I'm just finishing up my tape watching. I have 9 Bowl games to go. This morning, I watched the Florida-Michigan Bowl Game. I watched and re-watched every snap that Long took. He's a really good player, there's no doubt about that. His head is always on a swivel, he's often downfield trying to make blocks for Mike Hart. As a run blocker he's aggressive, he sinks his hips and re-directs. When he gets his hands on you it's over. He has excellent directional skills in that he can re-direct an end or a LB and clear them 4/5 yards out of the hole. But two things I noticed as a run blocker that I've noticed before in the numerous games of his that I've seen the past four years. It's just small stuff, but it's being repeated.
First, he has a tendency to let players back into plays by not finishing blocks properly. On the play where Mario Manningham took a reverse early in the 2nd half, ran to the nearside and then reversed his field and picked up about 20 yards, Long takes his defender to the ground and then instead of staying on him, he allows his man back into the play even before Manningham has turned back the other way. In fact, when Mario stops and turns back, the first player he encounters is Jake's man. Again in the 3rd quarter, on consecutive Mike Hart runs, he blocks Derrick Harvey out of the way, only for him to 'give up' on the block or to not finish and Harvey's back in the play and is in on the tackle from behind. I've seen this over and again with Jake. Not a lot, but enough for some concern.
Secondly, he has a tendency on running plays to get to the 2nd level almost TOO quickly. Again, it's not a ridiculous amount but I've seen it before. He blasts out and then is almost caught unawares and turns back to get a hand on the linebacker or the safety who have gone past him. In part, he's saved by his awareness and his long arms. But I don't want to see that from a potential #1 pick, especially in his area of expertise.
In pass pro he can be a wall. That's a big human being. I was actually a little disappointed with Derrick Harvey that he didn't offer him more moves. A number of times Harvey would try and bullrush Long; not going to happen. But there were three or four instances where Derrick's speed off the edge had Long worried. And it's the kickslide. And it's hands up and kick back and Harvey got under the pad level and got around Long. In fact, Harvey had to have been frustrated because on any given day that's a 3/4 sack game. Again, the arms just managed to reach back and re-direct. But he was flat out beat to the corner. Jake gets low in his stance when it's a pass, lower than normal. Low down, spring up and he gets tight in his hips with outside pressure and when Harvey got off the ball quicker, Jake's fighting with his arms and he's out of control.
I have a lot of questions about Jake. Is he really that much better? Is his value that good that means you can't get an Anthony Collins or a Sam Baker or a Carl Nicks and see a minimal drop off? The answer is no.
.............:shakeno:
