Category: Interior OL

Weston Franklin was a big scouting winner in Georgia Tech’s win over Florida State

Draft profile review of Georgia Tech center Weston Franklin, a big winner in Georgia Tech’s win over Florida State

Georgia Tech pulled off the upset against ACC rival Florida State in the Week 0 feature game in Dublin, Ireland. There were a lot of reasons for the Yellow Jackets coming out on top, but one who should not be overlooked is center Weston Franklin.

No. 72 showed off some impressive, translateable skills in the pivot against a highly-touted Seminoles defensive line. Franklin did it almost from the first snap.

On Georgia Tech’s third offensive play, Franklin showed discipline in not giving away a screen pass to the right side. A lot of times, centers will leave early or lean out and give the play away. Not Franklin, who then showed a nice burst to get out and got a shoulder into a pursuit defender, sending him sprawling to the turf.

On the very next play, Franklin again showed his quick feet. A run play to the left called for Franklin to climb to his right and pin the backside DE, getting through the DT on the way. Mission accomplished. The Yellow Jackets capped off that opening drive with a short TD run right behind Franklin, who jarred well-regarded Seminoles DT Darrell Jackson clean out of the hole.

There’s a lot of backside seal responsibility for Franklin in Georgia Tech’s running scheme. They pull the guards quite a bit, leaving Franklin to step and pick up behind them. For the most part, No. 72 was quick in engaging and providing a little pop. He will get torqued up a bit when trying to stand his ground; on a couple of designed QB runs on Georgia Tech’s second drive, Franklin got jolted upright and twisted his back while trying to maintain leverage. It (mostly) worked, but that was as much about Florida State’s DTs just not being very dynamic in separating off Franklin’s block.

The biggest knock I took from watching Franklin against Florida State was that his hands weren’t always low enough or active enough when trying to generate power. He was much more effective on the move in showing power, in part because his hands were more consistently in a place of power against the defender.

Franklin made the Senior Bowl watch list before the season, and it’s easy to see why. He has some skills and some traits that captured my attention, and I want to see more of No. 72.

2023 NFL Draft: O’Cyrus Torrence scouting report

Scouting report on Florida OG O’Cyrus Torrence in the 2023 NFL draft

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A massive man moved out of Florida, offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence will look to be an immediate starter at the next level as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.

Here is everything you need to know about Florida’s biggest Gator:

2023 NFL Draft: Cody Mauch scouting report

Scouting report on North Dakota State OL Cody Mauch

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A former walk-on tight end at North Dakota State, Cody Mauch has made an incredible transition into one of the better offensive line prospects in the 2023 draft.

Here is everything you need to know about the Bison blocker:

2020 NFL draft: Damien Lewis scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about LSU offensive line prospect Damien Lewis

Damien Lewis | OL | Louisiana State

Elevator Pitch

Lewis is a road grader at the offensive guard position. He clears paths in the run game. However, he is very limited in pass protection. With the right blocking scheme, Lewis could be a good piece for a team that believes in establishing the run.

Vitals

Height | 6-2

Weight | 327

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Road grader, bulldozer. Whatever term you want to use here, Damien Lewis is a path clearer in the run game. His size and brute strength allows him to blow defensive lineman off the ball at the point of attack. He will get the second level looking to plow the first linebacker or defensive back that he can set his sights on. Defenders would do well to avoid him if at all possible.

Given his strength, bull rushers will have a hard time gaining any traction against Lewis. When he can’t hold off the rush, does a good job of dropping his anchor to stonewall any attempts to get through him to get to the quarterback. He will maul defenders and wide gaps for ball carriers to get through.

Weaknesses

Limited athlete in space. While his calling card is run blocking, pass blocking is on the other end of the spectrum. He lacks the lateral quickness and footwork to deal with stunts, twists and speed rushers. Teams will need to allocate help to his side at times.

Technique with his pass sets and hand placement are lacking. His hand placement can be a bit wide at times. Needs to narrow that aspect of his game. Fixing his technique will help alleviate some of the issues for Lewis. Needs to be quicker with his footwork.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Jonah Jackson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Ohio State offensive line prospect Jonah Jackson

Jonah Jackson | OL | Ohio State

Elevator Pitch

Jackson spent four seasons at Rutgers before transferring to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility. Jackson is an interior lineman prospect who could play center or guard at the NFL level. Likely being a backup to start his career but could find his way into the starting lineup early on.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 306

Class | Redshirt Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Jackson provides flexibility at the NFL level that will make him an attractive option as general managers and front offices look to build their rosters. He can be an option at both guard and at center. A player who can fill the role of guard and center would allow teams to focus roster spots elsewhere with a player like Jackson.

He does a good job of looking for work, never a player that stands and watches. He can get to the second level to create holes for the running game. Isn’t a mauler but does play with a sense of urgency and aggression at the guard position. Can handle twists and stunts well.

Weaknesses

Technique is a work in progress for Jackson. At times it appears as if he isn’t quite sure what to do with his hands. Needs to be quicker with his punch early in his sets. His length at the position is average so that might be a disadvantage for him. Really needs to hone his technique to find the field early on in his career.

Jackson stands too tall when getting into his sets, will need to work on that bend. This if one of the detriments to his game. Teams will need to focus on getting the technique right. His base is a bit narrow and needs to widen out to help with his blocking. Can be a bit of a project but still has traits that teams will love.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Logan Stenberg scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Kentucky offensive line prospect Logan Stenberg

Logan Stenberg | OL | Kentucky

Elevator Pitch

Stenberg is a nasty finisher and mauler from his offensive guard spot. A multi-year starter for Kentucky is a plug and play offensive lineman for a team that like to run power football. In close quarters, Stenberg can be a factor in establishing dominance in the trenches.

Vitals

Height | 6-6

Weight | 317

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Stenberg does a good job of latching onto his defender and is able to sustain his blocks well. His hands can be like vice grips in that when he locks onto a defensive lineman, odds that a defender can shed his block are very minimal at best. Plays with a mauler like attitude and demeanor. When he gets pushback with a bullrush, Stenberg is able to sit down and anchor. He shows tremendous strength.

He can be a stonewall at the point of attack in his pass sets. Does well to keep pass rushers at bay even when trying for quick moves inside. Shows good footwork and doesn’t get beaten much with twists and stunts. Good football IQ and understanding of his assignments and what the defense is trying to do up front.

Weaknesses

His biggest weakness might be his flexibility or lack there of. He doesn’t provide the ability to be much in terms of getting out in space when asked to pull. His lack of balance is on full display. Moving lateral is virtually non-existent for him.

Stengerg is very stiff as an athlete, so again, it will really limit what he can do at the NFL level. Coming out of his stance, he stands straight up at the line of scrimmage most often. There is absolutely zero bend from his stance which can cause him problems with leverage.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Shane Lemieux scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Oregon offensive line prospect Shane Lemieux

Shane Lemieux | OL | Oregon

Elevator Pitch

A four-year starter at guard on a talented Oregon offensive line, Lemieux is a reliable blocker who plays with a high motor and a mean streak. He can stand to improve as a pass protector, and his technique can be sharpened up a bit, but he has the potential to develop into a solid starter with time.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 310

College Bio Page

Strengths

While some offensive linemen in this class have more flash than Lemieux does, there aren’t too many players that have the grit that he has.

A portly and well-proportioned blocker, Lemieux has a wide frame that packs plenty of raw strength into it. He packs a powerful punch at the point of attack and has the grip strength to latch onto a defender and seal them off to create running lanes for his teammates. His lower body also carries plenty of strength, as he keeps his legs churning when engaged with his opponents to drive them back and pound them into the dirt. That power also helps him in pass protection, where he has the recovery strength in his anchor and core to neutralize bull rushes and other power rushes.

Lemieux plays with a high motor and fights hard on every down to win the rep. He has shown some capabilities of being able to block on the move, as he takes good angles as a down blocker or a pull blocker to create holes in the ground game. He has an impressive resume too, as he was a four-year starter at left guard who was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press. His reputation as a leader on Oregon’s offensive line should help further boost his appeal.

Weaknesses

Though Lemieux brings a high floor to the table, he doesn’t bring a sky-high ceiling. He isn’t a stellar athlete, as while he can block with coordination at the second level and while on the move, he doesn’t have very good lateral agility in pass protection. He tends to struggle against stunting edge rushers, blitzes, and explosive and slipper interior defenders.

Lemieux has some technical flaws to his game, as well. His pad level is inconsistent, and he could stand to sink his hips on more of a regular basis and avoiding shooting upright. He has shown some flashes in his hand placement, but there are times when his strikes are misplaced and mistimed. His overall range as a blocker is fairly limited.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Isaiah Wilson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Georgia offensive tackle prospect Isaiah Wilson

Isaiah Wilson | OT | Georgia

Elevator Pitch

Wilson is a massive individual who brings plenty of raw power, nastiness and potential at the next level. He’s a work in progress, but the upside is there for him to be a solid starter at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-6

Weight | 350

College Bio Page

Strengths

You don’t even need to watch Wilson’s tape to determine one of his strengths; one look at him tells the story.

Wilson is absolutely huge, even by offensive line standards. The second-heaviest player to attend the Combine this year, the Georgia product has a hulking frame with a wide chest, a strong lower body and broad shoulders. That bulk correlates to his play strength, as he packs a powerful punch at the point of attack. He has consistent grip strength and is able to overwhelm defenders at the point of attack. Once he grips onto an opponent, he has the drive in his lower body and the nasty edge in his game to knock them backwards and finish them off.

With the run-heavy offense Georgia tends to run, Wilson has plenty of experience blocking in the ground game and excels there the most. He has some potential as a pass blocker though, as he has shown solid lateral quickness and footwork for someone as big as he is. When he gets his hands placed correctly, he does a solid job of finishing the defender off and locking that defender out of the play entirely.

Weaknesses

Wilson is definitely a work in progress and will likely require a year on the bench. He doesn’t play with good body control and can struggle maintaining his balance, whether it be when he advances to the second level or when he lunges forward and mistimes his jabs. His hand placement can be hit or miss, which can allow defenders to slip underneath him. That can be difficult for him to counter, seeing as he doesn’t play with stellar pad level or flexibility in his lower half.

Though it isn’t a surprise considering how big he is, Wilson is a bit stiff-hipped and struggles with adjusting his set points and rotating to square up to the defender in pass protection. There are times where he loses to an edge rusher going forward with a speed rush, so he enters recovery mode and begins running instead of shuffling along with them. He’s also declaring as a redshirt sophomore, so there is some slight inexperience there, even though he was a two-year starter at Georgia.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Solomon Kindley scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Georgia offensive line prospect Solomon Kindley

Solomon Kindley | OL | Georgia

Elevator Pitch

Kindley is a powerful and nasty interior blocker who plays with a mauler mentality and packs plenty of strength in a wide frame. He’s not the greatest athlete you’ll find on the offensive line, but he’s a take-no-prisoners lineman who can start in the NFL down the line.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 337

College Bio Page

Strengths

At 337 pounds, Kindley is a mammoth of an offensive lineman, and that bulky frame translates well to his play strength.

Kindley has tree trunks for legs and generates plenty of drive in his lower body when he locks up with a defender. He plays with a high motor and fights hard to drive his opponents into the dirt on a down-by-down basis. He also packs a powerful punch at the point of attack, and when he grips onto a defender, he is able to lock them up and manhandle them, especially in run support. The Georgia offense places a lot of importance in the ground game, and that experience shows up in Kindley’s game, as he excels at sealing off defenders and opening up holes for his teammates.

A two-year starter who also started in nearly half of the games in the 2017 season, Kindley has shown some promise in regards to his hand placement, as he can dominate once he places his strikes correctly. For such a heavy offensive lineman, he plays with solid footwork in pass protection and has demonstrated good overall patience and some short-area burst at times. He can accelerate to the second level better than one would expect for his size.

Weaknesses

Kindley’s raw power comes at the expense of consistent agility. Though he’s not bad for his size, he can’t change direction incredibly well, and his lack of lateral quickness in pass protection puts him in precarious positions at times. His flexibility from the waist down could be improved, and while he has the raw power to overwhelm defenders, he can do a better job of sinking his hips into contact at times. He doesn’t play with optimal body control when climbing to the second level, as he struggles with maintaining a balance frame on the move.

That lack of balance also can come into play when Kindley lunges, which is a bit of a reoccurring trend on his tape. He can do a better job of consistently maintaining proper hand placement, too. When an edge rusher cuts inside on a stunt or an interior defender fires off the snap, he sometimes struggles with squaring himself up to the defender and adjusting his hips to get in their way.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Ben Bredeson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Michigan offensive line prospect Ben Bredeson

Ben Bredeson | OL | Michigan

Elevator Pitch

Bredeson is a tenacious and powerful interior offensive lineman who possesses leadership qualities and can help a team in the trenches and in the locker room. While he has his athletic limitations, he can develop into a solid starter in time.

Vitals

Height | 6-5

Weight | 315

College Bio Page

Strengths

If you’re looking for a hard-nosed interior blocker with determination to spare, Bredeson is your guy.

A four-year starter at Michigan, Bredeson made an immediate impact in college, and part of that was due in part to the pure power in his game. He has a well-built frame with very good length and good proportions. He packs a powerful punch at the point of attack and has the grip strength to latch onto a defender and overwhelm his opponents. His anchor strength is also impressive, as he has the raw strength to recover from a power move and counter it with a pushback of his own. When he latches his hands inside your shoulder pads, it’s game over.

Bredeson is an intelligent blocker who does a good job of picking up blitzes and contributing with combo blocks and double teams. He has shown some potential in terms of his hand placement, as he can effectively land his strikes at times. He also brings value off the field, as he was named a team captain in both of his final two seasons at Michigan and has a reputation for being a positive force in the locker room.

Weaknesses

For all of the power Bredeson brings to the table, he doesn’t complement it incredibly well with athletic abilities. His lateral agility is below average, as he struggles with changing direction and doesn’t move around too fluidly in pass protection. He doesn’t have stellar acceleration when climbing to the second level as a run blocker, and his overall flexibility on pull blocks and down blocks could be improved.

As a part of this lack of high-end athleticism, Bredeson can struggle with sinking his hips and staying low at the point of attack at times. His pad level and overall body control isn’t very consistent, and he can be knocked off balance at times by forceful or quick-moving defenders.

Projection: Day 3

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