Written by Jason Askew

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Today the ‘Feeling a Draft’ series take us to the trenches. Most football fans understand that you can’t win a ton of football games if you aren’t winning the war in the trenches so let's talk about offensive linemen that can help our Cleveland Browns win those wars.

Anyone who watched the season unfold last year saw that even though the Browns were right in the middle of the pack when it came to giving up sacks, first year starting QB Colt McCoy spent a lot of time running for his life and picking himself up off the turf.

The Browns need improvement along the offensive line and this particular article is going to focus on offensive tackle. Understanding that as of right now the Browns have 9 picks on the last day of the draft, I am not saying they won’t draft a guard at some point, but because both guards were first year starters and they both had stretches of really good play I am focusing on the position that I think they need the most.

Some of these players I will preview are thought of as guards but I am convinced that they can play tackle so I decided to go ahead and preview them with the group. The good thing about drafting a player to play tackle is that usually if they fail to keep up on the outside they can slide inside and be an effective guard. So even if I am wrong about some of them having the ability to play tackle they could still prove to be upgrades at the guard position.

As far as specific traits to look for in a RT you really want to focus on a few key things. The Browns use a power blocking scheme in the running game so we really aren’t looking for the lighter, more athletic players for the position. We want the bigger stronger guys who can drive block really well, but also have light enough feet to block Terrell Suggs and Lamar Woodley off the edge.

Ideally you would like a player at least 6-4 so they can create some downward leverage and you need them to be agile enough to bend and reach rushers when the rusher tries to get low and create good angles to get up field and around the tackle.

You will hear terms like “ankle bender” or you may hear a guy say someone has “natural bend”. These terms have to do with tackles having the ability to move with rounded edges (arcs) instead of being stiff and square. If you remember when the Browns had OLB/DE Kamerion Wimbley and he used his speed move while pass rushing the QB, he used to get so low and dip his shoulder which allowed him to get under and around stiff offensive tackles.

The tackles that bent fairly easily didn’t have a hard time getting low, extending to him, and driving him outside past the QB, but the ones that couldn’t bend would get blown by. That is what happens in the NFL when an offensive tackle doesn’t bend well.

Ok, let’s start getting into some of these players but remember the Browns have a ton of picks this year and I am not previewing all of the potential choices. If I did that this would just be another boring list of names.

I am picking these players based on their ability, Cleveland’s schemes, and the spots the Browns are picking, so you might not see some of the players profiled that you have seen in some mock drafts as Browns picks. Catering a list (draft board) to your needs and schemes is also why you will see players ranked differently by teams throughout NFL war rooms.

And just to give everyone a heads up, I am not previewing The Ohio State’s Mike Adams. There is no doubt I love the Buckeyes as much as anyone around but I am not convinced Mike Adams wants to be the dominant lineman he can be so I am not going to advocate taking a player I know for a fact has been a maximum of the minimum guy. Adams is gifted but once he gets the cash I am not convinced he won’t just go through the motions. Now that I have that off of my chest (and just as you are cursing me out) I will get into the players on my list.

Early Rounds (1-2)

Riley Rieff Iowa (6-6, 313lbs)

Rieff is a player I put on the list in case the Browns trade down from 4 or up from 22. I really think if the Browns trade down in the 8-10 range they would take Rieff because he is the safest bet to be an all-pro type of RT and he can easily play LT if something happened to Joe Thomas.

If the Browns don’t trade down I don’t think they would pass up a TD-maker or potential shutdown CB to draft a RT so Rieff wouldn’t be an option at #4 and he probably won’t last until #22. Riley comes from Iowa which is notorious for producing good NFL offensive lineman with great fundamentals and technique. Rieff will be another in a long line of quality starting lineman that Iowa has put in the NFL.

David DeCastro Stanford (6-5, 316lbs)

I watched a lot of Stanford games this year and after watching them I wondered why DeCastro wasn’t playing LT, That is how good I thought he was. He is athletic, strong, quick, and the best offensive lineman Stanford had. Later, when I thought about it more, I came to the conclusion that Stanford probably put its best 5 out there and LT Jonathon Martin probably couldn’t hold up inside, so DeCastro was the guy who made the sacrifice and played inside. After seeing the results from pre-draft testing I probably was right. DeCastro tested athletically better than any lineman at the draft including consensus #1 LT Matt Kalil. DeCastro has a slower forty time but he is better in the 3cone and his shuttle times are faster which means he is probably quicker than Kalil. Martin didn’t work out at the combine but at the pro day his testing numbers were all behind DeCastro’s.

I think DeCastro would not only be able to play RT, I think he could be great at it and I don’t think Cleveland would hesitate to draft him with the 22nd pick….I wouldn’t even be surprised if they traded up to get him, that is how impressive this offensive lineman is.

Cordy Glen Georgia (6-5, 345lbs)

If you ask me, Cordy Glen is the most gifted big man in the draft. At 345lbs I watched him every day of Senior Bowl week hold his own at any position the coaches put him. They put him at all the offensive line positions including LT and he more than held up. I do agree with most people who say he can be a all-pro guard but I also think in his early years when he is still “only” 345lbs he could be a tremendous RT. If the Browns pick him you will be amazed at how smoothly somebody that big moves, and he will be starting somewhere on the line for a long time.

Bobby Massie Ole Miss (6-6, 316lbs)

Massie is an underclassman who caught people off guard when he declared for the draft. Usually only LTs come out early and Massie is a RT. I actually like the fact that in college he was playing the position he is projected to play in the NFL, because if you are the team that drafts him you can really focus in on improving his technique as opposed to teaching him an entirely new position.

Massie is a solid RT prospect because he blocks well in both the run and pass game. He is powerful in the run game and has a really quick first step getting into his pass sets. He can get off balance at times because he over extends, and he needs to get stronger so his anchor is better, but if you watch him play he already looks better than Browns lineman Oniel Cousins.

Mid Round (3-5)

Mitchell Schwartz Cal (6-5, 318lbs)

Schwartz is another LT who is projected to play RT in the NFL. He is a player I first noticed last year studying Cal RB Shane Vereen because Schwartz was mashing defensive lineman in the run game. Schwartz also impressed me watching him in the one on one drills during the Senior Bowl.

He has a strong lower body in the run game and he has a good kick step in his pass protection sets. He can get taken back too far on a power rush but he usually settles in and maintains the pocket. Another thing I saw when studying him is an ineffective cut block. Sometimes when plays go to the opposite side of him he will attempt to cut block, but he isn’t always effective with it and can end up whiffing. That is something he needs to work on. Schwartz could also be a solid backup at the LT spot. He isn’t a really an athletic tackle but he is a pretty effective tackle who always seems to get the job done.

Brandon Mosley Auburn (6-5, 314lbs)

Mosley is an interesting prospect because he was a JUCO transfer to Auburn that was recruited as a TE and moved to tackle upon arrival. He gained weight and started right away, which is impressive at any SEC school. Since Mosley has only been playing the position for a short time his fundamentals can breakdown at times but he is pretty feisty and usually finds a way to win his matchups.

You can see the TE in Mosley when he plays because he moves well and has good feet…. he needs to focus on his technique so he can better use his solid weight room strength. Mosley’s best years at the position are ahead of him and that makes him a solid prospect and gives him a higher ceiling than most of the other second tier tackles coming out in the draft.

 

Andrew Datko Florida St. (6-6, 315lbs)

Datko may fall farther down the draft than the 4th or 5th round because he has a Tony Pashos type of injury history, but if you go on talent alone I think he can be a solid RT in the NFL. Datko lost his senior year due to a shoulder injury but the tape on him as a LT when he is healthy shows he has good ability.

He moves his feet well and may be a bit stiff for the left side in the NFL but in my book he could also play RT effectively. Rebuilding and maintaining strength in his upper body where he has had a series of injuries will always be a concern, so as long as the team doctor signs off and he doesn’t get over drafted I think he will provide good value. I am going to leave him in this mid round section but his injury history could force him lower than this.

Tony Bergstrom Utah (6-5, 313lbs)

Bergstrom is a lineman you will find mixed reviews on when it comes to him playing tackle in the NFL. Some will list him as a guard but from what I have seen, I think he can get the job done at RT. He is right on the line athletically where his physical skills will allow him to be an effective tackle if he is squared away technically. He has a nice initial punch and shows the ability to get into his set quick enough in pass protection and he takes good angles in run blocking. He has experience at the RT position so teaching him would be a matter of fixing technical flaws. That means he can focus on the little things instead of feeling uncomfortable learning a new position.

Late Rounds (6-7)

Levy Adcock Oklahoma St. (6-5, 322lbs)

Adcock is a versatile offensive lineman with experience at guard and tackle. He is big, strong, and athletic enough to handle smaller speed rushers off the edge. More than anything, Adcock struggles with consistency. He has actually looked more comfortable playing LT but he has plenty of experience at RT. Adcock is a safe pick later in the draft because even if he can’t handle life on the outside in the NFL he can bump down to guard and not have a problem. Worst case scenario if you draft a guy like Adcock is he becomes a really good, versatile backup at guard and tackle.

James Brown Troy (6-4, 312lbs)

Brown is an offensive lineman that played LT at Troy which automatically make some discount his ability to play on the outside in the NFL. I actually think he has a shot at playing RT and if I am selecting a player in the last two rounds I would rather that player have a high ceiling as opposed to one that is done developing. Brown is big, athletic, and physical but will be over analyzed based on the level of competition he faced in college. Brown has the ability but the thing you always have difficulty measuring with trench players from small schools will be their desire to compete on every play against top notch talent. I have seen Brown rated as a 3rd round guard but I think he has the talent to be a RT in the NFL.

 

Sleeper

Marcel Jones Nebraska (6-6, 320lbs)

I consider Jones a sleeper because he has the ability to play RT in the NFL. I am just not sure he has the desire and he also has injury concerns. When he plays motivated you can see him steam rolling defenders in the run game. His pass protection will need some refinement because that isn’t Nebraska’s strong point and he doesn’t do it as much as he run blocked. The desire issues come from what I perceive as a lack of conditioning. He doesn’t look like he has taken the weight training as seriously as he should have while at Nebraska and that has probably also contributed to his injury issues. You can look at him and see he needs more muscle development and a bit less fat…..his 13 reps of 225 at the combine help back up my point.

If the scouts figure out he doesn’t have a desire to play football, then of course I say don’t touch him with a ten foot pole. But if his physical development is a snowball from the injuries I would take him with one of the 7th round compensatory picks because he has the type of natural talent that is tailor-made for late round gambles.

Projected Pick

The reason why this was a hard choice for me is the fact that I really do believe the Browns are committed to upgrading RT in the draft this year, and I know that from a pure talent standpoint that means the player has to have more to offer than John Greco and Oniel Cousins.

Some may say those guys are terrible and that it should be easy to upgrade, but the reality is that they are not horrible. Cousins is an excellent run blocker that has heavy feet and can struggle against speed rushers and Greco is an “OK” tackle and better guard. From a draft and talent standpoint Greco was the first pick in the 3rd round and Cousins was also a 3rd round selection.

Knowing that, and understanding from a pure talent standpoint point that to have a big upgrade in talent at the position, the Browns probably need to pick a player higher than their pick in the 3rd round. I understand that isn’t exactly true but it probably isn’t far off either.

With all that being said, and with the mindset I may have been too stubborn on my Mike Adams stance, I think the Browns end up with Bobby Massie, the tackle from Ole Miss.

When I originally wrote this piece I had Mitchell Schwartz as the selection but I felt like I was being too safe, and even though I feel the Cal tackle would have been an upgrade, which is the ultimate goal, Massie has the higher ceiling.

The fact that Massie is only a junior really gets me excited because he is a really talented player who I feel will get better and better. I am not sure how high the ceiling is for Schwartz. Athletically Massie is on par with Ohio State tackle Mike Adams and their test numbers actually show Massie is the stronger, more athletic guy. I think with another year in school Massie could easily be a first round pick, as of now most people think he is a 2nd round talent and maybe a 3rd on some other boards.

I really wouldn’t put it past the Browns to use some of their pick currency to target a player like Massie and move up to select him, because picking 4th and 5th in every round means that the Browns could move up into the round above them at reasonable prices, which would ensure they get their guy but that they shouldn’t have to give up too much to do it.

I expect the Browns may have to trade back into a round to get a player like Massie……If they want to get really aggressive about the position you could even look for them to move up from 22 to target a player. History shows that if they are patient and target 22 as the spot where they upgrade the tackle position they will get a really good player and, you never know, that player may even end up being an Ohio kid.

Well Browns fans, next up in the series we’ll switch to defense and take a peek into the secondary so be on the lookout. Until then……….Go Browns!

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