Jets | Team looks to pick offensive lineman in draft Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:17:01 -0700 Rich Cimini, reporting for the Sporting News, reports look for the New York Jets to pick an offensive lineman on the first day of the draft. Even though their biggest need is right tackle, it wouldn't be a surprise if they picked Auburn OG Ben Grubbs with their first-round pick (25th overall). They have two solid guards in OG Brandon Moore and OG Pete Kendall, but Kendall may play only one more year, and they need to groom a replacement. The team needs serious help to improve the running game.
fyi : Ben Grubbs - OG/Auburn War Room analysis Strengths: Is a good athlete with rare quickness. Consistently reaches linebackers, even after first chipping defensive tackles. Has the speed to pull and lead outside runs. Pulls and traps well inside. Gets set quickly in pass protection. Bends knees and sinks hips well to hold his ground against bull rushers. Slides and shuffles quickly to stymie stunts and blitzes. Is smart. Weaknesses: Must get into better shape and be more aggressive. Does not fire off the snap, and is much more of a positional run blocker. Shows inconsistent technique. Must improve hand punch in pass protection; too often allows defensive tackles to get into his chest and jolt him backward. Must do a better job of bending knees to maintain balance and sustain blocks in the open field. Bottom line: Grubbs doesn't wow anyone on first glance, but his production and athleticism eventually win out. Grubbs could slide down draft boards because of his physique and inconsistent technique, but he should develop into an NFL starter within a year or two. He has the skills to fit in any blocking scheme, and Grubbs is smart enough and athletic enough to play center if a team needs him there. From Scouts, Inc. : Ben Grubbs - OG | (6'3", 305, 5.2) | AUBURN Scouts Grade: 90 Strengths: Possesses adequate height and bulk. Not massive, but a thick, sturdy build. Displays impressive quickness, body control and overall mobility. Fires out of his stance quickly and shows good initial pop at the point of attack. He displays the agility to consistently reach the second-level as a run blocker and he also does a good job of hitting the moving target in space. He has a quick set in pass pro and shows the ability to mirror and slide with more athletic pass rushers. Versatile and durable performer throughout his career. Continues to improve with more experience at the position and still has much room to grow. Weaknesses: Lacks a massive build and will give up some ground to bigger, stronger bull rushers. Also will have some trouble getting a surge vs. two-gap run plugging types. Shows room to improve in terms of his footwork, hand-placement and angles. Overall: Grubbs was redshirted in 2002 while practicing as a defensive tackle. He was converted to a blocking tight end before the 2003 season and appeared in nine games. Grubbs then moved from tight end to guard before spring practice in 2004 and became the Tigers' starter for 13 games that season. He returned as a starting guard for the entire 2005 season (12 games) as well. Grubbs started all 13 games at left guard in 2006.Grubbs was a late-rising prospect that spent time at defensive tackle and tight end before finding a home at offensive guard for Auburn. He emerged as one of the most dominant interior offensive linemen in the country in 2006, displaying ideal quickness, power and toughness. It wouldn't be surprising for Grubbs to come off the 2007 draft board late in the first round or early in the second round.
BLALOCK, not Grubbs, trade up in the second for Grubbs he is not first round talent, if we go that route
The scouting reports don't make this guy sound like a first round pick. Also, is Cimini assuming Kendall will only play one more year or did Kendall actually say this?
Exactly, Cimini is a nob, he seems to just speculate, and then throw out the idea that we will reach for someone with second round talent in the first just to say "same old Jets", spiting the face by cutting off the nose
This isn't a huge surprise. We knew Kendall was nearing the end of his career in the NFL and the Jets were obviously going to go for an OLineman like Grubbs or Blalock to open holes for Jones and Washington.
I'd be happy with Josh Beekman at #59 or #63. He sounds like a guy that Mangini and Co. would be interested in.
Help me out with these scouting reports--they always seem to contradict themselves: "he has rare quickness and consistently reaches the linebackers"..."but he's doesn't fire off the snap" "He bends knees and sinks his hips well to hold his ground"..."yet he must do a better job of bending his knees to maintain balance"? These reviewers are all full of crap.
We need to get Manuel Ramirez. He's a guard from Texas Tech (which I realize is a bad offensive system to come from), and his is noted as being a dominant run blocker.
Well, that's just pure speculation on Cimini's part. Yeah, Kendall is getting up there in age, but has he said anything to assume he'd call it quits after next year? If the Jets draft lineman on Day 1, I sure hope it's to replace Clement or Jones. Both suck badly at the RT position.
I for one am hoping that we draft Moore's replacement this year, and someone in the mid rounds to challenge Clement and/or replace him this year or next.
Blalock is not a first round talent either. He's a Texas sized lineman lacking in technique who, unless he is supremely motivated, will be just about as average a pro as every guy to come out of Texas in the Mack Brown era. Give me a guy who can get out and block at the next level over a guy who is limited to the point of attack any day of the week. Grubbs simply brings more versatility to the table. -X-
Anybody every stop to think that maybe the Jets are feeding a false rumors to the brilliant Mr. Dick Cimini to use his headlines to create a draft smokescreen? I mean, Kendall is getting up there in years, but why all of a sudden a month before the draft is this coming out?
While I can buy the general preference of athleticism/mobility at the OG position over size/strength, I don't believe that is a feasible argument for this particular football team. We have aplenty of athleticism in terms of getting to the second level in Mangold, Kendall and Brick. The problem is, we don't have anybody who can consistently dominate at the point of attack and seal off defenders to ALLOW those other linemen to utilize their downfield abilities. I'll use as an example the Steelers OL(Before this year of course when they decided they couldnt pass protect to save their lives). Alan Faneca is one of, if not the most athletic guard in the NFL when it comes to getting to the 2nd level. His pairing guard, Kendall Simmons, and I'll even throw in RT Max Starks, are not great at getting downfield and are similar players to that of Blalock. But it is their strength and power, in terms of sealing off their side and creating seams, that allows Faneca as well as the ball carrier to get downfield and make plays happen. Think of it in terms of a backfield. Most successful speedy type runners need a bruising fullback to help open holes for them..It might be different schematically, but the same can be said on a truly balanced OL in terms of having a mix of athletes and drive blockers. I haven't seen an awful lot of Grubbs, but what I've seen of Blalock over the years I really like. He needs to lower his pad level alittle bit out of his stance, but you cant teach the type of explosion he induces upon contact. Sure he isn't a natural athlete, but heck he was a pretty darn good RT for 2 years so he must have SOME natural mobility and solid technique. Frankly, despite his position, I see Blalock as a potential impact player for this franchise. Someone who can take our OL to the next level. From what ive seen of Grubbs(and again, that isnt alot) sure he may start day 1 and provide some stability long term,but would he give our OL the big time drive blocking boost we need? Sorry but I don't see it...
This is a very good post - thanks for the insight and explanation. This makes great sense, I'm on board.
nope I hadn't thought of it, but I hope you're right. It would be smart to use those sniveling beat writers like Cimini to create a smokescreen and keep the competition guessing.
