Yes he is...if you think, a billion dollar business pays the most money to the lesser player, you don't understand supply and demand.....The better prospect plays LT in college. The better feet, better coordinated...they want the college QB protected by the better athlete...Typically, the better team (Miami) has better players that get, more or less, drafted higher than the worse team. Exceptions do occur, but generally, in large sample sizes, all things being equal, this is how it happens, year after year, season after season. Most RT's in college typically get moved to guard. A lot of LT's in college get moved to RT, hell, even guard too...Only so many professional spots open, and there are a bunch of college players coming out...EVERY YEAR...Flowers is one of the best, Clemmings is a project...To me, he's a basketball player masquerading as a football player, until proven otherwise.
Tyron Smith...enough said.
The funny thing here is that Clemmings very clearly has the better coordination, feet, and movement skills on film. He tested better than Flowers in the 10, 40, and both jumps. He would have tested better than Flowers if Flowers hadn't backed out of the agility drills. He looked far better than Flowers in all the pass protection footwork drills.
Yet, you're claiming that Flowers is better solely because he played LT...despite the fact that Clemmings has a better LT skill-set based on the criteria you just laid out.
If we were to apply your logic to Tyron Smith, he was worse than Anthony Castonzo, Gabe Carimi, Derek Sherrod, and James Carpenter. They all played LT and Tyron didn't.
If Flowers is a better player, it's not because he plays LT. It's because he's a better player. J.J. Watt plays LDE. Does that make Robert Quinn a better player because he plays RDE?
Clemmings is a project. Flowers is a bigger project. Yet, Clemmings is more talented. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. I am more than capable of breaking down why that is and showing clips to highlight strengths and weaknesses.
Then why use PFF? Just to try and make a point? I use my eyes, and simply put, some of these guys were moved to certain sides to increase their effectiveness against the pass. But the better player, is the better player...and currently, the trend is to have your best player on the right side defensively, or the offenses left side. The right handed QB's blind side (sure you've seen the movie, right?) So, I see your point, I still say there aren't any sorry players in the pros (although Davin Joseph & Wells really tested me on this), it's all about effort and motivation..Consequently, there are beasts on most defensive lines, but typically, the superior player, on the line, plays on the right...look no further than Robert "baddest man on tha damn team" Quinn.
Why use PFF? Because giving you my opinion was getting nowhere.
Again, you're hung up on pass blocking. We were talking about run blocking. That's where this entire point arose. I'm not talking about pass blocking. I am talking about run blocking.
The superior pass rusher has historically typically played at RDE. The superior run defender (if there was one) typically played LDE. Although, in today's NFL, it's changed quite a bit. For example, there's more mixing with RDEs and LDEs. Some notable LDEs are J.J. Watt, Julius Peppers, Chris Long, Justin Houston (well, LOLB technically), Ryan Kerrigan (LOLB), Sheldon Richardson, Cameron Wake, Charles Johnson, Mario Williams, Ezekiel Ansah, etc.
Curious as to why you believe Eli Harold is some average player? He is far superior to what many think, the few games I saw of Virgina, they have a great defense, and he was balling. All over the field...see my effort comment above. That guy is no joke....
I haven't said he's an average player. I disagreed with your characterization of Nicolas. Who was a more productive player in the same conference and who reportedly tests off the charts athletically.(as I said, VT claims he ran a 4.4 40 with a 41 inch vertical jump)
You say Gregory didn't see Flowers but half the game, I say he was in the area most of it, they did run into each other, and Flowers handled himself admirably....Clemmings never touched him. of course, he was on the other side of the line, how could he? In fact, I haven't seen a video of him with any top 10 player..The little I have seen of him versus Davis from Iowa he looked over matched. Seriously...In fact, his blocking reminds me of Jason Smith, the way he's intent on just punching...Not a drive blocker, not physical...Oh, I did see him trying to get rough second level with some DB's or maybe a linebacker/safety, but never with a DE...NEVER.
In the area most of it? How can he be in the area when Gregory was playing LDE? Oh yes, they ran into each other and Flowers didn't handle it well imo. Gregory started to beat him on a couple of plays and Flowers got help from the HB or LG. And then there was Gregory's sack where the OL slid right and Flowers just didn't block him. And then there were the two plays I linked where Flowers got flat-out beat. Flowers barely faced him 1 on 1. Miami seemed to believe that Flowers needed help against Gregory.
Never with a DE...never?
View: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:11556711
Looks like he pancaked a DE right there.
