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By Matt Williamson
Scouts Inc.
Updated: June 16, 2008
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It can be argued that Cleveland's left tackle Joe Thomas was the best player to come out of the 2007 draft. Yes, even better than Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, whose accolades are obviously much easier to quantify.
After just one season in the league, Thomas can be considered one of the top left tackles in the game like Jason Peters (Buffalo), Walter Jones (Seattle) and Jammal Brown (Saints), amongst others, can give the youngster a strong run for his money for that honor. But I am willing to go one step farther and say that Cleveland has the best offensive line in the NFL right now. In fact, I think it is pretty clear that the Browns have the top group and Thomas is a major reason why.
One of the players whoThomas has the luxury of playing alongside is left guard Eric Steinbach. While it is true these two players make both of their jobs easier, Thomas would shine regardless who played next to him. He is the prototype for the position and is a superior prospect in comparison with this year's first-overall selection and fellow Big Ten alumnus, Jake Long (Miami Dolphins). Thomas has tremendous height, long arms, the frame to continue to add weight and massive hands to control his opponent upon contact. He has an athletic build and doesn't carry sloppy weight, so his stamina is tremendous, making him effective late in the game and season.
While there are plenty of players out there with great size, what separates Thomas from the pack is his quickness, light feet and ever-improving technique. Like most of the great ones, he almost always appears to be in balance and rarely looks awkward. Mix all of those outstanding attributes with great competitiveness and tremendous work ethic and you have a player every team longs for in their backside protector.
What should we expect from Thomas going forward? That answer is simple: more greatness. It is difficult to see him taking a monumental step backward after what he has already accomplished. He is a nightmare to beat one-on-one in pass protection and while he can get a little bit high in the run game, he is still able to quickly compensate for any leverage issues with his natural ability to get low and bend his knees. Thomas is a great option to run behind in short-yardage situations or he can get to the second level, eliminate a linebacker and spring the ball carrier for a big run. He also has the nasty edge to finish off his opponent. Thomas could stand to add some lower-body strength, but that will come in time and he is currently far from deficient in that particular area. He is also very intelligent and a quick study. But due to his youth and experience level, his recognition skills are still a work in progress, especially versus some of the more complex defenses in the league.
Mentally, Thomas is well ahead of the game for someone his age. Physically, he is gifted enough to make up for just about any mental shortcoming at this infantile stage of his development. That is a scary thought because he will only get better with more snaps and make his job look even easier than he does now.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
Scouts Inc.
Updated: June 16, 2008
Comment
It can be argued that Cleveland's left tackle Joe Thomas was the best player to come out of the 2007 draft. Yes, even better than Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, whose accolades are obviously much easier to quantify.
After just one season in the league, Thomas can be considered one of the top left tackles in the game like Jason Peters (Buffalo), Walter Jones (Seattle) and Jammal Brown (Saints), amongst others, can give the youngster a strong run for his money for that honor. But I am willing to go one step farther and say that Cleveland has the best offensive line in the NFL right now. In fact, I think it is pretty clear that the Browns have the top group and Thomas is a major reason why.
One of the players whoThomas has the luxury of playing alongside is left guard Eric Steinbach. While it is true these two players make both of their jobs easier, Thomas would shine regardless who played next to him. He is the prototype for the position and is a superior prospect in comparison with this year's first-overall selection and fellow Big Ten alumnus, Jake Long (Miami Dolphins). Thomas has tremendous height, long arms, the frame to continue to add weight and massive hands to control his opponent upon contact. He has an athletic build and doesn't carry sloppy weight, so his stamina is tremendous, making him effective late in the game and season.
While there are plenty of players out there with great size, what separates Thomas from the pack is his quickness, light feet and ever-improving technique. Like most of the great ones, he almost always appears to be in balance and rarely looks awkward. Mix all of those outstanding attributes with great competitiveness and tremendous work ethic and you have a player every team longs for in their backside protector.
What should we expect from Thomas going forward? That answer is simple: more greatness. It is difficult to see him taking a monumental step backward after what he has already accomplished. He is a nightmare to beat one-on-one in pass protection and while he can get a little bit high in the run game, he is still able to quickly compensate for any leverage issues with his natural ability to get low and bend his knees. Thomas is a great option to run behind in short-yardage situations or he can get to the second level, eliminate a linebacker and spring the ball carrier for a big run. He also has the nasty edge to finish off his opponent. Thomas could stand to add some lower-body strength, but that will come in time and he is currently far from deficient in that particular area. He is also very intelligent and a quick study. But due to his youth and experience level, his recognition skills are still a work in progress, especially versus some of the more complex defenses in the league.
Mentally, Thomas is well ahead of the game for someone his age. Physically, he is gifted enough to make up for just about any mental shortcoming at this infantile stage of his development. That is a scary thought because he will only get better with more snaps and make his job look even easier than he does now.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
