Blake v. Costa

[Teague31]

Blake's numbers from the combine:

6026 311
40 time-5.25
10 time- 1.76
reps 22
vertical -29.5
broad jump 8'9
20 yd shuttle 4.65
cone 7.86

Costa's numbers from his pro day (wasn't invited to combine)
6'2 308
40- 5.12
10- 1.60
reps- 30
vertical- 35
broad jump- 9'4
20 yd shuttle- 4.65
cone- 7.66

is blake really that much of an upgrade?

 

[JBS]

Compare film first... Then come back

 

[SDogo]

Blake's numbers from the combine:

6026 311
40 time-5.25
10 time- 1.76
reps 22
vertical -29.5
broad jump 8'9
20 yd shuttle 4.65
cone 7.86

Costa's numbers from his pro day (wasn't invited to combine)
6'2 308
40- 5.12
10- 1.60
reps- 30
vertical- 35
broad jump- 9'4
20 yd shuttle- 4.65
cone- 7.66

is blake really that much of an upgrade?

Not if the game was played in shorts with out an opponent across from you.

 

[Risen Star]

Wow....

 

[burmafrd]

Not if the game was played in shorts with out an opponent across from you.

sometimes numbers are meaningless.

We can start with Costa's TRex arms and go from there.

And the simple fact that he was putrid to lousy as a starter last year.

 

[Woods]

That's a heck of a vertical for Costa.

 

[Risen Star]

sometimes numbers are meaningless.

We can start with Costa's TRex arms and go from there.

And the simple fact that he was putrid to lousy as a starter last year.

Short arms = good bench. Why anyone would look at that as being indicative of OL play is beyond me.

If the guy has long arms and still puts up a lot of reps, then you have something that might translate to the field.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Costa's measurables didnt prevent him from being the worst pass protection center in football last year.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

There is no way I'd want to go into the season with Blake as my starter. He's like a 5th round pick.

If we're talking Blake vs. Costa in training camp then it's time to begin 2013 nfl draft research.

 

[brymatt94]

Blake's numbers from the combine:

6026 311
40 time-5.25
10 time- 1.76
reps 22
vertical -29.5
broad jump 8'9
20 yd shuttle 4.65
cone 7.86

Costa's numbers from his pro day (wasn't invited to combine)
6'2 308
40- 5.12
10- 1.60
reps- 30
vertical- 35
broad jump- 9'4
20 yd shuttle- 4.65
cone- 7.66

is blake really that much of an upgrade?

You really can't compare two players based on their workouts. There are some things that you can see on tape that you can't in shorts. And you really can't get much worse than Costa. You can also say that Blake has faced tougher opponents in the Big 12 than Costa did in the ACC. You do get a better feel for ability in lineman when looking at who they've played.

 

[fortdick]

There is no way I'd want to go into the season with Blake as my starter. He's like a 5th round pick.

If we're talking Blake vs. Costa in training camp then it's time to begin 2013 nfl draft research.

Here is the voice of reason

 

[fortdick]

sometimes numbers are meaningless.

We can start with Costa's TRex arms and go from there.

And the simple fact that he was putrid to lousy as a starter last year.

Arm length? That is what you go with? All things being equal, you take the guy with the longest arms?

 

[Staggerlee]

Arm length? That is what you go with? All things being equal, you take the guy with the longest arms?

Although I'm not sure why, apparently arm length, especially for a center, is very very important.

 

[jobberone]

I want someone mobile, agile and hostile that can run block fairly well, pass block well and play well at the second level. If he has long arms that's great.

 

[DallasEast]

Although I'm not sure why, apparently arm length, especially for a center, is very very important.

Regardless of position, arm length can be crucial for an offensive linemen. The better pass blockers can release from their down stance into blocking stance and extend their arms into the defender. The arms serve as a buffer between blocker and would be tackler.

When a tackler can get inside the pads of a blocker, the offensive lineman must then rely on having superior strength to keep the defender at bay. However, the defender can offset the offensive lineman's powerbase by gaining superior leverage. When that happens, the offensive lineman loses control of the battle and starts getting pushed back into his backfield. This has primarily been Phil Costa's failure thus far in his career.

 

[theogt]

I can't fathom why anyone would think this is a worthwhile comparison.

 

[SDogo]

I can't fathom why anyone would think this is a worthwhile comparison.

I have yet to really figure out this thread.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Although I'm not sure why, apparently arm length, especially for a center, is very very important.

The theory is that longer arms allows a player to get his hands on his opponent before the opponent can reach him. This allows the O-lineman to better take imitative of the engagement away from the defensive lineman.

Personally, I don't think it means much. In boxing the guy with the longest arms isn't necessarily better even though he can punch his opponent before his opponent can punch him. Instead it's about technique. Shorter armed fighters can close the distance and succeed against longer-armed fighters by fighting inside.

In offensive line play I think it's somewhat similar. It's less about arm length and more about how the O-lineman uses his physical traits. Certainly a long-armed tackle that know how to use his length is imposing. But when you look around the NFL and throughout NFL history you'll find guys of all arm lengths having great success on the O-line. It's just about how you use what god gave you.

 

[bounce]

I think the combine is a good indicator of what's going to happen when a January playoff game comes down to a last second standing broad jump.

 

[jchap]

But Blake's arms are 273% longer than Costa's. It's easy to do bench press when your arms don't extend past your chest.