Post by MizzouTiger on Feb 22, 2008 18:47:22 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/500133.html
There’s no mistake in Michigan’s Jake Long
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
I NDIANAPOLIS | Someone once said a penalty could be called on every play in a football game.
That guy never saw Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long in action.
Long, a 6-foot-7, 313-pound mountain of a man, was called for one penalty during his senior year.
One lousy, stinking penalty.
“A false start against Northwestern,” Long said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. “Third and short. I flinched a little, but not much.”
That, in addition to a holding penalty as a freshman, gave Long two penalties in his entire college career that encompassed 43 starts and more than 2,500 plays.
Wouldn’t Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who is a stickler for smart, penalty-free players and whose team will have the fourth or fifth pick in the draft, love to have someone like Long to fill a gaping need at left tackle?
Long is expected to be the first offensive tackle and among the top five players taken in the NFL draft.
“He’s a very mature player, it looks like to me,” said Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. “I have not looked at him in depth like our scouts and personnel people have, but he acts and performs like a very mature player.”
But even Long concedes there were times he got away with a hold or two.
“Absolutely. I’ll admit that I hold,” Long said. “I’ll get my hands inside and hide it that I’m holding. I think it is a skill if you can get away with it and not get caught. I try to make sure I get my hands inside every single play so that if I do hold a little bit, the refs will not be able to see it.”
Long nearly pulled off a perfect season last year. Besides committing just one penalty, he allowed only one sack. That came in the regular-season finale against Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston, who tied for third in the nation with 14 sacks in 2007.
It was just the second sack Long gave up in four years of college.
“I take it personally,” Long said. “I wanted to make sure that I was perfect and not give up a sack, but Vernon is a great player, and he had a good move on me and I gave it up.”
Long, who switched from right to left tackle during his junior season, refined his game by returning to Michigan as a senior. There were still questions whether he was a good enough pass protector to play left tackle.
Well, the Wolverines dropped back to pass 423 times in 2007, and Long was beaten just the one time. And they amassed 1,251 of their 2,144 rushing yards over Long’s left tackle position, as he registered 119 knockdowns, including 18 blocks resulting in touchdowns.
“Last year I didn’t feel I was good enough to come out,” Long said. “It was my first time on the left side. I wasn’t really used to the pass sets on that side. I got a lot more fluid this year with my pass sets. Just working on my hands against certain rush moves.
“I wanted to improve on things, and those things I improved on. I feel I’m a smarter and better player than I was last year. I’m smarter in identifying the defenses. I worked on the little things in my game and I’ve gotten a lot better.”
Long, second in the voting to LSU’s Glenn Dorsey for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, joined Ohio State’s Orlando Pace (1995-96), Korey Stringer (1993-94) and Michigan State’s Tony Mandarich (1987-88) as the only players selected Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in consecutive seasons.
“In an offensive tackle, you’re always looking for mobility and toughness,” Gailey said. “Does he have that ability to do all the little things that allow you to be successful? He is one of a few who look like, on the surface, has the talent in that area.”
Some are comparing Long to former Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas, the third pick of last year’s draft who started all 16 games for Cleveland.
“He’s a great player and represented his school in the Big Ten very well,” said Long, an All-Big Ten Academic selection. “He had a great rookie season. I’m going to have to follow in his footsteps and represent for the Big Ten.
“He showed me and all the other rookies that you can come in and make a huge impact and have a great season.”
Kansas tackle Anthony Collins, who works out with fellow first-team All-American Long at a training facility in Tempe, Ariz., and is rooming with him at the combine, says there is little question Long is the premier offensive tackle in this draft.
“He’s the best,” Collins said. “He’s No. 1. He’s 6-7, 313, whatever he weighed in today. He has long arms, he moves very well. He moves like me, and I’m 6-5. So that’s a plus for him. He’s No. 1 for a reason.”
There’s no mistake in Michigan’s Jake Long
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
I NDIANAPOLIS | Someone once said a penalty could be called on every play in a football game.
That guy never saw Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long in action.
Long, a 6-foot-7, 313-pound mountain of a man, was called for one penalty during his senior year.
One lousy, stinking penalty.
“A false start against Northwestern,” Long said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. “Third and short. I flinched a little, but not much.”
That, in addition to a holding penalty as a freshman, gave Long two penalties in his entire college career that encompassed 43 starts and more than 2,500 plays.
Wouldn’t Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who is a stickler for smart, penalty-free players and whose team will have the fourth or fifth pick in the draft, love to have someone like Long to fill a gaping need at left tackle?
Long is expected to be the first offensive tackle and among the top five players taken in the NFL draft.
“He’s a very mature player, it looks like to me,” said Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. “I have not looked at him in depth like our scouts and personnel people have, but he acts and performs like a very mature player.”
But even Long concedes there were times he got away with a hold or two.
“Absolutely. I’ll admit that I hold,” Long said. “I’ll get my hands inside and hide it that I’m holding. I think it is a skill if you can get away with it and not get caught. I try to make sure I get my hands inside every single play so that if I do hold a little bit, the refs will not be able to see it.”
Long nearly pulled off a perfect season last year. Besides committing just one penalty, he allowed only one sack. That came in the regular-season finale against Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston, who tied for third in the nation with 14 sacks in 2007.
It was just the second sack Long gave up in four years of college.
“I take it personally,” Long said. “I wanted to make sure that I was perfect and not give up a sack, but Vernon is a great player, and he had a good move on me and I gave it up.”
Long, who switched from right to left tackle during his junior season, refined his game by returning to Michigan as a senior. There were still questions whether he was a good enough pass protector to play left tackle.
Well, the Wolverines dropped back to pass 423 times in 2007, and Long was beaten just the one time. And they amassed 1,251 of their 2,144 rushing yards over Long’s left tackle position, as he registered 119 knockdowns, including 18 blocks resulting in touchdowns.
“Last year I didn’t feel I was good enough to come out,” Long said. “It was my first time on the left side. I wasn’t really used to the pass sets on that side. I got a lot more fluid this year with my pass sets. Just working on my hands against certain rush moves.
“I wanted to improve on things, and those things I improved on. I feel I’m a smarter and better player than I was last year. I’m smarter in identifying the defenses. I worked on the little things in my game and I’ve gotten a lot better.”
Long, second in the voting to LSU’s Glenn Dorsey for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, joined Ohio State’s Orlando Pace (1995-96), Korey Stringer (1993-94) and Michigan State’s Tony Mandarich (1987-88) as the only players selected Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in consecutive seasons.
“In an offensive tackle, you’re always looking for mobility and toughness,” Gailey said. “Does he have that ability to do all the little things that allow you to be successful? He is one of a few who look like, on the surface, has the talent in that area.”
Some are comparing Long to former Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas, the third pick of last year’s draft who started all 16 games for Cleveland.
“He’s a great player and represented his school in the Big Ten very well,” said Long, an All-Big Ten Academic selection. “He had a great rookie season. I’m going to have to follow in his footsteps and represent for the Big Ten.
“He showed me and all the other rookies that you can come in and make a huge impact and have a great season.”
Kansas tackle Anthony Collins, who works out with fellow first-team All-American Long at a training facility in Tempe, Ariz., and is rooming with him at the combine, says there is little question Long is the premier offensive tackle in this draft.
“He’s the best,” Collins said. “He’s No. 1. He’s 6-7, 313, whatever he weighed in today. He has long arms, he moves very well. He moves like me, and I’m 6-5. So that’s a plus for him. He’s No. 1 for a reason.”