Matthews - Man I've never seen a guy LOSE as much steam as this dude, even with the pedigree. So many people have soured on him and jumped on the Robinson train it is even making me think; "could he be another Jason Smith??"
And I've heard people say Robinson is NOT a LT and MAY be best suited at G...
Why travel those roads with such a high pick?
I agree we need to come away with a sure fire elite talent and I think most know which one I'd grab.
According to Boylhart, Smith and Robinson aren't in the same conversation. It's not even close.
Greg Robinson OT Auburn
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1
STRENGTHS
Greg is a remarkable athlete. He has the size, strength, foot quickness and lateral agility to be a Pro Bowl offensive lineman in the NFL. He is a dominating and intimidating run blocker, due large in part to his mental strength and lateral agility. He plays until he hears the whistle and shows leadership skills through his play on the field. Greg has those long arms that keep players away from his body and, when he engages his opponent while run blocking or pass blocking, he continues to move his feet until the play is over. Greg is built like a sequoia tree with a strong tapered body and roots solid on the ground. He is a hard kid to move; defensive ends and tackles tired quickly against him in just about every game I saw on film. In the 4th quarter, Greg just keeps on banging away on every down and when he does make a mistake, he doesn’t make it again. He is smart and will quickly pick up the techniques that will make him a Pro Bowl offensive lineman and a future franchise Left Tackle. I call him Greg (Sequoia) Robinson.
CONCERNS
Anyone that watches this team knows that pass blocking is not as much of a priority as run blocking. However, that being said, Greg is behind in learning the pass blocking techniques that he will need at the next level. Nevertheless Greg is a fast learner and because of his natural athletic ability he will learn fast. Right now he is what I call an attack pass blocker. He likes to get his hands on his opponent right away and then stone him at the line of scrimmage. That might change at the next level, but I think it’s in Greg’s DNA to attack and most likely he will continue to block aggressively when pass blocking or run blocking. So I suggest you let him and be creative in how to use his talents.
BOTTOM LINE
If you’re a team that doesn’t need a quarterback in the top ten of the draft, I suggest you think hard before you pass on drafting Greg. It will be a big mistake. His mental strength and athletic talent is far beyond most of the offensive linemen that usually come out in a draft. He has Pro Bowl talent and left tackle franchise talent that does need to be groomed, but that’s why you have position coaches. I would draft him and put him at left tackle right away and live with his mistakes as he learns because Greg will not get better sitting on the sidelines or playing another position on the offensive line that does not impact the team as much as the left tackle position. The draft is about potential as much as it’s about getting players who can help you right away. Greg may need some time to learn more effective pass blocking techniques, but given that time, I know he will not disappoint you. Just teach him the techniques and let him mature into that franchise Left Tackle.
Drew Boylhart
JAN/2014
Jason Smith OT Baylor
STRENGTHS
Jason has good size and quickness as well as those long arms that you like to have in your offensive linemen. He does a good job when he latches onto his man in finishing his blocks. He looks to be mentally tough and has very good mental and physical stamina. Jason is a player who plays with excellent passion and drive. All in all, Jason has some very good developmental talents to be a solid offensive lineman for the next level.
NEEDS TO IMPROVE
Jason is the worst run blocking offensive lineman that I have ever seen being considered as a top ten pick. Does anyone but me watch film at all? As far as pass coverage is concerned, on every third and long, he was covered up with a TE off the line. Jason has a chance to be a good zone blocking offensive lineman because he moves his feet well, but that's as far as I will go. He has talent; however, his LTI is at least three to four years away from competing at the next level. I like the kid, but not as a first rounder.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 3
This is ridiculous! Just because a kid plays LT in college and has some athletic talent does not mean he should automatically be considered a top ten talent in the draft! Jason has good developmental talent to be a LG for the next level but he has a very long way to go. He does some of the strangest things on a football field that I have ever seen. Against Wake Forest, he was on the ground more than the man who fixes the invisible fence for your yard. I watched Jason pull one time and he did a good job until he went to block his man. He never put his arms out in front, dove over the man he was supposed to block and landed right on his head. On another play, he tried to block the man in front of him straight on, so he dropped his head, lunged and landed on his face mask! His techniques in both the running game and passing game are very raw. He does have talent and passion and I can see, with some patience and in the right scheme, that he could be a hell of a left guard, but believe me that is down the road. Good kid or not, if you rate a player as a top ten pick in a draft then he has to be ready to start for your team. Jason is not close to that and people that tell him otherwise are just setting this kid up to fail.
