The Ideal Offensive Lineman

Greg Gabriel of the National Football Post wrote an interesting article titled, 'The Most Difficult Position To Scout.' In it, he details how difficult it is for scouts to look at an offensive lineman and determine his success at the professional level. He breaks down the offensive line into the tackles, guards and center.

Looking at the tackles, he says the ideal ones are between 6'4"-6'7" and 310-320 pounds. The two starting tackles on the Baltimore Ravens are LT Bryant McKinnie and RT Michael Oher. McKinnie (6'8", 360 pounds) is taller and heavier than the norm, while Oher (6'4", 315 pounds) is right in the middle of the numbers.

(Read more on the National Football Post story and the comparisons to the Ravens players at these positions after the 'Jump')

Gabriel says the guard position should measure between 6'3"-6'5" and 305-320 pounds. Ravens veteran RG Marshal Yanda is 6'3" and 315 pounds, fitting those measurements perfectly. Both veteran Bobbie Williams (6'4", 345 pounds) and rookie Kelechi Osemele (6'5", 333 pounds) are within the height numbers but above the weight numbers. This could be because the Ravens play a mauling run-first offense and could purposely look for the bigger bodies inside the tackles.

At center, the story says the ideal physical measurements should be vitrtually the same as the guards, and both veteran Ravens center Matt Birk (6'4", 310 pounds) and rookie draft pick Gino Gradkowski (6'3, 300 pounds) are right there, close enough to the typical size.