2 for 2 on Rob Rang's Gang players--Players he like outside the first round

chicago JK

chicago JK

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James Marten, Boston College: There may not be a program in the country that more consistently produces quality offensive linemen than Boston College. Marten, along with (guard/center prospect Josh Beekman) continue this tradition in 2007. A career left guard until he was asked to move to the all-important left tackle position as a senior, Marten will almost surely be moved across to right tackle in the NFL. Though Marten allowed only 1.5 sacks in his only season at left tackle, he lacks great footwork and balance.

Used at right tackle at the Senior Bowl, Marten showed a strong hand punch and the physicality teams want on the right side. A typical draft class has only a couple of legitimate left tackle prospects, but there are usually half a dozen prospects viewed as capable of playing on the right side. Depth and talent among right tackle prospects is a weakness of the 2007 crop, with Marten appearing as sure a thing as there is for this specific role.


Anthony Spencer, Purdue: There are enough teams as high on Spencer as I am that he could break my singular rule of eligibility for Rang's Gang and find himself drafted in the first round. If that is the case, Spencer will simply have to be an exception to the rule, as I just can't create a team of my favorites without having him on it. There are more talented pass rushers in this draft. Bigger, stronger, faster athletes who have higher upsides. I don’t know that there is a more consistently productive pass rusher, however. It is easy to get caught up in statistics -- but when you post the kind of numbers Spencer did as a senior, there is some validity to them.

Spencer finished with 26.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2006, the second highest total in the country last year and the fifth highest in Big Ten history. Certainly the fact that Spencer accumulated only 7.5 tackles for loss as a junior is a redflag. However, as important as tackles for loss and sacks are, the number I always look to in grading pass rushers' explosiveness is forced fumbles. Spencer, with 11 forced fumbles over the past three seasons - including 5 as a senior - speaks to his closing speed. In scouting him, I'm consistently impressed with Spencer's burst off the edge, lateral quickness, and especially his use of hands. For this reason, I remain convinced that Spencer, even with marginal 40 times (4.70), can be effective not only as a 4-3 defensive end, but as a 3-4 pass rusher, as well.
 
Chocolate Lab

Chocolate Lab

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I'm with you, JK, I followed Rang's site before he became a pay site and always liked his work. I thought he did a good job of evaluating guys and, as important, coming up with his own ideas instead of just following the internet-guru herd.
 
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