STRENGTHS
John has the athleticism you look for in a center. He is smart and also shows the leadership skills that are needed to be successful at the next level. John is what I call a “move” center. He is best on the move because of his footspeed and ability to go out to the second level and make his blocks. He does an excellent job finishing his blocks because once he engages he keeps his feet moving, giving him the leverage and strength most offensive linemen coming out, struggle with. John is quick out of his stance and can make all the snaps and this will allow him to play in any style of offensive system. He also shows, the lateral agility and athleticism to play more than one position on the offensive line but his impact position will be at center, for the team that selects him.
CONCERNS
John is light and will struggle against those big nose tackles and this issue could be a problem for some teams in this draft. He will struggle against a bull rush when pass blocking until he can add some lower body strength and learn to not panic and give up his leverage and techniques. Because he struggles with a player head-on, it makes it difficult to move him to any other interior line position, and this too could affect his draft status.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.17
John is a center and a very good one but he has to gain more strength in his upper and lower body if he is going to play a 17-game schedule in the NFL. Teams will load up and play a defensive lineman on his nose and it will not matter how athletic he is, he will struggle and need help, and a center needing help as opposed to a center giving help will be a big-time problem. A center who needs help is giving up the interior of the offensive line and the quickest way into the backfield. Nevertheless, because of the more athletic quarterbacks and spread offenses, having an athletic, light center is more of a positive than a negative in the new NFL. I what my guards to be able to play center but I don’t necessarily want my center to be able to play guard because my center should be more difficult to replace than a guard. John will get stronger and he is smart, and with better coaching, should be able to handle a bull rush with better strength. So, what do I always say…when you see the obvious, you draft the obvious and John is obviously an excellent center.
