cowboyjoe
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Categories: NFL draft, Offense
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Anatomy of a prospect: Oregon State G Andy Levitre
6:00 AM Fri, Apr 03, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
The best guard on the 2009 NFL draft board isn't even a guard. He's Oregon State tackle Andy Levitre. But the NFL projects him as an interior blocker.
That's not a problem for Levitre, an All-Pac 10 left tackle in 2008. He closed his career starting 35 consecutive games, playing every position along the offensive line except center. But the NFL thinks Levitre would struggle at left tackle at the next level because of his short arms. They measure only 32 1/2 inches. The NFL prefers its left tackles with long arms to steer speed rushers away from the pocket. Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith of Alabama projects as a first-round draft pick at left tackle with his 34 3/8-inch arms.
Levitre has been compared to Ross Verba. He was an All-Big Ten left tackle at Iowa in 1996 but projected as a guard in the NFL because of his 32-inch arms. The Green Bay Packers made him the final pick of the first round in 1997 and he went on to play eight seasons, starting 107 games, primarily at guard. Verba could fill in at tackle in a pinch in the NFL and did. Levitre will bring that same versatility to his NFL team.
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Anatomy of a prospect: Oregon State G Andy Levitre
6:00 AM Fri, Apr 03, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
The best guard on the 2009 NFL draft board isn't even a guard. He's Oregon State tackle Andy Levitre. But the NFL projects him as an interior blocker.
That's not a problem for Levitre, an All-Pac 10 left tackle in 2008. He closed his career starting 35 consecutive games, playing every position along the offensive line except center. But the NFL thinks Levitre would struggle at left tackle at the next level because of his short arms. They measure only 32 1/2 inches. The NFL prefers its left tackles with long arms to steer speed rushers away from the pocket. Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith of Alabama projects as a first-round draft pick at left tackle with his 34 3/8-inch arms.
Levitre has been compared to Ross Verba. He was an All-Big Ten left tackle at Iowa in 1996 but projected as a guard in the NFL because of his 32-inch arms. The Green Bay Packers made him the final pick of the first round in 1997 and he went on to play eight seasons, starting 107 games, primarily at guard. Verba could fill in at tackle in a pinch in the NFL and did. Levitre will bring that same versatility to his NFL team.
