This is for you Bon, I am sure you read it back when it came out, but thought I'd share it with you and everyone else as it pertains to our discussion here. Of course better arm length is better, but there are always exceptions.
Arm length, hand quickness dictate OLT success
By Nolan Nawrocki
April 14, 2009
Many traits are required for an offensive tackle to successfully be able to handle edge speed — quick hands and feet, balance and natural knee bend. The one physical trait that is most often taken for granted, however, is arm length.
Without good arm length, generally considered at least 33½ inches on the left side and preferably 34 inches, it is difficult for blockers to be able to handle inside counters and recover quickly to keep a pocket clean.
PFW calculated the average arm length of every starting left tackle in the NFL last season, and it was 34½ inches. The average arm length of the Pro Bowl tackles in the NFC, all of whom were left tackles, was 33¾ inches, while the average of AFC Pro Bowlers, also all left tackles, was 34 inches.
To overcome average arm length, offensive tackles must be very smart, understand angles and be technique-sound, which describes Titans All-Pro OLT Michael Roos to a T. That is why he can overcome having a league OLT-worst 32½-inch arms and only give up one sack, according to STATS LLC. Other factors in Roos' success that were cited by evaluators included good coaching and sound protection schemes, with Mike Munchak being regarded as one of the top OL coaches in the game.
Those with long arms, however, continue to excel. For example, Denver's Ryan Clady, who possesses an NFL-best 36¾-inch arms as measured at the Combine last year, allowed a league-best half-sack in 16 starts as a rookie. Clady's combination of length, quickness and athletic ability allowed him to adapt very seamlessly to the pro game.
The ability of quarterbacks to feel pressure, buy time with their feet and get rid of the ball quickly also affects a blind-side protector’s success. That is why Philadelphia OLT Tra Thomas, despite really struggling last season and appearing to decline every game, was able to get by, giving up only two sacks. Few coaches help their tackles on the edges like Eagles coach Andy Reid does. And even if Donovan McNabb has shown some signs of aging, he still shows great escapability in the pocket.
Having long arms, however, does not always matter if a tackle has slow hands. Browns OLT Joe Thomas appears effortless with his hands. Seahawks OT Walter Jones is extremely efficient with his hand use. Flozell Adams, however, does not have great hand quickness, but he does have extremely long arms and is generally able to get by using his length.
With 32½-inch arms and average quickness, it is easy to understand why the Lions are considering moving Jeff Backus inside rather than having him continue to protect the edges.
The following chart is sorted by arm length and includes the number of sacks allowed last season, according to STATS. Players highlighted in blue were selected to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl. Players in red represented the AFC. The arm length of Pro Bowl players is boldfaced.
Team Left tackle Arm length Sacks
allowed Starts Sacks per game
Denver Broncos Ryan Clady 36 3/4 0.5 16 0.03
Philadelphia Eagles Tra Thomas 36 1/2 2 16 0.13
Dallas Cowboys Flozell Adams 36 1/2 7.25 16 0.45
St. Louis Rams Orlando Pace 36 1/4 2 14 0.14 New York Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson 36 1/4 4 16 0.25
Indianapolis Colts Tony Ugoh 36 3 12 0.25
Baltimore Ravens Jared Gaither 36 3 15 0.20
Miami Dolphins Jake Long 35 3/4 2.5 16 0.16
San Diego Chargers Marcus McNeill 35 1/2 3 14 0.21
Minnesota Vikings Bryant McKinnie 35 1/2 4 12 0.33
Pittsburgh Steelers Max Starks 35 1/2 4 11 0.36
Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert 35 1/2 4.5 15 0.30
New Orleans Saints Jammal Brown 34 3/4 3 15 0.20
Cincinnati Bengals Levi Jones 34 3/4 5.5 10 0.55
Jacksonville Jaguars Khalif Barnes 34 3/4 7.5 16 0.47
Seattle Seahawks Walter Jones 34 1/2 3.5 12 0.29
Oakland Raiders Kwame Harris 34 1/4 7.5 11 0.68
San Francisco ***** Joe Staley 34 1/4 8.5 16 0.53
Houston Texans Duane Brown 34 1/4 11.5 16 0.72
Arizona Cardinals Mike Gandy 34 6.25 16 0.39
Chicago Bears John St. Clair 34 9.25 16 0.58
Cleveland Browns Joe Thomas 33 3/4 4.5 16 0.28
New York Giants David Diehl 33 3/4 6.5 16 0.41
Washington Redskins Chris Samuels 33 1/2 3 12 0.25
New England Patriots Matt Light 33 1/2 7.5 16 0.47
Carolina Panthers Jordan Gross 33 1/4 3 15 0.20
Buffalo Bills Jason Peters 33 1/8 11.5 13 0.88
Green Bay Packers Chad Clifton 33 7.5 15 0.50
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Donald Penn 33 8.5 16 0.53
Atlanta Falcons Sam Baker 32 3/4 1 5 0.20
Detroit Lions Jeff Backus 32 1/2 9.25 16 0.58
Tennessee Titans Michael Roos 32 1/4 1 16 0.06
Following is a breakdown of the arm length of the tackle and guard prospects in this year's class as measured at the Combine and classified by where they are projected to play in the pros.
Three of the top four OT prospects in this year's draft — Eugene Monroe, Jason Smith and Michael Oher — have arm lengths that measure less than 34 inches, but all show the quickness desired to play on the edges in the pros. The tackle with the longest arms, Andre Smith, could be the most likely to kick inside because of his overall lack of quickness and susceptibility against counter moves.
Left tackles School Arm length
Gerald Cadogan Penn State 35
Andre Smith Alabama 35
Will Beatty Connecticut 34 3/4
Joel Bell Furman 34
Jamon Meredith South Carolina 34
Eugene Monroe Virginia 33 7/8
Jason Smith Baylor 33 3/4
Michael Oher Mississippi 33 1/2
Xavier Fulton Illinois 33 1/2
Troy Kropog Tulane 33 1/4
Phil Loadholt's rare length is what gives some evaluators comfort thinking he might be able to play on the left side. However, his lack of quickness was exposed this season, and he projects best to the right side in the pros. Many others, such as Ramon Foster, Andrew Gardner, Alex Boone and Jose Valdez, all of whom played outside in college, could be forced to play inside because of their lack of quickness. Eben Britton's lack of arm length remains a big concern to NFL teams
Right tackles School Arm length
Phil Loadholt Oklahoma 36 1/2 Gus Parrish Kent State 35
Ramon Foster Tennessee 34 1/2
Andrew Gardner Georgia Tech 34 1/2
Garrett Reynolds North Carolina 34 1/2
Alex Boone Ohio State 34 3/8
Jose Valdez Arkansas 34
Lydon Murtha Nebraska 33 7/8
Eben Britton Arizona 32 3/4
Seeing Herman Johnson's rare length at the Combine left some coaches believing they could get away with playing Johnson at tackle with enough chip help. However, his feet are very heavy, and he could always have issues handling quickness on and island.
Oklahoma's Duke Robinson, conversely, shows enough quickness and length, with nearly 35-inch arms, to help a team outside in a pinch. Andy Levitre, who started at left tackle for Oregon State, clearly projects best to guard, in part because of his short arms (32½ inches).
Guards School Arm length
Herman Johnson LSU 36 1/2
Paul Fanaika Arizona State 35
Jaimie Thomas Maryland 35
Roger Allen Missouri Western 34 3/4
Duke Robinson Oklahoma 34 3/4
Louis Vasquez Texas Tech 34 3/4
Brandon Walker Oklahoma 34 1/2
Jason Watkins Florida 34 3/8
Andy Kemp Wisconsin 34 1/8
Anthony Parker Tennessee 34 1/8
Robert Brewster Ball State 34
Travis Bright Brigham Young 33 7/8
Kraig Urbik Wisconsin 33 3/4
Tyronne Green Auburn 33 3/4
Dan Gay Baylor 33 1/2
Ryan McKee Southern Mississippi 33 1/2
Cornelius Lewis Tennessee State 33 1/2
Rey Feinga Brigham Young 33 1/2
Seth Olsen Iowa 33 1/8
Matt Slauson Nebraska 33 1/8
C.J. Davis Pittsburgh 32 3/4
Andy Levitre Oregon State 32 1/2
Greg Isdaner West Virginia 32 1/2
Kyle Link McNeese State 32
Trevor Canfield Cincinnati 32
