H
HardRightEdge
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I don't think anybody projected Spriggs at OG with his 301 lb. weigh-in at the Combine, while his draft position and athletic measurables said he was pegged to be an OT. Even then, he needed physical development to play OT. In his first two seasons there were rumblings that his work ethic was not quite up to snuff.
Last offseason he stayed in Green Bay to rehab his knee and get on a nutrition program (or "eating program" if one prefers), with Spriggs estimating his weight was up to 320 lbs:
https://www.packers.com/news/jason-spriggs-settling-in-with-increased-size-strength
Campen offered this backhanded compliment:
“Ultimately, it’s going to come down to his performance and how he handles things. I know this, that he’s in a lot better physical shape and mindset than he’s been the previous two years, in my opinion.”
He looked to be around that 320 lbs. through the season, having aquired the typical OL gut.
Filling in for Bulaga, to my eye his run blocking was considerably improved. However, his pass blocking did not look ready for prime time. We're heading into year 4 and a key issue identified in the following scouting report remains:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/jason-spriggs?id=2555197
"Has crippling issue with over-setting in pass protection. Doesn't maintain much weight on inner half of his frame and has consistent issues redirecting his weight back inside with suddenness against inside moves."
Frankly, he gets beat up by good edge rushers who have outside-inside moves. You can call it balance, slow feet, range. Since the physical measurables don't suggest that's the problem, it could be slow mental response to cues. Whatever it is, after 3 years the issue remains.
The Packers should be looking to move Spriggs to OG now that he's added weight. Not having to defend in space would offset his limitations, the very limitations that have often led to unsuccessful OTs getting moved to OG with success. His athleticism would play into the purported plan to use outside zone in the run game.
I've heard it commented that 6'6" is too tall for an OG, making it difficult to get under DTs pads. Looking at the Pro Bowl OGs, though, you'll see several at 6'5" and Andrus Peat goes 6'7", so that's no hard and fast rule.
In fact, here's tape of Spriggs playing RG in place of Barclay in 2016 as a rookie before he put on weight:
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There's a lot of good stuff in this tape, but note the play at 1:20 where he gets off-balance and beat on a spin move. Getting beat in this way on the edge, which he has all too often, is going to cost a hurry, hit or sack, which has been the case. Inside in tight spaces he gets chip help and can make a recovery.
However, the real question is how we got on the topic of Spriggs in a slot receiver thread.
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