There's more than one way to skin a cat.
Lemme tell you something, professionally: if you can solve a specific problem and at the same time you solve other problems, that's the course of action you take every time. There's nothing that says we have to take Long OR ELSE, and there are several other *very* qualified candidates who are equally as capable of playing LT. If you don't think Clady or Otah are among those (or Williams or Collins) are capable, you need to come up with something remotely approaching facts.
Then again, allow me to do the work for you again.
Clady's blurb, right from your
http://www.nfldraftscout.com site.
2007: Became just the second BSU player to earn All-American honors since the team entered the Division 1-A ranks in 1996, joining running back Ian Johnson (29006 by Sports Illustrated)…Became the first Bronco since 1994 (defensive end Joe O'Brian) to garner All-American recognition from the AFCA…Unanimous All-Western Athletic Conference first-team choice…Member of the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch Lists…Started all thirteen games at the demanding left offensive tackle position…With the team emphasizing the aerial attack more often in 2007, the running attack ranks only 33rd in the nation (184.92 ypg), but the passing game improved from 52nd nationally in 2006 (206.46 ypg) to 23rd in 2007 (282.46 ypg)…The Broncos also placed 12th in the nation in total offense (467.38 ypg) and fourth in scoring (42.38 ppg)…Clady was charged with six penalties (five false starts, one holding), including four vs. Washington, and allowed 3.5 sacks for losses of 23 yards, but the opposition saw him produce 122 knockdowns, 21 touchdown-resulting blocks and eight blocks downfield to finish with an 85.77% grade for blocking consistency…Graded at least 90% in five contests. Named second-team All-America by SI.com…Named first-team All-WAC…Started all 13 games at left tackle in '06. Named first-team Freshman All-America by ESPN.com, second-team Freshman All-America by Rivals.com and CollegeFootballNews.com and third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News...Started 11 of Boise State’s 13 games at right tackle in '05. Redshirted in '04.
Otah:
2007: All-Big East Conference first-team selection…Recipient of the team's Ed Conway Award, given to the Panthers' Most Improved Player…Started all twelve games at the demanding left offensive tackle, helping the offense average 141.4 yards on the ground and 319.5 yards in total offense per game…Delivered 101 knockdowns, with thirteen resulting in touchdowns, as he graded 82.0% for blocking consistency…Had five of his blocks down field and was penalized twice…Saw his main coverage assignments register 8.5 quarter-back sacks and four pressures on 811 offensive snaps. Started all 12 games at left offensive tackle as a first-year JUCO transfer in '06. Considered one of the nation's top junior-college offensive line prospects, two-year starter at offensive tackle at Valley Forge Military Academy's two-year college, named Most Valuable Player of the Seaboard Conference, two-time first team All-Seaboard Conference, led Valley Forge to two conference co-championships.
Williams:
2007: Started all twelve contests at left tackle, receiving the top blocking grade for consistency (85.67%) of any down lineman in the SEC, as he produced 102 knockdowns/key blocks, including twelve that resulted in touchdowns while allowing only one quarterback sack and one pressure on 836 offensive snaps…Was one of the major reasons that the Commodores averaged 326.6 yards per game in total offense, leading an offensive line that allowed only seventeen sacks for losses totaling 109 yards. Developed into the Commodores' top offensive lineman and one of the premier tackles in the Southeastern Conference… League coaches tabbed Williams as a postseason second team All-SEC recipient in '06. Earned nine consecutive starts at left guard, though he played just as frequently at left tackle in '05. Participated as practice squad offensive tackle in '04. Redshirted in '03.
Collins:
2007: Consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team selection…Named a finalist for the Outland Trophy (nation's top lineman)…Saw action in twelve games, starting eleven contests at left offensive tackle…Sat out the first series of the Toledo clash due to a disciplinary issue and did not play vs. Iowa State due to a right ankle sprain…Registered 108 knockdowns with fifteen touchdown-resulting blocks for an offense that averaged 479.8 yards per game, including 291.0 yards passing…Was penalized twice (once each vs. Missouri and Virginia Tech) and allowed six sacks for losses of 41 yards and three quarterback pressures on 476 pass plays…Finished with an 83.25% grade for blocking consistency.
Doesn't look too shabby, now does it. Indeed, the fact that there are a lot of good tackles in the draft makes it more imperative that we pick up a special, special player in Dorsey or Chris Long at the top of the draft and solidify the offensive line with one of our later picks. Any of the 4 other linemen I've listed above will be able to do the job, and I'm betting that at least 2 are available at 32 (if we don't trade down).
