T, Wayne State
Rankings: 30th-ranked offensive tackle by Pro Football Weekly. Graded as slightly better than 50-50 to make an NFL roster or practice squad. Free agent grade.
NFLDraftScout: 45th-ranked OT, #608 player overall, free agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2011: Won Gene Upshaw Award as best lineman in NCAA Division II. First team Division II all-American. First team all-conference. Team captain. Started all 49 games of his career at left tackle. Wayne State averaged 200 rushing yards per game during his career and had a 1,000-yard rusher all four years. Started all 16 games at left tackle in 2011 and also blocked a field goal attempt. The 2011 line averaged under a sack per game allowed. Played in East-West Shrine Game at tackle and also long-snapped.
2010: First team all-conference. Team captain. Started all 11 games at left tackle.
2009: Honorable mention all-conference. Started all 11 games at left tackle.
2008: Honorable mention all-conference. Started all 11 games at left tackle. Team rushed for 233 yards per game.
2007: Redshirted.
Brother Jake is a four-time Pro Bowl tackle for the Dolphins and was the first pick overall in 2008.
Major: secondary education. Four-time all-conference academic team member.
Injuries: none reported.
Pro day results: (NFL Combine OT averages in parentheses)
(participated in Michigan's pro day)
5.46 40 (5.34 average - Long's time would have been bottom five)
1.83 10-yard split (1.79)
27.5” vertical jump (27.5”)
8'2" broad jump (8'5" average - Long would have been bottom five)
7.69 3-cone drill (7.81)
4.59 20-yard shuttle (4.82 average - Long tied with third-best time)
21 bench press (24)
Positives:
Has nice size and good "length" which gives him an advantage blocking on the edge. Powerful run-blocker with a ton of upside. Good technician, takes good angles to his blocks. Shuttle time shows excellent speed, explosiveness and change of direction for his position. Ultra-durable, rock-solid player. Has the athletic versatility to move inside to guard or even center and can also long-snap. Smart and hard working, was cited for his effort in the weight room. Tough and competitive team leader. Lions and Jets were also interested in signing him.
Negatives:
Nowhere near as athletic as his brother. Doesn't bend well, plays too upright and can't slide laterally well. Lacks explosiveness off the snap, has difficulty getting leverage. Doesn't get much pop with his blocks or a lot of push. Stiff and too slow to protect the corner well. Needs to get stronger.
Compares to: compares well to Cardinals 5th-round pick Senio Kelemete.
Fun Facts: Joe helped Wayne State get to the Division II championship game, where they lost 35-21 to Pittsburg State. To get that far, the Wildcats had to win four straight road playoff games, the last two over the defending national champion (Minnesota-Duluth) and an undefeated top seed (Winston-Salem State). Of course, already having the Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl, the GoDaddy.com Bowl and the Belk (?) Bowl, Division I doesn't need any of this kind of excitement.
RamView: Though he might be better-suited in the pros at guard, the current Rams roster has Long listed as one of four tackles, with Kevin Hughes as a fifth guard/tackle. Training camp is where we'll find out if Long has the athleticism for tackle at the pro level after dominating at a much lower level of competition. His odds jump way up at first glance if he's really just competing with Hughes, Ryan McKee and Barry Richardson. Then again, the current roster lists Bryan Mattison as a defensive end, and there is bound to be some shuffling of o-linemen during camp. Still, Long's path to the roster is a little clearer than if he were converting to guard and had to enter that muddled picture, and he's got the versatility to be an attractive depth option. He may be this year's main roster dark horse and should have a decent chance at the practice squad.
Chance of making roster: 40%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2012 Draft Guide, NFLDraftScout.com, Wayne State athletics, The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Wikipedia, National Football Post, The Grand Rapids Press, Walter Football, Rookiedraft.com, ESPN
Photo: Detroit Free Press
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