Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys are very likely going to address the offensive line at some point during the draft.
The NFL draft will be here in just a few weeks. We continue to dive in our top positional series and this time look at the top offensive linemen in the draft, describing their best and worst attribute and the reasons why.
Best - Body Control
Membou’s impressive foot speed and athleticism off the snap enables him to effectively handle speed rushers and execute various blocking assignments, such as widening on stretch plays and sealing backside rush lanes. Thanks to his crazy physical attributes Membou can mirror defenders at ease, stay balanced throughout the play and maintain good leverage. These attributes make him a versatile and formidable presence for any offensive line.
Worst - Over-aggressiveness
Membou has some technical areas that require improvement. His biggest issue arises with how he can become overaggressive when facing speed rushers, leading to lunging and a loss of balance. This tendency underscores the need for him to trust his footwork more and avoid overextending.
Best - Recovery
Campbell has unbelievable athleticism for an offensive lineman, particularly his explosiveness and mobility. At 6’6” and 323 pounds, he recorded a 4.98-second 40-yard dash (94th percentile), a 32-inch vertical jump (90th percentile), and a 113-inch broad jump (94th percentile), showcasing his outstanding straight-line speed and power. Thanks to his great athletic skills Campbell is able to recover any mistimed strikes or when he’s caught out of position while mirroring.
Worst - Arm Length
Campbell’s most notable concern among scouts is his below-average arm length, measured at 32 5/8 inches during the NFL Combine, which ranks 14th percentile. And that was followed by a wingspan that ranks in only the seventh percentile. These measurements have raised questions about his ability to effectively handle edge rushers in the NFL, especially the fast twitched rushers.
Best - Pass Blocking
Banks’ combination of smooth footwork and refined hand techniques allow him to effectively neutralize various pass-rushing strategies. Banks demonstrates impressive quickness out of his stance, enabling him to gain depth on his kick slide and maintain balance against edge rushers. His adept hand usage, including a potent bait technique and strategic hand placement, disrupts timing and grants him control during engagements. These attributes make him a formidable presence in pass protection, capable of handling diverse defensive tactics.
Worst - Waist Bend
His most significant weakness lies in his tendency to bend at the waist and lunge during blocks, leading to balance issues and making him susceptible to being outmaneuvered by defenders. This limitation can hinder his ability to sustain blocks and effectively counter when run blocking.
Best - Lateral Speed
Simmons is renowned for his exceptional lateral mobility. This elite trait enables him to effectively mirror speed rushers and execute backside cutoff blocks with remarkable fluidity for a player nearly 320 pounds. His...
