Over the next few months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up into the 2020 NFL Draft. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.
Today, we are taking a look at UConn offensive tackle Matt Peart.
Honors and Awards
- First-team All-American Athletic Conference (2019)
Highlights
Matt Peart vs Kenny Willekes pic.twitter.com/UrqVvEPBjl
— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) January 24, 2020
Matt Peart, UConn
Like Jones, Matt Peart (#65) is a former Basketball player. He has superb length and movement skills. He's a nimble, quick footed Tackle but does need some technical refinement. He's the later round, developmental tackle I'm hitching my wagon to. pic.twitter.com/frEIgqETww
— Daniel Hughes (@DanHughesDraft) February 1, 2020
Another athletic RT, UConn's Matt Peart shows off his footwork in this clip. Adding strength and continuing to improve his craft makes the sky the limit. #SnapScout pic.twitter.com/5HeKKQX4oR
— Chad Reuter (@chad_reuter) November 6, 2019
Strengths
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NFL frame with outstanding arm length to initiate contact.
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Quick initial set-up to cut off speed. Resets quickly to recover-and-counter after a rusher’s first punch/move.
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Displays bounce in his feet to stay coordinated mid-shuffle – his hoops background is evident, rarely giving up the corner.
- Good lateral quickness and able to race ahead of the pack on pull blocks and screens.
- Good reactive athleticism to recover when beaten around the edge
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Keeps his balance through contact and stays off the ground.
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Rolls hips and drives his legs to uproot defenders as a run blocker.
- Four years as starter at both left and right tackle.
Weaknesses
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Play strength needs continued development. Not a powerful tackle and won’t generate much push as in-line blocker.
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Technique is a work-in-progress.
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Not a natural knee-bender, leading to pads and hips tending to rise off the snap.
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Inconsistent hands, creating awkward positioning and allowing rushers to get inside his frame and bully him backwards. Shoots hands too soon.
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Needs to do a better job locking out and sitting in his stance to maintain spacing.
- Allows defenders to rip through his edge.
Summary
Peart, a four-year starter at UConn, is a good athlete that boasts terrific length. The 6-foot-5 and 310 pound tackle doesn’t have overwhelming power to dominate his opponents, but he quickly finds his landmarks and uses his natural movement skills, base and length to keep rushers busy. He is a plus run blocker, especially on stretch plays. The bottom line is that Peart isn’t an overpowering blocker, but he gets in the way and finds ways to keep defenders occupied, projecting as an eventual starter once his hand technique and functional strength improve.
Chargers Fit
Peart needs to add strength and work on his technique if he wishes to reach his play potential. But once he gets stronger and develops more of a mean streak, which shouldn’t take long, he has the physical traits to slide in at right tackle and start. That could come as soon as Week 1, Week 9 in his first year as a pro or Year 2.
