The 2013 NFL Draft boasts talented depth at both the defensive tackle and offensive guard position. The top of the draft features franchise caliber players such as DT Star Lotulelei, DT Sheldon Richardson, OG Chance Warmack and OG Jonathan Cooper. By now, most fans can name a myriad of other lineman that they would be happy to select in the first 2 rounds of the draft.
Lost in the mix are some players who fans may not have watched game film on. We decided to reveal two unheralded prospects that every fan base should want their team to select. Both players are projected by “mainstream” draft sources to be 4th-6th round selections; we arrive at a very different conclusion.
1 – Every Team Should Want Jeff Baca, OG – UCLA
UCLA OG Jeff Baca is Versatile, Quick and Nasty!
I am a traditionalist. My football philosophy is that dominant line play results in greater overall efficiency of the unit playing behind them. I would draft players to my offensive line who have the perfect blend of size, strength and quickness to provide versatility.
I found Jeff Baca watching cut-ups of UCLA RB Jonathan Franklin. I immediately wrote down “OL#60 md-rd mauler” on my scouting pad. I continued to watch film of Franklin but confess that I was really watching Baca. Then I got to some game reviews of Baca in pass protection and I was even more impressed.
Baca played both Tackle and Guard throughout his college career at UCLA. He is fundamentally sound in both roles and demonstrates an above-average football IQ. He also plays with the nasty streak that NFL teams covet in their offensive lineman.
He is not just nasty; he is quick. Baca registered the fastest 3-cone and short shuttle at the Combine among all OL prospects. His 10-yard split on the 40-yard dash ranked 3rd among his peers. His times at the combine this year are better than last years top performer, first round OG selection David DeCastro.
Baca’s size, 6’3″ 305lbs., means his best fit is as a guard in the NFL. He already possesses the size and athleticism be a great pulling guard. If Baca adds more power to his game, then he would be the perfect blend of pull and maul for any offensive scheme. He has long arms at 34″ and teams should seriously consider giving him a chance to win their starting center job.
I expect Jeff Baca to be drafted after the “top” offensive line prospects, but would pound the table to take him at the end of the 2nd round.
-CJ White
2- Every Team Should Want Jordan Hill, DT – Penn State
PSU’s Jordan Hill always ends up in the backfield!
Lost in the mix of this strong DT class is Penn State’s Jordan Hill. He is just 6’1″ – 305 lbs, and I believe that is why he has been overlooked by many in the draft community.
Height alone should not be the measure of a DT’s potential. Look at Geno Atkins for example, he measured in at 6’1″ at the NFL Combine back in 2010 and slid to the fourth round. Since then, Atkins has made the Pro Bowl and is considered to be one of the NFL’s best DTs.
Hill may not be the best athlete among DT prospects, but he is a very good interior pass rusher. He is quick off the snap and consistently disrupts plays in the backfield. He does struggle at times vs the run, especially when he is double teamed. However, he generally uses his quickness to recover and get by blockers to make plays in the backfield. Geno Atkins had the same weakness coming out of Georgia vs the run but look how things have turned out for him and the Bengals.
Jordan Hill may be limited to playing in a 4-3 defense as the three technique. I don’t see any reason why he can’t become a similar player to Geno Atkins.
Although I expect him to be drafted around the same place Geno Atkins was, the 4th round, I would pound the table to take Hill at the end of the 2nd round.
-CJ Milner