Arizona Cardinals 2008 Draft Prospects -Guards

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Offensive Guards

Charted comments are mostly drawn from NFL Draft Scouts.com narratives (shown in black) with comments from additional sources shown in different colors. BRS = Red Sporting News War Room = Orange. USA Today = Green. Surefire Scouting = Purple. PFW = Blue

Lutui and Wells are fixtures at guard, though we still maintain that Reggie would be a better fit at LT and that we need a greater run blocking presence at LG. We passed on Alan Faneca in free agency, but could get a younger version in the form of Roy Schuening with our 2nd or 3rd pick in the draft.

Name/School

20S

60S

Branden Albert*, Va.

6-5

316

5.17

1.78

2.98

9-4

4.79

7.98

Pro Day - Ran position drills and kept his combine numbers for everything else.

BRS (Gollin) - Has rocketed up the charts - possibly into the Top 10. Then again, guards (other than perhaps Steve Hutchison) are seldom worth the notoriety (or buckaroos) given premier LT's.

The Sporting News War Room - Has first round talent but hasn't produced at that level.

Surefire Scouting - A better run blocker than pass protector but is solid in both areas. Has a nice upside and is ready to contribute as a rookie.

PFW - Albert is still raw and will need to make further strength gains before he is ready to handle NFL defensive linemen.

Physical	Has a solid upper body with long arms, large hands, good chest thickness, flat back, broad shoulders and a strong hand punch, but could use more lower-body development
Strength	Strength and explosiveness are evident in his hand punch and hip roll.
Athleticism	While he lacks ideal change-of-direction skills, he can lock on and steer...Shows impressive knee bend for a player of his stature
Quickness/Explosion	Can gain advantage at the snap with his sudden short burst and flashes good knee bend...Shows very good sudden force coming out of his stance...Can generate good explosion off the ball to ride the defenders out.
Punch	Has that powerful hand jolt to rock the bull rusher back...Has a strong hand punch, but needs to use it with more consistency
Drive Blocking	His strength is evident on run blocks and he is quick to get position and wall off
Toughness	Could do a better job playing with true aggression and too often tries to finesse rather than maul.
On the Move	Tends to get tall in his stance on the move...Trap-blocking skills are more suited to play guard at the next level...Has good foot quickness and body positioning to block along the line, but will lose his base and narrow his stance when reaching the second level...Has good movement skills blocking in space, but will lose balance when he gets too tall in his stance...Needs to maintain balance on the move, as he tends to overextend in order to stay with his man, resulting in the defender's hand slaps knocking him off stride
Pass Blocking	Shows good hip-sinking ability when dropping back in pass protection, as he does a good job in standing flat-footed with a solid lower base to effectively neutralize the surge in pass protection...Uses his large, powerful hands well to lock on and ride the defender away from the play, and keeps his head on a swivel, always looking to get a piece of another defender after making the initial block.
Overall Technique	Will use his upper-body strength instead of staying sound technique-wise at times, but he does extend his arms with power...Shows good consistency using his hands to get proper placement and likes to grab on and jerk the defender to the ground... and gets good movement coming off the snap when he keeps his pads down...Can maintain position when he uses his hands to lock on a ride the opponent wide, as he makes proper hand adjustments to sustain blocks....Effective trap blocker who generates movement coming off the ball...Can turn up and seal inside with good power on initial contact to finish, doing a nice job of kicking out and sealing with effectiveness...Looks a little awkward with his feet when trying to adjust to linebackers blocking upfield
Intangibles	Has great work habits and is a coachable talent who takes pride in doing the extras necessary to improve...Struggled in the classroom, but has been a good student of the game, taking plays from the chalkboard to the playing field with minimal reps...does tire late in games
Resembles	Maurice Williams

Name/School

20S

60S

Roy Schuening, Oregon St.

6-3

313

5.31

1.80

3.05

4.54

7.57

Had a 30-inch vertical jump, ran a 4.54 short shuttle, a 7.57 cone drill, did position drills and kept his numbers from the combine for everything else

Senior Bowl - Lunch pail guy with great work ethic.

BRS (Gollin) - One of our needs/system targets. If Wiz and Russ Grimm are looking for a power-run blocker with a mean, aggressive attitude, this is our guy (maybe in the second, third or fourth round)

The Sporting News War Room - Shouldn't be overlooked because of his lack of athleticism. He's a big strong guard who can lock up and eliminate his man on in-line blocks and in pass protection.

Surefire Scouting - Lacks great measurables, athleticism and speed but makes up for it with his tenacious play. He will be a solid starter for his future team.

PFW - Schuening plays physical and can be nasty. Versatility could improve his value. Has the toughness to develop into a starter.

Physical	Has a thick, well-proportioned frame with solid upper-body mass, well-defined arms and legs, wide waist and hips and a frame that can carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk
Strength	S
Athleticism	Shows very good balance and body control ...Has the knee bend and lower-body strength to anchor in pass protection...Lacks the change-of-direction agility you look for from a lineman working into the second level.
Quickness/Explosion	Has good quickness off the snap to seal the shaded defender...Can gain advantage with his first step and aggressively hits on initial contact, driving hard with his legs to get movement
Punch	Can jolt the defender with his hand punch, but lacks consistency...Will short arm at times and must learn to use his hand punch better to shock and jolt....Extends his hands well to separate and has made slight improvement with his punch, but must work on improving his pop and shiver
Drive Blocking	More of a wall-off type of drive blocker, but showed better ability to follow through with his blocks as a senior, as he learned to use his reach to keep defenders away from his body.
Toughness	Plays with true aggression, giving total effort until the whistle
On the Move	Has just adequate blocking ability in space, but is an aggressive in-line blocker...Lands on second-level defenders with good force and gets out in front on short pulls (not as effective folding linebackers when having to run long distances)
Pass Blocking	Has good recovery agility vs. stunts, doing a nice job when playing flat-footed...Can be pushed back by a quick bull rush...When he gets too tall in pass protection, he could be walked back into the pocket....lacks the foot movement and kick-slide to mirror vs. edge rushers in pass protection...Better blocking at the line of scrimmage, as he does not always take good angles and struggles when he takes on speed moves in space
Overall Technique	Has good field vision, showing alertness picking up the blitz and twists
Intangibles	Hard worker in the training room and has taken to his role of mentoring the younger players...as good communication skills working on double teams with his center and tackle...Has a good grasp of the playbook, but does go through mental lapses on the field
Resembles	Jahri Evans

Name/School

20S

60S

John Greco, Toledo

6-4

303

5.15

1.81

3.04

9-0

4.63

7.78

Pro Day - Ran the 40 in 5.15. He had a 32-inch vertical jump, 4.63 short shuttle and 7.78 cone drill. He stuck with his combine numbers for long jump and bench press.

BRS (Gollin) - Also fits the Cardinal system and, in fact, is a bit more athletic than Schuening.

The Sporting News War Room - An attention-grabber with his fierce competitiveness and athletic ability.

Surefire Scouting - No write up

PFW - A tough, dependable, hard working overachiever who could develop into a starter. Could be tried at RT

Physical	Has a thick frame with good bone structure and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk...Does not have great muscle tone in his arms or legs but is more thick than he is sloppy....Lacks the athleticism and long arms (29 5/8-inch length) to be effective reaching and mirroring edge rushers on the left side. Might be a better fit back at right tackle or inside at guard, where his limited reach would not be as exposed as it would be at left tackle
Strength	Shows good natural power (420-pound bench press)...Uses his size and lower-body strength to get movement off the snap, especially when working in-line...Has the upper-body strength and body lean to engulf smaller defenders...Has the strength to finish
Athleticism	Demonstrates good knee-bend and recovery quickness to protect the pocket and adequate change-of-direction agility...Has the knee-bend to stay low in his pads off the snap.
Quickness/Explosion	Lacks explosion, but has a decent initial step...Won't fire out of his stance and get to the second level quickly, but is patient waiting for linebackers to target....Has just adequate quickness off the snap, relying more on his patience to let the defender make the first move before countering......Does not have the timed speed to get on defenders with quickness when trap blocking.
Punch	Must do a better job with hand placement, but has a punishing hand punch that will generally knock the defender off-balance...His explosive jolt is one of his best assets
Drive Blocking	More tenacious drive blocker than Nick Kaczur with great lower-body strength to get leverage and widen the rush lanes...Plants his foot in the ground and moves his feet well to get a strong push off the snap, showing a good concept for taking proper angles for the running game...In straight-up blocking, he is a good mauler
Toughness	Plays with true aggression, going full blast until the whistle
On the Move	Best on the short pull, as he looks a bit sluggish trying to go long distances...
Pass Blocking	Relies more on patience in pass protection...Has adequate anchor and slide in pass protection, showing the vision to read and react to twists and games. Will be better when he improves his hand placement...Good working down the line of scrimmage, but needs to be lighter on his feet sliding back in pass protection.
Overall Technique	Must do a better job of maintaining hand placement. Will come off some blocks early and, when he gets his hands on the outside, he will lunge when punching...Must do a better job coming back to the inside in his pass set, as he does not slide back fluid enough or keep his hands inside his frame to counter throughout the play.
Intangibles	Quiet leader on the field, but will not hesitate to take a teammate to task for a poor performance...Hard worker in the weight room, taking well to hard coaching...Intelligent athlete who is quick to locate stunts and shows good patience on twists...Easily takes plays from the chalkboard to the field
Resembles	Nick Kaczur

Name/School

20S

60S

Chilo Rachal*, USC

6-5

306

5.10

1.81

3.02

8-10

4.84

8.07

Pro Day - Had a 28-inch vertical jump, 4.84 short shuttle, 8.07 cone drill, ran position drills and kept everything else from combine.

BRS (Gollin) - Not quite at the level of Schuening or Greco but out of the same mold. Former USC teammates Leinart and Lutui can probably add insight.

The Sporting News War Room - Declared for the draft because of financial hardships. With a couple of years to develop, he should become a productive NFL starter in any kind of offense.

Surefire Scouting - Quick off the snap. Has shown upside and his far from being a finished product, but he could be a great value on draft day after a season where he wasn't 100% healthy.

PFW - Plays with more power than quickness and, barring injury, has the ability to perform at a high level for years.

Physical	Solid build with broad shoulders, wide chest, thick thighs and calves and long arms
Strength	Has natural strength and uses his size well to land on targets in the short area
Athleticism	Has a solid base, keeping his feet while showing proper knee bend when redirecting...Shows good lateral agility, but needs to keep his feet when working in space
Quickness/Explosion	Plays with good initial quickness and strength coming out of his stance sharply while keeping his feet moving...Forceful striker with good pop and explosion coming out of his stance
Punch	Needs to improve his hand punch (has good strength), as he shows some good hitting ability upon contact, but is not a consistent striker when he lets his hands get outside his frame....His short-area kick slide, hand usage and punch are very effective in his pass set
Drive Blocking	Has the strength to blow a lethargic defender off the ball, as he gets into his man quickly......Good incline blocker who consistently drives and steers defenders away from the play...Needs to refine his drive-blocking skills (team generally emphasized a pass-oriented attack)
Toughness	Play
On the Move	Has the foot speed to get out and attack second-level defenders...Shows good body control on the move...Adjusts smoothly on the move and gets good fits on run blocks, as he works hard to sustain and finish (will block until the whistle)...Gets good production on the short pulls, as he runs under control, doing a nice job of anticipating and adjusting to the linebacker's moves at the second level
Pass Blocking	Alert to picking up stunts...Shows a good feel for pressure on the pulls and traps...will explode on the rise to shock defenders, creating movement to neutralize the bull rush...Shows patience waiting for plays to develop (will let the defender come to him rather than overextend)
Overall Technique	Quite active with his hands to lock on, using his arm extension to turn and wall off his man..Uses his hands to redirect and understands how to neutralize stunts and blitzes...Stays on his feet and is able to avoid piles while sustaining his blocks.
Intangibles	Versatile blocker with experience at guard and tackle...Has adequate football intelligence and learns plays with minimal reps...Hustles and works to finish, playing with good aggression...Understands position...Has had several knee issues that need further medical evaluation.
Resembles	Kris Dielman

Name/School

20S

60S

Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers (C)

6-3

308

4.98

1.74

2.88

8-10

4.54

7.60

Pro Day - Had a 31-inch vertical jump, ran position drills and kept everything else from the combine.

BRS (Gollin) - I'm from NJ and have a soft spot in my heart for guys coming out of coach Schiano's program at Rutgers. At first glance, has the profile of your typical overachiever - until you look at his size and his workout numbers (which reflect better athleticism than some of the other guard prospects). So we're elevating his rating somewhat..

The Sporting News War Room - Has what it takes to be a solid NFL starter at guard. He should be a good Day 2 value.

Surefire Scouting - A highly consistent, experienced college player who may have reached his peak. His best opportunity to carve a niche at the next level is at center.

PFW - Smart overachieving college RT.

Physical	Viewed as a bit of a (G/T) 'tweener
Strength	Gets by on quickness and toughness, rather than strength, as a close-quarter run blocker
Athleticism	Good overall athleticism... Viewed by some as athletic and instinctive enough to project best inside at center -- a position he has never played
Quickness/Explosion	Good initial quickness off the snap...Lacks true explosiveness to his game
Punch	Uses his hands well to position and sustain blocks
Drive Blocking	No info
Toughness	Has the combination of quickness, instincts and nastiness scouts are looking for
On the Move	No info
Pass Blocking	Hasn't given up a sack since 2005
Overall Technique	Keeps his shoulders square to the defender and has the foot quickness to compete on the outside
Intangibles	High effort player who wants to be good. ...A versatile offensive lineman with experience at both guard and tackle positions...could prove to be a late-round find as a valuable swingman.
Resembles	No info

Name/School

20S

60S

Shawn Murphy, Utah. St.

6-3

314

5.14

1.88

3.10

8-3

4.44

7.37

Pro Day - Ran the 40 in 5.14 and 5.15, had a 27-inch vertical jump, 4.44 short shuttle and 7.37 cone drill.

BRS (Gollin) - Fits the profile, but the talent begins to drop off slightly here. Will need time to coach up.

The Sporting News War Room - Is still learning the guard position after coming over from the defense. It's rare to see a player with such limited experience display such good instincts and awareness.

Surefire Scouting - No write up

PFW - Stood out at East - West Shrine practices for his ornery disposition and shows the desire to develop into a solid pro.

Physical	Wide shouldered athlete with room for additional growth.
Strength	Despite good weight room strength, Murphy relies more on his athleticism and grit than strength at the point of attack.
Athleticism	No info
Quickness/Explosion	Good initial quickness off the snap
Punch	No info
Drive Blocking	No info
Toughness	No info
On the Move	Can position and sustain blocks at the initial and second levels
Pass Blocking	No info
Overall Technique	No info
Intangibles	Raw athlete who has moved from tackle to guard past two years, but has flashed potential at both positions...Viewed by some as a 'tweener who lacks the footwork for tackle or the physicality for guard...Will enter the NFL as an older prospect (25)...Level of competition is a concern - struggled with the jump in talent at the East-West Shrine Game.
Resembles	No comments

Name/School

20S

60S

Mike McGlynn, Pitt

6-4

311

5.39

1.90

3.12

8-6

4.74

7.58

Pro Day - Kept his numbers from the combine and Pitt's earlier pro day. Ran position drills and looked very good.

BRS (Gollin) - Solid citizen who fits the power-profile - the kind of grinder that you need a few of on any O-line unit.

The Sporting News War Room - A tweener prospect - best suited for guard in the NFL but will likely be tried at tackle first.

Surefire Scouting - Highly consistent 4 year starter...While he played primarily RT, he is best suited to shift inside to guard in the pros due to his lack of ideal athleticism. His versatility is an added bonus.

PFW - A big strong rumbler who can outmuscle defenders, McGlynn showed the toughness needed to earn a starting job in the trenches and may have the ability to stay outside with considerable chip help.

Physical	Has good bone structure, with a thick midsection, wide hips, big back, thick thighs and calves... Needs to add more muscle tone to his midsection
Strength	Uses his upper-body strength well to get into the defender's jersey coming off the snap
Athleticism	Demonstrates excellent athletic ability...very nimble for a lineman and while he has just adequate timed speed, he gets out on traps and pulls in a hurry, maintaining balance throughout his stride...Shows good balance and agility for the position to also perform capably as a pulling guard...Natural knee bender who does a nice job of keeping his pads down due to his lateral agility and loose hips
Quickness/Explosion	Good initial explosion off the line...
Punch	His torn labrum affected him later in 2006, as he could not stun his man at times with his punch, but he is completely recovered and should continue to improve in this area....Tremendous hand quickness to lock on, steer out and control his man
Drive Blocking	Good short-yardage blocker, staying low in his pads while driving with his legs to clear the rush lanes......Stays on feet with run blocks, play flat-footed with good balance and a low pad level to widen and sustain the rush lane...Shows good pop on run blocks, but even with good lateral range, he needs to show better consistency opening his hips to stay on blocks longer.
Toughness	Play
On the Move	Nimble working in space and does a good job of locating and neutralizing second-level defenders...Plays with good lateral quickness, especially when asked to get in front on traps and pulls, making some teams feel he could be an ideal offensive guard
Pass Blocking	Takes good sets in pass protection and plays under control, keeping a wide base and his head on a swivel to pick up stunts...Gets out of his stance with good pad level and hand punch to neutralize the wide defensive ends...Plays with good balance and a strong good base, doing a nice job of playing with a flat back and his pads down...Has impressive strength to lock up and is very good at sustaining his feet on the move.
Overall Technique	Places his hands well, doing a nice job of leaning into his man to steer the opponent wide...Very conscious of working in unison with his guards and tight ends to prevent backside pressure on the pocket
Intangibles	Alert on the field and excels at picking up stunts and games...With his ability to retain plays and know all of the position assignments up front, he could be a natural calling blocking assignments at center
Resembles	Mark Tauscher

Name/School

20S

60S

David Hale, Weber State

6-5

310

5.25

1.82

3.03

8-3

4.63

7.51

Pro Day - Had a 29-inch vertical jump, 4.63 short shuttle, 7.51 cone drill, and 25 reps. He let his other numbers stand from the combine, but he did not run position drills.

BRS (Gollin) - Worth a later round looksee.

The Sporting News War Room - Either he'll be overvalued due to his excellent intangibles or undervalued because he's not a premier athlete.

Surefire Scouting - No write up

PFW - Very tough over-aged college RT

Physical	Wide shouldered, proportionate frame
Strength	Flashes a strong anchor
Athleticism	Marginal foot speed and only adequate overall athleticism...Can get to the second level, but lacks the body control to sustain blocks against top notch athletes.
Quickness/Explosion	Good initial quickness off the snap
Punch	Flashes explosiveness in his hand punch
Drive Blocking	Physical run blocker who uses his hands well to engage and control the defender
Toughness	A physical presence who plays with technique and determination
On the Move	No info
Pass Blocking	Effective pass blocker...lateral agility to mirror defenders in pass protection...struggles against speed rushers
Overall Technique	Despite his size and anchor, doesn't always play with leverage and can be walked back to the quarterback.
Intangibles	Strong week of practice at right tackle in the East-West Shrine Game.
Resembles	No info

Name/School

20S

60S

Andrew Crummey, Maryland

6-4

306

5.44

Pro Day - Was unable to run, jump or do position drills due to a foot injury. Did 28 reps at the bench press…

BRS (Gollin) - Injury questions render him a borderline late-rounder or UDFA.

The Sporting News War Room - The type of lineman people tend to write off because he has questionable athleticism. However his consistency and production become more impressive with further film evaluation

Surefire Scouting - No write up

PFW - A competitive short area mauler who is best in a phone booth.

Physical	Rare size for the guard position...Legitimate NFL size
Strength	Lacks bulk and strength in his upper body
Athleticism	Lacks prototype athleticism...Lacks lateral quickness to mirror quicker defensive tackles and struggles to recover if beaten initially...Relies on his intelligence and technique to be effective and has only marginal overall athleticism
Quickness/Explosion	Good initial quickness. ... Lacks great pop
Punch	Good hand placement and strength to control and steer the defender...Crummey is able to consistently block his man due to his strong hand play and understanding of blocking angles..
Drive Blocking	No info
Toughness	Toughness and nastiness have been questioned in the past.
On the Move	Good quickness to get to the second level and can block the moving target
Pass Blocking	No info
Overall Technique	No info
Intangibles	Broken left fibula suffered last season will require further medical evaluation...Strong week at the East-West Shrine Game eases concerns about broken leg
Resembles	No info

Name/School