When evaluating OTs, scouts look at more than a player’s size. Wes Bunting
Every year, NFL prospects strip down to their underwear and are paraded around in front of NFL scouts and executives in an event known as the weigh-in. This is the first time official heights and weights are taken on each player. But two other important pieces of information are also recorded that have as much bearing on how “big” a potential NFL prospect can play: reach (the length of a prospect’s arm) and hand size (the length from the pinkie finger measured to the thumb).
Football is a contact sport in which collisions take place on every play. Most NFL players are asked to win battles at the point of attack, and the players with the biggest frames and longest reaches have a clear advantage when engaging an opposing player.
The reach or arm length of a prospect is a key attribute to any position, especially those playing on the line of scrimmage. However, at no position is reach more vital than at the offensive tackle spot. To explain how offensive linemen can be affected by length, I want to take a look at two former prospects with similar height/weight numbers who have taken different paths in their NFL careers.
OT Adam Terry (Baltimore Ravens) and OT Marcus McNeill (San Diego Chargers) are former second-round picks (Terry in 2005, McNeill in 2006) who each measured 6-8 and weighed about 330 pounds at their combine appearances. However, the key difference at each player’s weigh-in was the discrepancy in the length of their reaches. McNeill’s measured 35½ inches; Terry posted a reach of 32¼ inches. So we have two men who are roughly the same size, but McNeill has the length to match and maximize his 6-8 frame, while Terry’s length forces him to play like a tackle closer to 6-3.
There are other variables to be considered when judging a prospect’s potential, but the facts are that McNeill has been the Chargers’ starting left tackle each of the past four years, while Terry, who’s coming off a season-ending injury in 2009, looks more like a reserve-type offensive lineman for the Ravens. Again, there are other variables that go into comparisons like these, but you have to figure the 3-inch-plus reach advantage has to be a significant reason why one player has been so successful in the NFL and the other has not.
To put this into perspective, I broke down this year’s top left tackle prospects to give you a better idea which linemen have NFL-worthy arm length and which ones will likely struggle playing to their listed size. But before we get to that, I constructed a range of arm lengths for the OT position only to put each measurement into context.
“Great” Arm Length (35-plus inches)
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets, 2006 (35½ inches)
Ryan Clady, Broncos, 2008 (36 inches)
“Good” Arm Length (34 inches - 34 7/8 inches)
Jammal Brown, Saints, 2005 (34¼ inches)
Jeff Otah, Panthers, 2008 (34 5/8 inches)
“OK” Arm Length (33 inches - 33 7/8 inches)
Michael Roos, Titans, 2005 (33 5/8 inches)
Levi Brown, Cardinals, 2007 (33 1/8 inches)
“Below-Average” Arm Length (32 inches - 32 7/8 inches)
Robert Gallery, Raiders, 2004 (32 ¼ inches)
Chris Williams, Bears, 2008 (32 ¾ inches)
With an eye toward the 2010 draft class, let’s rank the nation’s top offensive tackles according to their arm length/reach and break down what each measurement means in relation to the player’s potential at the next level.
Bruce Campbell, Maryland (6-6, 314) (Arm Length: 36¼ inches)
Once again, Campbell shows that from a pure physical standpoint he has the quintessential body you look for in an NFL left tackle. He’s a tall, lean kid with impressive athleticism and elite length for the position. He isn’t quite the lateral athlete that some make him out to be, and he will lose his balance and get overextended when asked to redirect in space. However, the type of length he possesses can go a long way toward covering up a lot of flaws at the next level, and he’s going to need it because at this stage he’s still very raw.
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State (6-5, 307) (Arm Length: 36 inches)
There’s a reason Okung is able to play with a little more base strength and power than you’d expect from a guy his size. With 36-inch arms, he makes it difficult for opposing linemen to get into his frame and generate much of a push on their bull-rush. Plus, the fact he’s fluid and balanced when asked to redirect in pass protection makes me feel confident that Okung is this year’s top left tackle prospect.
Charles Brown, USC (6-5, 303) (Arm Length: 35¼ inches)
Like Okung, Brown might lack ideal girth in his lower half, but because of his length, he makes it extremely difficult for opposing pass rushers to generate power trying to bull-rush him on contact. Add in the fact that Brown is a former tight end with impressive range and lateral fluidity for his size, and he might end up being the third-ranked offensive tackle in my book come draft time, ahead of Anthony Davis and Bruce Campbell.
Anthony Davis, Rutgers (6-5, 323) (Arm Length: 34 inches)
In previous years, Davis’ 34-inch arms would have been near the top of just about any tackle class. So just because he ranks fourth on this list doesn’t mean there’s any concern about his length. Physically, the guy has the ability to win in both the run and pass game at the next level. The question is: Does he want to? Davis comes off as very passive and seems to lack the willingness to put in the work to be great at the next level. The skill set and length are certainly there, but he might be better suited to playing on the right side in the NFL.
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa (6-6, 314) (Arm Length: 33¼ inches)
Finally, Bulaga’s 33¼-inch arms aren’t great, but they’re certainly long enough for him to project nicely to the left side in the NFL. He never really got on track this year after battling through some thyroid issues during the early parts of the season, but his sophomore tape is impressive, and besides Okung, Bulaga looks to me to be the safest tackle in this year’s draft.
Overall, the measurement of a prospect’s arm length is another tool to help scouts determine the caliber of the player they’re evaluating. Arm length helps determine the “true” size of a potential NFL player and allows scouts to establish just how big an offensive lineman can play. As I said before, there are always exceptions to the rule, and simply measuring the arm length of an offensive tackle will not guarantee success. But when scouting offensive tackles, it’s important to consider the length/reach of a prospect in correlation to his height and weight.
Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting
Interesting analysis but a handful of well-chosen examples do not constitute valid statistical proof. I find it hard to believe that 3/4 of an inch, the difference in Davis ("near the top") and Beluga ("aren't great") makes any real difference. Three inches, probably a difference, but without knowing the arm lengths of hundreds of players, we can't be sure.
The hand size issue seems to me to be an obviously important factor for QBs that is usually overlooked. There are huge differences in hand size, from Clausen's relatively ordinary 9 " to Tebow's massive 10 1/8" paw. Nothing worse than watching your highly drafted QB whiff on a pass attempt. Not likely to happen to Tebow.
Hit them before they hit you, length helps do that. Once they get past your feet all you have left to rely on is reach.
Is reach measured to the wrist or the finger tip?
Come on, this is just terrible cherry picking. You're implying correlation, but you leave out some key players - intentionally:
Joe Thomas and Jake Long both had "below average" arm length by your definition. Selecting two lousier guys instead of two consensus top 10 tackles is intellectually dishonest.
For all we know, arm length might be relevant as all hell in some cases, but this is just bad analysis.
"Selecting two lousier guys instead of two consensus top 10 tackles is intellectually dishonest. "
Intellectually dishonest?!? This a Pro Football weblog, not the Harvard Law Review. You are lame.
Re: Tebow's hands?? Please, the example of Tebow's large hands as an example of what an advantage large hands are is belied by the fact that a communication problem exists BETWEEN Tebow's brain and those 10¼" hand's, and that is his ridiculous arm throwing motion...
The guy had 4 years to learn how to throw an NFL pass from the top coaching talent in college football.
The guy belongs in Edmonton, or Winnipeg someplace place where the corner's can't jump routes, safeties bite the play-action And the Corner's freeze on the 5 step pump. I will enjoy watching NFL coaches try to make a QB out that sandlot field general.
Jonathan Ogden has 33 inch arms. Terry has been injured and before his injury he was actually pretty good. This is a pathetic attempt to boil something as complex as a players ability to play football down to the length of their arms. Are you saying ogden was "ok to below average"?
"This is a pathetic attempt to boil something as complex as a players ability to play football down to the length of their arms."
No. It was an attempt to explain how scouts look at arm length along with height when determining how "big" a prospect can play and why.
Or as the title of the column states: "Measuring up: height v. arm length. When evaluating OT's scouts look at more than a players size."
You should go back to 5th grade and work on your reading comprehension skills.
Like it or not, Arm length will be a factor in evaluation of LT's.
Yes there are examples of short armed guys that weren't given, but you can bet scouts always drool at the guy with Chimp Arms.
Very good article.
Thanks
Here are some arm lengths, drawn from NFL Draft Scout archives. Includes present and recent starts:
The long (35.35 and up): Alex Barron, Stacy Andrews, Flozell Adams, Tra Thomas, Max Starks, Orlando Pace, Jared Gaither, Tony Ugoh, Bryant McKinnie.
The short (<33"): Jake Long, Jason Peters, Joe Thomas, Jeff Backus, Micheal Roos, Todd Weiner, Marvel Smith, Vernon Carey, Eric Winston, Mark Trauscher.
Generally: arm length correlates more closely with body mass than with top on-field performance.
Toughness, accountability, durability, awareness, anchor, punch power come with long arms, and not.
Arm length? what gudschlenschenbergensteinein thing is that?
Tebow were asked to and able to throw the ball downfield more and/or their receivers were better able to gain yards after catch because they were hit in stride but McCoy and LeFevour's completions were more of the dink and dunk variety. LeFevour's numbers were also against lesser competition in the MAC.
Team's lease called for all games...
Former Chiefs head coach will...
But free agent is rehabbing from...
Vikings director of player personnel...
'SYNDER SUCKS' he wrote on Twitter
Mar 08, 2010
02:38 PM
Strength, Athletic Ability, Skill and Experience have nothing to do with why McNeil is a better tackle than Terry...Injuries played no factor into why McNeil is a starter and Terry is not. It's all arm length...