National guard

Oft-overlooked linemen could prove early round gems

Three of the greatest interior offensive linemen ever to play the game -- Steve Wisniewski, Randall McDaniel and Bruce Matthews -- hung up their cleats after last season. You can't help but wonder whether anyone in the upcoming draft will someday achieve that level of NFL excellence.

Rarely are guards first-round selections, but this year three massive young men could hear their names called in the opening round. Colorado's Andre Gurode and Nebraska's Toniu Fonoti are battling it out for the top spot.

Gurode is the complete package, a 6-foot-4, 316-pound run-blocking machine. He needs a little work on his pass blocking, but one NFL line coach admitted, "Yeah, he isn't perfect, but he's already better than anyone we've got." Personnel people like the fact he can play guard or center, and staying in school for all four years demonstrates a maturity that makes him a very safe pick.

Fonoti left school early and at 20 years old is still a little immature, but the upside potential for the 350-pound junior makes him the top guard on many boards. He holds the record for pancake blocks at a school famous for its run blocking. He sure would look good in a Falcons' uniform at the 17th spot.

Kendall Simmons played left tackle at Auburn, but at 6-2, he's ticketed to play guard in the NFL. A month ago, he was considered strictly a second-round pick but lately he's been mentioned as a late first-rounder, possibly going to the Patriots at No. 32.

Simmons is getting a late challenge from LeCharles Bentley, a center/guard out of Ohio State, for the third spot on some draft boards. Bentley is a very tough guy who has been described as nasty at times. Bentley can run better than the other three interior linemen, and although he is a bit smaller, he plays bigger because of his leverage. Don't be surprised to hear his name called before the 40th pick.

Traditionally, the second round has been a very good place to find quality guards, and this year will be no exception. Looking for a run blocker? Then Mississippi's Terrence Metcalf is your man. His spring workouts have helped him, and one line coach told me, "Metcalf will start as a rookie and do a real good job."

Looking for more of a pass-blocking type? You have two solid choices in Tennessee's Fred Weary and the fast-rising Eric Heitman from Stanford. Weary has overcome some injuries and on tape is a very good player. There are still some concerns about Heitman's run blocking, but there are no doubts about what he can do when the quarterback drops back. If the draft weren't until June, he might move up to Simmons' area in the pecking order.

Remember -- teams tend to draft defensive tackles in the first round and then in the second round take the guards who have to block them. Someday, that trend will be broken once teams realize they need the very best people inside to handle the big monsters on defense.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNNSI.com.

 

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