Senior Bowl Roster Breakdown: Offensive Line
Jim Nagy treated the Jets to quite the offensive line
Good morning Jets fans, is it just me or does the off-season already feel as though it’s dragging along. Maybe it’s just because the Knicks lost a close one to Minnesota last time so I’m feeling cranky.
It’s a year to the day that we hired Robert Saleh, and I’m still feeling as confident about that hire today as I was then, but having a settled franchise means we don’t have as much news to get excited about.
One thing we do get to enjoy this week is the release of the senior bowl roster. Yesterday I took a look at the Quarterbacks, Running Backs and Tight Ends. Today I’m going to focus in one just one position group, and that’s the offensive line. If you follow me, you probably already know that offensive line is my favourite position group, and lets just say that Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy has done us a big favour this year.
Daniel Faalele
2021 Stats: 1 sack, 8 pressures, 4 penalties. 78.9 PFF run-block grade
Let’s start with the big man from Minnesota, and when I say big, I mean big. Faalele is a 6’8, 380lb tackle that moves with the athleticism of a much smaller man. With an incredible amount of raw power and an Anchor that would halt the biggest steam ships, you’re not going to move Faalele easily and he shows a good punch to keep you at arms length. He’s not the most athletic guy but he blots out the sun with his frame. I don’t think Daniel will ever be a starting left tackle on Sunday’s but he could do some damage at right tackle
My Grade: 2nd Round
Luke Goedeke
2021 Stats: 0 sack, 7 pressures, 5 penalties. 94.3 PFF run-block grade
A 6’5 310lb right tackle from Central Michigan, Goedeke plays with great balance and a firm understanding of leverage to win the initial battle. He’s a converted Tight End who started his college career at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, but found a home at tackle with the Chippewas. His arms are on the shorter side so there is an argument for moving him inside to guard, and his ability to latch and drive would prosper there, I’m not sure he’d be able to deal with the speed to power combination from edge rushers at the next level, so I have him inside.
My Grade: 3rd Round.
Marquis Hayes
2021 stats: 3 sacks, 13 pressures, 9 penalties. 76.8 PFF run-block grade
Hayes is another big man on the interior, and is listed at 6’5 and 324lbs and he plays a nasty and physical game. He delivers quite the punch to rock people back in pass-protection and shows a real vice grip once he gets a hold of defenders. He is prone to a few penalties and his technique is rusty, his footwork is often dodgy and he sometimes falls into blocks. I think he’s more suited to a power run style and wouldn’t say he’s a natural fit for the Jets.
My Grade: 4th Round.
Zion Johnson
2021 Stats: 1 sack, 6 pressures, 1 penalty. 84.4 PFF run-block grade
Johnson is one of my favourite prospects in the draft and is an ideal fit for the Jets in my opinion. He offers significant versatility as he has spent time at both guard and tackle, although he’s more naturally suited to playing inside. Johnson plays with consistent technique and is rarely caught off guard, his anchor and hand placement in pass protection is outstanding and his power and leg churn allow him to move people to open lanes. He’s more suited to a zone scheme and fits the Jets need, although it has to be noted he’s never played on the right side of the line.
My Grade: Early 2nd Round
Abraham Lucas
2021 Stats: 0 sacks, 9 pressures, 5 penalties. 68.3 PFF run-block grade.
I’m not 100% sure why Lucas isn’t being spoken about more. He has good body control, good length and lateral ability, a toughness in the run game and good strength in the hands. He’s also a 4 year starter at right tackle for Washington State. He doesn’t play with ideal leverage and you’d want a little more power in the legs, but Lucas is a fine prospect on the right side of the line.
My Grade: 3rd Round
Trevor Penning
2021 Stats: 1 sack, 11 pressures, 16 penalties. 99.9 PFF run-block grade
Penning is widely considered one of the top tackle prospects in the draft with a lot of outlets having him as a first rounder. For me, I think is enough to concern you to keep him out of that first round. 16 penalties in the Missouri Valley Conference isn’t great and when I watched him at points this year he showed very little bend and lateral agility which is a problem for me with the speed rushers in the NFL. He’s a powerful man though who is a nasty finisher, he shows an ability to move people at will in the run game and his anchor will make him stout against the bull rush.
My Grade: 2nd Round
Bernhard Raimann
Stats: 1 sack, 10 pressures, 4 penalties. 94.6 PFF run-block grade.
The second Central Michigan player on this list, Raimann played at left tackle for the Chippewas and combined with Goedeke to form a formidable tackle tandem. Raimann stands at 6’6 and 305lbs and his frame is slighter than you’d expect for a tackle, but that helps with his balance and body control. He will be a 25 year old rookie and he came to football late being from Vienna Austria, but he has a lot of talent and a good competitive nature.
My Grade: 3rd Round
Cole Strange
2021 Stats: 1 sack, 5 pressures, 6 penalties. 86.6 PFF run-block grade
If you’ve followed me for even a couple of weeks, you’ll know that Cole Strange is one of my favourite prospects in the draft, if not my favourite. Predominantly a left guard, he did spend some time at tackle in 2021. He reads and reacts to plays at an elite level, picking up delayed blitzes and stunts with ease, he shows an incredible amount of athleticism and is always looking for work. Shows the lateral quickness to operate in a wide zone scheme that the Jets run and he’s a finisher which will endear him to both coaches and fans.
My Grade: 3rd Round
Andrew Stueber
2021 Stats: 1 sack, 11 pressures, 4 penalties. 65.1 PFF run-block grade.
Stueber lined up as the Wolverines right tackle in 2021 and was part of a very good offensive line that helped Michigan to the playoffs. Although he’s listed as a tackle, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got work inside and out in Mobile. He has shown a great deal of development since suffering an ACL injury in 2019, his hand placement as improved although it’s still a work in progress and he’s a big body at 6’7 and 338lbs. I think his future rests inside at right guard and as a mid-round prospect, the Jets could have some interest.
My Grade: 4th Round
Matt Waletzko
2021 Stats: 0 sacks, 8 pressures, 2 penalties. 81.3 PFF run-block grade.
A 6’7, 305lb tackle for the fighting Hawks, Matt has lined up as North Dakota’s left tackle throughout his career. Outside of Cole Strange, if I had to pick a guy to climb the boards over Senior Bowl week, it would be Waletzko. He’s a long and rangy tackle with excellent athletic mobility around the edge, he’s also explosive off the snap getting into the pads of defenders in the run game before they know the ball has been snapped. He is a touch light for his height and some teams may see that as a red flag considering the power that’s presented from edge defenders in the NFL.
My Grade: 4th Round
Nick Zakelj
2021 stats: 3 sacks, 12 pressures, 3 penalties. 76.8 PFF run-block grade.
Last but certainly not least is Fordham left tackle Nick Zakelj. Nick is an interesting evaluation because he’s so incredibly hot and cold. One game he’ll show the hands and quickness that make you think there is something there, the next game he’ll look a little lost and get beat with ease, he’ll play with uneven technique and fall forward in his pass-blocking sets.
My Grade: 7th Round