In Draft Roundup I’ll scour the web and find out who is projected to be drafted by the Packers in recent mock drafts and dig deep into the players, giving you insights into the 2017 NFL Draft prospects.
Ryan Schlipp – Packernet
Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
6’4 309, 5.00 (40), 34 (Bench), 27.5″ (vert), 111″ (broad)
Thoughts
Okay I cheated on this one. I didn’t find an actual mock draft that had Lamp going to the Packers so I made one up. In my head.
With the departure of two linemen 1 year after perennial Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton left for the Bears, the Packers suddenly have a huge need along the offensive line, specifically at the guard position.
Despite the howl of the fans and media, and the monotony of the mock drafts, cornerback isn’t the only need of the Packers. In fact in may be a little ways down the list. Despite the struggles in 2016, cornerback is not only the youngest group on the team, it’s one of the deepest.
The corners may need a little help, and will probably get a little help in some form or another, but it isn’t as big of a need as… oh I don’t know…. guard.
About Lamp
Tackle
Below, Lamp is playing as the left tackle.
An interesting observation to notice right off the back is Lamp’s technique with his hands. Notice how he keeps them low and, rather than fire into the rushers chest, he uses a big sweeping bear hug motion to clamp onto the shoulders. Lamp does this quite a bit and although it’s considered to be bad technique, it’s actually exactly what the Packers do.
One of the accusations against the top pass rush unit in the NFL (The Lions wrote a whole article crying about it) is that they have perfected holding and simply know when to let go. Apparently teams around the league have been studying what the Packers are doing. I’m assuming it will lead to a lot of teams holding, followed by a league overreaction, increased rules, more flags, and me saying something to the effect of “If they throw that stupid towel one more time I’m going to kill someone”.
But I digress. The Packers actually go for the shoulders, rather than the chest, to control the pass rusher. Lamp seems to do the same and it seems to be just as effective. Although the rusher (I believe it’s Jonathan Allen) is able to seemingly get around him, Lamp clamps down and is able to control the rush.
Personally, I have my concerns about Lamp at tackle. Although he may be able to hold his own against a guy like Jonathan Allen, a guy I believe has no business as an edge rusher, he doesn’t have the athleticism to match speed rushers and with his shorter arms, longer rushers can stick their arm in his chest, rendering his bear hug technique useless.
Although guys like Mike Mayock may disagree with my assessment of his tackle abilities, one thing nobody disputes is the fact that Forrest Lamp is better suited as a guard and at the guard position, there really is nobody better.
Guard
The long and short of the story here is simple. Playing guard for Lamp is easy. He is the equivalent of your older brother coming out to play football with you and your friends. He’s too big, too fast, and it’s not even fun anymore.
Before we get to the example below, it helps to understand how dominant the Alabama defensive front is. If you’ve ever tried to watch a running back, go watch their tape against Alabama. You’re opinion of that back will plummet. Go watch Leonard Fournette, maybe the best back in college football, try to gain a yard against Alabama.
These guys are the most dominant, imposing, penetrating defense in college football and they won’t be moved. That is until Lamp comes along.
Lamp in the clip below is playing left guard. He’s lined up across one of the best defensive players in college football, Jonathan Allen. His job is to move the 6’3 265 pound Allen out of the way to clear a path for the back.
The play, like most plays for Western Kentucky, was a miserable failure. None of that had to do with Lamp. Lamp did his job and then some getting into the ribcage of Allen and driving him clear to the other side of the line of scrimmage and driving him into the ground.
The issue with the play above was the pursuit of everyone else on the Alabama defense. Despite Lamp taking out everyone from Allen down, the left tackle failed to secure the edge and the linebackers had no issue closing in.
Below is a similar failure of a play but it shows Lamp at the next level.
Above Lamp is again the left guard. Allen locks horns with the center trying to get penetration. Lamp again hits Allen right in the ribs and shoves him to his right. This time, instead of driving him to the ground, he creates a lane and runs to the next level and puts himself in a great position to seal off the linebacker.
Unfortunately for Lamp, the linebacker turns and runs the other way. Thanks to the left tackle not being able to hold the edge, the RB had to bounce the play to the outside. Nobody was blocking over there and Alabama quickly swarms the back for no gain.
Draft
It seems to be the consensus that Lamp will not be drafted in the first round but I’m skeptical that Lamp will even make it to the Packers.
Currently Lamp is drawing comparisons to Zack Martin, one of the best lineman in the NFL. If NFL teams agree, I can tell you right now, he isn’t going to make it to the 29th pick.
Although most people think a guard going in round 1 is silliness, I think the NFL is shifting on that. Not only are guards essential in the run game, they are becoming more and more essential to pass protection.
Pro Football Focus listed the 25 top pass rushers in the NFL. 9 of them are listed as defensive tackles, including the number 1 pass rusher in the NFL, Aaron Donald. They also listed 2 inside linebackers, who also rush from the middle. That’s 11 of the 25 best pass rushers coming from inside.
If the comparisons to Martin are even close to accurate, not only would Lamp fill a huge need for Green Bay, it would be a steal at pick 29.