Previewing The NFL Scouting Combine: Interior Offensive Linemen

by mgrex03 on Feb 20, 2012 9:01 PM EST in 2012 NFL Draft

After Wide Receiver, the next biggest need on Offense for the Colts are Interior Offensive Linemen. Currently the Colts have a bunch of young guys who are very inconsistent, and a complete overhaul of both Guard positions is certainly possible, and the starting center, Jeff Saturday, is most likely not coming back next year. Even if he does, it'll only be for two years tops, so getting a guy now might be a good idea.

For the sake of this story, I'm going to say that Guard and Center are interchangeable, even though in reality it isn't really the case. I only have two Centers in the list, and even though both guys are four year starters at Center, they could kick inside to Guard for a year or two if needed. There are also several guys who were Tackles in college, but they are being projected as Guards in the NFL. There's only three or four guys who were actually Guards in college.

I don't see the need here for the Colts super high, but just in need of some bodies, so I'm not expecting a high pick. A good number of these guys are lower-round prospects, which is where I expect the Colts to be looking for a lineman or two.

After the jump I'll show you the entire group of Linemen, and give you my favorites in the group.

List of Interior Linemen to watch at the Scouting Combine for the Colts:

Interior Linemen
Jr	Player	School	Camp #
	JEFF ALLEN	ILLINOIS	OL02
	MARK ASPER	OREGON	OL04
	MICHAEL BREWSTER	OHIO ST	OL08
	CORDY GLENN	GEORGIA	OL18
	BEN JONES	GEORGIA	OL22
	SENIO KELEMETE	WASHINGTON	OL25
	JOE LOONEY	WAKE FOREST	OL29
	LUKE NIX	PITTSBURGH	OL37
	AMINI SILATOLU	MIDWESTERN ST	OL46
	KEVIN ZEITLER	WISCONSIN	OL54

A couple of my favorites:

Mark Asper - Oregon: Played Center, Guard, and Tackle, and is 25 after taking a religious mission before starting in Eugene. Late rounder.
Senio Kelemete - Washington: Actually played Defense as a Freshman before switching to the OL, played LT last two years. Possible 3rd-4th round.
Kevin Zeitler - Wisconsin: OL Factory. I'll take any lineman from Badger land.

Who did I miss? Let me know in the comments.

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Comments

Would be nice to pick up 2 of them in the late rounds

Now, it would be perfect to pick up Steve Hutchinson IF he gets cut and IF he is cheep, for our OG situation
Those late rounders hopefully are ready to play in 2 or 3 years when Steve is gone
For the C position it has to be somebody that immediately starts and can have some chemistry with our new QB… So we either draft in early rounds or it has to be free agancy

by Nojan on Feb 20, 2012 10:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions

If we are looking at big road grader guards who can still pass protect...

Here are a few later round possibilities.

Antoine McClain – Clemson
Ryan Miller – Colorado
Lonnie Edwards – Texas Tech (my sleeper pick)
Rokevious Watkins – South Carolina

These guys are all 6-4" or bigger and weigh in the 330 – 340 range, but shouldn’t be liabilities in pass protection. All should be available in rounds 5-7 (precombine). I don’t think any of them played center so I think we are looking at strictly guards.

by Radcolt on Feb 20, 2012 10:40 PM EST reply actions

Bullseye on Lonnie Edwards.

I’d really like to see him playing on the other side of center from Ben Ijalana one day. I’d be happier if we picked up Ben Jones or Kevin Zeitler, but Edwards be a nice consolation prize.

I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman

by Chopaholic on Feb 21, 2012 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

Centers...

It depends if we draft road graders or athletic zone blockers. These guys may be able to fit either scheme.

Philip Blake – Baylor 3-4 round
Quentin Saulsbury – Mississippi State 3-4 round
Grant Garner – Oklahoma State 4-5 round
T-Bob Herbert – LSU 7 round

by Radcolt on Feb 20, 2012 10:58 PM EST reply actions

Really enjoy these scouting reports by position

The offensive line is the most important position, not only for Andrew Luck, for any rookie qb trying to acclimate himself to the speed and complexities of the NFL. There have been alot of discussions recently regarding the number of #1 overall draft picks, at quarterback, who have turned out to be busts. I think of David Carr and how his confidence was shot by playing behind a bad offensive line that could not protect him. While this Colts team has many holes on it’s roster, I would hope that they would use multiple draft picks on O linemen. I would also like to see them be active in free agency, at the position, if an experienced leader becomes available. The mention of Steve Hutchinson is a good example.

by thomasezekiel77 on Feb 21, 2012 1:05 AM EST reply actions

Is

Jake Kirkpatrick still on the practice squad? He was good in college.

"Cat in the wall, eh? Ok, now you're talking my language. I know this game."
-Charlie

by Addai Another Aday on Feb 21, 2012 1:29 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Jake Scott looks to become a FA too

by Ty46 on Feb 21, 2012 1:40 AM EST reply actions

^^This

Vamos Colts!!!

by COLTS_CR9 on Feb 21, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

Nice... Like to see him and Steve hutchintson

by Nojan on Feb 21, 2012 2:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I would much rather see Evan Mathis. It makes sense too – given our new GM’s connection to the Eagles.

by Leyoz on Feb 22, 2012 3:29 AM EST up reply actions

i second..

Phillip Blake, center, Baylor and lonnie Edwards, guard, Texas tech!

by Hetfield on Feb 21, 2012 7:05 AM EST reply actions

Sleeper pick

My sleeper pick is the guy I took in the sixth of the mock: Joel Foreman from Michigan State. His career with the Spartans was solid but unremarkable. Unlike Edwards (who I like but plays WAY too high) or Brandon Brooks (great run blocker but doesn’t do well in pass blocking), he is a great technician in both pass and run blocking. A bigger guy at 6’4 310 he also fits well with the move toward a bigger O-line.

As far as centers go, I like Quinten Saulsbury from Mississippi State because he NEVER missed a single game in his four year career. I also like Grant Garner from Oklahoma State who is a decent run blocker but superb at pass blocking. I also wouldn’t be averse to bringing Jake Kirkpatrick back to camp, especially since Pollack’s contract is up

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 21, 2012 12:21 PM EST reply actions

Where's Peter Konz on this list? He's the top rated Center in the draft

and there’s an outside chances he’s available for the Colts in round 2.

He’s one of the best prospects at center to come out since Pouncey, and maybe even better. I think the Colts go either DB or NT with their second pick, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they went with Konz either if he’s still on the board.

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by BoilerUp1982 on Feb 21, 2012 2:33 PM EST reply actions

Agree. If they want to draft a center, he is the one I want in the second round

by Nojan on Feb 21, 2012 2:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think Konz goes in the first round.

Like you said, best prospect since Pouncey who also was a first rounder. But I would take him in a heartbeat if he falls to the top of round 2. This would mean the Colts have locked up the QB and the Center position for several years. Get NT in the third and CB, Safety, WR, and Guards in the later rounds.

by Radcolt on Feb 21, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Unless Ta’Madu or Chapman fall there won’t be a NT worth taking the third. In your scenario it’s probably corner third, wide receiver fourth, and guard/nose tackle in the fifth and/or sixth.

No safeties worth having this year, at least none that upgrade Lefedge. It’s a very weak class.

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 22, 2012 5:21 PM EST up reply actions