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If this was worth 2 pages of the Kyle Padron thread, maybe it can stand on its own?

It really seems like more or less a simple math problem. If you are expecting a person to build a specific mass (lets call it 310 pounds) and maintain a specific body fat % (to ensure stamina/athleticism) then you're going to need a pretty tall hanger for all that meat.

Look at the trouble that Patrick Handy has out there. Sure he's solid muscle and one of the strongest guys on the field. But he can only put so much muscle on that 6'2" frame of his. So pushing folks around all afternoon without having the weight to lean on gets pretty tiring after 3 quarters.

On the bright side, if you look at the line recruits from the past two classes 10 of them are 6'4" or taller, compared to the 06 and 07 classes which featured 4 line recruits that tall.

No, tall isn't everything, but it certainly seems to be something as far as JJ is concerned.

-CoS

you mention Handy...once again, we'd look much more like a D1 team if we had Handy at DE, Serge & Evan at DT, Dizer at the other end, Yenga at OLB, Smart and Fleps at the other LB spots.

Sub-point A

Tall lineman have long arms which is especially helpful in pushing defensive lineman outside to form a pocket necessary for the QB to throw the ball especially in a passing offense. Teams with passing offenses prefer offensive lineman with long arms.

Now all you "Exceptions to the Rule" Boys go to work and tell us about Billy Joe with the shortest arms in the NFL.

Stallion wrote:Sub-point A


Now all you "Exceptions to the Rule" Boys go to work and tell us about Billy Joe with the shortest arms in the NFL.

Billy Joe had red hair and was a QB, for crying out loud. Pay attention.

Stallions point was valid in this and the Padron thread.

Sampson Satele, a former Hawaii center is 6'3" 300# and has really short arms for his height. He is an exceptional center with intelligence and aggressiveness who currently starts for the Miami Dolphins. He gets the job done, but controlling the point of attack is a challenge for him. Shorter centers (6'2") have had great success in the NFL for years, the same cannot be said for OTs. Most of the great undersized OTs from DI usually end up being moved to OG in the NFL. Stallion also mentioned the height caveat with respect to the center position. OGs can be built like centers with success, these are usuallly the mauler types anyway.

Why do we care so much about this discussion anyway?

kull wrote:Stallions point was valid in this and the Padron thread.

Sampson Satele, a former Hawaii center is 6'3" 300# and has really short arms for his height. He is an exceptional center with intelligence and aggressiveness who currently starts for the Miami Dolphins. He gets the job done, but controlling the point of attack is a challenge for him. Shorter centers (6'2") have had great success in the NFL for years, the same cannot be said for OTs. Most of the great undersized OTs from DI usually end up being moved to OG in the NFL. Stallion also mentioned the height caveat with respect to the center position. OGs can be built like centers with success, these are usuallly the mauler types anyway.

Why do we care so much about this discussion anyway?

-

I think we are trying to determine if we should call all of our linemen centers or keep calling some guards and tackles.

Stallion:

Finally you are onto something. Just like in basketball (see Elton Brand) its arm length not height that is really what is important.

Too bad your original message did not draw that distinction.

That being said, I also do agree that the taller players generally do have longer arms. However, taller players are also often criticised when they have short arms...see OT Chris Williams selected in the first round out of Vanderbilt by the Bears this year. So really arm length is the more important consideration than height.

Also, originally the discusion began in terms of OL not OT. Arm length for an OT is much more important for purposes of deflecting the rush and creating the pocket than it is for a OG.

So back to the original point. There is nothing wrong with recruiting a 6'2' OG or OC, so long as they have adequate arm length. Having a taller recruit is more important if we are looking to play him at OT.

I say we send all of our OL players to the hospital for arm extension surgery the day after they sign the LOI.