? on Jeff Otah

I get mixed reports on Otah (I guess you will on every player) and maybe folks here can ease my mind. In your opinion, can he play left tackle, as a rookie or ever? I see some sites saying he's not athletic enough for the left side - if that's true, we'd end up with Gross at LT, and I don't think anybody really wants that. Some places say he has untapped potential and will end up on the left side, but may start on the right for his rookie season. Opinions?

 

no. IMO

 

I would not want him at LT as a rookie. I don't know if he could ever play LT in the NFL but certainly not as a rookie. Drafting him would mean Gross at LT. Hopefully he wont be the guy we end up with. Chris Williams should be there and can play LT from day one.

 

No point in guessing since I'd bet nobody here has really watched him play. You will find out for certain in a few years.

 

A guy of his size, you put him at RT and you hope that his wingspan and solid feet will eventually let him be on an island at RT as necessary. He and Cherilus, IMO, can play LT, but only passably. You'd have the matchup problems you'd expect to have.

Plus, it's a bit of a misuse to use them that way. They're guys you run behind, and RTs can get help easily.

Some point to the Packers' tackles and state that in the right system with the right adjustments you can put less nimble guys at LT and RT, but that's more than exception than the rule.

 

Mags, does our double TE set factor into that?

 

well, possibly, but I'm hoping for more spread. I don't know if you'd move a TE over to the left side for complete games to take care of a weakness in a top pick. You put the top pick in a position to excel.

 

My latest thought is that we're going Harvey in round 1 (assuming he's there) and then we'll gamble on having an OT fall in round 2/3, knowing we can grab Barry Sims while we develop the prospect.

 

My feeling right now is that Harvey is not going to be there for us. After what the Giants did with pass rushing, I think the copycats will make a run on the pass rushers.

 

Don't neccesarily disagree, but are there 3 teams ahead of us who need DE more then they need something else?