Mayock's thoughts on R tackle later in draft

[OconRecon]

Here's some good Mayock stuff. Deep in the draft talk:

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The NFL draft is a little more than two months away, and though the attention given to the Browns' needs is focused on wide receiver and defensive end in the first two rounds, they need plenty of help at other positions.

Right tackle is another need. It doesn't have the priority of a pass-rushing end, a game-changing receiver, or an outside linebacker, and the Browns would not have to spend a high pick to get a tackle to bookend Joe Thomas.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says the Browns could get a quality right tackle anywhere from the third to the fifth round. They should be in the market for one because they cut John St. Clair, who started 10 games at right tackle last year.

Tony Pashos, signed last year in free agency, played in only three games before an ankle injury forced him on injured reserve. A shoulder injury limited Pashos to five games in 2009 when he was with the 49ers.

"You can go down to the third or fourth rounds and find some pretty solid guys," Mayock said in a conference call previewing the NFL scouting combine, which starts Thursday in Indianapolis. "Jah Reid from Central Florida and Joe Barksdale from LSU – to me they're both going to be right tackles.

"Reid is immense (6-71⁄2, 325 pounds). He doesn't look good in drills, but he looks good when you get 11 players on the field.

"Barksdale is a little bit of an underachiever. He was a starter at LSU. He has all the height and weight and you want, but he's not real consistent."

Mayock said Jason Pinkston of Pitt is another possibility in the fourth or fifth round.

"I think there are enough tackles in this draft," Mayock said. "I believe you should be able to find a right tackle, anyway. You're looking for a tough guy that's going to get help from the running back in the passing game. They aren't quite as gifted as the left tackle, so they're easier to find."

Here's a quick scouting report from ESPN Insider on the three tackles Mayock mentioned:

- Jah Reid, Central Florida, 6-71⁄2, 325: Above average work ethic … Can ride edge rushers past the pocket … Quick enough to establish position and engulf defenders but doesn't consistently get movement … Lacks elite awareness.

- Joe Barksdale, LSU, 6-43⁄4, 336: Can hold up against more traditional power rushers but has problems keeping balance and anchoring against more explosive speed-to-power moves … More of a positional blocker than a road grader. Waist-bender and does not generate a lot leverage at the point of attack … Can cover up defenders in phone booth situations to open up creases … Overall football instincts are above-average.

- Jason Pinkston, Pitt, 6-31⁄2, 313: Questions about his love and commitment to the weight room … Relatively light on his feet and gets into sets quickly. Does not have an elite powerful punch but does a nice job of maintaining proper hand placement … Displays quick first step (in run blocking). Needs to clean up initial angles and acquire better hat placement … Displays above-average natural instincts for the position.

If the Browns do not take a tackle, it means they plan to go with Shawn Lauvao at right guard and play Pashos or Floyd Womack at right tackle. Womack, like Pashos, is a health risk. He was bothered most of last season with a troublesome knee, but he fought through it to start 15 games.

Decisions, decisions

Deciding what to do with the sixth pick in the first round might be a lot easier for the Browns if the Bengals take Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green fourth, judging by how Mayock evaluates Green.

"He's a special wide receiver," Mayock said. "He's the best wide receiver I saw on tape. He's got the combination of height, width, speed. He catches the football. I believe he's physical enough to get off press coverage.

"If you're ever going to look at a wide receiver and say this is the guy that fits any offense, I think A.J. Green's the guy."

The Browns have the fifth pick in the second round, pick 37 overall. Mayock said he has "eight or nine defensive ends with first round grades." That means a quality defensive end could get pushed into the top of the second round and still be available to the Browns, though not the quality of Da'Quann Bowers of Clemson, Marcell Dareus of Alabama (projected as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 alignment), Robert Quinn of North Carolina or J.J. Watt of Wisconsin.

"Typically four defensive ends go in the first round," Mayock said. "And I start looking at kids like Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple, an underclassman. He could be a defensive tackle or a defensive end. He could go from 25 to 40, and the kid is a heck of a football player. I think he would have fit in the first round a year ago easily. And he might get pushed into the second round with the quality and depth of this defensive line group."

Mayock said wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin from Pitt could fit what the Browns need in the second round if they choose a pass rusher first. Baldwin is 6-45⁄8, 224 pounds. Baldwin caught 53 passes for 822 yards and five touchdowns in 2010. He caught 128 passes for 2,337 yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons.

"He's an athletic freak," Mayock said. "I think he's probably going to put on a show at the Combine. With his height, weight and speed, I don't see him getting much past the mid‑point of the second round."

Waiting at six

Todd McShay of ESPN has the Browns taking Dareus with the sixth pick. Dareus might not be around at six if the teams picking before the Browns do their homework, according to Mayock and Mayock's sidekick on the NFL Network, former star defensive lineman Warren Sapp.

Mayock and Sapp both say Dareus is better than Nick Fairley, the huge defensive tackle from Auburn.

"They are both great football players. The key in evaluating Fairley is whether or not you're going to get the same player week in and week out," Mayock said. "He has some work ethic issues, but he is one of the most dominant defensive linemen I've seen on tape. Dareus is also a top-five pick, and played through considerable pain (in 2010).

"Bottom line, Fairley may have a little bit more upside, but I think Dareus is the safer pick."

Fairley posted 24 tackles for loss to lead all NCAA defensive tackles last season. He added 11.5 sacks, 21 quarterback pressures, and two forced fumbles. Dareus had 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, and no forced fumbles.

Despite Fairley's obvious statistical edge, Sapp prefers Dareus. Speaking on NFL Total Access, he said Dareus is fundamentally better than Fairley.


Jeff Schudel's NFL notes: Later rounds could yield a right tackle for Browns - news-herald.com

[Alo]

Barksdale's the only guy who was treated for cramps on a 70 degree day at the East-West Shrine Game practices. He's got a good deal of talent but probably never will live up to his potential. I'd stay away from him.

Personally, I think Pinkston is more of a guard...but I thought the same about Rodger Saffold, and he was a solid left tackle last year for the Rams.

[OconRecon]

Originally Posted by Alo

Barksdale's the only guy who was treated for cramps on a 70 degree day at the East-West Shrine Game practices...

Uhh, most here have played a sport and had this type of teammate. Red flag, man. Red flag.

[Alo]

Barksdale actually was recruited as a defensive tackle: he was supposed to be the next Glenn Dorsey. Not sure why he got moved to the other side of the ball -- maybe the coaches thought he wasn't mean enough to play DT.

Jah Reid's interesting: he's stiff and a bit raw technically, but I was told that the coaching that UCF coaching staff didn't spend a lot of time correcting his flaws: he wasn't getting beat, so they didn't feel a need to smooth over the rough edges in his game.

It looks like we've got a good OL coach: otherwise, the team wouldn't have retained Warhop. Maybe he could turn Reid into a solid, nasty right tackle.

Another guy to keep an eye on is Derek Sherrod. If he's there when the Browns pick in the 2nd round, I'll be praying for the team to take him. Not a mauler but a very smooth pass protector who moves well in space. I think he'll be a very good pro.

[nickers]

Anyore know the status of Steve Hutchinsons contract?...I know he played for holmgren in SEA. He's currently in Minny.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by OconRecon

Here's some good Mayock stuff. Deep in the draft talk:
Waiting at six

Todd McShay of ESPN has the Browns taking Dareus with the sixth pick. Dareus might not be around at six if the teams picking before the Browns do their homework, according to Mayock and Mayock's sidekick on the NFL Network, former star defensive lineman Warren Sapp.

Mayock and Sapp both say Dareus is better than Nick Fairley, the huge defensive tackle from Auburn.

"They are both great football players. The key in evaluating Fairley is whether or not you're going to get the same player week in and week out," Mayock said. "He has some work ethic issues, but he is one of the most dominant defensive linemen I've seen on tape. Dareus is also a top-five pick, and played through considerable pain (in 2010).

"Bottom line, Fairley may have a little bit more upside, but I think Dareus is the safer pick."

Fairley posted 24 tackles for loss to lead all NCAA defensive tackles last season. He added 11.5 sacks, 21 quarterback pressures, and two forced fumbles. Dareus had 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, and no forced fumbles.

Despite Fairley's obvious statistical edge, Sapp prefers Dareus. Speaking on NFL Total Access, he said Dareus is fundamentally better than Fairley.

Ocon,
Thanks for sharing this report about the OTs. Good to know.

This week Tracy Rocker, former Auburn standout and Fairley's position coach at Auburn, just got hired by the Titans. Therefore, they were praising him for his work done with Fairley. Evidently Rocker told them that Fairley just needed to learn how to get out of his stance better/lower; which parallels what Bryan Cox had to teach Rubin when he inhrited a kid that liked to stand up at the snap. I don't know if everyone knows that Fairley also played through a shoulder injury, but it raises my appreciation of his work done. As we're hearing newfound concerns about his attitude - playing through injury shows me a mental toughness this roster could use. In saying such a thing, that's only if that injury isn't gonna persist or get worse over time. Brutal game so it's worth the sports med research.

Anyway, there's said to be a world of difference in Fairley's play in 2010 for the better. I think what happens when talented kids change levels, they learn the type of things they can't get away with any more as competition gets better. Some quicker than others.

Obviously, we HAVE to listen to a guy like Sapp about the position he played very well. I don't know if it changes the body of work Dareus had or it accounts for the nice matchups a guy like Cody took on extra blockers with. I'm pretty sure Fairley didn't get the same perks when he was commanding more than 1 blocker frequently.

It'll be interesting. I at least LIKE hearing an analyst that played the position extremely when he's talking about criteria for success. Something like this makes me feel quite a bit better about Dareus if he's our fate at #6.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Alo

Barksdale actually was recruited as a defensive tackle: he was supposed to be the next Glenn Dorsey. Not sure why he got moved to the other side of the ball -- maybe the coaches thought he wasn't mean enough to play DT.

Jah Reid's interesting: he's stiff and a bit raw technically, but I was told that the coaching that UCF coaching staff didn't spend a lot of time correcting his flaws: he wasn't getting beat, so they didn't feel a need to smooth over the rough edges in his game.

It looks like we've got a good OL coach: otherwise, the team wouldn't have retained Warhop. Maybe he could turn Reid into a solid, nasty right tackle.

Another guy to keep an eye on is Derek Sherrod. If he's there when the Browns pick in the 2nd round, I'll be praying for the team to take him. Not a mauler but a very smooth pass protector who moves well in space. I think he'll be a very good pro.

I like athletic tackles in our division. Gotta have the foot speed to get outside and recover if needed.

[Alo]

Here's a very good clip of Jah Reid.

YouTube - Universal Draft Presents RT Jah Reid of Central Florida

[DaBrowns41]

Originally Posted by Alo

Barksdale actually was recruited as a defensive tackle: he was supposed to be the next Glenn Dorsey. Not sure why he got moved to the other side of the ball -- maybe the coaches thought he wasn't mean enough to play DT.

Jah Reid's interesting: he's stiff and a bit raw technically, but I was told that the coaching that UCF coaching staff didn't spend a lot of time correcting his flaws: he wasn't getting beat, so they didn't feel a need to smooth over the rough edges in his game.

It looks like we've got a good OL coach: otherwise, the team wouldn't have retained Warhop. Maybe he could turn Reid into a solid, nasty right tackle.

Another guy to keep an eye on is Derek Sherrod. If he's there when the Browns pick in the 2nd round, I'll be praying for the team to take him. Not a mauler but a very smooth pass protector who moves well in space. I think he'll be a very good pro.

Same thing with Pinkston, he was recruited as a big time defensive tackle before moving to the offensive side of the ball as a freshman.

I think he should have stuck to defense, lol.

[PlaygroundLegend]

We need to find another Ryan Tucker

Remember how good our line was when he and Joe Thomas were on the line together

the only game tucker played in 08, I think was DA's game against the Giants (the good one)... It just goes to show you how good of a RT he was.

[Sez.EJ]

RT seems like a pretty deep position in this class.. Not superstars..but solid guys.. if we wait to round 4-5.. we may get a guy who may have to redshirt a year..but if he can be the guy long term..not a bad way to go and ride pashos and pokechop one more year while be bring along a young guy. With all the major needs..this may be the reality of our situation.. especially since Pashos is still on the roster... I'd like 4th round here..I think we still get good quality from what I'm seeing.. and not a guy who is a total project pick..

[nickers]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

We need to find another Ryan Tucker

Remember how good our line was when he and Joe Thomas were on the line together

the only game tucker played in 08, I think was DA's game against the Giants (the good one)... It just goes to show you how good of a RT he was.

I was never a big Ryan Tucker fan...he was ok but in My eyes I saw him get beat too much...I want someone better than Ryan Tucker.