Oher, Herman Johnson, Max Unger, Britton, and Tupou really hurt themselves on the bench.

I'd be most concerned about Unger, Johnson and Tupou's terrible numbers. They aren't playing positions where technique is always paramount. You can't really look at Unger as a RT with that kind of bench. Really, You might have to just consider him a center.

Kropog has good enough feet that I wouldn't be too worried about his bench.

I think it's pretty clear that Jason Smith and Monroe are the cream of the tackle crop, and Smith is starting to look like a ****ing monster. Strong as hell, and big. I'll be interested to see how he runs in the first ten yards and his shuttle/cone splits.

Jason Smith will be athletic he played his freshman year as a TE..

Problem is he has very little to no experience lining up with his hand on the ground he was always in the 2 point stance and rarely run blocked.

This is true. With that being said, run blocking technique isn't as tough to teach as proper pass blocking.

It's becoming clear that he might have more upside than any tackle in this draft, while Monroe is clearly the most pro ready.

heh, as good as Scott is, he is wrong sometimes also.... shit happens. It's what happens when you try to predict something unpredictable.

Its the one thing running a spread offense can be good at, developing tackles. IMO, Monroe is and will stay the top tackle, ASmith everyday appears to more like Gallery, not to say he wont be productive, but clearly RT might be his final resting place in order to prolong his career. Oher is the one that you cant figure out, game film he excels, measurables, not so much. A case of functional strength being a more tangible attribute.

When you are on an island every play, you definitely learn how to operate in space. What it doesn't help out with is inline blocking from interior linemen, especially if they take wide splits ala Mizzou.

He specializes in run blocking and considers himself a mauler.

While it isnt ideal, it leads more to poor fundamentals for the interior guys. Being an OU fan, its the one knock Duke gets, he has poor footwork, while correctable, just makes a guy get drafted earlier than he really should. Puts an emphasis on coaching in the NFL, that 20 yrs ago wasnt an issue. Which is good. NFL has gotten out of the business of coaching guys. Well, the teams that are less successful have.

Uh that's Andre Smith, you're confusing them.

Nope

I'm told that Baylor's Smith is an absolute monster when it comes to power blocking, and the converted tight end loves the part of his job that allows him to manhandle his opponents. He didn't waste much time speaking to that reputation at the combine.

"When I'm on the field, I take a lot of pride in physically assaulting somebody,'' Smith said. "As far as finishing them off, that's just a part of the block. So you don't really think too much of it, because that's what you go on the field to do. It's something I practice real hard at, and I practice real hard at practicing. And when it's game time, it just happens.''

Whoever wrote that is completely wrong...

Jason Smith doesn't even play with his hand on the ground.

JSmith is this years Clady. Monroe is the best T ... and Smith is next. Just because he hasnt played with his hand down, doesnt mean he cant. One of the guys people need to watch tomorrow in the drills.

I'm not saying he can't do it but he's far from a physical mauling player that has major experience run blocking.

Don Banks. Maybe the scheme limited what he could show on the field.

Mecca I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about, but Baylor rushed the ball 481 times last season as opposed to 290 passing attempts. Don't tell me he doesn't have major experience. Maybe the technique is different coming out of a pass-blocking stance if thats really what they did all the time, but that's still plenty of run-blocking experience to learn everything he needs to.

edit: ok, so 173 of those "run plays" were qb runs. I don't know how many draws there were, but I imagine it was mostly scrambling. So that'd be 463 passing to 308 running. Still a lot of snaps both ways.