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The Los Angeles Chargers added another developmental piece to their offensive line after agreeing to terms with undrafted free agent Isaiah World, but one question could ultimately determine his NFL future.
Is he better suited to remain as an offensive tackle at the next level, or would a move inside to guard maximize his potential?
On the surface, World looks every bit like an NFL tackle. The former Oregon standout measures six-foot-eight and 312 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms, giving him the length teams covet on the edge. Those physical traits are difficult to teach, which is one reason the Bolts were willing to bring him in after hosting him for a Top-30 visit during the pre-draft process.
That said, World's college career showcased both encouraging development and areas that still need refinement.
World's biggest concerns stem from inconsistent footwork, high pad level and timing between his hands and feet. Those flaws can leave him off balance in pass protection, allowing quicker edge rushers to win the rep. While those issues are significant, they are generally viewed as technical problems rather than physical limitations.
Moving inside to guard wouldn't necessarily eliminate those concerns, as interior offensive linemen must play with exceptional leverage, balance and hand placement against powerful defensive tackles operating in tighter spaces. Given World's tendency to play too high at times, a move to guard could actually magnify one of the biggest weaknesses in his game.
His strengths also align more naturally with playing tackle. World moves well for a player his size and has shown the athleticism to operate in space, making him effective on outside runs and when climbing to the second level. His heavy hands and physical mentality also allow him to generate movement at the point of attack when his technique is sound.
World is recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the Peach Bowl, meaning he may not be expected to contribute immediately. The extra time could allow offensive line coach Mike Devlin to refine his footwork, improve his leverage and help him become more consistent before he's asked to compete for meaningful snaps.
While some college tackles eventually kick inside after reaching the NFL, World's combination of length, athleticism and developmental upside makes tackle the more logical projection. If he can clean up the technical inconsistencies that have followed him throughout college, he has the physical tools to develop into a reliable swing tackle and potentially more as he learns from two of the football's best in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.
This situation will be worth monitoring with training camp inching closer for Los Angeles.
Continue reading...
Is he better suited to remain as an offensive tackle at the next level, or would a move inside to guard maximize his potential?
On the surface, World looks every bit like an NFL tackle. The former Oregon standout measures six-foot-eight and 312 pounds with 34 1/2-inch arms, giving him the length teams covet on the edge. Those physical traits are difficult to teach, which is one reason the Bolts were willing to bring him in after hosting him for a Top-30 visit during the pre-draft process.
That said, World's college career showcased both encouraging development and areas that still need refinement.
World's biggest concerns stem from inconsistent footwork, high pad level and timing between his hands and feet. Those flaws can leave him off balance in pass protection, allowing quicker edge rushers to win the rep. While those issues are significant, they are generally viewed as technical problems rather than physical limitations.
Moving inside to guard wouldn't necessarily eliminate those concerns, as interior offensive linemen must play with exceptional leverage, balance and hand placement against powerful defensive tackles operating in tighter spaces. Given World's tendency to play too high at times, a move to guard could actually magnify one of the biggest weaknesses in his game.
His strengths also align more naturally with playing tackle. World moves well for a player his size and has shown the athleticism to operate in space, making him effective on outside runs and when climbing to the second level. His heavy hands and physical mentality also allow him to generate movement at the point of attack when his technique is sound.
World is recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the Peach Bowl, meaning he may not be expected to contribute immediately. The extra time could allow offensive line coach Mike Devlin to refine his footwork, improve his leverage and help him become more consistent before he's asked to compete for meaningful snaps.
While some college tackles eventually kick inside after reaching the NFL, World's combination of length, athleticism and developmental upside makes tackle the more logical projection. If he can clean up the technical inconsistencies that have followed him throughout college, he has the physical tools to develop into a reliable swing tackle and potentially more as he learns from two of the football's best in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.
This situation will be worth monitoring with training camp inching closer for Los Angeles.
Continue reading...
