2nd Tier OL Prospects

With more and more being made of the chances the top 6 OLmen do not make it to 29 and the increased chatter that the Bears will trade down I thought I would do a breakdown of the 2nd tier of OL prospects that the Bears will be looking at.

These are in NO praticular order.

OT

OT/OG Orlando Franklin [Miami]

Pros: Big physical mauler [6’5” 320lbs, 35” Arms, 26 225] that plays with the best nasty streak that I have seen in the draft. He has big time power, when he uses his hands, and decent footwork, which may allow him to stay outside.
Cons: His footwork does not compare to the elite LT prospects in the draft and he plays high, which will have to be coached out of him.
Bears Outlook: I like Franklin for the Bears because he can start right away at OG and be tried at OT, while bringing size and attitude to the OL. The Bears need someone who is going to come out on the field and fight someone. A trade down into the early 2nd would be required.

OT/OG Marcus Cannon [TCU]

Pros: Incredible size [6’5” 350lbs] and shocking athletic ability leads him to be a high potential player. Can drive players off the ball when he comes off the ball and stays low and is difficult to bull rush or push through.
Cons: I do not see the kick slide necessary to be given a shot at OT. I also see a player that does not play with a lot of physicality and you rarely see him pancake someone in the run game. Cannon’s technique and hand use leaves a lot to be desired at this point.
Bears Outlook: Cannon should be a target of the Bears in the 2nd round as you simply cannot team someone to be as big and athletic as he is. Perhaps some of his weaknesses come from playing LT in a spread offense and not being given the opportunity to run block from a 3 point stance. Cannon could be a monster if his techniques issues are corrected and he can start to use his size.

OT James Carpenter [Alabama]

Pros: Has solid size [6’5” 325lbs.], arm length [34”] and athletic ability. He showed at the Senior Bowl that he is athletic enough and has solid enough footwork to remain and be given a shot at LT. Not physically dominant in the run or pass game, but a hard worker that will fight till the whistle and work to sustain contact.
Cons: Not incredibly strong or physical and may be more of a positional blocker at the NFL level. Some people question his footwork and athletic ability, which is not elite, but with Brewer is the best of this 2nd group.
Bears Outlook: Carpenter is a player that I think that everyone in the online draft community is sleeping on because he does nothing exceptional. I think that the NFL is much higher on him then we think with Mayock pronouncing that he is a 2nd round pick that people view as a LT. If the Bears trade down from 29, or if Carpenter is at 62 he is a great pick as he has true LT feet and potential.

OT Ben Ijalana [Villanova]

Pros: A stout [6’4” 317lbs] physical monster that can run block and pass block at the NFL level. Comes off the ball hard and is physical against inferior competition. Long 36” arms give you hope that he could play LT.
Cons: Injuries have kept him out of the offseason workouts and we have not been able to see him against top competition. He may no have the feet to stay at LT. Does not finish reps like Orlando Franklin and I saw very little violence.
Bears Outlook: Ijalana would be a solid versatile pick for the Bears, but he may come with more risk then other players and may need more time to develop. He is not high on my Bears 2nd tier list as I think the Bears need guys who can come in and start from day 1.

OT Marcus Gilbert [Florida]

Pros: Huge size [6’6” 330lbs] and the versatility to play OT or OG. Comes off the ball hard in run plays and has enough athletic ability to get a look at RT. Disciplined, but not athletic kick slide. High character guy who works hard.
Cons: He is a little bit slow and he does not move well around the field compared to players like Franklin and Cannon, who in turn do not move like Sherrod or Solder. Can play high out of his stance, which will hurt him inside at OT.
Bears Outlook: Gilbert is a player that I think falls more into the RT only list, which is somewhere I think the Bears should avoid. Mayock has been talking about him as a possible 1st round pick, but I do not see the kickslide to play LT. Gilbert would be a player I would think about at 62, but he may go higher because there seems to be such mixed opinions on him.

OT James Brewer [Indiana]

Pros: Big [6’6” 323lbs] long athletic LT body who showed a little more in the Senior Bowl then people expected. Has smooth feet and appears to redirect well and uses his long arms to maintain separation.
Cons: Is not physical in the run game and is soft when finishing a pass set. Plays very high and upright and may be lacking the ability to bend.
Bears Outlook: Brewer would be an interesting player for the Bears to consider at 62 or into the 3rd round. He does not have the tape or the production at this point, but he does have the physical make up to play LT. He may need time to develop and being coached by Mike Tice may be a great thing for him, but he may be too much of a project to invest a top pick in.

OG/C

OG Danny Watkins [Baylor]

Pros: Physical, blue collar scrapper that goes out on the field with bad intentions. Watkins has very good technique and the base strength to dominate in the run and pass game.

Cons: Will turn 27 during the season and has limited football experience.

Bears Outlook: I would love Watkins as a prospect if he was 4 years younger heading into the draft. I would not take Watkins in the 1st round, as I want more years from a 1st round pick, but in the 2nd round Watkins would be an incredible value that starts day 1.


OG Clint Boling [Georgia]


Pros: Another blue collar scrapper that has played all over the line for Georgia and offers some versatility and a ton of experience. Does not have the ability to physically dominate like Watkins, but uses good technique and hard work to sustain blocks. Tough, hard working leader that will simply show up to work everyday.

Cons: Footwork is an issue, even inside where he struggled with the quicker DTs at the Senior Bowl. Does not appear to have heavy hands, but comes off the ball hard to compensate. Will have to stay at OG in the pros.

Bears Outlook: Boling is a solid prospect that will probably start in the NFL for a long time because of toughness and technique and appears to be a coachable leader. He would be a great pick up for the Bears at 62 or later and could possibly push to start at RG.


OG Rodney Hudson [Florida St]


Pros: Surprising strong and stout for a player that has less than ideal size [6’2” 299lbs.] has good technique and can anchor when playing bigger defenders. Gets to the 2nd level quickly on run plays and can seal off running lanes.

Cons: Limited athletically and does not move like an elite OLmen. Is a little slow and appears to waddle around the field. Is not going to drive a down defender off the ball and may struggle when the players he is going against are bigger, stronger and much faster. Was maxed out at 285lbs and looks dumpy at 300.

Bears Outlook: I really doubt that the Bears look at Hudson simply because he does not have the size that Mike Tice prefers. He is a solid player that is going to start for a team in the right system, but I wonder about his ability to handle the Suhs and Rajis of the NFC North. I would think about him as a Center, but not till 62 or much later.


C Stefen Wisniewski [Penn State]

Pros: A technician with a ton of experience. A hard worker that will go out and fight against his opponent. Capable of being a good positional run blocker and a stout pass protector that is going to use intelligence to defeat superior athletes.

Cons: Limited athletically and does not always play as strong as his testing numbers. Will need to play C in the NFL. He may never dominate and I think this has led to him being down on most publications rankings.

Bears Outlook: The Bears need a player like Wisniewski that can come in and play C and make the line calls for everyone. His intelligence and technique make him the type of player that plays for a long time. He is never going to be a Nick Mangold, where he can handle DTs 1 on 1, but he has a lot of Olin Kreutz in him. I do not think the Bears look at him till 62, but I expect that he is gone.

If Kevin Hughes goes undrafted I'd like to see the Bears take a flyer on him. Likely to be a practice squad guy the first year but could provide depth down the line.

I think Franklin is a far better prospect as an OG than he is as an OT which in that case he's only be a fit at RT, not LT. Cannon I don't like at all and some must agree with me since he's dropping on almost everybodies list. Carpenter and Ijalana would be guys I'd look for in the second since both have the goods to play LT but may not be immediate startersn although Ijalana as an OG probably coud be a day one starter. Gilbert doesn't fit for us. He's strictly a RT and that's not what we need.

I would not draft any of these OG's because I think we can do far better in FA. Wisniewski only interests me if he comes at the end of three or four. His lack of strength will be a problem when he's up against the behemoth NT's he's gonna face almost every week. He may have a lot of Olin in him as far as being the Oline's QB is concerned but he'll get eaten alive unless he gains some strength. Olin Kruetz is extremely strong for his size but even he's struggling one on one against the bigger NT's he facing and I doubt Wisniewski could out muscle him even though he's about 12 years younger and 15+ pounds heavier.

We do need an heir apparent at Center but I wouldn't take one until at least the third round at the earliest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

I think Franklin is a far better prospect as an OG than he is as an OT which in that case he's only be a fit at RT, not LT. Cannon I don't like at all and some must agree with me since he's dropping on almost everybodies list. Carpenter and Ijalana would be guys I'd look for in the second since both have the goods to play LT but may not be immediate startersn although Ijalana as an OG probably coud be a day one starter. Gilbert doesn't fit for us. He's strictly a RT and that's not what we need.

I would not draft any of these OG's because I think we can do far better in FA. Wisniewski only interests me if he comes at the end of three or four. His lack of strength will be a problem when he's up against the behemoth NT's he's gonna face almost every week. He may have a lot of Olin in him as far as being the Oline's QB is concerned but he'll get eaten alive unless he gains some strength. Olin Kruetz is extremely strong for his size but even he's struggling one on one against the bigger NT's he facing and I doubt Wisniewski could out muscle him even though he's about 12 years younger and 15+ pounds heavier.

We do need an heir apparent at Center but I wouldn't take one until at least the third round at the earliest.

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I agree that Franklin has the looks of a possible Pro Bowler as an OG with his size, athletic ability and mean streak.

But would you draft Carpenter or Ijalana because they can play LT over Franklin?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

I agree that Franklin has the looks of a possible Pro Bowler as an OG with his size, athletic ability and mean streak.

But would you draft Carpenter or Ijalana because they can play LT over Franklin?

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We can only project them as LT's (probably a good projection) but with Franklin you can only project him at RT or OG. So yes I'd take them before Franklin because I believe we can get young, talented, aggressive OG's in FA and what we needs is a LT from the draft more than anything else.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

We can only project them as LT's (probably a good projection) but with Franklin you can only project him at RT or OG. So yes I'd take them before Franklin because I believe we can get young, talented, aggressive OG's in FA and what we needs is a LT from the draft more than anything else.

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I am in that camp as well as the OG FA class is far superior to the OT class.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

I am in that camp as well as the OG FA class is far superior to the OT class.

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You mean we both agree about something, LOL.:rofl2: :drinking61:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

You mean we both agree about something, LOL.:rofl2: :drinking61:

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I know I wrote down the date in my diary.

In my dreams the draft breaks so that we can get a LT worthy of our 1st round pick and then we can turn around and sign one of the better OGs in Free Agency.

I have my doubts that the draft will break that way and we may need to get creative at LT if a trade down is our best option because outside of Carpenter and Brewer I do not see anyone with true LT potential.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

I know I wrote down the date in my diary.

In my dreams the draft breaks so that we can get a LT worthy of our 1st round pick and then we can turn around and sign one of the better OGs in Free Agency.

I have my doubts that the draft will break that way and we may need to get creative at LT if a trade down is our best option because outside of Carpenter and Brewer I do not see anyone with true LT potential.

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Diary?................LMFAO!!!!!!!

You might consider Ijalana at LT. He plays the position but is projected to be drafted as an OG. This is guy I think will slip some because of playing against Div. II competition even though he dominated there.