STRENGTHS
Michael is a quality offensive lineman who can play multiple positions for you on your offensive line. He has started and played center, guard and left tackle. He has good size and the arm length most teams are looking for to play tackle at a high level. He has good enough feet and lateral agility to be effective at both the center and tackle positions. As a guard he is stout and can handle those big, quick, pass rushing defensive tackles but what he is best at is understanding his own limitations and adjusting mentally and physically during a game and that shows a high football IQ and leadership skills. Michael’s best position for the next level might be as a Left Guard but don’t be surprised at seeing him at center or in some offensive systems as a tackle because of his leadership skills and high football IQ.
CONCERNS
Michael needs to gain strength in his upper body and lower his pad level when run blocking but those issues are very fixable and I doubt he will have any problems improving. Michael has the lateral agility to play center but not enough to be a pure Left Tackle in any kind of offensive system unless you give him help with those speed rushes that give every tackle a problem at the next level.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.83
Michael might not be a “pure” tackle in every type of offensive system but he can play tackle along with playing center and guard so passing on him because he MIGHT not be a pure tackle seems counterproductive to me. Every team needs offensive lineman. That’s a fact so, why would you pass on selecting one who has proven he can play on the offensive line at multiple positions? Right now, for his college team he is playing Left Tackle and doing a good solid job and those that analyze him (experts) are going to tell you that Michael is an average Left Tackle. I would have to say they are correct but he is a potential pro bowl center or left guard playing the left tackle position and that is a big difference than just a player who is playing one position at an average level. At least for me it is and I’m not passing on a quality, high football IQ, athlete with his size because the position he is playing now is not necessarily the position he will play at the next level. In fact, it’s just the opposite. His ability to play any position that does not fit his athletic skill set at an average level excites me. Michael reminds me a lot of the Packers Brian Bulaga who was the Packers 23rd pick in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
