Ok, The True Comparison Jake Long vs. Joe Thomas. last years #3 Pick
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dgb11112New MemberOPOk, The True Comparison Jake Long vs. Joe Thomas. last years #3 Pick
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I have pulled some Scouts comparisons for Jake Long vs. Joe Thomas. last years #3 Pick
This one below is for Joe Thomas:
Strengths: Possesses excellent height, big hands and adequate bulk. Still has room to add weight to his frame. He is extremely agile and athletic, especially for such a tall lineman. He displays good upper body power and a powerful hand punch. Exceptional when asked to protect the quarterback's blindside. Gets set quickly in pass pro and stays very much under control. Rarely loses to speed off the edge. Stays balanced and shows the lateral mobility to work back inside versus athletic double moves. He takes solid angles as a run blocker and general gets very good positioning. He has become feistier with more experience and continues to improve his consistency when it comes to sustaining blocks.
Weaknesses: Despite a smooth recovery, there's still concern regarding long-term durability as a result of 2006 knee surgery. He lacks ideal lower-body bulk and strength. Plays with a narrow base at times and is susceptible to a powerful bull rush. He's not an overpowering run blocker and he can be a bit of a "finesse" blocker at times. Also, his arms are not as long as his massive frame would indicate.
Overall: Thomas played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2003, nine of which were as a blocking tight end before he switched over to defensive end for the Music City Bowl vs. Auburn. He took over as Wisconsin's starter at left tackle for the entire 2004 season (12 games). In 2005, Thomas once again started every game (13) for the Badgers at left tackle, earning consensus First Team All-Big Ten honors several All-American recognitions. He did, however, suffer a torn left ACL while filling in along the defensive line during Wisconsin's Capital One Bowl victory over Auburn. Thomas had off-season surgery and missed 2006 spring practice while rehabilitating. He retuned healthy in the fall and captured the Outland Trophy as the nation's top offensive lineman, among many other individual awards, after starting all 13 games at left tackle.
Just months removed from off-season knee surgery, Thomas looked a bit mechanical and seemed to lack confidence early in the 2006 season. However, he made huge strides as the season progressed and was fully returned to form by midseason. Thomas possesses an ideal combination of size, athleticism and upper-body power, which is why he projects as a future perennial starter at left tackle in the NFL. In our opinion, Thomas ranks as one of the elite prospects in the 2007 class and he should be off the board within the top-five overall selections.
Jake Long:
Strengths: An experienced, technically sound OT prospect with great size-potential. Is versatile; has experience at left and right tackle and could play either/both in the NFL. Also has proven capable of performing at a high level in power-run scheme and new zone-blocking scheme. Possesses excellent height, adequate bulk and the frame to get bigger if necessary. He has a massive wingspan with long arms and big hands. A natural knee-bender; he gets set quickly in pass pro, plays with good body lean and rarely gets caught lunging. He shuffles his feet quickly and can get back inside to defend double move. Uses long arms and powerful punch to jar defenders and run them wide as pass rushers. Shows excellent awareness in pass pro; consistently gives inside help and does an great job of picking up stunts, twists and blitzes. He takes very good angles as a run blocker. Has adapted very well zone-blocking and shows the mobility to execute in a similar scheme in the NFL. He has good upper-and-lower body strength as a run blocker. Also works hard to sustain and shows a good mean streak. Great intangibles. A leader and hard worker on-and-off the field. Good student in the classroom and intelligence carries over to the field, where he picks up techniques, schemes and assignments quickly.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite mobility for an elite OT prospect. Has enough quickness and balance to perform at a high level in the NFL, but he is not as nimble as former top OT prospects such as Orlando Pace (Rams), Jonathan Ogden (Ravens), D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets) and Joe Thomas (Browns). Had some trouble versus Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston's elite speed rushers. Durability is somewhat of a concern after he missed the first seven games of the 2005 season with an ankle/foot injury.
Overall: Long was redshirted in 2003. In his first active season at Michigan (2004), he appeared in 12 games, starting the last 10 at right tackle, and was selected to the Freshman All-America team. As a sophomore in 2005, played five games (four starts) at right tackle. He moved to left tackle in 2006, and went on to start all 26 of the Wolverines' games over his final two seasons. He was a first team All-America selection and the Big Ten Lineman of the Year in each of his last two seasons. Long missed the first seven games of 2005 while recovering from spring shoulder surgery and suffering from foot and ankle injuries. Long has outstanding experience to go along with his massive frame, above-average quickness for his size, a powerful upper body (37 reps), long arms (35.6 inches) and big hands (11 inches). He is not as athletic as last year's top tackle prospect Joe Thomas (Browns), but Long has more than enough range to effectively protect the quarterback's blindside in the NFL and he's bigger, stronger and more physical than Thomas was coming out of school. One year later, Long grades out slightly lower than Thomas (No. 3 overall in 2007) but he could actually come off the board earlier in what projects to be a weaker class.
By Comparison It appears we shouldn't have any real concerns with Jake. What you want when drafting a high pick is no bustability (if that's a word) We need to make this a pick that can play and have upside as well as dominate for the next 10 years. :up::hi5:
PhinsRockLuxury BoxSolid write up, I want Jake!
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dgb11112New MemberTHANKS MAN! APPRECIATE THE reps
padre31Luxury Box"dgb11112 wrote:
THANKS MAN! APPRECIATE THE reps
Yeah, sweet comparison, a pity we cannot see the scout's write up for Robert Gallery for a comparison between the two, this is the first time I've seen Long and Thomas compared though, not bad for Jake, they like his footwork and that is the key issue for him and us.
jdang307SupporterHad some trouble versus Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston's elite speed rushers.
Wow, I didn't know OSU changed their name to the DE Vernon Gholstons!!
Thanks for the writeup, still leaves me confuzzled. But seeing as we're going to be running a lot, does this mean the FO has fell in love with the run blocking skills?
PhinsRockLuxury BoxGreat analysis, thanks for the hard work and sharing it. 5 stars.
If Jake signs and we take him, our OL only needs one Guard in this draft and it should be rock solid in both the running game and pass protection. Jake may have some problems handling bull rushers in the NFL but we've got the teachers/coaches to help him. I have high hopes for Jake if we take him.
2011 & 2006 World Champions, 2013 National League Champions; St. Louis Cardinals!
Georgia FinForum VeteranAddressing our Oline has been long overdue. I don't care who we get as long as we finally get the line solidified and we now have that opportunity with an Oline minded head coach. We've blown up the whole team, let's fix it once and for all.
It's the gift that keeps on giving.
LarryfinfanSupporterThanks, but this still addresses his weakness in pass pro. Also, the line about zone-blocking being a strong point may have actually inflated his play at the NCAA level, but how will that correspond to the NFL level ?? I don't think we'll be running any zone-blocking with this regime (I could be wrong, but have not seen anything to make me think differently)... If the zone-blocking the Michigan uses inflated his worth what does that tell us about him ??
I think if we were picking 3 or 4th, he'd be a great pickup, filling both a need and a financial level commensurate with his ability...at #1 overall, I'm just not convinced...
That's not to say that I wouldn't be giddy as a school girl if we pick him, because even if he's our RT, it improves our OL tremendously..but do we want to pay him LT money (which we will at #1 overall) to play RT ???
MonstBlitzForum VeteranDefinitely a pick that could solve a big problem for a lot of years.
UltraForum VeteranI honestly don't care how much we have to pay people. As long as we get the right players to give us the best team possible. If that means taking a RT at number one I'm all for it.
padre31Luxury Box"inFINSible wrote:
I wonder what Robert Gallery's analysis looked like?
CNN/SI 2004:
BIO: Four-year starter that's played 49 games with the first team at Iowa. Named All American as a senior, a first-team All-Big Ten pick the past two seasons and an academic all-conference choice every year since his sophomore campaign. Began his career at Iowa as a tight end.
POSITIVES: Big, athletic lineman with the frame to add bulk and power. Outstanding pass protector who blocks a wide base, terrific lean and easily rides rushers from their angle of attack. Bends his knees, slides laterally and a patient lineman that plays with great balance. Uses both angles and body positioning to wall defenders from the action yet blocks with a nasty attitude and wants to destroy opponents. Stuns defenders at the point with great hand jolt. Fundamentally sound and translates his classroom intelligence onto the football field.
NEGATIVES: Not quick or explosive off the snap nor is he effective on the second level. A bit thin in his lower body and though strong, not a dominant run-blocking tackle.
ANALYSIS: One of the more versatile offensive tackles to enter the draft in a long while, Gallery is a terrific prospect that will offer immediate returns as well as long-term potential. Should quickly come in and start as a left tackle for a franchise, yet could also grow into a dominant strong-side blocker. Will only get better as he physically matures and improves his skills as a run blocker.
Or this:
Ravens college scouting director Eric DeCosta evaluates Robert Gallery
Strengths: He's got excellent size. He is strong. He has excellent feet--he slides very well in pass protection--excellent leverage and excellent hands. His ability to bend his knees is impressive. We see a lot of guys who bend at the waist and overextend. They're not able to play with leverage and change direction. But Robert can do that very effectively.
Weaknesses: Its not a big deal to me but there are some concerns that his arms are shorter. What that does is allow defensive linemen to gain hand position off the snap. But I haven't seen guys do that to him.
Run vs. pass: I think he's a better pass blocker. Run blocking is something you can improve over time with more technique work and by just physically getting stronger. He has the potential to be an excellent run blocker. I think, however, his feet, body control and agility are so good that he has the potential to be a dominant pass blocker.
Unique quality: When you watch him in games, you actually see him running with running backs and receivers, trying to make blocks 10, 20, 30 yards downfield. Most guys are basically on-the-line or secondary level blockers. Gallery will go down to what we call the third and fourth levels. His desire to finish blocks and ability to do that make him stand out.
Adjustment to make: He's going to have to get used to the speed of our game. The athletes are bigger and stronger at our level. He'll go against the cream of the crop every week. It'll take him a little time to get used to that, but I think he can do that.
Final word: if he signs on time and gets in on time. I don't see any reason why he can't start this year at left tackle for whoever picks him. And I think he has the potential down the road to be a Pro Bowl player.
Interesting, what I draw from both reports is that Gallery was a soft/technician type of College player, a sort of "good movement/positioning" not "Mauling puncher of a blocker"
Of the two, if you read the statements, Jake Long is much better run blocker then Gallery, and he appears to be a better pass blocker, Gallery was the reverse, better pass blocker then run blocker.
jdang307Supporter"inFINSible wrote:
I wonder what Robert Gallery's analysis looked like?
Pros - Can't miss prospect.
Con- Short arms.
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brandon27Supportersolid report. thanks for sharing and putting it together for us.
I wouldnt have a problem at all with Jake being our pick. He's a solid player, we need alot of OL help. It makes sense to me.
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