B/R NFL 1000: Ranking the Top 35 Left Guards from 2015

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

At the end of the 2015 NFL season, who was the best left guard in the game? We're not talking about who made the Pro Bowl or even who got the All-Pro votes. Who was really, truly the best? Forget reputation and how much money each player makes. We want cold, hard analysis that comes from watching the games and grading the players. 

That's what the B/R NFL 1000 is for, and it's back for another year. 

The B/R 1000 metric is based heavily on scouting each player and grading the key criteria for each position. The criteria are weighted according to importance for a possible best score of 100.

Neither potential nor career accomplishments are taken into consideration. 

Left guards are judged on pass protection (45 points), run blocking (45) and the overall value of the position relative to the other spots on the field (seven points). The maximum score for this position is 97.

In the case of ties, our team asked, "Which player would I rather have on my team?" and set the rankings accordingly.

Subjective? Yes, but ties are no fun.

A team of experienced evaluators (Dan Bazal, Luke Easterling, Cian Fahey, Adam Heisler, Duke Manyweather, Matt Miller and Marshal Miller) scouted each player with these key criteria in mind. The following scouting reports and grades are the work of months of film study from our team. 

All statistics from Pro Football Focus. Players' heights, weights and seasons played from NFL.com.

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Pass Protection

Brandon Fusco made the switch to left guard in 2015 after spending his first four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings at right guard. After signing a five-year, $24.25 million extension, he started the first three weeks of 2014 before suffering a season-ending torn pectoral muscle against the Saints. Minnesota missed Fusco's run-blocking ability while he was out and gladly welcomed his return this past season.

In pass protection, Fusco is at his best when he can short-set, settle and throw hands at defenders right away. He can expand his landmarks and maintain half-man leverage when he matches up with defenders who get up the field.

At times, Fusco struggles to take away the inside when he gets his shoulders turned away from the line of scrimmage. There are times he lacks patience and his pad level rises. When he misses with his hands, bad things happen.

When on target, though, he delivers a solid punch and plays with overall violent hands. Fusco can take away the inside by posting down and also looks comfortable sliding in any direction. He does a good job of working with his offensive tackle and center to pass off line games and of pointing out potential blitzes.

Run Blocking

Fusco plays with a mauler mentality in the run game. In zone schemes, he shows the ability to initially reach defenders and get a push at the point of attack, but he has trouble sealing defenders due to inconsistent hand placement and an inability to work his hips around to hook.

Fusco shows the quickness, footwork and body to consistently cut off the backside when the run goes away from him. When he is able to win with quickness and get under defenders, he has the strength and leg drive to power through stalemates and finish blocks, though at times he plays way too high and tries to rely on his strength to finish defenders instead of using his leverage.

Along with effectively being able to combo-block, he also shows the ability to quickly come off on second-level defenders and can execute if he doesn't narrow his base. When he does narrow his base on contact, he falls off blocks.

Fusco is a good puller who drives through contact once engaged and has a nasty streak, which you like to see from guards in the run game. Fusco is also good in space and can dip his hips and explode on a sitting defender or change directions and cut when a defender is moving in space.

Positional Value

Overall

David Richard/Associated Press

Pass Protection

Cleveland's Austin Pasztor shows a quick set in pass protection, maintaining even weight distribution and a low center of gravity. That allows him to get to his spot to settle his feet, build his house, punch and anchor.

Pasztor displays heavy hands with a well-timed punch. He plays with a good base and has the foot quickness to mirror and stay in front of defenders while also proving capable of posting down and taking away the inside with a strong inside hand and post foot.

Pasztor can drop his hips and leverage with his hands to anchor against the bull rush and understands where his help is in slide protection. He'll often set aggressively away from protection to stay firm and also looks to help when he is uncovered. Pasztor shows good body control and the balance needed to recover when moved off his spot or when he loses position.

Where Pasztor fails in some respects, however, is in allowing defenders too much space to get into his body, losing leverage in the process. 

Run Blocking

Pasztor mixed it up a bit in the run game in 2015, showing he could use strength at the point of attack to jolt defenders back and get initial movement. He has the footwork, targeting and overall range to cut off the backside when runs go away from him, though at times he was in too much of a hurry on his zone combos. He needs to work those more to secure the line of scrimmage and often leaves his combo mate out-leveraged and in bad situations.

He does take good angles when climbing and tracking the second level, though, and is frequently able to dip and explode on linebackers and even cut some defenders who are in full flow.

Positional Value

Overall

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Pass Protection

New Orleans' Senio Kelemete has an explosive set in pass protection, which creates space off the line of scrimmage and allows him to reach expanded set points, settle his feet and build his house. Once he settles at his spot, he displays good punch timing to deliver an explosive strike.

Kelemete runs into trouble when he attempts to jump-set tighter shades, which allows defenders to quickly counter inside, forcing him to quickly attempt to recover by riding the hip or shoving them down. He also gets himself into trouble by short-setting and throwing hands, which defenders are often able to quickly counter.

When uncovered, Kelemete is active and constantly looking for work. He shows the foot quickness and agility to mirror and slide in either direction, though at times he drifts and turns his shoulders too much in slide protection.

Run Blocking

Kelemete displays good surge off the ball in the run game but often lets defenders into his body, which negates his strength and ultimately pushes him backward. When quickly gaining hand placement, he shows the base and strength to push the point of attack. Kelemete effectively climbs to the second level and is able to fit and accelerate on linebackers. He also shows good agility and body control to track defenders and execute in space.

Kelemete is decent on combo blocks and is able to secure, overtake or slip off accordingly. He does a decent job of using a "high leg" technique to lift defenders at the point of attack on double-teams, but he often struggles with his footwork and targeting when asked to cut off the backside when runs go away from him.

Positional Value

Overall

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Pass Protection

When Laken Tomlinson came out of Duke, many compared him to Detroit Lions right guard Larry Warford, who had a similar skill set and physical traits when he was drafted. Warford, who Detroit took in the third round of the 2013 draft, had early success and may have led to the Lions selecting Tomlinson in the first round two years later, which was the highest a Duke player was drafted since 1987. 

In pass protection, Tomlinson plays with good square power at the point of attack, quickly engaging and gaining inside hands placement to control, drive and knock defenders off the ball. He maintains a functional powerful base, allowing him to re-leverage his hips and power through defenders. At times, he gets a little too overextended and falls off blocks.

Tomlinson takes good angles when running tracks to the second level and shows the body control to execute blocks on linebackers. When he pulls, he's usually able to keep his feet driving through contact.

Run Blocking

Tomlinson is at his best when he has a tight 3-technique defensive tackle (aligned inside him) who he can short-set and get his hands on immediately. He struggles against defenders who attack his edge because he does not create space and expand his set points. By setting short against upfield defenders, Tomlinson allows them to gain a step on him. Giving up that ground by not creating space to operate makes him have to work double to recover and regain position.

Tomlinson looks for work when uncovered and has delivered some physical shots to help his left tackle and center. He's not an exceptional run-blocker yet, but it's not because of a lack of physicality.

Positional Value

Overall

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Pass Protection

The Denver Broncos selected Max Garcia with the 133rd pick of the 2015 draft, and though he was drafted in part because of his body of work playing center in his final season at Florida, he has the physical tools and skill set needed to play guard as well. Garcia started only five games as a rookie but saw extensive playing time in relief of veteran Evan Mathis.

In pass protection, Garcia sets explosively, creating space off the line of scrimmage and getting to his landmarks quickly. He shows the ability to get to his spot and build his house with ease, although he often mistimes his punch and strike, letting defenders get too far into his frame.

At this point in his career, Garcia just isn't strong enough to bench-press a defender to gain the leverage needed to anchor, so his punch timing is absolutely key. He sometimes makes up for it with foot quickness and balance to mirror defenders and take away the inside or quickly recover if moved off his spot.

Run Blocking

In the run game, Garcia shows the footwork and hand placement to reach 3-technique defensive tackles and is able to wheel his hips around to hook defenders once he has leverage. If defenders have him out-leveraged, he shows the power through his base to re-leverage and angle drive block.

On zone combos, Garcia does a nice job of pushing and securing the line of scrimmage, but he also has the awareness and body control to quickly slip off on linebackers. He takes good angles to the second level and is able to track, square up and explode on second-level defenders. He shows good agility and body control to quickly redirect in space to execute blocks on moving defenders. 

While he still has massive improvement to make in pass protection, Garcia is already ahead of the curve in most elements of the run game.

Positional Value

Overall

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Pass Protection

The Baltimore Ravens always do an outstanding job of drafting talent that fits their scheme, and Ryan Jensen is no exception. In 2013, the Ravens selected him in the sixth round out of Colorado State-Pueblo (Division II). He would spend his rookie season on the practice squad before being active for various parts of 2014 and starting in 2015.

Jensen is adept at setting and creating space, reaching his landmarks to maintain half-man leverage against defenders who like to attack his edge. He's good at switching up with a firm set and hovering around the line of scrimmage to deliver a powerful punch when on target.

Jensen is heavy-handed and uses his hands well to create the leverage needed in order to sink his hips and anchor. At times, he can be a bit too aggressive and often lunges forward, missing with his hands and allowing defenders to quickly swipe or push-pull him to the ground.

Run Blocking

In the run game, Jensen quickly gets off the ball to engage and knock defenders backward. He plays with a powerful base, which allows him to get push at the point of attack quickly and "sustain and strain" to power through stalemates.

Jensen shows the targeting and footwork to effectively rip and run to cut off the backside when the play goes away from him. He also does a nice job of pushing combo blocks and squaring his shoulders back up to block linebackers on the second level. 

While he still has some room to grow in this area, Jensen has shown promise as a mainstay blocker on the left side of the Ravens offensive line. 

Positional Value

Overall

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Oday Aboushi stepped into the Houston Texans lineup in Week 3 as a starting left guard, and he was immediately asked to block Gerald McCoy and the Tampa defensive line. Aboushi has good initial quickness coming out of his stance, allowing him to get into his pass set in time to meet defenders head-on. He is able to control his balance and shows good poise and patience in pass protection, which allows him to set up a strong base to counter against a bull rush or spin move.

Where Aboushi gets lost is when his punch fails to stun defenders, as they're able to swim off his grasp and get into his body. Once he loses leverage or containment with his arms, it's game over since he's not agile enough to recover his base by shuffling or sliding his feet and regaining his balance. 

Run Blocking

Aboushi's value comes from his ability to play left and right guard, something he did for Houston in 2015. In the run game, where he's asked to slide and get into space, Aboushi struggled to reach defenders at the second level and didn't appear to get comfortable with the Texans' zone blocking scheme in his limited game time.

The initial surge needed to pop pads in the run game and ultimately open up holes wasn't there from Aboushi in 2015. 

Positional Value

Overall

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Pass Protection

Orlando Franklin made the switch from right tackle to left guard in 2014, his final season with the Denver Broncos. He hit free agency in the spring of 2015 and inked a huge five-year, $36.5 million deal with the San Diego Chargers. In his one season in San Diego, he notched only 10 starts and missed some time due to injury.

Franklin lacks good fundamentals and footwork efficiency, which causes him to struggle in one-on-one pass-protection situations. When he faces up the field to attack defenders, he's often unable to create vertical space off the line of scrimmage, which prevents him from staying in half-man and having room to work. Instead, he often steps forward or steps out on defenders who are trying to attack his edge. It all equates to wasted movement.

Franklin looks to help out when uncovered and is effective in slide protection. Where he finds the most success is in jump-setting defenders, punching and anchoring his base and using his quickness, strength and power to win. 

Run Blocking

Franklin shows outstanding hip explosion, strength, power and short-area quickness at the point of attack, which allows him to quickly engage and jolt defenders off the ball. He plays with a good base and good square power if maintained correctly.

Still, Franklin is inconsistent with his footwork and often commits false steps on first step. He also brings his feet too close together, which leads to losing power in his base and raising his pad level. All of these issues result in being out of position where he can't effectively gain hand placement and loses body control.

Franklin does generate good vertical push on "deuce" block double-teams and on "duo" combos. When pulling, he displays good quickness and agility, though he struggles at times against moving targets.

Shortcomings aside, Franklin is a much better run-blocker than pass-blocker, which might explain his move inside after starting as a right tackle. 

Positional Value

Overall

Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Once considered one of the best guards in football, Ben Grubbs has been slowed down by injuries and age (31), limiting the physical dominance he has shown for most of his career. Prior to the 2015 season, the Kansas City Chiefs traded a fifth-round pick for him in the hopes that he might regain some of his old form.

In pass protection, Grubbs sets accordingly, keeping leverage to cover up defenders. He's effective with his hands and shows good punch timing to strike and latch, making it difficult for defenders to escape once he gets his hands on them. He also maintains a good functional base in his pass-protection set, allowing him to keep even weight distribution and body control paired with the lower-body strength and mobility to recover when moved off his spot.

Grubbs is stingy giving up ground and often looks to give help in slide protection when nothing is coming at him. He shows the foot quickness and lateral agility to mirror defenders and is able to post down inside with an established inside post foot.

While he's not an exceptional pass-blocker at this point in his career, the nine-year NFL veteran is still effective enough with his technique to make up for somewhat diminishing physical tools.

Run Blocking

Grubbs is able to explode off the ball with force in the run game, lifting and driving defenders when needing to base-block at the point of attack. He maintains a powerful base and strong hand placement to sink his hips to re-leverage, sustain, strain and drive through stalemates.

Grubbs also shows the ability to regain ground with his second step after losing ground with his first, and he can reach defenders on outside zone blocks. He's effective at pulling to either kick out or serve as a lead blocker on power runs. He can engage moving targets or dip and explode to run through committed targets, and he's able to effectively combo-block and overtake defenders. 

Positional Value

Overall

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Quinton Spain was one of my favorite offensive line prospects heading into the 2015 NFL draft. He mixed elite physical traits with a nasty disposition and flashed physical dominance during his time at West Virginia, but those flashes were not enough to convince teams to draft him. After the massive guard went undrafted, the Tennessee Titans signed him, and he started six games for them as a rookie.

Spain shows explosiveness in his set when in pass protection, covering a lot of ground and allowing him to maintain half-man leverage on defenders. When he gets to his spot and settles his feet, he shows good strike-zone recognition and punch timing, allowing him to deliver a quick, heavy-handed strike to gain control.

The West Virginia product can be effective at taking chances in short-setting or jump-setting, delivering a quick strike and stonewalling defenders immediately. If Spain is moved off his spot and has to adjust, he far too often misses with his hands and, despite his long arms, allows defenders into his frame to stand him up and walk him backward.  

Run Blocking

While he's already an adequate pass-blocker, it's the flashes of physical dominance in the run game that make Spain an exciting young guard. He plays with tremendous square power, allowing him to generate force out of his stance to knock defenders off the ball. He also maintains a powerful base that allows him to dig in and drive through stalemates.

Spain displays the ability to create leverage with his hands when he gains inside placement. He has the footwork to reach and drive defenders and also can cut off the backside. As is often required of NFL guards, Spain is able to work zone combo blocks effectively and efficiently, securing and climbing when the defender commits opposite him.

While Spain shows good agility and body control for a huge blocker when asked to pull and lead up on power, at times he falls off blocks after making initial contact.  

Positional Value

Overall

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Before the then-St. Louis Rams selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft, Jamon Brown was a tackle at Louisville. He projected better as a guard in the NFL, and he started nine games his rookie season before a season-ending leg injury suffered in Week 10 put him on injured reserve.

Brown was a good tackle in college and displayed some of those same fluid movement skills at guard as a rookie. He showed the ability to get into his set quickly, maintaining even weight distribution and half-man leverage to get to his landmark and settle on his spot.

Brown has good punch timing and explosive upper-body power to deliver a violent strike, allowing him to gain control and anchor against defenders. The Louisville product is massive, but he still shows the foot quickness, body control and mobility to recover when defenders move him off his spot. Still, there were times when he gave a little too much space and allowed defenders with elite explosion to gain momentum and jolt him back with bull rushes. He'll likely need to work on this to improve as an NFL guard going forward.

Run Blocking

Brown displays the hip explosion, strength and power to hit, lift and drive defenders. He has the footwork, quickness, targeting and hand placement to reach, hook and work his hips around to seal defenders.

When runs go away from him, Brown can lose ground to put him back on a track to cut off or dig defenders out on the backside. He's still inconsistent with his angles climbing to the second level, often finding himself too shallow to cut off fast-flowing linebackers.

Brown works zone combos well, knowing exactly when to keep pushing to secure and overtake or to quickly secure and slip off. He consistently generates forceful leverage to stand defenders up, allowing his tackle to come down and get push on "deuce" block double-teams. When asked to pull, Brown shows agility and body control, maintaining his base and fitting and driving defenders.

Positional Value

Overall

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Pass Protection

After starting all 16 games in 2014 and having a sensational rookie season, Joel Bitonio ran into a bit of a speed bump in his sophomore season, which ended with his being placed on injured reserve after Week 13 due to an ankle injury.  

While Bitonio appeared to regress in pass protection during his sophomore campaign, the underlying issues existed and showed up in his rookie year—they were just never as exposed as they were in 2015. Hampered by an ankle injury for most of the season, Bitonio's ability to quickly recover was taken away, which is important for him due to how he sets in pass protection.

The second-year man performed best when he could use his quick set and strong initial punch to stone defenders at the line, but he struggled when dealing with speed attacking his edge because he created no space and/or half-man leverage to cut it off.

At the snap of the ball, Bitonio often steps forward before getting back into his kick slide, which causes him to immediately kick back on his heels for fear of getting beaten around on his edge. He also never "builds his house," which means he never kicks and gets in position to deliver a solid punch, his hands often by his side.

These technique issues made Bitonio susceptible to the bull rush, quick push-pulls and swim moves. With an injured ankle, it was only magnified more.

Run Blocking

While Bitonio struggled in pass protection, he still put forth a strong performance in the run game, especially when he was healthy. He plays with power in his base to drive through stalemates, shows the footwork and range to quickly reach and seal 3-technique defensive tackles and can angle drive block to move the point.

Bitonio has the ability to rip and run to cut off the backside when a run goes away from him. He also works "speed scoops" with his center nicely, pushing or overtaking on the backside. Additionally, early in 2015, Bitonio had some monster combo blocks with left tackle Joe Thomas.

Technique was Bitonio's crux in pass protection last season, but he didn't have those same issues in the run game, and his run-blocking grade reflects that. 

Positional Value

Overall

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Pass Protection

After starting just two games in each of his first two seasons, Tim Lelito became a full-time starter in 2015. While he went undrafted out of Grand Valley State in 2013, Lelito showed enough in his first two seasons to earn a starting spot in 2015 at both guard spots.

Lelito likes to brawl in pass protection and loves to deliver an explosive punch at the line of scrimmage. He has no issues creating space to cover up defenders while maintaining half-man leverage by working to wider set points. Once he gets to his spot and settles his feet to build his house, he's able to deliver a well-timed, explosive punch and immediately latch and anchor.

While the third-year guard has good body control and a functional base (along with his exceptional punch), he has room to grow in overall technique.

Run Blocking

What Lelito lacks in pass protection, he more than makes up for in the run game. He's a strong run-blocker who generates great power through his base at the point of attack and shows the footwork, leverage and hand placement to consistently step, latch and gain control of defenders. 

Lelito displays the strength and power to sustain and strain blocks and is able to effectively work zone combos, knowing exactly when to keep pushing, overtake or slip off on a linebacker. When uncovered, he takes outstanding angles when climbing to the second level and is able to track moving defenders to execute blocks. There are times he is even able to climb to the third level and execute blocks on defensive backs. 

Positional Value

Overall

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Spencer Long began 2015 camp as the starting right guard for Washington until fifth overall pick Brandon Scherff moved into the starting lineup. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan challenged Long to continue working on his craft and getting better for his chance, and he didn't have to wait long for it. Long took over for starting left guard Shawn Lauvao when he was placed on season-ending injured reserve after tearing ligaments in his left ankle against the Giants in Week 3.

Active in pass protection, Long quickly short-sets but is able to extend his landmark when he needs to. He has tight hand carriage and shows the power to violently strike defenders, jolting them enough to stop their charge.

Long also has the strength and mobility to leverage and anchor and the quick feet to mirror and stay in front of defenders. At times, he "drifts" in pass protection, making it difficult for him to recover against delayed twists or blitzes. 

Run Blocking

Long plays with a powerful base and generates a lot of force on defenders by jolting them back with a violent blow, driving them off the point of attack. As the season progressed, he improved with his hand usage in the run game. He shows the overall strength and leverage to sustain, strain and power through stalemates.

Long gets after it every snap, especially as a puller. He makes good contact but doesn't always sustain or drive, which allows defenders to slip off his block. He's also inconsistent with his angles up to the second level. Still, he shows the quickness to extend his body to cut off the backside and often fights for hand placement to sustain.

Positional Value

Overall

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Pass Protection

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Clint Boling in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, and he has started 63 games in his five seasons as a pro. In March 2015, the Bengals rewarded him with a five-year, $26 million deal, which made sense for both parties. Boling isn't a plug-and-play scheme fit everywhere, but he fits exactly with what the Bengals do.

Boling is at his best in slide protection where he can predetermine his set, which allows him to be aggressive and effectively give help when needed. In one-on-one situations, he wants to quickly set, get his hands on defenders and mirror, but he doesn't possess enough strength to consistently hold up and anchor against powerful defensive tackles who can quickly escape. 

Run Blocking

Boling wins with quickness and body positioning in the run game, but at no point will he overpower a defender. He shows the footwork and hand placement to reach and quickly flips his hips to hook. He often settles for latching and stalemating at the point of attack.

On vertical double-teams or combo blocks, Boling laterally squares up and vertically explodes, generating decent leverage and vertical push. He displays the footwork and timing to effectively work speed combos and scoop blocks. While he was asked to pull often in 2015, most of the time he settled for fitting up on defenders or throwing his body at the block, completely whiffing at times. 

Positional Value

Overall

Jerome Davis/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Josh Kline was part of the New England Patriots' line shuffle that saw 37 different combinations in 2015. As a result, the third-year guard saw significant time at both left guard and right guard. 

Kline is a solid technician in pass protection who never tries to do too much. He's able to set appropriately to maintain half-man leverage on defenders, allowing him to settle his feet and build his house. He shows good punch timing and hand placement and is able to leverage and absorb the bull rush.

Kline understands where his help is coming from and picks his spots to aggressively set in those situations. When uncovered, he looks for work and shows the awareness to pass off line games.

Run Blocking

Kline plays with a functional base in the run game, allowing him to engage and sustain. He demonstrates the proper footwork needed to get to his landmarks, giving him good initial position at the point of attack.

Kline doesn't power through stalemates, though, often settling for position instead. He does a nice job of quickly chipping in-line defenders as he climbs to the second level, where he's able to fit on linebackers. Mobility and agility to pull and drive through contact are two of his best attributes in the run game.

Positional Value

Overall

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Coming from Georgia Tech's option offense, it's no surprise Shaq Mason is a bit raw in pass protection.

He is at his best when he can sit at the line of scrimmage and throw hands. Mason shows foot quickness and agility when mirroring defenders and smoothly changes directions with the body control and balance to quickly recover.

Mason can be a little too aggressive at times, though, as he constantly sets flat. That leads to him getting beaten to his edge and being susceptible to quick swim or push-pull moves. Still, he displays the strength and lower-body mobility to sink his hips and create leverage with his hands to anchor. He works well in slide protection and knows, for the most part, where he has help.

Run Blocking

Mason plays with good strength, power and explosion in the run game. He uncoils off the ball, quickly engaging and gaining inside hand placement to knock defenders back. His strong base allows him to maintain a good center of gravity and consistently play with outstanding leverage to get under and control defenders.

Mason is able to sustain and power through stalemates. He shows the ability to slam down and secure in-line defenders while working up to the second level, and he generates good force in standing defenders up when stepping same-foot-same-shoulder on deuce-block double-teams.

Above all, Mason is an outstanding puller, which was one of his strongest attributes at Georgia Tech. He can quickly trap defenders, lead up and fit on linebackers and even pull to the perimeter to execute blocks on moving targets.

Positional Value

Overall

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Andy Levitre has been with three different teams over the course of his seven-year NFL career, but one thing remains the same: He is dependable and durable. The Oregon State product hasn't missed a game since joining the league in 2009, notching 112 consecutive starts for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. 

Levitre doesn't possess the size and strength to set, create space and wait to punch and anchor on defenders. Instead, he quickly sets from his coiled stance and explodes up and latches immediately to gain inside hand placement. He has the solid feet to mirror and stay in front of defenders and can quickly redirect and recover.

Levitre is able to slide in either direction and has a good feel for giving help, but he often runs into trouble against elite defensive tackles, at times simply being overwhelmed.

Run Blocking

Levitre has made his money for what he can do in the zone-blocking scheme. He isn't going to overpower anyone at the point of attack, but he can win with quickness, footwork and technique.  

Levitre explodes out of his stance and is able to quickly reach and flip his hip around to hook defenders. He shows the footwork and targeting to effectively run and cut on the backside when runs go away from him. When uncovered, he runs good track angles, climbing to the second level to quickly fit and engage on linebackers.

The Oregon State product is effective in overtaking and slipping off on zone combo blocks and can push the combo lateral when he stays on his block. Levitre doesn't get much push when needing to take double-teams vertical but is able to quickly pin in-line defenders until the linebacker shows and quickly works up.

Positional Value

Overall

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Jack Mewhort's move to left guard has benefited both him and the Colts. While he lacked the overall efficiency in his footwork and extended range needed to play tackle, he has been able to use what he does possess to be an effective guard, providing solid pass protection on the left side.

Mewhort was much improved in pass protection at left guard and showed the ability to explode into his set, creating space and reaching wider set points to cover up defenders. He showed that once he got to his spot and settled his feet to build his house, he was able to punch and latch, which gave him a chance to anchor.

The Ohio State product is effective with his hands and shows good punch timing to strike and latch. He maintains a functional base in pass protection, allowing him to keep even weight distribution, balance and body control while displaying the lower-body strength and mobility to recover when moved off his spot.

Mewhort looks to give help in slide protection when nothing is coming to him, always willing to look for work helping the center or tackle when uncovered in "sort" protection. He shows the foot quickness and lateral agility to mirror defenders and is able to post down inside with an established inside post foot.

Run Blocking

Mewhort isn't going to physically dominate or overpower anyone in the run game, but he is effective at using his feet to put him in proper position. He quickly gets off the ball and gains inside hand placement to control defenders and maintains enough power through his base, allowing him to drive through his insteps to create leverage at the point of attack.

Mewhort creates good vertical push on double-teams by closely stepping hip-to-hip with either the center or left tackle while keeping his shoulders square. He shows the awareness and timing to come off on peaking linebackers and the quickness to pin and keep nose tackles from penetrating at the point of attack when the center is blocking back for pullers.

Still, Mewhort is average at best when asked to pull and waits for contact instead of initiating it. He stops his feet from driving once engaged, often being stalemated right at the point of attack. 

Positional Value

Overall

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Jeff Allen has notched 36 starts in his four-year career with the Chiefs and is currently one of the hottest names at the position on the free-agent market. When healthy, he provides an injection of physicality and energy to the Chiefs offensive line, and his play seems to elevate that of his fellow linemen. 

Allen is at his best when he quickly sets firm and is able to settle on his spot and sit, latch and anchor defenders. He maintains a solid functional base, playing with good lower-body mobility that allows him to keep even weight distribution when he is battling in pass protection.

Allen has the patience, quickness and upper-body explosion to deliver a well-timed punch to stop the charge of defenders, allowing him to latch on and gain the inside hand placement needed to leverage and drop his hips and anchor. He also shows the foot quickness and lateral agility needed to mirror and stay in front of defenders while also displaying the balance and body control to quickly recover when defenders move him off his spot.  

Run Blocking

Allen's fundamental skill set allows him to fit in practically any scheme. He has the footwork, quickness, targeting and hand placement to effectively reach, hook and work his hips around to seal defenders, but he also can lose ground to put him back on a track to cut off the backside. He's a near-perfect fit in the zone-blocking scheme. 

When working zone combo blocks, Allen knows exactly when to keep pushing, overtake or slip off, and it doesn't matter whether it's a "speed scoop" with the center or getting vertical push on a "duo" with the tackle. He executes it.

Allen displays the hip explosion, strength and power to hit, lift and drive defenders, consistently moving the point of attack in the downhill run game. He is also able to stand defenders up, allowing his tackle to come down and get push on "deuce" block double-teams. Allen is an effective pulling guard, whether it be a short trap, a long kick-out or leading up on power.

Vicious in space, Allen is able to track and execute blocks on moving defenders. He blocked more than one defender in space on the same play multiple times in 2015.

Positional Value

Overall

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Pass Protection

After spending time with the Falcons and Lions, Garrett Reynolds joined the Rams in 2015 and had an immediate impact, specifically in the run game. He isn't quite as adept at pass blocking from the left side, but his efforts in the run game proved fruitful as rookie running back Todd Gurley enjoyed immense success in 2015. 

In pass protection, Reynolds quickly sets firm and loves to play in the phone booth. He shows explosive upper-body power when delivering a punch but at times misses with his hands, exposing his chest. He maintains a functional base, allowing him to play with balance and decent weight distribution in his pass-protection demeanor, and he is quick enough with his hands to latch, leverage and sink his hips to anchor against the bull rush.

Still, Reynolds runs into trouble recovering against defenders who can quickly throw multiple counters and escape.

Run Blocking

Reynolds simply flies off the ball in the run game and shows good power through his base to effectively get a push at the point of attack. He shows the upper-body strength to engage and control defenders, though he's a little inconsistent in terms of footwork needed to reach or cut off the backside.

Reynolds can get vertical push when double-teaming and is able to square up his shoulders to engage linebackers on the second level. He's a decent puller when making contact, but he often falls off the block when his feet go dead. He plays hard all the time and often looks for extra blocks downfield to spring a big play. 

Positional Value

Overall

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Pass Protection

James Carpenter proved in 2015 that when healthy, he's an exceptional NFL guard. When the Jets inked him to a four-year deal last March, they probably weren't expecting to get a full 16 games for him at a near-elite level.

In pass protection, Carpenter is able to explosively create space and get to his spot. He shows the patience, quickness and upper-body explosion to deliver a well-timed punch to stop the charge of defenders and is then able to gain the inside hand placement needed to leverage, drop his hips and anchor. 

Carpenter is heavy-handed with his punch and has the foot quickness and lateral agility needed to mirror and stay in front of defenders. He's also great at violently using his inside hand when posting down to take away the inside. At times, he does get his shoulders turned too far away from the line of scrimmage, which makes it difficult for him to have the vision to pass off some twist games and pressures.

Run Blocking

Carpenter is able to win in multiple ways in the run game, and a big reason for that is his footwork.

His ability to maintain a powerful base allows him to get push at the point of attack. He displays the proper tracking with his footwork, quickness, targeting and hand placement to effectively reach, hook and quickly work his hips around to seal defenders. He can also lose ground to put him back on a track to cut off the backside, ripping and running or running and cutting.

Carpenter takes outstanding angles to the second level and is able to engage and drive linebackers. He's good at overtaking and slipping off on combos or double-teams but also understands when to keep pushing vertical. 

A well-rounded guard in most respects, Carpenter is earning his new contract in the run game.

Positional Value

Overall

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Pass Protection

In terms of combining physical abilities (like strength, power and body control) with a skill set built on fundamentals, it gets no better than Matt Slauson. His ability to put it all together became a huge asset for the Chicago Bears this season when he was forced to slide over from left guard, as he provided a solid veteran presence at center while there was injury and uncertainty at that position. 

Slauson wastes little movement in pass protection, efficiently setting with depth to maintain half-man leverage and create space against defenders who attack his edge. He displays a functional base with his insteps firmly dug into the ground, which allows him to slide in either direction or quickly brace, dig in and anchor.

Slauson also shows excellent weight distribution and body control in his pass-protection demeanor, allowing him to waste little movement if needing to recover. He has good patience and punch timing when delivering a blow and shows the hand placement, strength and mobility to quickly anchor. His awareness picking up twist and pressures is excellent, and he isn't afraid to help when uncovered.

Run Blocking

Slauson engages quickly out of his stance in the run game, gaining hand placement to leverage defenders with hip explosion. He shows tremendous square power, generated through his base, to consistently move the point of attack.

Slauson has the footwork and hand placement to quickly reach and drive defenders off the point of attack and is able to drive off his back foot and open his hip enough to dig defenders out on the backside when the run goes away. He is effectively able to pull and create a lane by quickly wheeling his hips, positioning his body between the defender and the ball-carrier. 

On combo blocks and double-teams, Slauson does a good job of loading his hands and delivering a powerful strike to collapse the point, and he is able to square up to fit on linebackers when he comes off. That said, there are times when his feet go dead and he falls off blocks on the second level.

Positional Value

Overall

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Ramon Foster put together arguably his best season as a pro in 2015, playing between a backup center the entire year and a backup left tackle for most of it. Instead of his play dropping, he seemed to get even better, leading a surprisingly good Pittsburgh offensive line into the playoffs.

In pass protection, Foster shows a smooth set that creates space with which to reach set points that are typically wider than what the average guard would set at. This works well for him because of his overall size, and when he gets to his spot, it makes it difficult for defenders to gain enough ground to attack his edge.

Foster is adept at building his house and displays good upper-body explosion when delivering a blow. Once he gets his hand on defenders, he stonewalls most of them, stopping any charge and allowing him to leverage and anchor. There are times when Foster doesn't maintain his post foot and is late mirroring inside counter moves, which forces him to get on the hip of defenders and drive them down, but he does a good job of looking for work and leveling defenders when he is uncovered.

Run Blocking

Foster uses his size, hand placement, strength and brute power to physically overwhelm defenders at the point of attack. There were many plays in 2015 during which he engaged, drove and absolutely engulfed defenders, planting them into the turf.

Foster may not have the footwork and targeting to be a smooth zone blocker, but his ability to play with square power allows him to "gallop" and drive defenders down the middle, widening them on reach blocks and when the run goes away from him.

There were times in 2015 when Foster would step underneath himself and lose power in his base. When his feet would go dead, defenders were able to cross his face. He generates great force to stand defenders up on combos and double-teams while staying hip-to-hip, getting a good vertical push. He also does a good job of squaring up to engage and drive linebackers once he slips off. 

Positional Value

Overall

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Pass Protection

La'el Collins has a physical dominance and mindset that simply can't be taught. Widely regarded as a top left tackle prospect heading into the 2015 draft, the LSU product made the move to left guard seamlessly and is already one of the most physically dominant blockers in the NFL.

Collins shows the ability to create space off the line of scrimmage when exploding into his pass set. He has the feet to mirror and stay in front of defenders and displays good body control, balance and weight distribution needed to recover against strong countermoves.

Collins must continue to develop his pass protection in terms of footwork, patience and hand usage. At times, he is far too aggressive in pass protection, which leads to misjudging his strike-zone distance and mistiming his punch. Playing guard is new to Collins, and the angles in pass protection change when playing a different position. He must still continue to develop his pass-set landmarks, which will put him in position to maintain half-man leverage and effectively use his hands. 

Run Blocking

Collins plays with a tremendous base and shows good lower-body mobility in the run game, which allows him to functionally use the strength, power and explosion he possesses. This is evident at the point of attack.

Collins is often able to sustain and strain to power through stalemates and shows the ability to lose ground with his first step and gain ground with his second step to reach defenders on outside zone. He understands when he can't hook and out-leverage defenders and keeps them flat or angle drive blocks them.

Collins consistently takes proper angles when climbing to block second-level defenders. The awareness, body control and violent finishes he displays on pulls and when getting out in space have been well-documented. I can't help but be reminded of what Larry Allen used to do in similar situations.

Positional Value

Overall

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Alex Boone will be one of the hottest names heading into 2016 free agency, especially at the guard position. He's tough and he works hard—two traits that have allowed him to start 59 games in six years and develop into one of the top guards in the NFL.

Boone may have the best pass set in the league among guards. Despite his height (6'8"), he has the mobility to sink into his hips and be engaged in his stance, allowing him to explosively drive off his front leg. This creates vertical space, allowing him to maintain even weight distribution and half-man leverage to settle his feet and build his house.  

Boone is also effective at jump-setting and using his outside hand to keep defenders off balance, and he shows the foot quickness and violence with his inside hand to deny defenders when they choose to counter inside.

Boone displays outstanding patience and punch timing when delivering a violent strike and is able to latch on, gaining inside control. He shows the overall strength and ability to leverage with his hands to consistently drop his hips and anchor. 

Run Blocking

Appropriately nicknamed "The Rhino," Boone is a fit in any run scheme, combining physicality, strength, quickness and technique. He gets off the ball with bad intentions, using hip explosion, strength, power and hand placement to hit, lift and drive defenders at the point of attack. He also plays with the power in his base to strain and power through stalemates. 

Boone shows the ability to rip and run to cut off the backside when runs go away from him. He does a nice job of using his hands to create leverage and control, and he's able to replace hands when defenders initially win the hand-placement battle.

Boone effectively works "speed scoops" with the center overtaking on the backside and does a great job violently creating leverage stepping same-foot-same-shoulder on deuce block double-teams with the tackle. His angles to the second level are a bit inconsistent, but when he takes the proper angle, he is able to engage and strain flowing defenders. When asked to pull, he does a decent job of digging defenders out.

Positional Value

Overall

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Pass Protection

They don't come any tougher or more physical than Mike Iupati, who seemed to be a perfect fit into the philosophy of the Arizona Cardinals. Their primary focus of the last two offseasons was to upgrade their offensive line with size, physicality and toughness. Iupati fit the bill.

The 28-year-old plays pass protection in a phone booth and is at his best when he can firm-set or jump-set to punch defenders and end the fight immediately. He delivers an outstanding, well-timed punch and is strong through his base, allowing him to sit and anchor against the bull rush.

Iupati's heavy hands stonewall defenders, allowing him to gain inside hand placement. He is effective at sliding and giving help to the backside and does a good job of looking for work when uncovered, but he sometimes lacks the awareness or mental processing to pick up exotic pressures.

Iupati can't create space vertically off the line of scrimmage or expand his set-point angles, so he runs into trouble in one-on-one pass protection against defenders who can get up the field, attack his edge and throw a quick escape move, because he doesn't possess the mobility and body control to recover if he misses with his hands.

Run Blocking

Iupati is a mauler in the run game. He explodes off the ball, quickly engages and often overwhelms defenders on initial contact. The Idaho product plays with a powerful base that allows him to operate with tremendous square power out of his stance, generating good power through his insteps that allow him to strain and drive through to break stalemates. 

Iupati generates good leverage, stepping same-foot-same-shoulder, violently standing up 3-technique defensive tackles on deuce blocks, which allows the left tackle to collapse and get a vertical push. A devastating puller, Iupati creates forceful contact and drives through impact finishing defenders, whether it be on short traps, long kick-outs or on linebackers when leading up on power runs.

When asked to reach 3-techniques, Iupati doesn't possess the quickness and footwork to fully hook defenders, but he's able to power through and angle drive block. When runs go away from him, he will never cut off the backside with targeting, but he shows craftiness by using the defender’s momentum against him. 

Positional Value

Overall

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Despite a disappointing 2014 campaign that saw Logan Mankins join a new team following a long career with the Patriots, the seven-time Pro Bowler bounced back in a big way in 2015. With solid performances in both pass protection and run blocking, he worked his way into the top 10 at the left guard position. 

Mankins likes to set close to the line of scrimmage and get his hands on defenders quickly to anchor. This generally causes issues for most guards in pass protection, but the 33-year-old possesses the foot quickness, body control, weight distribution and overall mobility to quickly recover and make up ground when initially beat.

Mankins is good at using his hands to latch and control, and he's able to consistently rework his hands to gain leverage and keep defenders at bay. There are times where he is off target with his hands and allows defenders into his frame, causing him to get stood up and bull-rushed.

Mankins shows awareness to look for work when uncovered and effectively makes up depth relationship to get back on the same level with the center or left tackle when needing to pass off line games or pressures.

Run Blocking

Mankins still possesses the footwork, powerful base, quickness and hand placement to get the job done in the run game. He does a good job of using the above attributes to always find crafty ways to leverage defenders and move them off the point of attack. When needing to base block, the Fresno State product quickly explodes out of his stance, jolting defenders back then quickly flipping his hips in the opposite direction of the ball-carrier, providing a running lane.

Mankins displays excellent footwork when needing to reach wide 3-technique defensive tackles, but he uses his backside hand to turn defenders out of the gap instead of hooking them, again creating a crease for the running back.

He is savvy on combo blocks and double-teams, quickly making contact and allowing the center or tackle to overtake the block from the force provided by his ricocheting off the defender and up to the next level. Mankins is still a finisher when pulling, running his feet through contact on kick-outs or leading through on power runs.

Positional Value

Overall

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Pass Protection

If you like a good underdog story, look no further than Andrew Norwell. He went undrafted in 2014 out of Ohio State after having an outstanding college career. Fueled and destined to prove those who doubted him wrong, once he was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 7 of his rookie season, he never looked back.

In 2015, there was no drop-off. Norwell physically dominated, raising further questions about why many people determined during the draft process that he was physically limited with little upside.

Norwell displays a good quick- or short-set and is able to expand his set-point landmarks to work through different angles to maintain leverage on defenders. He plays with good pass-protection demeanor, allowing him to maintain even weight distribution and keep balance when needing to recover.

He also shows the foot quickness and lateral movement needed to mirror defenders in one-on-one situations. When his feet are settled, Norwell shows decent punch timing and delivers a solid strike to defenders, allowing him to latch and anchor. When setting with a little more depth, he needs to have better patience in pass protection and at times is too aggressive.

Run Blocking

Norwell's explosive get-off, along with explosive upper-body power, helps him to knock defenders off the ball right out of his stance. He plays with good overall strength and shows enough strength and power in his base to sustain and strain at the point of attack to power through defenders.

Norwell is a violent run-blocker who isn't afraid to get after it. Ultra-competitive, he doesn't quit on plays and displays a nasty streak, always looking to finish blocks and pick up blocks downfield. He also shows good footwork and is able to reach and power-drive 3-techniques and cut off low shades.

Norwell does a good job of stepping with the guy next to him hip-to-hip to get push on double-teams. Solid at squaring shoulders back up to the line of scrimmage when coming off combo blocks onto the second level, he shows good athleticism and agility when asked to pull and when he gets out in space on screens. Norwell plays with a good base that allows him to be efficient in both the run and pass game. 

Positional Value

Overall

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Evan Mathis has spent 11 seasons in the NFL as a dominant guard, the last of which netted him a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos. While injuries slowed him down in pass protection, he remained one of the league's top run-blockers in 2015.

Mathis wins in pass protection when he can explosively jump-set defenders, meeting them at the point of attack and using his upper-body power to punch and gain inside hand placement to leverage and anchor. He shows the foot quickness and body control to mirror and stay in front of defenders sliding in each direction, and he maintains his post foot to post down and take away the inside.

Because Mathis plays so flat and close to the line of scrimmage, when he faces explosive defensive tackles who attack his edge with power, he often has issues stopping their charge and anchor. As strong and powerful as the Alabama product is, he becomes unable to use his physical traits because he never created space off the line and was unable to maintain a functional base that would allow him to effectively punch, anchor and recover if moved off his spot.

In slide protection, Mathis is generally able to give help by punching the backside gap with eyes still toward the slide, allowing him to pick up any pressure that showed.

Run Blocking

Mathis is at his best when zone blocking because he understands the necessary angles to always put himself in position to have success. He has the footwork, targeting and hand placement to effectively reach, hook and work his hips around to seal defenders and possesses the strength and power to vertically push the point of attack, even when reaching laterally.

Mathis shows he can lose ground to put him back on a track to cut off the backside by ripping and running or by cutting to get defenders on the ground. He also displays awareness to know when to keep pushing, overtake or slip off to climb when working zone combos. When uncovered, Mathis takes good angles climbing to the second level and is able to fit and drive.

Positional Value

Overall

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Pass Protection

In 2013, the Giants took Justin Pugh with the 19th overall pick, and the Syracuse product became a steady performer at right tackle in his first two seasons. During the 2015 campaign, he kicked down into left guard, which without question proved to be a good move for him and the Giants. The 25-year-old brings a chip on his shoulder that is evident on film.

Pugh absolutely gets after it in pass protection. He is at his best when he can keep things in a phone booth, aggressively short-setting or jump-setting and throwing hands to stop the charge of defenders. It is the “gift and the curse,” because there were times where his aggressiveness hurt him when he needed to be patient and use good punch-timing. Instead, he missed with his hands and allowed defenders to get inside of his frame to gain inside hand placement and bull-rush him.

Still, Pugh displays good strength to anchor, good balance and the ability to recover, which is an important trait for offensive linemen.

Run Blocking

Pugh excels in the zone-blocking scheme and has proved to be a good puller on power plays. He shows the ability to quickly explode off the ball, engaging defenders to get good initial movement at the point of attack. If he does not win quickly with leverage, Pugh does not show that he can maintain a powerful base to strain and drive through stalemates.

Pugh has the ability to reach and hook 3-technique defensive tackles and can keep wider-aligned 3-techs flat and keep them from penetrating. He consistently takes good angles to the second level, which puts him in position to execute blocks on second-level defenders. He also does a nice job of creating leverage on deuce-block double-teams by stepping same-foot-same-shoulder to hit and lift at the point of attack.

Positional Value

Overall

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Pass Protection

There is something to be said about those who take full advantage of second chances, and Richie Incognito is a prime example. After he was out of football for more than a year due to the well-documented Miami Dolphins bullying scandal, the Buffalo Bills gave Incognito a chance to return to the NFL. Many may focus on the public-relations nightmare that kept Incognito away from the game in 2014, but those who pay attention to offensive line play will recognize he made good use of his time away, clearly developing his skill set and building his game. 

Incognito loves to set tight to the line of scrimmage and strike quickly to get his hands on and stonewall defenders in pass protection. Even though he is at his best when he is aggressive and not giving space, he does show the ability to change his set points and kick to maintain leverage against outside rushers. The aggressive nature with which Incognito plays has led to him having some issues, such as losing patience and lunging forward to punch defenders with wiggle, which leads to him being susceptible to quick countermoves.

Incognito displays the balance and weight distribution needed to quickly recover if moved off his spot or compromised, and he shows the suddenness to post down and take away the inside.

Run Blocking

Incognito pins his ears back in the run game. He's a nasty lineman who is always looking for that little extra shot. He explodes off the ball, generating enough force to deliver a good initial jolt, which allows him to quickly engage and leverage defenders.

When Incognito gets inside hand placement, his powerful base allows him to sustain and strain to power through stalemated defenders. There are times where he gets a little overextended and overaggressive when trying to force a finish, which eventually leads to him falling off the block.

As an effective puller, Incognito explodes through contact on short traps and can kick out or log and wheel when asked to long pull. He shows the body control and agility when leading up to fit on power and can really do it all. He generates leverage and vertical push when working "deuce" blocks and "ace" block double-teams at the point of attack and possesses the footwork and targeting needed on zone-blocking plays.

Physicality is the name of his game, but Incognito is also crafty enough to use finesse to get the job done. Good in space on one-on-one situations, he shows he can track and effectively block moving targets.

Positional Value

Overall

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Gabe Jackson is a monster of a man, which sometimes played against him at Mississippi State. Now listed at 335 pounds, he appears thinner, more athletic and more agile than ever—and the results back that up. Many may not know him now, but it won't be long before he is a household name and an elite NFL guard.

Jackson understands his strengths in pass protection. He does a good job of quick-setting and finding his strike zone to punch and anchor defenders, and he has great overall size and length. On tape, you see Jackson constantly creating space between him and defenders when his arms are outstretched. He shows he can punch and snatch with his outside hand while leaving the inside hand free for counters.

He excels at "looking for work" or helping the center or tackle when uncovered. He effectively uses his size and strength when it comes to being able to sit and anchor against the bull rush as well.

Jackson plays with a good base and never brings his feet too close together. He also shows the foot quickness and agility to efficiently post down to take away the inside. At times, he misses with his hands and exposes his frame, allowing defenders into him to bull-rush him, but most of the time, he is able to re-leverage to gain control.

Run Blocking

Jackson shows a good get-off at the snap of the ball and has the ability to hit, lift and drive defenders off the ball. The mammoth guard is thick through his upper and lower body and plays with the strength to match, especially when needing to break stalemates in the run game.

Jackson is consistently able to engage, leverage with his hands and overpower defenders at the point of attack to get push off the ball. He shows good hand placement and does a great job of using his hands to leverage and turn defenders.

When Jackson was at Mississippi State, I noticed he played with strength and power more than with ballistic explosion, but two years into his professional career, I see the ability to load and functionally use hip explosion. It should be noted that hip explosion is not easy to develop, especially in bigger athletes with poor body composition. Jackson has worked at it, and it shows on tape.

Positional Value

Overall

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Pass Protection

Kelechi Osemele has proved that when he's healthy, he can simply dominate. He provides a level of physicality and attitude that sets his product apart from any other guard out there. The former second-round pick was slowed by a chronic back issue to start his career and had season-ending back surgery midway through the 2013 season. The 51-game starter made a full recovery for the 2014 season and has put together some outstanding football the last two seasons.

In 2015, Osemele showed he has legitimate position flexibility, and as an unrestricted free agent, he'll without a doubt be a hot commodity if he hits the open market. 

Osemele has shaped his game to allow his technique to highlight his physical traits and ability, making him fundamentally sound in pass protection. This was verified when he slid out to play left tackle—arguably one of the most difficult positions in football.

Osemele is able to set defenders many different ways and can create space vertically off the line of scrimmage, getting to his spot to anchor or show he can set at a 45-degree angle while maintaining half-man leverage. He does a nice job of picking his spots in jump-setting defenders and is able to punch and anchor right away.

The four-year vet shows explosive upper-body power, delivering a solid punch with the strength, base and ability to leverage with his hands to anchor against the bull rush. He displays outstanding foot quickness and body control needed to post down and take away the inside and shows good usage of his inside hand to leverage defenders. At times he gets too aggressive, looking to throw a devastating punch and ending up lunging and missing with his hands altogether.

Run Blocking

There is no position blocking or fitting up with Osemele in the run game. Everything he does is with intensity and physicality.

Osemele gets off the ball and shows the strength, power and explosiveness to get consistent movement at the point of attack. He has the ability to lose ground with his first step and gain ground with his second step to reach defenders on outside zone, and he's often able to generate enough force on his third step to overwhelm defenders and put them on skates. Osemele has finished many defenders on reach blocks within the first three steps.

He is outstanding with his targeting, cutting off the backside when the run goes away from him. He takes great tracks climbing to the second level and is relentless when exploding into linebackers, often latching and driving them right into the turf.

Positional Value

Overall

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Pass Protection

When the Green Bay Packers selected Josh Sitton with the 135th pick in the 2008 NFL draft, I'm not sure they expected he would be the best left guard in football eight years later—or maybe they did. No team in the NFL is better than the Packers at scouting, drafting and developing starting offensive linemen outside of the first three rounds of the draft. Sitton is a prime example. 

It's impressive to see the way Sitton wins in pass protection, as he doesn't create space to work at traditional pass-set angles. He is not only at his best, but he simply dominates defenders by setting firm or jump-setting, punching and anchoring them at the line of scrimmage.

Sitton's machine-like feet, powerful base and excellent balance allow him to always be in position to make a stand against the NFL's best defensive tackles. He is good with his hands and displays excellent strike-zone recognition and punch timing, knowing the distance in which he can deliver an explosive two-hand strike or keeps defenders off balance with independent hand usage.

Sitton is rarely moved off his spot, but since he is able to maintain a powerful base with even weight distribution, he has the balance and body control needed to recover. I'm amazed, with him setting so close to the line of scrimmage and the vertical nature of David Bakhtiari's set, that he has the awareness to identify and make up ground to get back on the same level as Bakhtiari to pass off line games and pressures.

Run Blocking

Sitton can do it all in the run game. He's able to explode off the ball and hit, lift and drive defenders when needing to base block at the point of attack. He also maintains a powerful base and strong hand placement to sink his hips to re-leverage, sustain, strain and drive through stalemates.

Sitton shows quick and efficient feet allowing him to gain the hand placement and control to reach and work his hips around to hook and seal 3-technique defensive tackles. When a run goes away from him, he has the targeting and suddenness to fully cross face and cut off the backside.

Sitton has the quickness and overall strength to pin defenders at the point of attack, allowing his center to pull. He is effective at pulling in either direction and can track and execute against moving targets or dip and explode to run through committed targets. 

Positional Value

Overall