Everyone's heard the names of Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper at guard, but here's a look at some guards that aren't getting as much publicity.
*· Larry Warford Kentucky *
Plays right guard for the Wildcats…massive man…plays with power at point…can get push…will wall off…balance and recovery…doesn't get knocked back…gets out on the screen…sustain and initial pop good…hard guy to move…good base adjusted to Floyd of Florida well…adjust on twist…quick on the reach…cut off on Jenkins of Georgia …misses on pull and trap…pulls to contact on the edge…can fight power with power…aware to help across the pocket…has some power in his punch…able to come off his block…can get down field to block…used on pull quite a bit…nice job of getting out on the sweep…good with read block…has some snap to his blocks…can pass off stunts…played well against both Floyd of Florida and Richardson of Missouri….like Warmack of Alabama might be overall better suited for a team that runs a power scheme but does show the ability to move….like how productive he was in big game against outstanding talent, showed well in the Senior Bowl as well….one of my favorite players from the very first day that I was studying tape.
*· Kyle Long Oregon *
Plays left guard but will also line up at right tackle….very light on his feet…can pull around the corner with ease…can adjust on the move without any problems…doesn't always have the power to sustain his blocks…battles to stay in front of his man…usually not slow to second level but played a step slow against USC…is a position blocker…can make the reach block…able to mirror man on pass set…attacks his man on the draw …able to adjust on the move when he pulls…plays in a read option offense with his hand down…plays with bent knees…did adjust to the twist well…keeps feet moving on the down block in red zone…will help across the pocket when uncovered…gets more push with effort than strength…can run with the defender down the LOS…tries to finish his blocks…athlete to handle the spin move….like that he can play both the guard and the tackle spot…would be a very nice fit for a team that runs a zone scheme which would allow him to use this ability….
*· Dallas Thomas Tennessee *
Starts at left guard….mobile…can get to the second level…square built player…aware for twists…can down block…needs to do a better job of working on double team block…knows how to pass twist stunt…will catch blocks at times…needs better sustain…nice base and slide on pass set…can pull…shows some strength…gets out on screens…some initial quickness…adjust to the spin move…gets away from the line…can help across the pocket…base got a little wide against Alabama when he had to adjust…will catch and not punch…taken out of the lineup during the Alabama game…played some left tackle…gives up edge pressure at times which is surprising because of the type of athlete that he is …quick to adjust inside…made tough cut off block…can get around the corner on the pull…there were times where he was out of the game for long stretches only to come back in….didn't like how he was taken out of the game and replaced….sure the new Cowboys wide receiver coach Derek Dooley will be able to explain why….like his athletic ability…
· Brian Winters Kent State
Played left tackle during the season but left guard in the Senior Bowl…is quick off the snap…keeps his feet moving…nice set and punch…can get away from line…can adjust on pulls to hit target nice job with his [embedded_ad] sustain…can mirror and slide…plays on his feet…pulls to finish…works to get his hands inside…can adjust on the second level…hard blocker to get rid of…mauls people…did a nice job against Jenkins of Georgia…works to maintain his position…gets a little over extended but stays on his feet and in balance…big square body…gets out on the screen…moves well…can sit down on his man…little bit of a wide base on his set…really like his foot work and pop…plays with a great deal of toughness….
*· Garrett Gilkey Chadron State *
Plays left tackle but projected to play guard…little slow off the snap…struggles to adjust on the twist…keeps his hands low…push-shove on the second level…over extended when he gets wide…better when he faces rushers down the middle…needs to control with his hands better…hinge blocker on pass pro…tries to finish his block…doesn't always adjust on the move…needs to stay on his feet on the second level…will give up the inside move…can get movement off the ball…better adjust inside against Southern Colorado…gets his head across on the reach…gets into blocks…gets narrow based at times…will lunge…some initial quickness against Highlands…has really good size but really a development type of player…going to take some time to get him right….don't see him playing right away….would be the ninth or tenth guy on an offensive line.
