2016 NFL Draft Analytics: Ronnie Stanley
By James Cobern
Ronnie Stanley is widely viewed as the 2016 NFL draft’s second-best tackle, but does he have what it takes to succeed in the league?
Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley has been one of the most eagerly anticipated 2016 NFL draft prospects in the last two years. He has size, massive length and played for one of the top college football programs in the country.
All are ingredients for a future first-round prospect, but on tape there was something missing with Stanley. He was very good at pass protection, but his run-blocking left much to be desired.
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And while most don’t take issue in a passing league if their tackle is bad at run-blocking. I do because it speaks to playing strength.
Every great tackle in the NFL was at least good at run blocking. I’ve never seen or heard of an elite tackle who wasn’t great or very good at both.
Which is why after Stanley’s testing came in that I noticed he lacks a lot of the athleticism necessary to be an elite or very good tackle.
Stanley had slightly above average explosiveness and speed in his testing and showed below-average dynamic speed, which is the fluidity of that speed using the short shuttle/3-Cone.
And I find it’s important to note that all of his athletic types or possible comparables are all much more athletic overall. Meaning Stanley will need to be one of the first athletes of his kind to find long-term success with his athleticism traits.
I believe he certainly can do it based on the tape. However, I will no longer assume Stanley has some untapped potential ready to be groomed in the NFL.
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What you will get instead is a possible starter who may let you down in certain games when he can’t match up to the athleticism of his betters. Case in point was Super Bowl 50, when Carolina tackle Michael Oher had his hands full with eventual game MVP Von Miller. The latter turned in a MVP performance in the Denver Broncos 24-10 victory – a game which saw Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton sacked six times.