 Contributes first year but may need time to become a starter…has the ability to become a starter and will be expected to assume a starting role.
6.5 Clean player who is inconsistent in his play due to character, alertness or competitiveness…has all the physical tools needed to become a starter…if he overcomes his deficiencies, he will be a star in the league…if he doesn’t, he’ll be a complete failure…NO middle ground.
Possible Starter Caliber
6.4 Has one deficient area of his playing skills or physical attributes but should be able to overcome it and contribute to a team…has the potential to become a starter based on his abilities.
6.3 Has one deficient area of his playing skills or his physical attributes that will be difficult to overcome but will contribute in spite of it…has the potential to become a starter based on his abilities.
6.2 Has one deficient area of his physical attributes that he can never overcome but has been productive and has the potential to be a starter in the NFL despite his shortcomings.
6.1 A clean prospect who will need time and development in order to contribute…physically, this player has all the tools to be a starter in the NFL but has not yet developed the necessary skills due to level of competition, offensive or defensive schemes, injury, grades or lack of playing time…true developmental player who has the potential to become a starter.
6.0 An underachiever who has exhibited a deficiency in some area of his play...has the abilities to become a starter but hasn’t played up to them…has a problem with football instincts, character and/or competitiveness…boom-or-bust prospect.
Backup/Depth Caliber
5.9 Has a deficient area of his playing or physical skills that he should overcome and contribute as a backup and spot player only.
5.8 Has a deficient area of his playing of physical skills that will be difficult to overcome but will contribute as a backup and spot player only.
5.7 Has a deficient area of his physical skills that cannot be overcome but has been productive and can contribute as a backup and spot player only.
Free Agent Category
5.6 Free agent with speed, character and competitiveness.
5.5 Free agent with athletic ability, character and competitiveness.
5.4 Free agent with size, character and competitiveness.
5.3 Free agent at a high level of competition with size, speed or athletic ability.
5.2 Free agent with size or speed.
5.1 Free agent with character and competitiveness.
5.0 Camp body.
4.0 Reject…no qualities for professional football.
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alvin:
Thanks, as for some answers.
You might be right with Ducasse, but it was his first time ever playing vs. big time competition though and he really did improve throughout the week. I think he can play RT, but his best spot might end up being guard.
Campbell is a really long, impressive athlete, one of the few guys who has the ability to play LT in the pros, needs some time but might have more upside then anyone.
I put Scott in as a guard, same with Ciron Black. Don't think he has the initial range to play tackle, looks more like a guard to me.
What about Selvish Capers? And what happened to C. Black that he went from a top 10 pick if he came out last year to not even a tackle this year?
Capers is another guy I moved to OG, lacks the base to hold the point of attack at OT. Ideal fit in a ZBS.
Nothing happened to Black, he was just a media darling who got a lot of hype for being a 4 year starter at LSU. He was never considered a top-10 pick, has a lot of bad tape on him and looks more like a guard prospect to me.
Wes-
Do you really think Capers can cut it inside? I think he's way too thin to hold up inside, and I think he's just got bust written all over him. Maybe after a couple years in an NFL S & C program he'd be able to hold up inside but I just can't see it right now. Has the skills to be great but aside from a few flashes here and there, he hasn't impressed me too much. Reminds me a lot of Jamon Meredith from last year's Draft, talked about as a potential 2nd Rounder but will fall like a rock on Draft Day. Just not a fan of him, at all.
This list looks great though, and I really hope one of those Top 4 fall to my Packers in the 1st. A guy I'm starting to really warm up to is Saffold. I think if he lands on a team that coaches up Offensive Lineman well he's going to be a big time steal.
I am with alvin on Trent Williams.I'm also glad to see Okung didn't get a 7.5 or something; other people must see something in his feet that I don't.
So overall, no Jonathan Ogdens, but some good depth.
I would love to see a comparison of the top players from previous years and the number they received to get a frame of reference. What did Jason Smith have last year, or Jake Long/Joe Thomas?
Wes, does Jason Fox have the base to hold the point of attack. I saw him go up against Robert Quinn of UNC, and thought he was outplayed severely.
Quick question here. In the grading legend you say the following: "8.0 Starts first game as a pro…, 7.5 Becomes a starter in his rookie season…, 7.0 Starts in first game as a pro…"
Why would a 7.5 not be good enough to start in his first game as a pro and a 7.0 be good enough to do so? That's not logical.
Will Barker - it just so happens the Bears have a need for a RT/RG and their first pick is in the third round. I'm pretty sure they are making this position a priority, along with DE and FS. Maybe he'll be there.
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Feb 09, 2010
01:54 PM
Nice rankings. Good to see you don't buy into the Trent Williams hype. RT only at the next level. Charles Brown I love. My #1 tackle, best pass protector in this class. Good to see you are high on him, though I'm higher. Also like that you see great RT's in Kyle Calloway (better in college than Bulaga) and Chris Marinelli.
With that said, two glaring mistakes IMO. Vlad Ducasse doesn't have the foot speed to play tackle at the next level. He'll be forced to kick inside. That was shown at the senior bowl. Why the Bruce Campbell love? He's a good athlete, but raw as they come and only 16 career starts. His technique is bad, he's not elite at any one aspect. Second rounder strictly based on potential. #6 in my tackle rankings. Why no Chris Scott? Didn't allow a sack at left tackle with Jonathan Crompton (no pocket presence) and shut down Carlos Dunlap (another overrated prospect). He's not particularly quick but he's strong at the POA and has decent lateral agility.