Have a OL question

[GatorAZ]

If the Cardinals are going to draft a right tackle at #8, I would eventually want him to be able to play left tackle. That's what made drafting a tackle early exciting for me.

If Humphries can still healthy it doesn’t matter. *IF*

 

[Jetstream Green]

Either way. I just know that Pugh got blown up a lot going against Donald.

Call me crazy, but I do not think Lamont Gaillard could get bull rushed by Donald but getting bested by Donald is not an exclusive club either lol

 

[Finito]

Wirfs started as as true freshman in the B10 and was more than effective. Went up against AJ Espenesa every single day at practice while at Iowa. Not an easy feat by any stretch.

Thomas, Wills and Wirfs all went to big schools all played against top notch competition

nobody is mentioning Thomas and Wills going to guard in the NFL.

 

[AZCrazy]

Either way. I just know that Pugh got blown up a lot going against Donald.

So does everyone else.

 

[BACH]

Back in the day, the LT was so important because it protected a QB's blindside since most people are right handed. Now, the defense has adjusted by moving their prominent pass rushers around, much like a offense puts WRs in motion to capitalize on an advantage. So, why are we still judging with a tendency to draft RTs who are less pass protection specialists. I say if you want a RT for the Cards, draft Thomas out of Georgia. What are the opinions out there...

Yes and No.

Yes. The defense move pass rushers around.

No. It’s still not the same, because TE Line up strong next to the RT a majority of times. Even when he goes into routes he creates traffic to the Slow the Edge down.

And I Think evaluating the 4 top OT is a discussion of floor/ceiling.
Thomas and Willis have the highest floor.

Wilfs and Becton have the highest ceiling.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Yes and No.

Yes. The defense move pass rushers around.

No. It’s still not the same, because TE Line up strong next to the RT a majority of times. Even when he goes into routes he creates traffic to the Slow the Edge down.

And I Think evaluating the 4 top OT is a discussion of floor/ceiling.
Thomas and Willis have the highest floor.

Wilfs and Becton have the highest ceiling.

I am not a blue sky sort of person. Give me the security of knowing exactly what I am getting with any of my early round picks. That is Thomas and Wills.

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

And yet, quite a few scouts or other people with close ties to the NFL are listing him as OT4 in this draft.

I get that, I'm no scout. You put up a video of him showing his flaw, allowing his man to get his hands inside him, that's correctible. I watched the dude block the best DL's in college football in the SEC for 3 yrs, he's way better than the other 3 imo. I'm not 100% sure if Wills started all 3 yrs at Alabama, I know he did the last 2. Wirfs.......people are talking about him eventually playing Guard, he's supposed to be a Tackle. No one is talking about Thomas moving to Guard, plus he can play both Tackle positions. Wirfs I've read that he can also but I guarantee he didn't face the same type of DL competition in the Big 10 as Thomas did in the SEC, game in & game out. Becton, he is big & good at run blocking but lacks the pass protection experience, maybe that can be taught? He does end up on the ground a whole lot if you watch him try & go out of his lane to cross block. Agree to disagree I suppose? There's very few sure fire/can't miss players in any draft, roll the dice & see what happens? Guess we'll find out next week lol?

 

[Garthshort]

Just about everyone is pointing to RT as our greatest need in the Draft, but it seems to me that we have two guys who are decent, not great, RT's. What we don't have is a starting center, since we have not signed Shipley. We are hoping that either Cole or Gailiard can do the job, but that's not a given. I don't hear much about the #1 ranked center, Cesar Ruiz from Michigan. I think that he would be a good choice if we trade back from #8. Anyone agree?

 

[oaken1]

Just about everyone is pointing to RT as our greatest need in the Draft, but it seems to me that we have two guys who are decent, not great, RT's. What we don't have is a starting center, since we have not signed Shipley. We are hoping that either Cole or Gailiard can do the job, but that's not a given. I don't hear much about the #1 ranked center, Cesar Ruiz from Michigan. I think that he would be a good choice if we trade back from #8. Anyone agree?

A center in round one??? Dude better be the best center of the past thirty years

 

[Dr. Jones]

If Keim drafts Wirfs and then moves him to guard..... completely IGNORING that our RT is 10 times worse than either Sweezy or Pugh, I may vomit. It would be one of the stupidest, most Keimy moves he has done in his tenure.

IMO..... the odds of Wirfs to guard are less than 2%. Why would people even talk about it? If we draft Wirfs, Thomas, or Wills.... they are going to RT immediately.

I don't think it's even a topic for discussion UNLESS they are a bust at RT first.

 

[Garthshort]

A center in round one??? Dude better be the best center of the past thirty years

Dallas surprised with a center, Frederick, a few years back and he turned out to be VG. When you look at the great OL's over the years, they all had VG centers. It doesn't matter what round you get him in, as long as you get him. JMO.

 

[DVontel]

If Keim drafts Wirfs and then moves him to guard..... completely IGNORING that our RT is 10 times worse than either Sweezy or Pugh, I may vomit. It would be one of the stupidest, most Keimy moves he has done in his tenure.

IMO..... the odds of Wirfs to guard are less than 2%. Why would people even talk about it? If we draft Wirfs, Thomas, or Wills.... they are going to RT immediately.

I don't think it's even a topic for discussion UNLESS they are a bust at RT first.

Probably while because Wirfs could be an 8/10 at OT, he could be a 10/10 at OG.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Probably while because Wirfs could be an 8/10 at OT, he could be a 10/10 at OG.

"Could" is an awfully dumb word to use with the 8th pick in the draft. Nelson, Martin, DeCastro and the like were drafted high as guards because they were already dominant guards.

If you think Wirfs or Becton is a guard, when they have not played the position seems like an awfully large indictment that they shouldn't have been your pick at #8 in the first place.

This is the definition of getting "Cute" IMO.

 

[DVontel]

"Could" is an awfully dumb word to use with the 8th pick in the draft. Nelson, Martin, DeCastro and the like were drafted high as guards because they were already dominant guards.

If you think Wirfs or Becton is a guard, when they have not played the position seems like an awfully large indictment that they shouldn't have been your pick at #8 in the first place.

This is the definition of getting "Cute" IMO.

Funny thing is that Brandon Scherff went higher than all of them & he went from Tackle in college to one of the best Guards in the league.

Kelechi Osemele....another guy that made the switch from Tackle in college to a great Guard(unfortunately, injuries took over) in the league.


Joel Bitonio....another guy that made the switch from Tackle to currently a great Guard in the league.



Zack Martin....another guy that was a OT in college & is now a 4x All-Pro at OG.



Hell, it’s not like any of these dudes were Round 5-7 projects who just needed 3+ years. They were all Round 1-2 players.



Don’t overthink this. It’s not out of the realm while Wirfs may be solid OT, he could be a phenomenal OG.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Of the names you mentioned.... Martin, Scherff, & Bitonio were all projected to move inside during the draft process. That happens all the time. Heck.... even Osemele's draft profile mentions that he is not a pure tackle and should move to guard.

Could they be guards? Sure...... They just will not be moved immediately to guard. They will need to bust out at Tackle before a team tries it. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Chopper0080]

I like how people argue that Wirfs may be a little too athletic for OT...lol

 

[Proximo]

Funny thing is that Brandon Scherff went higher than all of them & he went from Tackle in college to one of the best Guards in the league.

Kelechi Osemele....another guy that made the switch from Tackle in college to a great Guard(unfortunately, injuries took over) in the league.


Joel Bitonio....another guy that made the switch from Tackle to currently a great Guard in the league.



Zack Martin....another guy that was a OT in college & is now a 4x All-Pro at OG.



Hell, it’s not like any of these dudes were Round 5-7 projects who just needed 3+ years. They were all Round 1-2 players.



Don’t overthink this. It’s not out of the realm while Wirfs may be solid OT, he could be a phenomenal OG.

This is just dumb. You don't draft a guard at 8 intentionally ever. Why? Because there are easily 3 to 4 times as many humans capable of playing guard adequately in the NFL as opposed to competent tackles.

There is a reason tackles make nearly twice as much money - there is a shortage of them. If they don't think Wirfs can play tackle, they damn well better not draft him at 8.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Dallas surprised with a center, Frederick, a few years back and he turned out to be VG. When you look at the great OL's over the years, they all had VG centers. It doesn't matter what round you get him in, as long as you get him. JMO.

Frederick was the 31st pick in the first round.

Ruiz, has a 2nd/3rd grade and projects no higher than Nick Harris or Lloyd Cushenberry.

 

[AZCrazy]

Cushenberry and Ruiz will go late 2nd/early 3rd. Harris and Biadacz will go in the 3rd.
Any of them would be a good pick in the 3rd, but not before.
Last time we had a center of any repute was Pete Kendall, who was here for six minutes before being thrown out by Denny Green for insubordination.

 

[Garthshort]

Frederick was the 31st pick in the first round.

Ruiz, has a 2nd/3rd grade and projects no higher than Nick Harris or Lloyd Cushenberry.

Good to know.

 

[DVontel]

This is just dumb. You don't draft a guard at 8 intentionally ever. Why? Because there are easily 3 to 4 times as many humans capable of playing guard adequately in the NFL as opposed to competent tackles.

There is a reason tackles make nearly twice as much money - there is a shortage of them. If they don't think Wirfs can play tackle, they damn well better not draft him at 8.

Did you actually read my post with your eyes open?

 

[WildBB]

If Keim drafts Wirfs and then moves him to guard..... completely IGNORING that our RT is 10 times worse than either Sweezy or Pugh, I may vomit. It would be one of the stupidest, most Keimy moves he has done in his tenure.

IMO..... the odds of Wirfs to guard are less than 2%. Why would people even talk about it? If we draft Wirfs, Thomas, or Wills.... they are going to RT immediately.

I don't think it's even a topic for discussion UNLESS they are a bust at RT first.

Well Muttay did grade out higher ultimately then Any of the interior linemen. Did you actually watch Pugh get tossed aside repeatedly by Donald? Our IOL is below league average. And we have the franchise playing right there.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Humphries can still healthy it doesn’t matter. *IF*

I always like options... to have another player in the pipeline.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Back in the day, the LT was so important because it protected a QB's blindside since most people are right handed. Now, the defense has adjusted by moving their prominent pass rushers around, much like a offense puts WRs in motion to capitalize on an advantage. So, why are we still judging with a tendency to draft RTs who are less pass protection specialists. I say if you want a RT for the Cards, draft Thomas out of Georgia. What are the opinions out there...

Today the LT still protects the QB blind side. Yes a defense can move their best pass rusher over a RT but then the QB can see him coming. For a Right Handed QB the LT will always be his best friend. Assuming the LT is any good.

 

[Harry]

Most decent tackle prospects make good guards. The reason top ones don’t make it at OT is usually footwork. The edge rushers they face in the NFL have a speed/power ratio that in unlike most of what they’ve seen in college. If the prospects can’t keep their power and balance while moving rapidly, they get beaten. I think the Cards will draft with the assumption that Humphries is the LT. So they will ask who’s the best RT and importantly who’s content to play RT. In my mind that’s Wirfs. On the others Thomas has the highest floor. Becton looks better at LT than RT. I think Wills is the trap player just like The Athletic’s article indicates.