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Bigger is better, NFL teams agree

editor1 |May 06,2008

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By Carl Carchia
PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

It's no secret that bigger is better in the National Football
League.

Just ask first-year Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, who
helped make massive left tackle Jake Long the No. 1 pick in the
2008 draft and the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.

"There is a need for big people in this league," said the former
offensive line coach after watching the 6-7, 316-pound Long
work out for the first time at rookie mini camp last Friday.

With most rookie mini camps complete and others scheduled to get
underway this week, teams are getting a first look at their
newest additions, many of which will attack the buffet the same
way they attack opposing linemen. There were 11 tackles selected
in the first round including eight on the offensive side, which
was the most since 1986.

"I always believed the interiors are where you start on both
sides of the ball," Sparano said. "In our league if you can't
protect the passer and you can't stop the run, you don't have a
chance."

The Kansas City Chiefs were among the teams that added
significant bulk to their offensive and defensive lines. Kansas
City had two first-round picks as its disposal after trading
disgruntled defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota.

The Chiefs used the fifth pick to snag 6-1, 297-pound LSU
defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who has been compared to Warren
Sapp.

"There are some traits that when I watched him play," Chiefs
coach Herman Edwards said of the comparisons. "He's a disruptor.
He can make plays, he's very smart and he blocks very well.
He's not as flamboyant as Warren."

Kansas City used it second pick to select Virginia guard Branden
Albert at No. 15. Albert will be moved to tackle to shore up a
leaky offensive line that yielded a league-high 55 sacks a
season ago.

"We all know where it starts. It starts in the trenches on the
defensive and offensive lines," said the 6-7, 315-pound Albert
when he was introduced to the Kansas City media along with
Dorsey.

While the Atlanta Falcons chose quarterback Matt Ryan in the
light of the Michael Vick situation, another of their
first-round picks may be just as crucial.

Atlanta traded three picks to move back into the first round and
select 309-pound Southern California tackle Sam Baker, who will
protect the Falcons' new franchise quarterback.

"Sam is a left tackle and has the versatility to play other
positions on the line," Falcons first-year general manager
Thomas Dimitroff said. "He's got nice, quick feet and good hips.
He really moves around well. He'll be able to protect Matt."

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears eschewed the temptation to select a
running back and went with 6-5, 315-pound Vanderbilt tackle
Chris Williams at No. 14.

The Bears figured to be in the market for a top flight back due
to the struggles of Cedric Benson, who also was arrested on
charges of boating while intoxicated Sunday.

However, Chicago feels good about the pick, and thinks Williams
can start at left tackle from day one.

"Obviously we took him at 14 thinking he was the guy that gave
us the best chance to have that player," Bears offensive line
coach Harry Hiestand said at the team's rookie mini camp this
past weekend.

Chicago can't feel as good about the pick after hearing of
Benson's arrest, when it could have had Illinois standout
Rashard Mendenhall or Arkansas speedster Felix Jones.

One person who certainly has to feel good about the draft is
Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna. The Lions selected 6-6,
314-pound Boston College tackle Godser Cherilus with the 17th
overall pick to help protect Kitna, who has been sacked 114
times in the last two seasons.

"He solidifies the offensive line," embattled Lions general
manager Matt Millen said. "He has a great mean streak."

Elsewhere, the Carolina Panthers coveted Pittsburgh tackle Jeff
Otah so much they gave up a king's ransom to snag the 6-6,
339-pounder with the 19th pick. The Panthers traded a
second-round pick, a fourth rounder and a first-round pick in
2009 to Philadelphia for the right to select Otah.

"You never want to give (the first-round pick) up," Panthers
general manager Marty Hurney told the Charlotte Observer.
"That says a lot about how we feel about Jeff Otah."

The reasoning behind the Otah selection was the same Sparano
gave when explaining why the rebuilding Dolphins chose to start
with Long.

"We want to be able to knock people off the ball," Panthers
coach John Fox said.