5. Damien Lewis, IOL, LSU
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 327
40-Yard Dash: 5.24 seconds
Bench Press: 27 reps
Vertical Jump: 30 inches
Broad Jump: 9 feet
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: In contrast to many of the prospects in this year’s draft, Damien Lewis was an unknown coming out of Canton High School in Senatobia, Mississippi. Despite playing on both the offensive and defensive lines, he was an unranked prospect and chose to go the community college route, becoming a two-time junior college All-American at Guard for Northwest Mississippi Community College. By the end of his two years as a stater at guard, he was now a three-star recruit and the second-ranked JUCO guard in the 2018 class according to 247Sports.com. He committed to LSU and was an immediate starter at left guard for the Tigers the past two seasons.
Stat to Know: According to data from Pro Football Focus, Lewis had 204 “true pass sets” last season, one of the highest figures for any guard in the nation.
Strengths: Lewis has the combination of power and explosiveness to be an impact guard at the next level. His strength jumps off the film. Whether working a combination block, handling someone at the point of attack in a gap/power design or on those occasions when he can get to the outside or in space, Lewis just dominates defenders as a run blocker:
This is Lewis working against Raekwon Davis, an Alabama defensive tackle who measured in at 6’6″, 311 pounds at the Scouting Combine. Yet here is Lewis corkscrewing Davis into the ground with ease. This is power at the point of attack.
In these interior offensive line profiles, the idea of “finishing” up front has been detailed ad nauseum. But it matters for the offensive line. If you doubt that, just log onto Twitter and declare that it does not, and brace for the impact from OL Twitter. Before long those who at and breathe the position will have video evidence and reasoned arguments to prove you wrong.
If they do provide a clip for you, it might look like this:
There’s completing your block and then there’s finishing him into the turf. That’s finishing.
In pass protection Lewis has some flaws, which will be covered in a moment. But he has great awareness in protection when it comes to identifying stunts and twists. His upper body strength allows him to handle most pass rushing moves that he sees, and perhaps the best trait to highlight here is that he has room for improvement when it comes to handling this part of the game.
Weaknesses: Lewis does have some technique and execution issues to clean up in pass protection. He plays with a very wide base, which almost eliminates his ability to reset and counter pass rushers who attack him with a set and array of moves. In addition, he also plays a bit high in pass protection, which his chest exposed to the rusher. That leaves him vulnerable to bull rushing type of moves, and on one play against Auburn he tried to absorb a blitz and found himself right on his back in the blink of an eye. Cleaning up what he does technique wise will make him a much better pass blocker.
Conclusion: PFF described Lewis as someone who “[w]ants to take your soul in the run game.” That fits him to a T. He is a complete finisher in the run game who wants to embarrass his opponent at the point of attack. Lewis swallows linebackers when he works to the second level, works combination blocks extremely well and is a force in the gap/power part of the playbook. Sure there are things to clean up in pass protection but if you’re looking for an interior offensive who is going to just take no prisoners on the inside, your search ends here.
Comparison: Josh Sitton was a great finisher as a blocker, and you can see how Lewis could be that kind of player in the league.