Scherff

[brad7686]

I don't know if anyone on this board noticed since his name isn't Robert, or Bob if you will, or Kirk, or what have you. Anyway, Scherff got dominated by a nobody in pass blocking the other day. J.J. Watt pushed him back really far as well, although that's J.J. Watt. That's been the problem with our interior linemen anyway, run blocking has been fine. We just allow more interior pressure than any team I've ever seen, thought with Chester gone that might improve. I hope this guy isn't a one dimensional blocker, who can't pass block in the NFL, for a number five pick this is a bust so far. On a side note, Moses didn't look bad.

[tribeofjudah]

I'd give the kid a chance. After 2-3 games of being bullrushed and dominated................then I'd say BUST

[OldSchool]

He'll be fine, he has only had a couple of preseason games so far. We can't expect him to be Anthony Munoz out of the gate.

[DarthMonk]

Is he a guard? Is he a tackle? Is he the most sure thing in the 2015 NFL draft?

Those are the primary questions regarding Brandon Scherff who is vying with the likes of La’el Collins, Andrus Peat and Ereck Flowers to be the first offensive lineman taken. But after watching every single one of his 2014 snaps how do we think he compares to the rest of the draft-eligible linemen?

Overview and Stats
Scherff was a near ever-present for Iowa last season, missing just 30 snaps all year despite having to undergo knee surgery after picking up an injury against Ball State (where he showed his toughness by returning). That speaks volumes to the man and it’s fair to put a giant asterisk on his 2014 season from Week 2 onward because there’s no telling how much knee surgery impacted his play.

But for evaluation’s sake, lets take it that it didn’t impact his play. And with that in mind, it’s both easy to see why he’s a lock to go in the first round, but harder to understand why everyone is quite so high on him. A definite “safe pick” Scherff is the kind of guy who may not be that far from his ceiling as a player, but with such a high floor at potentially two positions, he offers an NFL team the kind of plug-and-play draft pick that won’t see you win the draft, but will ensure you don’t lose it in Round 1.

In my mind, however, you want that homerun when picking early and Scherff just isn’t that guy.

Run Game
There is a lot he does really well. He is as good as any lineman when it comes to not just locating linebackers at the second level, but getting contact on them. He’s like a homing missile in that regard who makes a second level defender pay with a violent punch on first contact and has the leg drive to ensure they’re closer to the chains than the line of scrimmage.

Still he could do more. One of the noticeable things whether he is blocking in space or at the line of scrimmage is that he is not a finisher (in so much as he struggles to sustain blocks). Sure he can get leg drive to push a guy down the line on an outside run, but he rarely locks his block in that he doesn’t allow a defender back across his face. Whether it be stiff hips or not, he’s not the guy who generally executes a reach block to set up a cutback.

Giving the level of competition he faced for most of the year this has to be a concern when he gets to the NFL level, because whether at tackle or guard he’s going to be faced with this. He’s a guy in the run game that will need to beat you with speed and positioning off the snap, catching you off guard and hoping the back hits the hole quickly. Because if things slow down, then his lack of control will show up.

Pass Pro
The bigger issues with Scherff come in pass protection. And again I look back at his early season injury and wonder if it impacted him. Despite facing a pretty easy slate of edge rushers (especially compared to any of the SEC or PAC-12 tackles) he had some troubles. Perhaps nothing highlighted this more than the issues he had with Wisconsin’s Joe Schobert who really had his way with him to the tune of two hits and two further pressures. With 47 seconds to go in the first half, Schobert is quick off the line but not so quick Scherff shouldn’t be able to do something about it. He can’t and the result is his QB taking a bit hit.

So there are concerns with speed. Inside and out (he had a couple of moments in the Tennessee game where he couldn’t adjust to the inside counter), and there are concerns with how he dealt with stunts. The second half of the Maryland game showed a guy who generally dealt with end-tackle stunts well, good punch on initial contact and picks up the looping tackle. But against tackle-end stunts, he really struggled to anchor.

Some of this was down to his left guard not being much help, but too often an interior lineman got his hands into Scherff and he didn’t have the length and strength to stop from being worked backward and into the QB’s path. He was much better against lesser athletes when he saw what was coming off the snap, where his polish was evident as he got a good kick step and mirrored well.

Not impressive marks in pass protection, a huge red flag when you consider that his level of competition was the weakest of any of the highly-regarded tackles and only mitigated somewhat by how healthy he was.

All this isn’t to paint the picture of a poor player. Merely to say that as an offensive tackle, Scherff doesn’t have the kind of upside to warrant a first-round pick. Instead, his value is more from the potential he has at guard, and the ability he will have to play a number of positions well, with that versatility a big plus to NFL teams who want contingencies in case of injuries.

A surefire Day 1 starter, there are few teams Scherff won’t go to and make better. But don’t be surprised if others go onto have more illustrious careers.

[brad7686]

I understand it could be a transition going from blocking DE's to DT's, but he's supposed to be a strong guy, and he's just getting manhandled as if he isn't that tough.

[OldSchool]

ey addressed this on the radio today. CC said he got caught playing too high a few times he'll settle in and perform well.

[DarthMonk]

I've certainly seen bad plays but I've seen him anchor against real power and I've seen him maul veterans so I think he'll only get better and gradually eliminate more and more mistakes as he becomes more and more professional. He studies a game he loves to play - the anti-Haynesworth.

Concerned but not worried.

[redskinz4ever]

its all about technique and learning how to block .... he seems overwhelmed right now and shouldn't have been named starter but trail by fire is the best way too learn if he can play or not

[riggofan]

Yeah he probably just sucks. Not sure why McCloughan drafted him. Better move on.

[SkinsJock]

Yeah he probably just sucks. Not sure why McCloughan drafted him. Better move on.

+1 - I mean, the guy's a rookie - some of you guys have short memories about the right side of the O line

[riggofan]

Yeah he probably just sucks. Not sure why McCloughan drafted him. Better move on.

+1 - I mean, the guy's a rookie - some of you guys have short memories about the right side of the O line

hah. Truth.

Kid has been a Redskin for about three weeks. I'm sure he'll get blown up a few more times this year.

[redskinz4ever]

I'd give the kid a chance. After 2-3 games of being bullrushed and dominated................then I'd say BUST

agree but its going to get our QB hurt ..... he will be fine i hope .... nothing like on the job training ... lol

[riggofan]

I'd give the kid a chance. After 2-3 games of being bullrushed and dominated................then I'd say BUST

agree but its going to get our QB hurt ..... he will be fine i hope .... nothing like on the job training ... lol

Our QB is going to get himself hurt.

[SkinsJock]

If the coaches have determined that Griffin just needs time in order to become the QB they want then they aught to let Cousins and McCoy battle it out for the starting QB position until Griffin clearly shows that he can play QB better

That way they can determine whether it's worth keeping him for 2016 and beyond and we get to see if either of these 2 QBs is any good

we'll also get to see Brandon Scherff playing guard in front of the best QB we've got here for this season

[brad7686]

I was waiting for it, seems it took 13 posts before this became about the qb. I think that's a new record guys!

[SkinsJock]

I don't know if anyone on this board noticed since his name isn't Robert, or Bob if you will, or Kirk, or what have you. Anyway, Scherff got dominated by a nobody in pass blocking the other day. J.J. Watt pushed him back really far as well, although that's J.J. Watt. That's been the problem with our interior linemen anyway, run blocking has been fine. We just allow more interior pressure than any team I've ever seen, thought with Chester gone that might improve. I hope this guy isn't a one dimensional blocker, who can't pass block in the NFL, for a number five pick this is a bust so far. On a side note, Moses didn't look bad.

it is way too early to think this kid will not prove to be one of the better linemen PLUS he's had a very good camp and has a great O line coach

By 2017, except for Williams, we're most likely looking at all new starters from the 2014 line - I'm hoping this kid will be here for a long time

[Irn-Bru]

I don't know if anyone on this board noticed since his name isn't Robert, or Bob if you will, or Kirk, or what have you. Anyway, Scherff got dominated by a nobody in pass blocking the other day. J.J. Watt pushed him back really far as well, although that's J.J. Watt. That's been the problem with our interior linemen anyway, run blocking has been fine. We just allow more interior pressure than any team I've ever seen, thought with Chester gone that might improve. I hope this guy isn't a one dimensional blocker, who can't pass block in the NFL, for a number five pick this is a bust so far. On a side note, Moses didn't look bad.

I'm sorry, but how is this relevant to RGIII again? Not sure why you posted this in Hogwash.

[Irn-Bru]

I don't know if anyone on this board noticed since his name isn't Robert, or Bob if you will, or Kirk, or what have you. Anyway, Scherff got dominated by a nobody in pass blocking the other day. J.J. Watt pushed him back really far as well, although that's J.J. Watt. That's been the problem with our interior linemen anyway, run blocking has been fine. We just allow more interior pressure than any team I've ever seen, thought with Chester gone that might improve. I hope this guy isn't a one dimensional blocker, who can't pass block in the NFL, for a number five pick this is a bust so far. On a side note, Moses didn't look bad.

It's definitely worrying. Right now I'm chalking it up to inexperience. WaPo has broken down some film where he looks really good, so I think it's just a matter of coaching him into the new role.

[Deadskins]

I'd give the kid a chance. After 2-3 games of being bullrushed and dominated................then I'd say BUST

2-3 games? That's what you call giving him a chance?

[markshark84]

I'd give the kid a chance. After 2-3 games of being bullrushed and dominated................then I'd say BUST

2-3 games? That's what you call giving him a chance?

Well, if Scherff is getting dominated after 2-3 REGULAR games, RGIII will probably have already gotten injured for the year.....

But I agree. As an OL, it takes time to adjust and get used to the other OL players and get in unison with them. 2-3 games is a bit short seeing that he has 0 experience.

[redskinz4ever]

I'd give the kid a chance. After 2-3 games of being bullrushed and dominated................then I'd say BUST

agree but its going to get our QB hurt ..... he will be fine i hope .... nothing like on the job training ... lol

Our QB is going to get himself hurt.

LOL