With the recent release of longtime Packers left tackle Chad Clifton and Derek Sherrod still recovering from a broken leg, the Packers find themselves operating without a real safety net at tackle.
Currently, Bryan Bulaga, Marshall Newhouse and Herb Taylor are the only other true tackles on the roster. We really have no idea if Taylor can actually play, and while Newhouse filled in admirably for Clifton last season, is he a true starter in this league? I think that question has not yet been answered.
Taking all of that in account, I think I just moved offensive tackle up my priority list for Packers draft picks. There are quite a few nice development prospects at tackle in the later rounds, so I expect Ted Thompson to tap into that well and bring in another warm body to compete for a backup spot.
When Ted pulls that trigger, you can come here and see where he stands in the NFL scouting rankings, shown in the table below. But first, some tidbits on a mid-round tackle that could be calling Green Bay home:
Tom Compton:
While there is no true standout to capture scouts’ attention coming out of the lower level ranks, South Dakota’s Tom Compton could be the first offensive tackle from those ranks drafted, more likely in the fifth round.
Compton possesses good thickness throughout his waist and hips, along with a solid midsection, big bubble, good upper body muscle development and high-cut, thick thighs and calves. He possesses good arm length and a big wingspan, along with the above average hand length that allow him to lock on and ride a defender away from the ball. He also shows solid muscle development throughout his shoulders and chest, looking the part of a classic mauler, as he is big, stout and not the type that has a “jiggly” midsection.
Compton proved to be the “total package” at left offensive tackle as a senior, but the thing that really impressed was his quickness and balance as a lead blocker out of the backfield, as he showed his above average quickness and playing speed into the second level (see 2011 Southern Utah and North Dakota games). He has more than enough athletic ability to pull and get in front of the ball carrier on outside runs. He has the feet to adjust to blocks on the move and can easily slide to adjust to the edge rushers. When he plays tall, he will struggle to anchor, but he has very good balance and change of direction agility to recover.
In 2011, he seems to have had great success in finishing his blocks, thanks to his strength and athletic agility to readjust and recover when he gets out of position. He has shown marked improvement this season when it comes to rolling his hips and driving his legs on a consistent basis. When he is down near the goal-line, more often than not, the tailback will trail Compton, knowing his blocker flashes a great line surge to get movement…
CREAM OF THE CROP – MATT KALIL – Southern California
BEST OF THE REST – RILEY REIFF – Iowa
MOST OVERRATED – MIKE ADAMS – Ohio State
MOST UNDERRATED – ZEBRIE SANDERS – Florida State
SUPER SLEEPER – TOM COMPTON – South Dakota
OFFENSIVE TACKLE RANKINGS
| PRD | GRD | PLAYER | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | 40-YD | POS |
| 1 | 7.3 | KALIL, Matt (J) | Southern California | 6:065 | 306 | 4.96 | OT |
| 1 | 6.9 | REIFF, Riley (J) | Iowa | 6:056 | 313 | 5.16 | OT |
| 2 | 6.8 | OSEMELE, Kelechi | Iowa State | 6:054 | 333 | 5.22 | OT |
| 2-3 | 6.4 | ALLEN, Jeff | Illinois | 6:037 | 307 | 5.17 | OT |
| 2 | 6.3 | MASSIE, Bobby (J) | Mississippi | 6:061 | 316 | 5.18 | OT |
| 1 | 6.3 | MARTIN, Jonathan (J) | Stanford | 6:053 | 312 | 5.35 | OT |
| 3-4 | 6.1 | SANDERS, Zebrie | Florida State | 6:055 | 320 | 5.33 | OT |
| 2-3 | 6.1 | SCHWARTZ, Mitchell | California | 6:053 | 318 | 5.38 | OT |
| 4-5 | 5.8 | MOSLEY, Brandon | Auburn | 6:055 | 314 | 5.14 | OT |
| 2 | 5.6 | ADAMS, Mike | Ohio State | 6:072 | 323 | 5.28 | OT |
| 3 | 5.6 | STEPHENSON, Donald | Oklahoma | 6:054 | 312 | 4.94 | OT |
| 4-5 | 5.4 | COMPTON, Tom | South Dakota | 6:047 | 314 | 5.01 | OT |
| 5-6 | 5.2 | POTTER, Nate | Boise State | 6:057 | 303 | 5.26 | OT |
| 5-6 | 5.2 | McCANTS, Matt | Alabama-Birmingham | 6:057 | 308 | 5.40 | OT |
| 6-7 | 5.1 | ADAMS, JEFF | Columbia | 6:057 | 306 | 5.118 | OT |
| 5-6 | 5.1 | REYNOLDS, Matt | Brigham Young | 6:044 | 302 | 5.27 | OT |
| 6-7 | 5.0 | DATKO, Andrew | Florida State | 6:060 | 315 | 5.19 | OT |
| 7 | 5.0 | KELLY, Dennis | Purdue | 6:081 | 321 | 5.37 | OT |
| 7/FA | 5.0 | BAKER, Steven | East Carolina | 6:074 | 301 | 4.965 | OT |
| 7/FA | 4.9 | GONZALES, David | Washington State | 6:052 | 295 | 5.24 | OT |
| 6-7 | 4.9 | HOLMES, Lamar | Southern Mississippi | 6:053 | 323 | 5.29 | OT |
| 7 | 4.9 | WALDRON, Dustin | Portland State | 6:050 | 305 | 5.28 | OT |
| 7/FA | 4.9 | ADCOCK, Levy | Oklahoma State | 6:054 | 320 | 5.22 | OT |
| 7/FA | 4.9 | CARMON, James | Mississippi State | 6:056 | 330 | 5.29 | OT |
| 7/FA | 4.8 | JONES, Marcel | Nebraska | 6:061 | 320 | 5.57 | OT |
| PFA | 4.8 | OGLESBY, Josh | Wisconsin | 6:072 | 338 | 5.75 | OT |
| FA | 2.5 | ZUSEVICS, Markus | Iowa | 6:053 | 303 | 5.08 | OT |
| PFA | 4.8 | SOWELL, Bradley | Mississippi | 6:067 | 309 | 5.23 | OT |
| PFA | 4.8 | MONDEK, Nick | Purdue | 6:055 | 304 | 4.86 | OT |
| PFA | 4.8 | LAWRENCE, Addison | Mississippi State | 6:036 | 303 | 5.14 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | RYAN, Mike | Connecticut | 6:055 | 327 | 5.25 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | WALKER, Landon | Clemson | 6:056 | 302 | 5.48 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | CULLEN, John | Utah | 6:044 | 297 | 5.28 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | KNAPP, Dan | Arizona State | 6:045 | 304 | 4.99 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | DRAHEIM, Tommie | San Diego State | 6:040 | 305 | 5.05 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | MURPHY, Kevin | Harvard | 6:070 | 303 | 5.27 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | WEEMS, Darrion | Oregon | 6:051 | 318 | 5.35 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | CORNICK, Paul | North Dakota State | 6:054 | 310 | 5.30 | OT |
| PFA | 4.7 | ANDERSON, Justin | Georgia | 6:043 | 335 | 5.24 | OT |
| FA | 4.7 | LONG, Joe | Wayne State (MI) | 6:053 | 308 | 5.48 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | BURDEN, Chandler | Kentucky | 6:044 | 315 | 5.06 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | BARCLAY, Don | West Virginia | 6:037 | 305 | 5.05 | OT |
| 7/FA | 4.6 | HARRIS, Bryce | Fresno State | 6:061 | 300 | 5.21 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | VANDERMEULEN, Mike | Toledo | 6:060 | 307 | 5.08 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | DeCHRISTOPHER, Blake | Virginia Tech | 6:042 | 313 | 5.24 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | DEVER, Taylor | Notre Dame | 6:053 | 298 | 5.40 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | OLSON, Trevor | Northern Illinois | 6:054 | 302 | 5.29 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | JONES, Jarvis | Oklahoma | 6:064 | 302 | 5.39 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | LANIER, Andrew | Virginia Tech | 6:051 | 290 | 5.03 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | MULDROW, Richard | Richmond | 6:057 | 308 | 5.20 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | FREEMAN, Grant | Arkansas | 6:064 | 300 | 5.32 | OT |
| FA | 4.6 | HARDRICK, Jermarcus | Nebraska | 6:037 | 320 | 5.39 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | HOLMES, Tyler | Tulsa | 6:043 | 308 | 5.48 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | MADSEN, Paul | Colorado State | 6:043 | 312 | 5.26 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | HOCH, Dan | Missouri | 6:067 | 330 | 5.39 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | HILL, Kyle | Duke | 6:057 | 307 | 5.21 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | MENKIN, Nate | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 6:050 | 296 | 5.10 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | OPPERUD, Jon | Montana | 6:065 | 302 | 5.36 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | REMMERS, Mike | Oregon State | 6:051 | 300 | 5.14 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | McDONALD, Andrew | Indiana | 6:053 | 316 | 5.30 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | GREENE, A.J. | Auburn | 6:050 | 298 | 5.18 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | OKAFOR, Mickey | Texas Tech | 6:056 | 308 | 5.34 | OT |
| CMP | 4.5 | NUNN, Kyle | South Carolina | 6:050 | 295 | 5.48 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | OLSON, Jeff | Texas Christian | 6:035 | 303 | 5.28 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | TILLMAN, Ryan | Marshall | 6:043 | 280 | 5.33 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | TOMLINSON, Matt | North Texas | 6:056 | 306 | 5.43 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | PIESCHEl, Nick | Central Florida | 6:063 | 309 | 5.31 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | NOVIKOFF, Tyrone | Idaho | 6:065 | 316 | 5.45 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | HANSON, Zach | Kansas State | 6:086 | 328 | 5.46 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | SHAW, Greg | Louisiana State | 6:050 | 292 | 5.28 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | HENDRICKSON, Tyler | Concordia (MN) | 6:061 | 312 | 5.26 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | WINNEWISSER, Scott | Cal Poly | 6:047 | 301 | 5.16 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | MONTGOMERY, Anthony | Louisiana-Monroe | 6:040 | 302 | 5.35 | OT |
| CMP | 4.4 | MEADOR, Reid | Hillsdale (MI) | 6:066 | 293 | 5.36 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | ALLARD, Shea | Delaware | 6:050 | 305 | 5.20 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | WEAVER, Rocky | Central Michigan | 6:050 | 278 | 5.02 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | ROCKHILL, Carson | Calgary | 6:047 | 293 | 5.14 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | McCOY, Ernest | Texas Southern | 6:046 | 328 | 5.27 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | SIMMONS, Aderious | Arizona State | 6:062 | 315 | 5.24 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | YANDELL, Clyde | Georgia State | 6:051 | 288 | 5.36 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | SHEDD, Brad | Idaho State | 6:066 | 292 | 5.30 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | MARTINOVICH, Michael | Kansas | 6:041 | 258 | 5.05 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | POLLEY, R.J. | South Dakota | 6:062 | 316 | 5.38 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | HILL, Jeremy | Campbell | 6:075 | 343 | 5.65 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | McKENNA, Troy | Lehigh | 6:031 | 264 | 4.78 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | SHELLER, Sean | UCLA | 6:041 | 309 | 5.32 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | BASFORD, Ryan | Navy | 6:051 | 272 | 5.22 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | FOKETI, Manase | Kansas State | 6:051 | 305 | 5.25 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | STURDIVANT, Trinton | Georgia | 6:044 | 322 | 5.00 | OT |
| CMP | 4.3 | PREECE, Keefer | Angelo State | 6:050 | 280 | 5.40 | OT |
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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TT had better not draft a Tackle in the first 4 rounds. We’ve got 1 probowler at RT, and two high end prospects at LT.
One of them will work out just fine.
Say it again: 5 technique, ROLB, CB, S (depending on Collins)
The drop off after Kalil is huge. Few of the tackle candidates are capable of starting at LT any time in the near future. Wait till the lower rounds and pick someone with size, speed, and hopefully potential.
Where’s Breno “The statue” when ya need him?
High rounds must be reserved to address defensive problems. If they can grab 2 or 3, if they’re lucky, difference makers they will have a good chance of righting the defensive ship and having a very good year. I believe strongly that Capers knows what went wrong and given the off-season and trining camo will do the job,
Just heard via JSOnline – Collins is being released today.