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24 Sep 2008
EPC: Jake Long
In his latest Every Play Counts (new home on AOL version), Michael David Smith looks at Jake Long's performance in last week's huge Miami upset of New England, and finds that he's a dominating run blocker.
20 comments, Last at 24 Sep 2008, 9:23pm by Sisyphus
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Comments
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Yay, after incessantly asking about how Jake Long was doing my wish was answered. Thank you.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Well, that's... worrisome.
The main reason the Dolphins didn't trade down and pick one of the other tackles was that Long was the one that had that 'elite' potential; after all, Vernon Carey (who's a pretty awesome run blocker in his own right) held pretty well at LT last season.
I've seen the same thing, too. Long can be a devastating run blocker, but his pass blocking is... meh. If the Dolphins picked him #1 overall and have to switch him with Carey (who at this point would be well justified to tear his hair out in despair with all the position switching he's seen) I have to think of him as a waste of a pick, no matter how good a run blocker he is.
Worst of all, Carey is up for resigning this offseason. If Miami doesn't, I can guarantee you the OL will take a major downfall next season...
-- Go Phins!
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Sergio, you know full well that the "main reason why the Dolphins didn't trade down" is that nobody wanted the #1 overall pick and the pricetag that is attached to it.
Give Long a little time. Who would you have taken? Chris Long hasn't lit up the league in his 3 games.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Well, they could've traded down to like, 3 (at least initially) and picked up an extra 4th rounder or something. You don't always have to go by the infamous chart, and it's not like they didn't like other players - I'm sure they had other tackles listed, as well as other defensive players (like the KC DT). I'm not saying the should've picked another player - just that picking Long at #1 and moving him to RT would certainly make him a bust in my book, no matter how good a RT he becomes in this hypothetical.
There's just no value for that pick in that scenario.
And yeah, I'm giving him time. I'm not calling for his head... just worrying from what I'm seeing in his first few games. Great pass blockers usually come into the league and make an impact relatively immediately - not all like Joe Thomas, but usually into their first season. So yeah, there's time for him to bloom. But the initial outings are not very promising.
In related news, Satele absolutely dominated on Sunday (at least at game speed, that's what I saw). That's good, because he really struggled in his past couple of games, and he's a key component of the rebuilt line.
Overall, I'm happy with the outlook of the line - you can succeed with an average LT, after all - and that means good things for the offense down the road. So we'll see what happens.
-- Go Phins!
Re: EPC: Jake Long
The point is that nobody wanted the first pick. Atlanta, at #3, was not going to trade up. Can you imagine what Ryan's contract would look like had he been the #1 overall pick? Seriously, the Falcons knew they were going to get him. The Dolphins had no choice but to take a player at #1, cause the only team in the world that would trade up, the Raiders, had no clue what they would do with the pick if they got it.
I don't think you could label him a bust if he plays right tackle. Especially if he does it effectively. You got another great OT, which no matter how good your team is, you can never have enough of, and you have stability for years to come. I think that many teams would love to have that. Granted, taking a RT with the first pick and giving him that huge contract will seem like a waste, but seriously, at this point, the Dolphins need to take what they can get.
Also, Dorsey didn't really fit well in the system, as he is too small to play DT in a 3-4, and they already have a set DL. And Chris Long wouldn't be a good pick, because they already had Porter and at the time Taylor, and he probably wouldn't be so hot as a DE in a 3-4. I think Miami made the best of what is usually a bad situation for the number 1 pick.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
"You got another great OT, which no matter how good your team is, you can never have enough of, and you have stability for years to come."
Really? What if you had, like, 7. Or 13. Wouldn't 13 offensive tackles on a 53 man roster be enough? Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
So you're telling me NOBODY would've traded up to #1 for a 2nd day pick (and their 1st, obviously)? Really? Must be good to be so in touch with the NFL FOs. Though I would have to wonder about their sanity - I would do such a trade in a heartbeat.
Listen, I understand it was a hard sell. But by no means impossible. And the Dolphins could've well spent it on someone else if they thought Long was nothing more than a RT - after all, their current RT, Vernon Carey, is absolutely dominant at that position. Has been every time he's played it. And, of course, considering they're so pathetic they have needs, like, *everywhere*.
It's all about value for the pick. And once again, I'm not advocating he was a bad pick, or that he should be benched, whatever. All I'm saying is: in the hypothetical that the guy is indeed not cut out for the LT position, well, it was a waste of a pick. Even if the guy run blocks like nobody's business.
-- Go Phins!
Learning to pass block
I think a lot of players had to learn to pass block, more than probably knew their rookie years. However, most of them probably didn't play their rookie year. Plus, in this case it seems like Long just needs experience, and a better understanding of the scheme, it's not a technique or physical issue.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Well, that's... worrisome.
It really isn't. Getting an elite RT isn't worrisome, especially if he's competent at LT as well. It's even better if they can get him experience working at RT while still working on becoming a great pass blocker, as well. The reason it's fine is that they can take their time trying to find a tackle who's great at pass protection now, and when they have one, they can flip Long, and be happy.
It's especially fine since Miami doesn't have a star quarterback right now.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
I like EPC! I'm also pleased that Miami finally have the makings of a competent O-line. Assuming that Carey is resigned, it's young too.
Phil Simms is a Cretin.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Double post
Re: EPC: Jake Long
i noticed the same things as MDS: the guy was absolutely crushing people on running plays. the pats have a pretty damn good defensive line, but long was pushing guys 4-5 yards downfield in front of ronnie & ricky. this has been an under-reported aspect of the upset (especially on the "wildcat" plays), so i'm glad it finally got some attention. great article.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Uh, isn't it a little early to give up on him as LT? He's dominant on running plays, which are about 50% of plays, and supposedly he's not great in pass pro, especially when blitzed by an probowler like A Thomas? In his 3rd game? You might want to give the guy a chance to, you know, actually get better.
For what it's worth, I paid particular attention to Chris Long for the entire first quarter in week 2, and he was a total nonfactor. He was blocked by one blocker every single time and on his best play he was able to stay at the LOS and not get pushed back.
These guys are rookies. Only one or two a year step in a play at very high level from the get go.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Yeah... silly me. I guess the #1 overall pick shouldn't be expected to be one of those.
-- Go Phins!
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Considering that Miami;
1- Is a power running team
2- doesnt have a lazer/rocket arm QB (therefore mostly 3 step drops)
3- Probably will not contend for the playoffs this year
I would make the argument that Jake Long is a perfect rookie LT for this team. Very few prospects come in and are dominant right away. JL already is a great run-blocker and now he will learn how to pass block. Its not all about today, give him some time and chances are he will be atleast an average pass blocker, if not better.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
I think Miami would have had to offer a 4th rounder or similar to exchange picks with someone down about 5 to 6 picks.
i.e, Miami gives up 1st overall + 4th rounder in exchange for someone's #5 overall (for example).
First overall is that bad, you might as well just get who you want and live with it.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
I completely disagree. I think this whole issue has been overblown since the draft. If Miami really wanted to trade down a few spots, they could have done so and picked up an extra draft pick. You certainly don't have to give away picks to move down. You could likely easily go from 1st to 4th if your asking price was low. If you're absolutely committed to not paying first overall money, ask for the other team's 5th or 6th rounder in exchange. You'll get your wish.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Great, great EPC; it really got into the nuts and bolts of Long's strengths and weaknesses. This was a return to form for a feature that seemed a little watered-down in weeks one and two.
I do agree that it's a little too early to give up on him as a pass blocker - the mere fact that he was having trouble with bull-rushes from the same guys he was pushing downfield on running plays tells me that it's more of a mental or technique thing, which can be corrected much more than if he was simply not strong or athletic enough.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
Is it me or does Jake Long sound pretty much like Jeff Otah. Reading last weeks Cover-3, the article on Otah reads almost identical to this one: strong run blocking but lacking against good pass rushers. I guess the major difference between the two at this time is $43,000,000.00 and change.
Re: EPC: Jake Long
The footwork required to play left tackle has to be learned. A college player as talented as Long doesn't really learn pass blocking in college; he got by on athleticism and strength not technique. His strength and athleticism is so good he is a solid run blocker. Players like Thomas and Pace who start out with good technique as rookies are really quite rare.
I expect that Thomas will be a better than average and possibly dominate as a left tackle; his work ethic in college was good and there doesn't seem be any indication that it has changed. The big variable here is the quality of coaching he will get in the first year or so which will be the controlling factor in the speed of his development.
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