Spring Break
Impressive Ends, Tackles In This Year's Draft Class
NFL Draft
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
Offensive Line
1) Jake Long, Sr., Michigan - He stayed in school last year despite being a definite first round pick and it paid off. Now Long is certain to be picked in the top-5 and is even in consideration by the Dolphins for the No. 1 pick. He proved this past year that aside from being a dominant run blocker he can neutralize the opposition's best pass rusher, allowing only one sack all season to the second-best defensive end in this class, Ohio State's Vernon Gholston.
2) Ryan Clady, Jr., Boise State - An outstanding pass blocker for the Broncos, he is what NFL scouts love in a left tackle. Blessed with the agility and quickness to keep up with speed rushers off the edge, Clady needs to improve his strength and bulk. Right now he is best suited for a zone-blocking team like the Denver Broncos but he has a lot of upside and the latest he will go is the 13th pick to the Panthers.
3) Chris Williams, Sr., Vanderbilt - An under-the-radar guy with casual fans, Williams has all the tools it takes to be a very good left tackle in the NFL. He has great size (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) and the athletic ability to be efficient in the run game and shut down pass rushers. After his workout at the Combine, don't be surprised if Williams ultimately comes off the board in the mid-to-late first round range.
Defensive End
1) Chris Long, Sr., Virginia - One of the top-3 players in this entire class. Long is everything you want in a football player. He comes from great bloodlines with his father being Hall-of-Famer Howie Long, but Chris has made a name for himself on the gridiron. The prototype 3-4 defensive end who can shut down the run and clog up lanes while also bringing heat on the quarterback, Long is more than capable of playing in a 4-3 on the strong side. His motor is non-stop, and combine that with his amazing strength and athletic ability and you have a guy that should not fall out of the top-4 in this draft.
1) Jake Long, Sr., Michigan - He stayed in school last year despite being a definite first round pick and it paid off. Now Long is certain to be picked in the top-5 and is even in consideration by the Dolphins for the No. 1 pick. He proved this past year that aside from being a dominant run blocker he can neutralize the opposition's best pass rusher, allowing only one sack all season to the second-best defensive end in this class, Ohio State's Vernon Gholston.
2) Ryan Clady, Jr., Boise State - An outstanding pass blocker for the Broncos, he is what NFL scouts love in a left tackle. Blessed with the agility and quickness to keep up with speed rushers off the edge, Clady needs to improve his strength and bulk. Right now he is best suited for a zone-blocking team like the Denver Broncos but he has a lot of upside and the latest he will go is the 13th pick to the Panthers.
3) Chris Williams, Sr., Vanderbilt - An under-the-radar guy with casual fans, Williams has all the tools it takes to be a very good left tackle in the NFL. He has great size (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) and the athletic ability to be efficient in the run game and shut down pass rushers. After his workout at the Combine, don't be surprised if Williams ultimately comes off the board in the mid-to-late first round range.
Defensive End
1) Chris Long, Sr., Virginia - One of the top-3 players in this entire class. Long is everything you want in a football player. He comes from great bloodlines with his father being Hall-of-Famer Howie Long, but Chris has made a name for himself on the gridiron. The prototype 3-4 defensive end who can shut down the run and clog up lanes while also bringing heat on the quarterback, Long is more than capable of playing in a 4-3 on the strong side. His motor is non-stop, and combine that with his amazing strength and athletic ability and you have a guy that should not fall out of the top-4 in this draft.
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Steve
posted 2/15/08 @ 8:47 AM EST
Due get facts corrected. Fred Davis is 6' 4" NOT "just over 6'2".
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