Micheal Oher weighed in at 309 at the combine and started every game for the Ravens and most were at RT. He was a late first round pick who was projected to go higher by some. I think Oher played every single snap. By the way, Dallas could have had him, but they chose to mortgage the future by giving the farm and a mint away for Roy E. Willaims.
The Raiders started a 3rd round rookie at LT last year. Saffold, a second round pick, started at LT for the Rams.
In my opinion, there is no way that Smith will get past Dallas, Washington, Minnesota, and Detroit. The run will start in this area, and Smith is most likely rated at the top of Dallas', Washington's and Minnesota's board.
According to Wes Bunting, when Smith did struggle, it was due to a lack of strength. Smith would try to make up for needing to get stronger, by over extending at times. That can be addressed and is being addressed now due to his diet and training. You can add strength. Good luck to Carimi adding athletic ability. Smith has the frame to add the needed weight and not lose any athletic abilty. He is already up to 307 and most likey will be at 310-315 at his pro day. Ferguson has already paved the way for him and offers proof. Several of the top offensive tackles recently have entered the leaugue lighter than Smith is about to enter it.
Again, other teams plug and play offensive linemen who are going to be drafted much lower than Smith.
Again, after having to suffer through Mark Colombo playing RT last year, I don't see how anyone could not see how Smith could be a monster upgrade, even with any growing pains.
Furthermore, the Cowboys are not one draft away from fixing their problems, and they better start rebuilding this offensive line now, or their window and talent will be wasted, especially on offense. Dallas should draft with the long-term future in mind any way and not draft based on 2011 alone, because the last time I checked, they have won one playoff game since 1996 and are drafting in the top 10 now.
Nate Soler, Gabe Carimi, and Anthony Castonzo are very tall, leggy players. Nate Solder struggles with power. He is leggy and needs to get stronger. He doesn't play with the wide base that Tyron Smith plays with, and he doesn't have the low center of gravity that Smith has. He will struggle in the running game at RT and with power in his rookie year, but he has upside.
Ditto for Castonzo...He will get bull rushed in the NFL and will struggle early due to not being strong enough to anchor against the bull rush. Charlie Casserly wouldn't draft him until later in round 1 and says Bryan Buluga is better.
Sherrod's knock is power and finishing blocks, and he is a natural LT who needs to get stronger in his legs. His weight is up now, but he has never played RT. Smith has two years of film to back his play up at RT. Smith is the superior player athletically and physically when compared to Sherrod or any OT in this draft.
Other teams draft these guys and plug and play them fast and live with the growing pains, becasue they know that they will be better teams by November and December. Dallas has been criticised by the way they have neglected or drafted on the offensive line. Jerry Jones stated that he "liked our age" on the offensive line while Dallas was ranked dead last in rush offense last year, around that time period. He better unlike it fast, or he is going to be a very disappointed person in 2011. The Cowboys overall philosphy on the offensive line has been criticised.
Tyron Smith plays with a wide base and has a low center of gravity unlike Carimi, Castonzo, or Solder. If Smith is up to 310 and bigger and stronger than he was at USC, he can start at RT for the Cowboys and start easlily, imo. After all, it isn't like Mark Colombo was ever a great player to begin with. On his best days, Colombo could not even come close to matching Smith's skill level, experience or not. It's not like Dallas didn't have three guys blocking Micheal Strahan on Romo's last gasp playoff interceptiion. One of those guys was Jason Witten.
It's not like the standard at RT has been that high to start with. I don't buy for one second that Smith couldn't start at RT from day one. At some point, the Cowboys have to quit being gun shy when it comes to playing young players on the offesnive line. Again, other teams draft, plug, and play. No wonder Dallas' offensive line is in such horrible shape. Plus, it would help to actually draft a blue chip player and get an elite talent. That makes it a whole lot easier. You have something to work with.
Just my two cents.
