2015 Atlanta Falcons Potential Draft Pick Profile: OL Ali Marpet

The Atlanta Falcons are moving to a zone-blocking system with the addition of Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator. It's been a long time coming, and for the long term, they will need to find someone to learn how to play left guard and eventually replace Justin Blalock.

One prospect who has stood out during Senior Bowl practices is Ali Marpet from the diminutive Hobart College. He played primarily left tackle for all of the drills and held up very well against his teammates who came out of the SEC.

Combine/Pro Day Measurements

Height: 6'3-3/4"

Weight: 307 pounds

Arm Length: 32-7/8"

Hand Measurement: 10-1/8"

Stats

2014: 13 games started at left tackle

2013: 11 games started at left tackle

2012: 13 games started at left tackle

2011: 6 games played at multiple positions along the offensive line

Scouting Report

Strengths

Marpet has a solid kick step when playing tackle and knows how to keep his base under him when he is mirroring defensive ends. He can easily push a pass-rusher's arc too far wide to be relevant to the play and has a great understanding of the angles he has to force rushers to take.

He also has excellent punch and quickness off the line.

One thing that really stood out was his drive blocking. Marpet understands how to use his leverage to take a defensive lineman completely out of the play on running plays.

Weaknesses

There are times when he struggles with inside moves. At tackle, Marpet would be completely out of position because of this.

However, at guard, he could be an asset because if he gets beat on an inside move there, he'd have a center who could absorb the impact.

When he does get beat, one thing he doesn't seem to do particularly well is he loses all of his balance. He goes from a quick, strong, technically sound player to a guy who is falling all over himself trying to recover from the inside move.

How does he fit the Comrade Filter?

The Comrade Filter was put in place to make sure the Falcons didn't have guys who were idiots off the field.

In speaking with Marpet's father and researching him here at the Senior Bowl, he looks like the perfect Falcons prospect off the field.

He's a leader who was a captain for two years in college. He's also someone who comes off more as that quiet guy in the locker room. He also was hanging around the coaches, trying to get as much instruction as possible—something that is very important.

But, just because he seems like the ideal person off the field, when he's on it, he is nasty in the trenches and would be a good addition inside.

Overview

Marpet's best professional fit would be at left guard in the NFL.

A team like Atlanta with a talented center who is the vocal leader for the line would be ideal. Marpet compares favorably to a poor-man's Zach Martin and has a similar skill set.

After playing left tackle for his college career at Division III Hobart, Marpet might be a bit of a project in some areas. Nonetheless, he's someone who should be given a legitimate shot in the NFL as a starting guard after he spends a year developing behind a veteran.

How he would fit into the Falcons' plans

The Falcons could likely pick him up in the fourth or fifth round, based on his lack of competition throughout college. However, Marpet can play and looks like a legitimate talent as an offensive guard for today's NFL.

He would be an ideal guy to take and develop into that future starter at left guard. Marpet is very intelligent and could fit in well next to Joe Hawley and Jake Matthews as a trio of nasty guys protecting Matt Ryan's blind side.

In the zone-blocking scheme that Kyle Shanahan looks to implement, Marpet would be like a fish in water.

All stats used are either from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN, CFBStats or the NFL. All combine and pro day info is courtesy NFL Draft Scout. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, College Football, NFL and the NFL draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.