NFL Draft Preview: Joe Thomas

Let's take a moment to remember the last "can't miss" Big Ten lineman. Yeah, that didn't turn out so well

After a few days of looking only at the "skill" positions, I think it's time we go into the trenches where football games are won and lost. The Big Ten has produced yet another "can't miss" tackle who should go pretty high. Is he the next Orlando Pace? Or the next Robert Gallery? Actually if he's even mediocre his second contract will make him rich enough to buy all the cheese in Wisconsin since apparently you can be a mediocre tackle in this league and rake in the coin (*cough*Jeff Backus*cough*). He comes from the land of cheese and Brett Favre....it's Joe Thomas!

Name: Joe Thomas

Position: Offensive Tackle

School: Wisconsin

Pros: He's a big dude who has quick feet. Think Refrigerator Perry except not fat and 100 times quicker. Can pass block and run block with equal proficiency. Had a dominating senior season.

Cons: Has the personality of a wall. Dominated his senior season against horrible Wisconsin schedule. Played in Big Ten, which means he could be good but will probably be a bust.

Completely Unbiased Synopsis: Being a Big Ten fan I tend to watch a lot of their football games, so therefore I've seen quite a bit of Joe Thomas. From what I've seen he's a very good tackle prospect who has the long arms and quick feet that NFL scouts drool over. The problem is I haven't really seen Thomas play against good competition. Wisconsin's schedule this season was pathetic since the Big Ten was down and their non-conference schedule was a joke. The only really good team Thomas lined up against all season was Michigan and he didn't look as good against them as he did against heavyweights like Bowling Green and Western Illinois. I'm just always worried about big lineman coming out of the Big Ten. Generally they do more run blocking than pass blocking which could hide their deficiencies. Also the most Big Ten schools don't blitz as much off the edges, and tend to try to shoot the gaps in the center of the line so the tackle isn't tested as much there either. Michigan got around Thomas with some speed at times, and that would worry me a bit. I don't think Thomas will be an all out bust, but I don't know if he's going to be an all-pro either. He'll probably wind up somewhere in the middle.

Where He's Headed: Before the offseason started, I would have said Thomas was going to the Lions at number two, but after the Dre Bly trade netted Detroit an offensive tackle I don't really see them taking Thomas at two. That being said I'm sure there are some teams that would love to trade up to take the "can't miss" lineman. Arizona has a HORRIBLE offensive line and I'm sure they are sitting at five hoping the big man will drop into their lap. I could also see Houston wanting to get their hands on him, but I don't see any way he's dropping all the way to ten. I see a team trading up to snatch Thomas ahead of Arizona or Thomas falling to the Cardinals at five.

BOLD PREDICTION: Thomas will be a decent NFL lineman but will not be worth at top five pick. He'll be a decent right tackle, but I don't see him becoming the next Walter Jones.

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