Help on Eric Winston

[swtbound07]

I hear alot of people on this board say that they want eric winston for the o-line, im presuming as a left tackle. Okay, i'll be the first to say that Im not a fastiduous watcher of tape, but i only got to witness one of his games, which was miami vs. Fsu. In that game, the miami qb got sacked something like 9 times, and didnt appear to be that adequately protected. Therefore, every time i see his name i kinda involuntarily cringe. Can somebody explain his positive points? I realize one game isnt enough to judge a prospect on, but i havent seen more. Why is he so highly coveted when he was part of one of the worst miami lines in my memory?

 

[D-ReK]

I was in the same boat as you in the beginning of the season...Wimbley completely owned him that game, IIRC, but he still wasn't fully healed from his ACL injury...As the season wore on, he improved...He has great size, quickness, and mobility, plus his feet are impeccable...Personally, I look at him as a RT with the potential to eventually move to LT as he gains experience...

 

[MorKnolle]

I hear alot of people on this board say that they want eric winston for the o-line, im presuming as a left tackle. Okay, i'll be the first to say that Im not a fastiduous watcher of tape, but i only got to witness one of his games, which was miami vs. Fsu. In that game, the miami qb got sacked something like 9 times, and didnt appear to be that adequately protected. Therefore, every time i see his name i kinda involuntarily cringe. Can somebody explain his positive points? I realize one game isnt enough to judge a prospect on, but i havent seen more. Why is he so highly coveted when he was part of one of the worst miami lines in my memory?

Eric Winston is as athletic as D'Brickashaw Ferguson (put up much better numbers in his workouts). In 2004 before his knee injury, Eric Winston was considered right there with Robert Gallery as the top OLineman in the country, and he was only a sophomore at the time. He was named the ACC OLineman of the year this year over D'Brickashaw. His passblocking technique might not be quite as good as Ferguson, but he's a better run blocker. I think Ferguson is a better LT, but Winston is a more versatile and better overall OT as he could play any spot along the OLine other than C.

 

[nunusguy]

His passblocking technique might not be quite as good as Ferguson, but he's a better run blocker. I think Ferguson is a better LT, but Winston is a more versatile and better overall OT as he could play any spot along the OLine other than C.

I watched Winston several times on TV this year, including most recently in the Senoir Bowl and each time he never fails to "dissappoint" me.
I know he was highly rated and was expected to be among the top OT when
he planned to come out after the 2004 season, but unfortionatly blew out
his knee and had to return to college for his senior year instead of going into
the NFL.
I'm assuming he has not fully recovered from his 2004 injury, even though he's had some good workouts in the Combine/Pro Day to include sub 5 sec
40.
But you're right about him being more versatile than Ferguson, and he would
certainly be better suited to play RT than Ferguson, a real possibility with
Chester looking good at LT.
I would sure like to see some film of him prior to the 2004 knee injury, because there must be some reason everyone thinks he's such a good prospect, assuming he recovers fully from the injury.

 

[dalemurphy]

More to the point, as a former TE and someone with excellent quickness and agility, he fits perfectly into a zone-blocking system. Therefore, if we were to draft him at the end of the 1st or top of the 2nd round, it would be a great value pick there for us.

 

[nunusguy]

More to the point, as a former TE and someone with excellent quickness and agility, he fits perfectly into a zone-blocking system. Therefore, if we were to draft him at the end of the 1st or top of the 2nd round, it would be a great value pick there for us.

Your point is well made, he would seem to be an ideal candidate because of his athleticism to be effective in a zone blocking scheme. But he still has to
be able to pass block, and that's the area where he just doesn't show very
well at all IMO.
RT is not LT, but on some plays it can still be on the edge without TE help,
and I think there's cause for concern about Winston in that situation - reminds me too much of Todd Wade. Actually, Winston might be more suited
to play guard than tackle, even RT.

 

[dalemurphy]

Your point is well made, he would seem to be an ideal candidate because of his athleticism to be effective in a zone blocking scheme. But he still has to
be able to pass block, and that's the area where he just doesn't show very
well at all IMO.
RT is not LT, but on some plays it can still be on the edge without TE help,
and I think there's cause for concern about Winston in that situation - reminds me too much of Todd Wade. Actually, Winston might be more suited
to play guard than tackle, even RT.

I'm pretty sure Pitts would go to RT and Winston would play LT. Pitts is the stronger of the two and Winston the quicker of the two. Furthermore, if you look at Denver's OL, RT is the only position where they've used a heavier lineman: George Foster. That being said, I agree that Winston's pass blocking was suspect last year. I'll trust the coaches to determine if that was the result of his injury, something that can be remedied with coaching, or a deficit in his game that may make him an undesirable draft pick.

 

[MorKnolle]

I watched Winston several times on TV this year, including most recently in the Senoir Bowl and each time he never fails to "dissappoint" me.
I know he was highly rated and was expected to be among the top OT when
he planned to come out after the 2004 season, but unfortionatly blew out
his knee and had to return to college for his senior year instead of going into
the NFL.
I'm assuming he has not fully recovered from his 2004 injury, even though he's had some good workouts in the Combine/Pro Day to include sub 5 sec
40.
But you're right about him being more versatile than Ferguson, and he would
certainly be better suited to play RT than Ferguson, a real possibility with
Chester looking good at LT.
I would sure like to see some film of him prior to the 2004 knee injury, because there must be some reason everyone thinks he's such a good prospect, assuming he recovers fully from the injury.

I think Winston is most of if not all the way recovered from his knee injury by now, maybe during this last season he was still hampered by it a little, but after his Combine and pro day workouts I have to believe he's recovered, and if he still hasn't recovered 100% and still posted those kind of times, that should only upgrade his value since he will still have room to recover and improve more.

I'm pretty sure Pitts would go to RT and Winston would play LT. Pitts is the stronger of the two and Winston the quicker of the two. Furthermore, if you look at Denver's OL, RT is the only position where they've used a heavier lineman: George Foster. That being said, I agree that Winston's pass blocking was suspect last year. I'll trust the coaches to determine if that was the result of his injury, something that can be remedied with coaching, or a deficit in his game that may make him an undesirable draft pick.

I think to start off with Pitts would stay at LT and Winston would be the RT, but obviously that would be subject to change if Winston can beat Pitts out for the LT position.