2011 NFL Draft: Game Film of the Top 10 Offensive Line Prospects
NFL scouts and draft personnel people have a certain saying that seems to ring true year after year.
โThe film never lies."
No matter how much press or hype a college player receives for putting up big stats or crazy workout numbers, in the end, when it comes down to separating the pros from the punks, the most important criterion used for evaluation is the playerโs game tape.
Itโs what the player did in between the lines that counts the most. Character evaluations, workout numbers and the like are just used to fill in the spaces.
We hear that saying all the time from draft analysts, โWell, when I put on the film of Player X, I see this flaw or this strength.โ
Game film reveals a lot about what a prospect has to offer and itโs a resume that weโve seen boost or downgrade certain prospects on a yearly basis.
Just take the case of Maryland offensive tackle Bruce Campbell in last yearโs draft. After putting up freakish workout numbers during the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Campbell had everyone in the media fooled into believing he was a first round-caliber pick. The only problem was, Campbell didnโt have the goods to back it up on film and therefore dropped all the way to the fourth round on draft weekend.
Now we have a new group of offensive lineman lined up for the 2011 NFL draft and, so far, itโs been a tough group to read considering there doesnโt seem to be a clear-cut standout among the bunch.
Letโs take a look at some of the game film for 10 of the top offensive line names in this yearโs draft and see if we can separate the top-notch guys from the Bruce Campbell types.
1. Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
1 of 10No. 79
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6'6โโ
Weight: 305
2. Nate Solder, Colorado
2 of 10No. 78
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6โ9โโ
Weight: 315
3. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
3 of 10No. 68
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6โ7โโ
Weight: 325
.jpg?w=2560 "Vikings Football")
4. Ben Ijalana, Villanova
4 of 10No. 71
Position: Offensive Guard
Class: Senior
Height: 6'4โโ
Weight: 320
5. Tyron Smith, USC
5 of 10No. 70
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Junior
Height: 6โ5โโ
Weight: 280
6. Rodney Hudson, Florida State
6 of 10No. 62
Position: Offensive Guard
Class: Senior
Height: 6โ2โโ
Weight: 285
7. Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
7 of 10No. 74
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6'7โโ
Weight: 305
8. DeMarcus Love, Arkansas
8 of 10No. 65
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6โ5โโ
Weight: 315
9. Joseph Barksdale, LSU
9 of 10No. 78
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6โ6โโ
Weight: 320
10. Mike Pouncey, Florida
10 of 10No. 55
Position: Offensive Guard
Class: Senior
Height: 6โ4โโ
Weight: 310
.jpg?w=2560 "Bears Browns Football")
