| 26 May 2010
Jim Tressel and the Buckeye staff have gone out and secured the inside offensive linemen that the program needs. We have three guards in Tommy Brown, Chris Carter and Antonio Underwood, and the center of the future in Brian Bobek. Right tackle is set for years to come. Where is the left tackle?
I think Jim Tressel would like to know that too. I have not looked around nationally at much just yet but offensive tackle is one area that I have looked at alot of players. I am sure some players have yet to emerge but right now the left tackles are just not there. That is a big problem. It goes beyond Adams not yet living up to expectations. It is about the fact that h e is a junior. If we do not secure a left tackle in this class it means we are looking at 2012 with a true freshman at left tackle. That or moving someone over there who will be out of position. Steve Rehring, Bryant Browning, Jim Cordle. Do we want to see a continuance of that failed experiment? No more moving players and asking them to do something they cannot do. Playing true freshman anywhere on the offensive line is asking too much but left tackle and center is a recipe for disaster.
I know what you are saying. "Duane, you just said left tackle is looking as thin as any position in this recruiting class. What do you want the staff to do?" Create a tackle.
You get lemons, make lemonade. There are some players who could in time be good left tackles. Iowa does this all the time. Robert Gallery was a high school tight end. He was a top ten NFL draft pick by the time he was done. We have some nice possibles right here in Ohio.
Brad Carrico, a Notre Dame verbal from Dublin Coffman, would top my list. He is going over there as a defensive end. He does not have the get off to be a defensive end. What he does have is length, top drawer athleticism and a frame that makes him look a little skinny at 270. I would not mess around with him. I would move him to left tackle as soon as he walked through the door. Not even mess around with him as a defensive end.
Jamare Mills, Dublin Scioto. This is the kid I would target. He is a high school tight end but is not going to get the offers as a tight end. Not the opnes he wants. ScoutingOhio lists him with offers from Minnesota and Duke. I don't know if they are for TE or OL. He is 6-6 250 right now. Taking him this year would give is time to add weight to his frame and teach him to play tackle.
Take a look for yourself:
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=2978&name=Jamaremilz
Chris Rock, Columbus DeSales. Yes, I said Chris Rock. He was being looked at as a storng side end or a defensive tackle but did not have the junior year he needed to end up on the want list of most of the top schools. What he does have is great athleticism and a great frame. That is what put him on early watch lists. I did not see the tools for him to be a great college defensive lineman but if you take that frame, add the right kind of weight, and he is still as athletic, you could have something special.
Colin Perchinske, Padua Franciscan. 6-5 and 270. He brings the same things to the table as Rock. He is a very good athlete with the frame to add a good deal of weight.
You have at least two years before you need anything out of one of these kids. Take one and tell him to not even look at the football field. Go to the weightroom and work with the coaches off the field. It is a better option than not taking a left tackle at all in this class and I think it can work.
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