Steve Avila C and G TCU

[RS12]

Cowboys spent a great deal of time with him at the Senior Bowl. Offers interior position flex and is a road grader in the run game. Slightly over age in that he will be 24 this year. Could be a strong possibility in round 2.

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Esteban-Avila-C-TCU

https://thedraftnetwork.com/sr-prospect/steve-avila-ea918414-63ae-4244-8074-5b596e527fde/

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/steve-avila/32004156-4938-1004-f099-2e0d50c5f73d

 

[Acceptablename]

Yeah Im interested In Avila. He looks like a second round pick there’s a couple other guards but he’s somebody we could definitely get if we’re interested. However is he athletic enough

 

[stilltheguru]

He was punking Mazi Smith

 

[Malhavoc]

He’s definitely a good one. I wouldn’t be mad with taking him in round 2.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I’m thinking more 3rd round but like Avila

 

[Hardline]

He would be a steal if we got him in the 2nd. I am fully onboard with it.

 

[Cebrin]

I think switching to Guard hurt him a bit, but with more development he'll be better at it. I like him better at Center though.

 

[AsthmaField]

I like Avila, and if the team takes him in round 2, I’m all for it.

However, the interior guy that I really like is John Michael Schmitz, center from U of Minnesota. That guy is a damn good football player. He is ideal for an inside-zone game like McCarthy and Schottenheimer will run. He’s smart, very strong, great with leverage (ex-wrestler), and has the size to sit down and stall any big bodied DT. He has a ton of experience and should be able to make line calls immediately.

I just feel like Biadasz needs upgrading and that it can be more difficult to find a OC than an OG… not to mention that I just think that Schmitz is a better player than Avila (though I do like Avila).

The elephant in the room is that Schmitz will go earlier and won’t be available at the Dallas second round pick. However, I feel like the best way for Dallas to upgrade its OL (besides the coaching improvements)is to upgrade the center position. That spot is critical to the whole line and Schmitz is a boss. He’d make that inside zone go, IMO.

Anyway, I just thought I’d put out there how much I like Schmitz and how much I think he’d help.

 

[cnuball21]

I like Avila, and if the team takes him in round 2, I’m all for it.

However, the interior guy that I really like is John Michael Schmitz, center from U of Minnesota. That guy is a damn good football player. He is ideal for an inside-zone game like McCarthy and Schottenheimer will run. He’s smart, very strong, great with leverage (ex-wrestler), and has the size to sit down and stall any big bodied DT. He has a ton of experience and should be able to make line calls immediately.

I just feel like Biadasz needs upgrading and that it can be more difficult to find a OC than an OG… not to mention that I just think that Schmitz is a better player than Avila (though I do like Avila).

The elephant in the room is that Schmitz will go earlier and won’t be available at the Dallas second round pick. However, I feel like the best way for Dallas to upgrade its OL (besides the coaching improvements)is to upgrade the center position. That spot is critical to the whole line and Schmitz is a boss. He’d make that inside zone go, IMO.

Anyway, I just thought I’d put out there how much I like Schmitz and how much I think he’d help.

Tyler B is coming off a pro bowl season. I’d imagine his contract is getting close but IMO he’s our 2nd best OLmen and one of the least of our concerns.

Agree Schmitz is a stud though…great player and wouldn’t be surprised if he goes in the first.

 

[Rayman70]

I like him. Another guy is Luke Haggard from IU. He is a nice hidden gem in the mid 2 late rds. A mauler.

 

[Cowboyny]

Tyler B is coming off a pro bowl season. I’d imagine his contract is getting close but IMO he’s our 2nd best OLmen and one of the least of our concerns.

Agree Schmitz is a stud though…great player and wouldn’t be surprised if he goes in the first.

Biaz is a fa after next season, he is solid, but not elite by any means. They could of looked into drafting Linderbaum last season, but he wasn't on their radar, which could suggest they believe that Biaz is apart of their long-term future.

I wonder if they are interested in a player like Cody Mauch who Dane loves. He is a former TE prospect that possibly could play all 5 positions, but many see him as a G/C due to his lack of length. He isn't a so called power player, but one who excels on the move and hitting moving targets.

We also have to consider this team drafting a Tackle and kicking them inside at Guard, we have seen this front office do that with Martin and was the plan for Tyler before Tyron went down. We talked about the top guys, but a player like Matthew Bergeron from Syracuse could fit that mold, where many see him as a plug and play starter at either G or T.

Question I have, do they want more of a power Guard or more of an athletic one who is quick off the snap and can play well in space?

Honestly, I think they envision Tyron, Tyler, Biaz, Martin, Steele for next season once Steele returns from injury.

 

[Malhavoc]

I like Avila, and if the team takes him in round 2, I’m all for it.

However, the interior guy that I really like is John Michael Schmitz, center from U of Minnesota. That guy is a damn good football player. He is ideal for an inside-zone game like McCarthy and Schottenheimer will run. He’s smart, very strong, great with leverage (ex-wrestler), and has the size to sit down and stall any big bodied DT. He has a ton of experience and should be able to make line calls immediately.

I just feel like Biadasz needs upgrading and that it can be more difficult to find a OC than an OG… not to mention that I just think that Schmitz is a better player than Avila (though I do like Avila).

The elephant in the room is that Schmitz will go earlier and won’t be available at the Dallas second round pick. However, I feel like the best way for Dallas to upgrade its OL (besides the coaching improvements)is to upgrade the center position. That spot is critical to the whole line and Schmitz is a boss. He’d make that inside zone go, IMO.

Anyway, I just thought I’d put out there how much I like Schmitz and how much I think he’d help.

I have Schmitz as a top 20 player on our board. That kid was the best OL I saw last year. And after the Senior Bowl, I have no doubt that you’re looking at someone that will be one of the top 5 Centers in short time. He’s that good. May not be so much a need pick but he’s the best interior lineman in the class IMO.

 

[Carson]

Biaz is a fa after next season, he is solid, but not elite by any means. They could of looked into drafting Linderbaum last season, but he wasn't on their radar, which could suggest they believe that Biaz is apart of their long-term future.

I wonder if they are interested in a player like Cody Mauch who Dane loves. He is a former TE prospect that possibly could play all 5 positions, but many see him as a G/C due to his lack of length. He isn't a so called power player, but one who excels on the move and hitting moving targets.

We also have to consider this team drafting a Tackle and kicking them inside at Guard, we have seen this front office do that with Martin and was the plan for Tyler before Tyron went down. We talked about the top guys, but a player like Matthew Bergeron from Syracuse could fit that mold, where many see him as a plug and play starter at either G or T.

Question I have, do they want more of a power Guard or more of an athletic one who is quick off the snap and can play well in space?

Honestly, I think they envision Tyron, Tyler, Biaz, Martin, Steele for next season once Steele returns from injury.

I don’t understand why this team doesn’t just draft a guy to play his position lol! It worked out for Tyler. But it seems every offensive lineman we draft must have “position flex”

 

[Cowboyny]

I don’t understand why this team doesn’t just draft a guy to play his position lol! It worked out for Tyler. But it seems every offensive lineman we draft must have “position flex”

The reason why they like Tackles kicking inside, is more due to them having better footwork, then it is about positional flex.

 

[Carson]

The reason why they like Tackles kicking inside, is more due to them having better footwork, then it is about positional flex.

It’s more so with guard / center. Not complaining just an observation.

McGovern, Farniok

 

[Cowboyny]

It’s more so with guard / center. Not complaining just an observation.

McGovern, Farniok

Remember, you have so many game day active reserves, you need your backups to be able to play both positions or you would need to active 2 players rather then just 1.

 

[Malhavoc]

It’s more so with guard / center. Not complaining just an observation.

McGovern, Farniok

Schmitz is definitely a guy to watch. There was some talk after the Senior Bowl that he could play Guard as well at the next level. I think if that’s the case then he’s definitely the kind of player we could be looking for.

 

[tm1119]

I don’t understand why this team doesn’t just draft a guy to play his position lol! It worked out for Tyler. But it seems every offensive lineman we draft must have “position flex”

Tyron’s future with the team is up in the air, Steele is coming off a major injury and needs an extension soon, Biadasz needs an extension soon, and McGovern is a free agent now. Unless it’s a future high level OT, I think drafting an Olineman with position flex is very important.

 

[AsthmaField]

Tyler B is coming off a pro bowl season. I’d imagine his contract is getting close but IMO he’s our 2nd best OLmen and one of the least of our concerns.

Agree Schmitz is a stud though…great player and wouldn’t be surprised if he goes in the first.

I don’t dislike Biadasz but he’s not going to be as suited for the inside zone (like with Solari) as he was for the outside zone that we’ve been running.

With an OZ, you want your linemen to get a horizontal push. They need to get their man moving sideways and there is a ton of technique involved there. You don’t have to be huge and strong for that… you just have to have good technique. The runners landmark is typically a ghost TE in an OZ, so the DL needs to be moved sideways so the RB can hit his landmark and choose a gap.

In an IZ, the linemen have to get vertical movement, more like a gap scheme. Those guys need to be bigger and stronger than OZ guys because of having to push the DL straight back off of the line of scrimmage. The landmark there is typically the guard’s inside hip where the runner can decide to bang, bend, or bounce it. (In a gap scheme though, the RB hits the assigned gap with no decision making on his part.). If the interior linemen aren’t getting a vertical push, there won’t really be room to run.

That’s why they love Avila and are interested in him. He’s a big strong guy who can get that push.

Biadasz May have some difficulty getting vertical movement with the DL. He will be asked to do some things that he wasn’t asked to do last year. He has good technique but isn’t as proficient in the strength department. Schmitz is ideal for an inside zone game. He’s a bull in a China shop.

Like I said, I don’t hate Biadasz as a player… I just worry that he will have a tougher time in a system where it is more physical power than he’s been asked to provide in the OZ.

Maybe I’m making it a bigger deal than it should be, and Biadasz will be fine… but I do worry about it a little bit because the center is such an important part of an IZ running game.

Anyway, my point there was that Schmitz is perfect for it and could be available around where we pick. I really don’t expect the team to do that, but I would maybe consider it in their shoes.

 

[Cowboyny]

I don’t dislike Biadasz but he’s not going to be as suited for the inside zone (like with Solari) as he was for the outside zone that we’ve been running.

With an OZ, you want your linemen to get a horizontal push. They need to get their man moving sideways and there is a ton of technique involved there. You don’t have to be huge and strong for that… you just have to have good technique. The runners landmark is typically a ghost TE in an OZ, so the DL needs to be moved sideways so the RB can hit his landmark and choose a gap.

In an IZ, the linemen have to get vertical movement, more like a gap scheme. Those guys need to be bigger and stronger than OZ guys because of having to push the DL straight back off of the line of scrimmage. The landmark there is typically the guard’s inside hip where the runner can decide to bang, bend, or bounce it. (In a gap scheme though, the RB hits the assigned gap with no decision making on his part.). If the interior linemen aren’t getting a vertical push, there won’t really be room to run.

That’s why they love Avila and are interested in him. He’s a big strong guy who can get that push.

Biadasz May have some difficulty getting vertical movement with the DL. He will be asked to do some things that he wasn’t asked to do last year. He has good technique but isn’t as proficient in the strength department. Schmitz is ideal for an inside zone game. He’s a bull in a China shop.

Like I said, I don’t hate Biadasz as a player… I just worry that he will have a tougher time in a system where it is more physical power than he’s been asked to provide in the OZ.

Maybe I’m making it a bigger deal than it should be, and Biadasz will be fine… but I do worry about it a little bit because the center is such an important part of an IZ running game.

Anyway, my point there was that Schmitz is perfect for it and could be available around where we pick. I really don’t expect the team to do that, but I would maybe consider it in their shoes.

I’ve mentioned signing G/C Picoc from the Browns as he was with Seattle when both Schott/Solari were there