AJ Arcuri, OT Pick #261 - 7th Round

[So Ram]

FYI ... the Michigan State center (#64) is Matt Allen ... Brian's brother.

How good is Matt. Brian Allen’s older brother made it to the NFL

 

[So Ram]

From my draft notes:
Round 7 @ 261

OT AJ Arcuri: He is a very big man who reminds me of Havenstein due to his size and positional limitations (strictly a RT). The other reason he reminds me of Havenstein is he gets beat by speed. He lacks the quickness getting out of his set and into his slide. He can be bull rushed and taken off his balance. He moves well but he doesn't always deliver in the run game. He has shown difficulty blocking on the second level, a key skill for a RT who is often the lead blocker on some runs. If they stick to zone concepts he probably will do better. A man gap scheme might be outside his skillset. All these things are the reasons he dropped and was considered by many as an UDFA project. AJ needs to spend every day in Whitworth's garage training, gaining strength and learning how to use his hands which is a glaring weakness. Foot quickness can be improved but it takes commitment and time. It's why I see his ceiling as a backup RT and not a lot more at this point. That's a lot to clean up to even be a swing OT.

I still see Jackson as replacing Havenstein next year which will give the Rams two bookends at OT.

Right now it is a tough call to see how players fit in. Going intonOTA’s training camp, & preseason there can be a lot of change. This rookie is not going to be handed the starting job day 1. As much as any Ram fan wants to think Bobby Evans has the most starting NFL experience than any other Ram not starting from2021.
Noteboom who is penciled in as the starting LT is the exception.Evans started over him,then again Shelton resigned & played well as a starter in 2021.

 

[So Ram]

How good is Matt. Brian Allen’s older brother made it to the NFL

He doesn’t look that good.There RG75 looks like the better player of the 3 from a quick eyes view.

 

[Kupped]

The more I read about this kid, the more intrigued I am.

Big, fairly athletic for his size. I keep reading "stiff hips" is an issue.
I wonder how much they can get out of him.. but they did draft him instead of waiting for UDFA, so they felt he was worth grabbing.

 

[oldnotdead]

If Alaric Jackson builds off of last year he's going to be an absolute steal as a starting RT. I was impressed with his ability to slide and his strength. One more year of Carberry's coaching should make him ready as a starter next year. Right now they are looking one year ahead which is Snead's MO. They apparently see enough raw talent in Arcuri to have taken him. You have to know Carberry was included in Arcuri's evaluation. He will have two full off seasons and camps to improve his flaws. So at this point I'm not concerned. I think next year is the target year for Arcuri to show he can play as a swing OT.

 

[den-the-coach]

If Alaric Jackson builds off of last year he's going to be an absolute steal as a starting RT. I was impressed with his ability to slide and his strength.

Not sure if Jackson can play RT, he's always been a LT. It's different and we've not seen him there yet as he played LT throughout preseason and 1 game against the Vikings in the regular season. He's fine at LT, I'm not sure if they move him to RT if Havenstein goes down with an injury.

Tremayne Anchrum could actually be the backup RT for example, but again, maybe they will give Jackson a shot to play that position, but he might be more comfortable at LT then RT like Noteboom.

 

[Kupped]

Not sure if Jackson can play RT, he's always been a LT. It's different and we've not seen him there yet as he played LT throughout preseason and 1 game against the Vikings in the regular season. He's fine at LT, I'm not sure if they move him to RT if Havenstein goes down with an injury.

Tremayne Anchrum could actually be the backup RT for example, but again, maybe they will give Jackson a shot to play that position, but he might be more comfortable at LT then RT like Noteboom.

I figure the backup linemen active would be Jackson, Shelton & Evans.

 

[den-the-coach]

I figure the backup linemen active would be Jackson, Shelton & Evans.

If Evans makes the team, that's correct. Again, I need to see more from Bobby Evans to even make the roster.

 

[Kupped]

If Evans makes the team, that's correct. Again, I need to see more from Bobby Evans to even make the roster.

I agree with the disappointment level, but I didn't see enough from any of the guys last year, other than Jackson and Shelton, to move them ahead of him.
It would be a good sign for depth and development if someone pushed past him.

 

[OldSchool]

I forget did we carry 2 or 3 backup OL on gamedays?

 

[BonifayRam]

If Evans makes the team, that's correct. Again, I need to see more from Bobby Evans to even make the roster.

From my point of view, Tremayne Anchrum is already the far better overall OL'er than Bobby Evans. Anchrum was the main focus of Carberry attention after the dismal failures of Evans proved spending time working with him was a waste of time in late 2021 preseason. In addition, TA the less than 6-1 inch OL'er offers much better promise in the interior posts too.

Tremayne Anchrum's knee injury actually was two events TA injured it in the 2nd preseason game & then reinjured far worse in the last preseason game. It was a big shame we lost TA last season for most of the season. I truly believe that he would have been able to come in and take up some of that OL rope to help that run operation some last season if he had been available. In the end we discovered Alaric Jackson @ LT

I forget did we carry 2 or 3 backup OL on gamedays?

It varied Oldschool primarily it was only 2 OL'ers unless there was some injury issues Carberry would go with 3 then.

We know that the main reserve Coleman Shelton played in all the Rams games starting 2 & finishing 2 others. Next early was Bobby Evans who played in the first 9 gms & started 1. Once Jackson found himself @ OT he booted Evans back into street clothes. Alaric Jackson played in 4 gms & finished 1 as the starter in the Vikings game where he was almost perfect. OG/OT Anchrum suited up two games when Coleman/Evans was forced into starting.

 

[Memento]

The good news for Arcuri is that he can play three positions in guard and right tackle. The issue is that Anchrum, Pircher, and A-Jax probably could as well (Pircher has been taking center reps, too). If we fail to re-sign Edwards and/or Havenstein (I'd personally would love to see A-Ja take Havenstein's spot. It's not out of any ill-will toward Big Rob, but he's thirty at the end of that contract, and I wonder if we have the cap to sign him.), I could definitely see Arcuri take a leap up from the practice squad, while one of Anchrum or perhaps Pircher takes the other guard spot if we fail to re-sign Edwards.

Just a thought. Arcuri has potential, but I don't think he makes this squad unless he really balls out.

 

[Riverumbbq]

The good news for Arcuri is that he can play three positions in guard and right tackle. The issue is that Anchrum, Pircher, and A-Jax probably could as well (Pircher has been taking center reps, too).

I'd think that Pircher's 6'7" length would rule him out at Center, possibly even at OG. He's an OT in my eyes.
The camp battle for our #3 Center may come down to Kolone & our new UDFA Jack Snyder, and from what I've seen out of Kolone in the past, I'll be rooting for Snyder.
jmo.

 

[Memento]

I'd think that Pircher's 6'7" length would rule him out at Center, possibly even at OG. He's an OT in my eyes.
The camp battle for our #3 Center may come down to Kolone & our new UDFA Jack Snyder, and from what I've seen out of Kolone in the past, I'll be rooting for Snyder.
jmo.

That's just what I've heard. Yes, he's bigger than most centers, but they're testing him out there, and he's definitely a mold of clay when it comes to projection.

 

[BonifayRam]

I'd think that Pircher's 6'7" length would rule him out at Center, possibly even at OG. He's an OT in my eyes.
The camp battle for our #3 Center may come down to Kolone & our new UDFA Jack Snyder, and from what I've seen out of Kolone in the past, I'll be rooting for Snyder.
jmo.

I thought I look around on the best OG's in the NFL last year & seeing just how many 6-7 inch tall OG's were listed.

NFL Offensive Linemen Rankings for 2022

Here's a look at our ranking of offensive linemen (tackles, guards and centers) in the NFL for the 2022 season.

athlonsports.com

Of the 20 top NFL OG listed only one of them was over 6-5 and that was Alex Cappo of Tampa who was 6-6 inches tall. The centers would all be much shorter. Most all of these listed interior OL'ers were around 6-4 with a few over 6-4 inches tall.

 

[1maGoh]

I thought I look around on the best OG's in the NFL last year & seeing just how many 6-7 inch tall OG's were listed.

NFL Offensive Linemen Rankings for 2022

Here's a look at our ranking of offensive linemen (tackles, guards and centers) in the NFL for the 2022 season.

athlonsports.com

Of the 20 top NFL OG listed only one of them was over 6-5 and that was Alex Cappo of Tampa who was 6-6 inches tall. The centers would all be much shorter. Most all of these listed interior OL'ers were around 6-4 with a few over 6-4 inches tall.

How much of that is self fulfilling prophecy though? If you think tall guys can't play G/C, you won't put tall guys at G/C, and so the demographics for G/C will all be shorter guys (shorter and taller being relative to the NFL population; 6'2" is still tall for the normal population).

 

[Faceplant]

How much of that is self fulfilling prophecy though? If you think tall guys can't play G/C, you won't put tall guys at G/C, and so the demographics for G/C will all be shorter guys (shorter and taller being relative to the NFL population; 6'2" is still tall for the normal population).

I don't think it's that they can't play those positions. I think it is more of a concern about your QB having proper vision and identifiable throwing lanes. That's my guess anyway.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I think height and interior-OL is often about leverage.

Shorter OL at guard and center are preferable to maintain leverage, especially in tight quarters inside the tackles. Interior-OL need to stay-low and that's more difficult for taller players. Powerful interior-DL can get under taller-OL. David Edwards, at 6' 6", sometimes has trouble with interior-DL getting under his pads and into his chest; and, as a result, loses leverage and control, and gets pushed-back.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I don't think it's that they can't play those positions. I think it is more of a concern about your QB having proper vision and identifiable throwing lanes. That's my guess anyway.

I'd say that's part of it, but the taller guys might not get the bending down as well as the shorter C/OG's, then potentially losing a fraction in time getting their blocking or pulling sets proper, it's also easier for interior defensive tackles to get under the pads of the taller guys for better leverage.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I think height and interior-OL is often about leverage.

Shorter OL at guard and center are preferable to maintain leverage, especially in tight quarters inside the tackles. Interior-OL need to stay-low and that's more difficult for taller players. Powerful interior-DL can get under taller-OL. David Edwards, at 6' 6", sometimes has trouble with interior-DL getting under his pads and into his chest; and, as a result, loses leverage and control, and gets pushed-back.