Tennant, Walton and Estes would all be pretty effective in KC's zone blocking scheme. Pouncey and Olsen are more of a mauling, drive blocking type of center with great strength.
Tennant seemed to stand out as a player in the several Boston College games I've seen over the past couple of years. Olsen did that this year as well for ND.
I don't think that the Chiefs can go wrong with any of these five players. They'd all be immediate upgrades to the center position.
Another guy that is a really good center that no one is talking about is New Mexico's Eric Cook. Guy is huge and very athletic for his size. Really dominated out here in the Mountain West Conference with little help around him. Here's a write up on the guy:
Quote:
2009 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FIRST TEAM: OL Erik Cook, Sr., New Mexico, has been selected All-Mountain West Conference First Team for the 2009 college football season as voted on by the Mountain West coaches and select media panel. Cook, a second team all-MWC pick last year who was the lone Lobo on the preseason all-MWC team (media-only vote), capped his outstanding career by giving New Mexico a first team all-MWC center for the fifth time in the last seven years. Cook's older brother Ryan earned three straight awards from 2003-05, while Vince Natali was honored in 2007. Erik Cook (Albuquerque Cibola HS) played every snap in all 12 games this fall, finishing the season with 88 knockdown blocks, including 49 over the final five games. He allowed just one sack in 470 passing attempts - the most in the MWC - and had just one penalty in 836 plays this year. Cook had flawless technique on at least 80 percent of his snaps in 10 games. - New Mexico football
Pass blocking: Athletic and flexible for his size. Able to move his feet inside against quick tackles, and also to roll out with quarterback in moving pocket. Shows some nastiness and plays through the whistle when mauling inside. Good pop when trying to push his defender away from quick screen. Accurate shotgun snap, getting his head up to see and hit his man. When doubling a tackle, keeps head on a swivel to stay aware of twists and late blitzers. Gives good effort to chase down defenders making tracks toward his quarterback scrambling out of the pocket. Height can be a detriment inside, but his anchor is usually strong. Must get a bit higher on his man's leg to ensure his cut block is effective.
Run blocking: Quick enough to snap and get his hands on his man's jersey to turn him, take him down the line or just wall him off. Knows the angle he needs to take on the MIKE to keep him from the play. Will lunge when playing too tall out of his stance, allowing a nose-up defender to swim past him. Also gets his pads too high as a drive blocker, though he keeps his legs moving to push the pile.
Pulling/trapping: Doesn't have the foot speed to pull consistently. Gets a hand on players coming from inside, but doesn't move quickly enough to square up against them. Gets tripped up in trash so trapping may prove difficult.
Initial Quickness: Generally gets off the snap well whether quarterback is under center or in shotgun formation. Most starting NFL tackles, however, will out-quick him initially whether lined up at the zero or one techniques. Would be better off playing guard or tackle, where he's not worried about the snap.
Downfield: A bit slow to get his weight moving forward, but does manage to reach and negate linebackers, even after blocking down. Sustains by latching on and keeping his feet active, but may have trouble adjusting to quicker NFL defenders. Hustles to get 20-25 yards downfield on screen passes or reverses. Linebackers can disengage with a strong punch to the chest, as Cook takes time to get his hands up when on the move.
Intangibles: Intelligent player who makes line calls. Coaches and teammates call him a leader by words and example on the field, in the weight room and in the locker room.
|