Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton vs. this years o-line class

by gusjax on Feb 23, 2010 8:08 PM EST

The o-line draft class that this year brings is very interesting and has something that was not very evident last year.

Last year there were a lot of centers taken but this year i dont see a lot of guys that i really consider top notch. I dont think that mike iupati is anything special, just a big body that at the senior bowl showed poor teechinique b/c he tried to grab the deffender as opposed to really striking him. This will get you beat when a dwight freeny or even a derrick harvey.......( i might be pushin it)

The tackle class is very different from last years, this year there is a lot more depth at the tackle position in the first couple of rounds. Eugene Monroe really has exceptional athletic ability and had a specialty of pass protection coming out of college. i personally would not want any of this years o line for monroe ( i would like to hear some thoughts on this).

Earlier on i thought that Britton was a little better than monroe but that was possibly to the fact that monroe held out for a long time.

Britton looks strong, athletic and really has a great attitude toward the team. i really like brian bulaga from iowa as he manhandled Derrick Morgan in the orange bowl. Bruce cambpell has some upside out of maryland.

Anthony davis seems to be like a young Eugene monroe like in his sophomore year. Davis has a ton of potential but we dont know how that will translate into the nfl b/c some say that his attitude is not good.

I leave all the blue chippers out cuz russell okung would not fall past the first 5 picks and trent williams i think is worth nothing b/c he fell so much from last year, i mean he first started at tackle and finished up at center??

i Really like our o line the way it is perhaps drafting a center to replace meest once he leaves but thats for another story.

Id like to hear your thoughts on this years o line crop and whether you would take anyone above britton or monroe

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Okung is a beast

He is Monroe with better feet, plus more powerful run blocking. He seems to have the brute force Monroe is lacking. I did really like how Eugene progressed throughout the year though and have a lot of hope for the future. He’s come a long way since the first Dwight Freeney spin move froze him week 1, but from what I have seen so far, Okung is the truth.

I liked Bulaga devouring Morgan too, but that was all I saw of him. I was all excited to see this guy who we might be able to draft for pass rush… and then saw that behemoth from Iowa pancake him all night.

by BIBBEE on Feb 23, 2010 9:33 PM EST reply actions

I think

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone with better feet than Monroe.

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by Bestjagfan on Feb 23, 2010 11:18 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed

I remember reading someone say he had the best feet of any OT in years

by alwaysforgiven821 on Feb 24, 2010 4:09 AM EST up reply actions

Bulaga

didn’t actually match up that much against Morgan, even though I kept hearing how Bulaga manhandled Moran. Morgan played most of the game on the defensive left side. And he often played against a TE staying in to help block him too. I’m not making an excuse for Morgan, because I still think he underperformed. But it wasn’t Bulaga that really made him irrelevant in the game. He was gameplanned against. Just watch the screens and etc to his side.
And Monroe isn’t as consistent, IMO, as Okung; but he’s every bit the athlete. But Monroe has the same strength(Probably more than Okung. I mean he does outweigh him 20lbs), and he’s has just as good of feet. What Monroe lacked as a run blocker, wasn’t strength, it was tenacity.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 24, 2010 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

I like what we have

Terry showed a footage; what showed; Eugene can handle Dwight Freeney already(2nd game)!!!! And I think Eben is a right solution too.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Feb 24, 2010 5:26 AM EST reply actions

This is a great post with a great thought provoking question

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by Tkopa on Feb 24, 2010 2:51 PM EST reply actions

And what's your take

about the question Terry?

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Feb 24, 2010 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know what any of the new

guys will do when they switch to the NFL. But I do know, that LT’s don’t come much better than Monroe. So on that note, I wouldn’t trade Monroe back to get anyone from this years crop.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 24, 2010 6:22 PM EST reply actions

As for Britton

I think most of the first rounders are better pure pass blockers, but Britton couldn’t be a better fit at RT on our OL; as a leader, run blocker, and pass blocker. I think he brings a tenacity that none of this years players have, and the this OL needs. And minus the polish (that Bulaga has), I think Britton is very similar to Bulaga as a prospect coming out. They have very similar bodies and abilities.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 24, 2010 6:26 PM EST reply actions

I doubt anyone outside of Okung, Iupati or Markice Pouncey will make any major effect during the 2010 season, so many prospects this year are seemingly back-up material with no “I’m Tony Boselli” flashes or anything of the sort

by jawsaints on Feb 24, 2010 8:07 PM EST reply actions

I think there are

more out there than people realize. Eric Wood played well, until he got hurt. And Alex Mack, if he would have played like he did towards the end of the year the whole year, would have easily earned a pro bowl; and it wasn’t even close. Max Unger played well. Andy Levitre played well too; and at multiple positions.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 25, 2010 1:34 AM EST up reply actions

The problem was

the ones that performed well were on unpopular and/or bad teams.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 25, 2010 1:36 AM EST up reply actions

a scout I like to follow compared the top of this class to Eben Brittton

I’m not even sure that Britton has exceeded expectations, I think we over estimate him due to intangibles that may not yet show up on the field. I’m not complaining about the pick per say, although I did think at the time drafting a second tackle was a luxury we couldn’t afford. I still kinda feel that way even after he’s worked out and looks to have a bright future.

Anyhow back to this years class, I think it’s very possible that this years OT class does project at EB level. We have to keep in mind that ’tis the time of year to begin skewing and hyping prospects with less regard for how they actually performed, and as such any one particular physical aspect can start to take precedence over the “body of work”.

IMHO it’s a bad sign when an OT class is considered mediocre in Dec. then remarkably improves, moreso at this position then others.

Last random thought; Okung is really the only guy who belongs in the top 5 conversation if you factor in the 09 guys; especially before the A.Smith’s combined disaster. Even then I’m not sure he’s done enough to bump any of the top 4.

by alsonot on Feb 25, 2010 12:22 AM EST reply actions