1. Outside of Jake Long , what offensive tackle prospect do you see as the "safest"? Matt MacCoy: Another loaded question from the War Room Report, I guess it boils down to how you determine what the term “safest” means? The term “safest” to me means that there are less variables to what you feel about the prospect, combined with whether or not they have a “bust” factor to their evaluation process. The prospect I feel is the safest is Sam Baker from USC. Baker has several years of experience, he played at an ALL-Pac 10 level, and can play either the left tackle or the right tackle position. The reason he will not be selected as high as several of the other offensive tackle prospects is because his “upside” is limited and teams essentially know what they are getting in Baker, however, the question was not who was the “best” offensive tackle prospect, but who was the “safest” offensive tackle prospect and since Sam Baker is NFL ready and teams know what they got in him, he is the safest offensive tackle outside of Jake Long in the 2008 NFL Draft. Rob Tribbett: It may be a bit of a copout, but the safest pick after Jake Long at offensive tackle is the second ranked player – Ryan Clady . Clady, a two year starter at left tackle (three years overall starting), has the physical tools needed to play left tackle at the NFL level, combined with a terrific work ethic to improve. Clady is also an ideal physical fit at left tackle at the NFL level, at 6-6, 309. He fits both a zone blocking or man scheme, thanks to outstanding natural agility. His pass blocking skills – usually the toughest thing for a tackle prospect, and the cause of many of a prospects downfall (see Gallery, Robert) are probably the best in the draft. Offensive tackles can be boom or bust prospects, but hard working athletes like Ryan Clady are much more likely to be successful than not. 2. What is your view on potential move of Branden Albert to left tackle at the NFL level? Matt MacCoy: From an NFL executive/scout perspective it is a good move, but not one that comes without its share of concerns. Experience at the college level is a major factor—week in and week out he did not face off with defensive ends primarily. Albert does have the talent, and he does have the frame to make the rare transition, the concern is whether or not you are turning a dominate offensive guard into just an average offensive tackle—and if that is the case, is the move worth it? Would you rather have Steve Hutchinson or Kwame Harris? Not as easy of a question when you think of it in those terms, is it? The potential is there, but the work will have to be put into it, and an NFL team attempting to make Branden Albert an offensive tackle can not fall victim to knee jerk reactions and move him back to guard—they will have to prove that they can exhibit patience, because that is exactly what it is going to take for Albert to become a top notch offensive tackle, but the talent is there, NFL teams should take him in the middle of the first round, and then cross their fingers. Rob Tribbett: I think the answer depends on the amount of risk that a team is willing to take. Branden Albert may project to the left tackle position at the NFL level, but to me it is a risky proposition transferring a player from an easier position at the college level to one of the most difficult positions in the NFL. If you could acquire Branden Albert in the late teens/early twenties of the draft, you could try him at tackle, and if he fails, more him back to guard and still have a reasonable value selection. However, recent talk that Albert goes in the top ten seems a bit ludicrious. The transition to tackle from guard is not usually seen for good reason – if he had the physical ability to play left tackle, wouldn’t the coaches at UVA (former NFL Head Coach Al Groh is the coach), have seen it? I think in two to three years, we will see Branden Albert at his natural position of offensive guard. 3. How does this offensive tackle class stack up to recent seasons? Matt MacCoy: If you were asked to describe the 2008 NFL Draft in one word—that word would be “depth” and the offensive tackle position is no different. A quick look back at 2007 and you will prospects the likes of Joe Thomas, Levi Brown, Joe Staley, and Tony Ugoh. If you just took those four prospects and compared them to the top four offensive tackle prospect in 2008—Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Jeffrey Otah , and Branden Albert and you would have a dead heat, with the 2007 class getting the slight edge, however, when you look at the entirety of the classes you will see a comparison of the 2007 secondary offensive tackle prospects like James Marten, Mario Henderson, Doug Free, and Ryan Harris versus the 2008 secondary offensive tackle prospects like Chris Williams , Sam Baker, Gosder Cherilus , and Anthony Collins —and there is a huge advantage for the 2008 class. Overall just like was the case in many of the positions across the board—the 2007 draft class had the better top tier talent, but the depth of the 2008 draft class provides the offensive tackle position with the better overall ranking. LINK http://warroomreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=290&Itemid=1
