Interesting Center prospect

[Nors]

Kory Lichtensteiger, C, Bowling Green

Name: Kory Lichtensteiger
College: Bowling Green Number: 78
Height: 6-3 Weight: 310
Position: C Pos2: OG
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2008
40 Time: 5.26 40 Low: 5.18 40 High: 5.35
Projected Round: 4-5 Stock:
Rated number 3 out of 70 C's 149 / 2242 TOTAL

Combine Results Pro Day Results
Combine Invite:
Height: 6025
Weight: 310

Draft Scout Snapshot: Started all 12 games, first team All-MAC performer in '06. Started all 11 games, Second Team All-MAC in '05. Second Team All-MAC, named Freshman All-American in '04. Redshirt in '03.

Overview


Versatile interior lineman with starting experience at center and left guard. While Lichtensteiger lacks elite size and athleticism, he makes up for it with intelligence, technique and effort.

A four-year starter, Lichtensteiger makes all of the line calls and was voted a team captain his junior and senior seasons. He recognizes the blitz well and reacts accordingly, showing good anticipation and toughness. He has good initial quickness and kick slide while in pass protection and flashes an effective hand punch. He isn't a great athlete, however, and can be beaten with quickness. He lacks the size many teams prefer inside, and will struggle some with massive defensive tackles.

In the running game Lichtensteiger is more of a turn-and-anchor blocker rather than a pure drive blocker. He shows good agility as a trap and pull blocker and can hit the moving target.

Of some concern is that Bowling Green plays predominately in a shotgun formation. Lichtensteiger is among the nation's most reliable shotgun snappers, but may need some refining on the regular snap exchange due to his relative lack of experience at this level.

Lichtensteiger won't wow anyone with his ability, but his scrappy play and versatility gives him enough value for a second day selection.





Analysis


Positives: Cerebral player who can take the chalk talk to the field easily. ... Makes all of the line calls and successfully moved back to center as a junior after transitioning to left guard in 2004-2005. ... Signed and redshirted as a center in 2003. ... Good straight-ahead quickness off the snap. ... Among the country's most reliable shotgun snappers. ... At his best recognizing blitzes and making the line adjustments. ... Works well with his guards to provide an adequate pocket. ... Is very effective as a trap and pull blocker. ... Flashes surprising agility in the open field and can hit the secondary target. ...

[dallasfan]

I wouldn't mind drafting a center, but not before round 6.

I'd rank our team needs as:

NT- Even with Ferguson down, I wouldn't spend a 1rst at this position, maybe not even a 2nd. Richard Clebert from USF may be an interesting prospect. I don't know much about him, but I think he'll still be a late round prospect.
CB- I'd love to be able to keep Jacques Reeves, but I'd want him at the #4 corner. We should draft someone within the first 3 picks here, even though I think Henry will be fine, we'll need to draft someone who can replace him by 09'. If we don't resign Reeves, we should also draft another CB in the 4th round maybe.
WR- I think Crayton can be a solid #2 WR, Hurd may be a good #3, but because of how long it takes WRs to develop, we should draft someone now who can replace TO, or at the very least give us 3 great WRs, like the colts, if TO can play late into his 30s.
RB- IMO, JJ is not a game changer, and MB III doesn't have the break away speed to be a star RB. It looks like JJ will walk, and imo we should draft either McFadden, Slaton, or Ray Rice.
OLB- Depending on how well Ellis plays, we may need another pass rusher. Someone like Brian Robinson, who the Vikes drafted in the 4th round

[Nors]

DT, CB in One
Best Center as high as 2/3
WR 2/3

[dallasfan]

Originally Posted by Nors

DT, CB in One
Best Center as high as 2/3
WR 2/3

You don't like Gurode? I understand the need for depth, but why would we need a center as high as round 2?

[Nors]

Originally Posted by dallasfan

You don't like Gurode? I understand the need for depth, but why would we need a center as high as round 2?

You can mine best Center in draft mid day 1. If he's versatile enough to play guard it's a major bonus. What do we have if Gurode tears his biceps off next year?

[dallasfan]

Originally Posted by Nors

What do we have if Gurode tears his biceps off next year?

Doesn't mean we should spend a 2nd on a back-up to a pro-bowl player. Who do we have at QB if Romo goes down? Depth is great, but I don't think it would be wise to draft a center in round 2. To be honest we can get a decent center in FA to back-up Gurode, and he'll be ready to step in if there is an injury, which may not be the case with a rookie.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by Nors

DT, CB in One
Best Center as high as 2/3
WR 2/3

At this point, I don't see a center rated as high as a first day pick... now, that might change, but unless it does, you're advocating reaching for a center, if you draft one that high...

Sorry, I don't see backup center as that high a priority...

And I certainly wouldn't go defense with both first round picks... that's the time to look for at least one stud at the offensive skill positions, in particular RB or WR...

[Nors]

Originally Posted by silverbear

At this point, I don't see a center rated as high as a first day pick... now, that might change, but unless it does, you're advocating reaching for a center, if you draft one that high...

Sorry, I don't see backup center as that high a priority...

And I certainly wouldn't go defense with both first round picks... that's the time to look for at least one stud at the offensive skill positions, in particular RB or WR...

I was advocating Center at 2 to 3. A real depth/need. I don't see our offense as the the weakness on this team. It's all on our defense candidly.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by Nors

I was advocating Center at 2 to 3. A real depth/need. I don't see our offense as the the weakness on this team. It's all on our defense candidly.

The defense has holes, no doubt... but the best players in our WR corps are old, and if Cleveland continues to play this way, the Boys could have a chance to add a potential superstar at RB... the common denominator in the two great Cowboys "dynasties" were a superstar RB-- Dorsett, then Emmitt... the ONLY defensive position I'd consider spending a first round pick on would be CB, and that's just because there will be a pretty good crop of corners available this year...

I will say that I like Kory just fine, but see him as a 4th or 5th rounder at this point... I like Doug Legursky from Marshall a little better, though... Robbie Krutilla from Central Michigan would be a nice sleeper late in the draft, too... then there's a pair of massive center prospects, both in the 325 range-- Derrick Morse from Miami, Fernando Velasco from Georgia...

But to repeat my earlier opinion, the only center who seems to grade out to a first day prospect at this early point in the evaluation process is John Sullivan from Notre Dame, and I have two problems with him-- Notre Dame's offense completely sucks, it is perhaps the worst in Division I, and he's only 290 pounds...

[Big Dakota]

Gurode will be here for several more years and Proctor has good potential from what i've seen and read, plus Berger can play C. Only way i draft a C is if he has proven he can play other possitions in college.

You guys know what i want is a C that can Deep snap. Back in the days of Dale H he was the best snapper in the NFL, was a decent backup for a few years and played on several ST's units. That's what i would like becasue JP Ladouceur is pretty much worthless at LB. I know he plays STs but we'd be in trouble if he had to play in our regular D.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by Big Dakota

Gurode will be here for several more years and Proctor has good potential from what i've seen and read, plus Berger can play C. Only way i draft a C is if he has proven he can play other possitions in college.

You guys know what i want is a C that can Deep snap. Back in the days of Dale H he was the best snapper in the NFL, was a decent backup for a few years and played on several ST's units. That's what i would like becasue JP Ladouceur is pretty much worthless at LB. I know he plays STs but we'd be in trouble if he had to play in our regular D.

I've actually come to think it's an advantage if your deep snapper does nothing but that... less chance of him getting hurt, being unavailable to handle the deep snapping responsibilities... in this era of 53 man rosters, I can justify reserving a roster spot just for a deep snapper...

I do agree that the backup C ought to be able to help out at G too...