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NFL: What can Thomas do?
Thursday, March 15, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
BEREA In the field of dreams that is the NFL Draft, a rule of thumb applies to left tackles graded as early first-round picks.
If you pick them, you will win.
The Jaguars drafted Tony Boselli at No. 2 overall in 1995. They reached the AFC finals as a second-year expansion team in 2006 and were 36-12 during the next three years.
The Ravens picked Jonathan Ogden at No. 4 in 1996. They won a Super Bowl in 2000.
The Rams grabbed Ohio State's Orlando Pace with the first pick of the 1997 draft. They were in two Super Bowls within five years.
The Seahawks picked Walter Jones at No. 6 in '97. They have had two losing seasons in 10 years.
The rule isn't fail-safe. The Commanders haven't won with Chris Samuels (No. 3, 2000), nor the Cardinals with Leonard Davis (No. 2, 2001), nor the Raiders with Robert Gallery (No. 2, 2004).
It applies often enough to make the Browns wonder what Joe Thomas can do for them.
Consider what D'Brickashaw Ferguson did for Romeo Crennel's former New England underling, Eric Mangini, in 2006. Mangini inherited a 4-12 Jets team, got Ferguson with the No. 4 pick of last April's draft and reached the playoffs.
The line on Thomas is he is not in the Pace-Ogden class but can be better than Jordan Gross, a No. 8 pick in 2003 who as a rookie helped the Panthers reach a Super Bowl.
The Browns are deciding whether the 6-foot-61/2, 311-pound Thomas is worth a No. 3 pick. He is poised to play well early, partly because his position coach at Wisconsin was Bob Palcic, who spent more than 10 years in the NFL.
"Every week, we'd draw up just about every blitz you could imagine, similar to the way you'd prepare for an NFL game," Thomas said.
What would the Browns do with 2006 starting tackles Kevin Shaffer and Ryan Tucker? One might be tried at right guard.
Commenting generally on the Browns' line at the NFL Combine, Thomas said, "They obviously need an upgrade." That might earn him some rookie hazing, but who can argue he's wrong? The Browns were one of the NFL's worst offenses in 2005 and went backward in 2006.
Thomas says there's "no doubt" he has the speed and athleticism to help a team as a rookie. He must get past a right knee issue. His 2005 season ended when he tore an ACL after volunteering to fill in at defensive end in the Capitol One Bowl.
"I just raised my hand and said I'd like to step in and help the team win," Thomas said. "We won (over Auburn), so who cares about the injury?"
Thomas had reconstructive surgery Jan. 19, 2006. Every NFL scout cared.
"I really started feeling like my old self when we played Michigan in our first Big Ten game," he said.
He went on to win the Outland Trophy after the '06 season. He vows to be better in his second post-op season.
He is a viable target for the Lions, drafting at No. 2, or the Browns.
"I kind of knew the Browns were in the top three or four in sacks allowed last year," Thomas said. "The Lions are very similar to where the Browns are."
Thomas points to what his favorite player, Walter Jones, has done for Seattle.
"I think he's the best player in the NFL, regardless of position," Thomas said.
Can Thomas be that good?
"I hope so," he said. "Obviously, he's going to be in the Hall of Fame. That's my goal some day."
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=342067&Category=17&subCategoryID=
Thursday, March 15, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
BEREA In the field of dreams that is the NFL Draft, a rule of thumb applies to left tackles graded as early first-round picks.
If you pick them, you will win.
The Jaguars drafted Tony Boselli at No. 2 overall in 1995. They reached the AFC finals as a second-year expansion team in 2006 and were 36-12 during the next three years.
The Ravens picked Jonathan Ogden at No. 4 in 1996. They won a Super Bowl in 2000.
The Rams grabbed Ohio State's Orlando Pace with the first pick of the 1997 draft. They were in two Super Bowls within five years.
The Seahawks picked Walter Jones at No. 6 in '97. They have had two losing seasons in 10 years.
The rule isn't fail-safe. The Commanders haven't won with Chris Samuels (No. 3, 2000), nor the Cardinals with Leonard Davis (No. 2, 2001), nor the Raiders with Robert Gallery (No. 2, 2004).
It applies often enough to make the Browns wonder what Joe Thomas can do for them.
Consider what D'Brickashaw Ferguson did for Romeo Crennel's former New England underling, Eric Mangini, in 2006. Mangini inherited a 4-12 Jets team, got Ferguson with the No. 4 pick of last April's draft and reached the playoffs.
The line on Thomas is he is not in the Pace-Ogden class but can be better than Jordan Gross, a No. 8 pick in 2003 who as a rookie helped the Panthers reach a Super Bowl.
The Browns are deciding whether the 6-foot-61/2, 311-pound Thomas is worth a No. 3 pick. He is poised to play well early, partly because his position coach at Wisconsin was Bob Palcic, who spent more than 10 years in the NFL.
"Every week, we'd draw up just about every blitz you could imagine, similar to the way you'd prepare for an NFL game," Thomas said.
What would the Browns do with 2006 starting tackles Kevin Shaffer and Ryan Tucker? One might be tried at right guard.
Commenting generally on the Browns' line at the NFL Combine, Thomas said, "They obviously need an upgrade." That might earn him some rookie hazing, but who can argue he's wrong? The Browns were one of the NFL's worst offenses in 2005 and went backward in 2006.
Thomas says there's "no doubt" he has the speed and athleticism to help a team as a rookie. He must get past a right knee issue. His 2005 season ended when he tore an ACL after volunteering to fill in at defensive end in the Capitol One Bowl.
"I just raised my hand and said I'd like to step in and help the team win," Thomas said. "We won (over Auburn), so who cares about the injury?"
Thomas had reconstructive surgery Jan. 19, 2006. Every NFL scout cared.
"I really started feeling like my old self when we played Michigan in our first Big Ten game," he said.
He went on to win the Outland Trophy after the '06 season. He vows to be better in his second post-op season.
He is a viable target for the Lions, drafting at No. 2, or the Browns.
"I kind of knew the Browns were in the top three or four in sacks allowed last year," Thomas said. "The Lions are very similar to where the Browns are."
Thomas points to what his favorite player, Walter Jones, has done for Seattle.
"I think he's the best player in the NFL, regardless of position," Thomas said.
Can Thomas be that good?
"I hope so," he said. "Obviously, he's going to be in the Hall of Fame. That's my goal some day."
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=342067&Category=17&subCategoryID=
