Post by prossman on Feb 7, 2012 2:20:13 GMT -7
Postcards from Mobile: The Top Guard Prospects
Posted by Rafael at Saturday, February 04, 2012
Cordy Glenn
Cowboys Nation: Let's review offensive guard. Cordy Glenn has been all over the map. Some people have had him as a top-20 pick all year. You have not been as enthusiastic. Did he play tackle at the Senior Bowl?
Wes Bunting: He played both tackle and guard.
CN: I've seen differing opinions of his future as a tackle, but everybody gushes about his game as a guard. Talk about him as a guard.
WB: He was phenomenal as a guard. And I've been one of his greatest skeptics, because I had a lot of questions about him as a tackle, which showed up consistently during the week when he went against the best pass rushers. Ingram ole-ed him a couple of times. Upshaw could turn the edge. Coples gave him a lot of trouble.
But when he was lined up as a guard, and could play in tighter areas and could set and get his hands on you? He was awesome. I have him as a guard only. He could play some right tackle in my opinion, but I'd rather have my guy be an All-Pro caliber talent at guard than an average starter out there. As a guard I think he warrants a 1st round grade. He was exceptional at guard.
CN: Do the same for Osemele. I had a back and forth on Twitter with your buddy Russ Lande from The Sporting News and his opinion is that Osemele can play guard and tackle very well at the pro level. I've seen other opinions pro and con on Osemele as a tackle. As with Glenn, everybody is unanimous that he can do the job at guard and do it well.
WB: I have him as a guard still. I like him. His frame leads people to think he can be a tackle, but when he's asked to reach speed rushers off the edge he gets overextended. Jack Crawford ran him over one time. When he could actually set and anchor, and get his hands on players, he's very good. I would feel a lot more comfortable playing him inside, where he can get his hands on people a lot more than he can on the edge, where he has to mirror through contact.
CN: Talk about their lateral quickness. Can these guys be the left guard, the typical pulling guard in a scheme?
WB: Yeah. I think both of them can. Cordy Glenn is a sneaky athlete. I think Osemele is a pretty good athlete. I think both of them could be the pulling guard, though Glenn is better than Osemele there. But worst case you have two very good right guards. I do think Cordy Glenn is better suited for that role on the left side.
CN: Talk about Amini Silatolu. He's very high on your guard board. You have him ahead of Osemele and Brandon Washington. He was a guy you were eager to watch, because he went to Midwestern State, and this was his chance to play against the big school guys. What did he show?
WB: He had to pull out. He did a hammy in the week leading up to the game and couldn't play. I was bummed.
CN: What about Senio Kelemete, from Washington?
WB: He was okay. They played him a lot at tackle. His technique was raw. His footwork was all over the place. He did have some power. I think he's better off as a guard. I think he's a 3rd-4th rounder, somewhere in there.
CN: Any other guards who can move, who stood out? Or was it down to Osemele and Glenn at the top.
WB: Tony Bergstrom from Utah. He played right tackle at Utah. He was moved down to guard this week. He did a really nice job. He could bend. He got his hands up. He stuck through contact. He had his struggles at tackle but he was really effective as a guard. I've moved him to guard-only and moved his grade up, because I think he'll be much better as a guard.
He's another potential starter in a class that doesn't need anymore, because it's loaded, I think. He had a really nice week. He surprised me.