NFL draft preview: Offensive tackles long on talent

By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com

GREEN BAY -- A serious football man who is well-respected throughout the NFL, Kevin Colbert is not one for hyperbole. When he talks about the NFL draft, smart people listen.

So when Colbert, the Pittsburgh Steelers' director of football operations, assessed the offensive tackles in this year's draft the way he did, it definitely grabbed your attention.

"It's the best group I've seen in 24 years collectively, and it was a good group before the juniors were added to it," Colbert said. "Those (juniors) enhanced what we really think is a strong group. The majority of them can play on the left side or play both sides. It's unusual to have that many guys that big and that athletic and that productive."

While Colbert believes teams can get a good tackle anywhere in the first three rounds of this year's draft, the class of the class is Michigan 's Jake Long, who could go No. 1 overall to the Miami Dolphins. During his career with the Wolverines, Long committed just two penalties (a false start as a senior and a holding call his redshirt freshman year) and allowed only two sacks (the second of which was last season, to Ohio State's Vernon Gholston, another likely top-10 pick).

"He's got all the tools. He's big, he 's pretty athletic, pretty good feet. He's a guy if you draft, you know he's going to be a great tackle for 10 years," Kansas City Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said. "Will he struggle at times? Yeah. All rookie tackles do. ... His ability to deal with that, how he reacts when he gets beat, that's going to be important."

It probably won't happen all that often.

Long was good enough to contemplate coming out last year, when the University of Wisconsin's Joe Thomas went No. 3 overall to the Cleveland Browns, but opted to stay in school another year because "I didn't feel I was good enough to come out. I feel I'm a smarter and better player than I was last year. I worked on the little things in my game and I've gotten a lot better."

In comparing Long and Thomas, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said while Long is "highly impressive " and "an elite, Pro Bowl right tackle," Long "may struggle with elite speed on the left side. It doesn't (mean) he can't be a left tackle. What I'm saying is that he doesn't have Joe Thomas ' speed. But he's a better drive blocker."

As good as Long is, there isn't a colossal dropoff after him at tackle.

Ryan Clady will be the first first-round pick in Boise State history, while Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah and Vanderbilt's Chris Williams also figure to go in Round 1.

San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said as many as six tackles could go in the first round, which hasn't happened since 1996.

"It'll be interesting to see how many of them go in the first and second round," McCloughan said.

Clady, a junior, began his career at Boise State at right tackle, then moved to the left side after the departure of Daryn College, a second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2006.

"There's definitely a lot of excitement," Clady said.

Williams shot up the ranks after a strong week at the Senior Bowl and continues to climb. Virginia's Branden Albert plays both tackle and guard.

And Boston College's Gosder Cherilus and USC's Sam Baker also may go in the first round.

"It's always been a marquee position," Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said of left tackle. "It's always been hard to find."

Just not as hard this year.

QUICK READ: OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

THE TOP FIVE

Jake Long, Michigan (6-foot-7, 313 pounds, 5.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash): Big Ten Lineman of the Year the past two seasons -- including 2006, when he was picked over ex-University of Wisconsin Wisconsin and current Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Tough, nasty attitude coupled with natural run-blocking skill could make him No. 1 overall pick.

Ryan Clady, Boise State (6-6 1/8, 309, 5.11): Redshirt junior who started 37 games and led the way to the end zone on the Broncos' unforgettable Statue of Liberty play in 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh (6-6, 322, 5.56): Powerful blocker who could play either tackle spot but might be best suited for right side long-term.

Chris Williams, Vanderbilt (6-6, 315, 5.16): Athletic player who needs to improve strength and physical play but has steadily moved up draft boards.

Branden Albert, Virginia (6-5 5/8, 309, 5.1): Versatile, athletic junior who has the versatility to play tackle but rates as the top guard in this draft.

THE PACKERS ' PERSPECTIVE

With left tackle Chad Clifton and right tackle Mark Tauscher both entering their ninth NFL season, it might be time for general manager Ted Thompson to start seriously thinking about finding their heir apparents. Then again, given the uncertainty that remains at guard, getting that situation fixed is a higher priority.

Thompson used three picks in 2006 on offensive linemen (Daryn College in the second round, Jason Spitz in the third and Tony Moll in the fifth) and another pick last year (Allen Barbre in the fourth). At this point, none of the four (plus 2005 fifth-round pick Junius Coston) has proven he deserves a starting job. Barbre will get a chance to compete with Colledge at left guard in camp, while Spitz has the inside track on keeping the right guard spot. Still, Thompson is likely to draft another interior lineman with one of his eight picks.