When you talk to Cody Mauch, the North Dakota State offensive tackle, you’re going to smile. He’s naturally entertaining and has good tales to inform, equivalent to how he added about 25 kilos in his first two months at North Dakota State by getting a limiteless meal plan and lifting weights.
“Honestly, I was just eating,” the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Mauch stated, including he purchased a limiteless meal plan on the college eating middle that allowed 15 meals per week and he favored the stromboli.
“I think I was getting probably 26, 27 meals a week. I was just always in there eating. I didn’t really plan to gain all the weight, I was kind of hungry.”
As you watch Mauch, the previous highschool tight finish, defensive finish and quarterback, at Senior Bowl practices you clearly see his expertise. Mauch, projected as a second-day draftee (second or third spherical), is ready to use his ft nicely and, for probably the most half, he’s capable of transfer guys within the run recreation and hold them away from the quarterback within the passing recreation.
But it’s his passing-game instruments, particularly the quick arms (his are round 31 inches; NFL groups favor 33 or 35 inches), that convey the uncertainty, and presumably the worth/versatility into drafting Mauch, who solely allowed one sack in 671 snaps final season.
Some regard him as an offensive deal with, others say he’s a guard, and but others suppose he may become a middle.
The Dolphins want offensive line assist in the April draft, and whereas Mauch’s versatility could possibly be an enormous blessing, the uncertainty about his NFL place may imply he by no means finds a house. Mauch is amongst a number of offensive tackles that might curiosity the Dolphins, who don’t have a first-round choose however have one second-rounder and a pair of third-round picks.
Others embody BYU deal with Blake Freeland, Ohio State deal with Dawand Jones, Tennessee deal with Darnell Wright, and Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan, who, at this early stage of the method, have second-day draft projections.
The Dolphins may have a sophisticated scenario at offensive deal with, or it could possibly be quite simple. It largely is determined by the well being of Pro Bowl left deal with Terron Armstead, a nine-year veteran who battled toe, knee, hip and pectoral accidents this previous season, and unproven proper deal with Austin Jackson, the 2020 first-round choose who missed virtually your entire 2022 season with ankle accidents.
Common sense says Armstead, who has missed a median of 5.3 video games every of the previous seven seasons, will seemingly miss not less than 5 video games in 2023.
Common sense additionally says the Dolphins want a plan in case Jackson, who solely performed in solely two video games final season, doesn’t make a full restoration.
One plan could possibly be transferring proper guard Robert Hunt, who was drafted as a deal with within the second spherical in 2020, to proper deal with, the place he would defend quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind facet.
But that creates a gap at proper guard.
With the thought that Mauch may play guard or deal with, there’s place versatility.
And his lengthy hair and refreshing character may make him an ideal locker room match for the Dolphins’ personable offensive line. Just take heed to Mauch discuss his flowing crimson locks.
“I started growing the hair out and after a couple of months I’m like, ‘Hey, you don’t have to pay for haircuts, this is pretty nice,’ ” he said with a smile. “After four or five years of doing that I’ve saved a couple of dollars.”
Freeland, the long-armed 6-foot-7, 312-pound deal with from BYU who solely allowed two sacks in 41 begins, prefers to play on the left facet however has expertise at proper deal with, taking part in there his first two years of faculty. The proper facet, nonetheless, stays a studying expertise.
“Your hands are flipped opposite, your hips are flipped opposite,” Freeland stated about taking part in proper deal with. “You’ve just been used to doing one thing your whole career, or your whole time, and now you’re just kind of flipping it upside down and trying to figure it out. It’s not too bad. You’ll figure it out eventually.”
Freeland, who figures to be BYU’s second offensive lineman drafted since 2005, struggles a bit with velocity rushers, one thing that surfaced throughout Senior Bowl practices, however does nicely with energy guys, which additionally surfaced throughout practices.
Interestingly, Freeland, equivalent to Mauch, didn’t play offensive line in highschool. He was a quarterback and tight finish, however added 45 kilos throughout school.
Freeland appeared to have respectable performances in 1-on-1 and 11-on-11 drills, however in his private evaluation he wasn’t sufficiently impressed.
“I’ve got to play better,” he stated. “I feel this can be a huge present of who I’m whereas I’m right here so I’m simply going to attempt to get higher every single day and see the place it takes me.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com