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I try to keep up with as much of college football as I can each year. Most of the time I'll notice some players that I find favor in. For some other players, I just learn more about them once the Draft rolls along.
One of those players I know very little about is Idaho guard Mike Iupati.
Iupati is considered to be one of the top offensive linemen in the Draft and a very strong candidate to join the 49ers in the first round. With the struggles of the offensive line, grabbing a strong guard makes perfect sense for the 49ers.
Here is a short video of Iupati in action:
The first time I really got a chance to see Iupati on the field was during the Senior Bowl. Iupati played both left guard and right guard and came up with mixed results. In fact, I think his stock dropped immediately after the game.
Iupati is more familiar with the left guard position and played well there. When he was shifted to right guard, he struggled. He had trouble holding down the line despite his 6'6", 328-pund frame. Tennessee NT Dan Williams and Georgia DE Geno Atkins both had great success in pushing Iupati back and keeping him off-balanced. Some scouts are saying that Iupati might only find success at left guard in the NFL.
If that's the case, that could potentially take away playing time for Chilo Rachal if the 49ers do take Iupati and move him around. However, after seeing his work at the Senior Bowl, maybe the 49ers should consider another lineman in the Draft.
The major positive for Iupati is his 35-inch arms and his 10 3/8-inch hands. His size will be a major upgrade to the current offensive line. More importantly, Iupati is still a work in progress and can learn his way into a starting role.
It will be interesting to see how the 49ers view Iupati. He might still be on the team's radar, but how much of the Senior Bowl will affect his value for the team?
Comments
To be honest, if you can find a legit, can't-miss player on the offensive line, I don't care what position he plays. I'd gladly use one of our 1st rounders on him. He likely locks up a guard spot for the next 10 years.
Last I checked Rachal played as right guard... Baas plays on the left. I think he would be a great pick up (in the 2nd round) and allow him to develop.
@KingsExaminer: I think the 49ers will still take a chance on him regardless of his Senior Bowl performance. Two draft picks in the first round works out for them.
@Berto: You're right, I misread that. Actually, since David Baas might not be back next year, Iupati might be a good fit.
It would be awesome to take Iupati with our second round pick so we can use our first two on a tackle and a safety. I would be ecstatic to lock up our offensive line for the next ten years with this draft and get it out of the way so we can focus on more "skill" positions.
If this draft is so deep at interior linemen what are the chances of trading one first round selection for multiple second and third round choices? for the money's sake.
@Gordon: The team is probably considering trade offers from other teams when the time comes. The 49ers have a lot options and trading down is definitely one of them.
Since when has hand size been a factor in rating offensive lineman?
@Pooper: Hands are an important part of blocking, so I guess why they had to measure his hands.
In my mind, no guard is worth a first-round pick. You can find good guards later, and they are not key to protecting the QB, the most important aspect of any offense these days. Add to that some questions about him and I think you take him if he's there in the second round--maybe even trade up so long as you don't give up much. You can get better players in the middle of the first round for sure.
I think probably some of the most important factors for offensive lineman is footwork, and the effectiveness of his hand punch (to stop the charging defensive lineman dead in his tracks). For offensive tackles arm length is very important since they have to block speed pass rushers out in space. I'm not quite sure how hand size factors in OL's effectiveness...I'm thinking the bigger the hand the better they can grab the opposing guys shoulder pads and not let him get away?
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