SEARCH NEILCORNRICH.COM
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Brandon Scherff cements himself among elite interior O-linemen
Brandon Scherff was taken fifth in the 2015 NFL Draft by former Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan. He was picked before defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was available and widely considered the best player in the draft.
By Brandon Thorn
October 18, 2017
Once it was announced that the team would switch Scherff from left tackle (LT) to right guard (RG), people began doubting the logic of drafting an interior offensive lineman (IOL) so highly. The last time an offensive lineman was picked inside the top five of the draft and inserted into the interior as a rookie was Mike Williams in 2002, so naturally the 13-year gap for this scenario raised concerns among most fans and pundits.
Scherff made the transition from the left to the right side of the offensive line, and from tackle to guard from Day 1 of his first training camp… and has not looked back since. Scherff has drastically improved his consistency and technique in each of his first 2.5 seasons, earning a trip to his first-career Pro Bowl in 2016. Through the first six weeks of 2017, Scherff looks well on his way to earning an All-Pro nod, and has cemented himself among the elite IOL in the NFL.
Scherff’s dominance begins with his athletic ability (AA) and mental processing. These two traits, along with taking superior angles in space, combine to create elite play speed. No other IOL plays faster in space on screens or second-level blocks than Scherff. His elite competitive toughness forges an unmatched ability to fit, latch, and finish against second- and third-level defenders.
Through six weeks Scherff has elevated the proficiency in his technique to an elite level, validating his draft slot in the top five and providing the Redskins their second elite OL, joining teammate and LT Trent Williams in this rarefied air. There are no glaring weaknesses to Scherff’s skill set, which possesses the critical factors and position-specific traits I have not seen matched on tape from another RG this season. At just 25 years old and barely into the prime of his career, Scherff has reached a level only Cowboy RG Zack Martin and Raven RG Marshal Yanda have recently matched.
Led by O-line coach Bill Callahan, Washington’s OL continues to elevate itself to rival the best units in the league, largely due to the rapid development of Scherff. I would be surprised to not see Scherff at worst earn his second trip to the Pro Bowl by season’s end, and likely a selection to his first All-Pro team.
Popular Posts
-
By Austin Belisle September 14, 2017 Duct tape may prove a quick fix for leaky pipes, but as every DIY repairman knows, a patchwork ...
-
By Matthew Coller September 27, 2017 After spending big in free agency and spending their top two draft picks on offense, the Minneso...
-
By BILL REITER March 6, 2010 CLEVELAND | The Mercedes S550 pulls up to the hotel silver and sleek and shining with the gleam of money and po...
-
September 11, 2017 By Kyle Ratke A day before facing off against the New Orleans Saints to kick off the 2017 season the Minnesota Vik...
-
From Peter King's "Ten Things I Think I Think" February 15, 2010 6. I think these are the five unrestricted free agents who co...
-
By ALBERT BREER February 04, 2019 3. Patriots pass rusher Trey Flowers—who rapped with Meek Mill on stage at the Super...
-
By Steve Berkowitz January 19, 2011 College football still loses marquee coaches such as Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. But it increasingly is bec...
-
Ex-players like Jake Coker, who led the Crimson Tide to a national championship three years ago, join others who sell policies By ...
-
The Patriots signed defensive tackle Markus Kuhn to a one-year contract in April. The Associated Press By Rich Garven August 23, 2016...
-
From Nate Davis' "Joe Flacco an overachieving headliner on '09 All-Joe Team" January 27, 2010 THE 2009 ALL-JOE TEAM OFFENS...