At this level within the offseason, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs has been mocked to the Chargers on multiple event. And for good cause.
The Chargers’ most notable shortcoming alongside the offensive line has been at proper sort out. The final two seasons, it’s been largely Sam Tevi, a former sixth-round pick of the College of Utah. Earlier than him, Joe Barksdale held down the spot since he was signed in free company previous to the 2015 season.
Through the 2013 and ‘14 seasons, former Chargers’ first-round decide DJ Fluker tried his hand at proper sort out earlier than transferring inside to protect. And earlier than him? It was former sixth-round decide Jeromy Clary.
It’s been virtually a whole decade of mediocre proper sort out play and the Chargers can not let that go unchecked any longer. Fortunate for them, nonetheless. Two of the highest three tackles on this complete draft are on the best facet. So if the Bolts resolve to roll with Tyrod Taylor or one other veteran signed from free company, then that is the very best likelihood they should draft a man who may solidify that facet of the road for years to come back.
For this version of Chargers Draft Choices, we’re focusing in on the uber-athlete from little Mount Vernon, Iowa who may very well be the very best offensive lineman to come back out of Iowa Metropolis in a while, and that’s actually saying one thing.
The very first thing anybody and everybody ought to learn about Tristan Wirfs is that he’s robust. Like, actually, actually robust. Simply have a look:
That’s 450 kilos on the bar and he simply threw it up 4 occasions. Former fifth-overall decide Brandon Scherff, who additionally hails from Iowa, set the web ablaze when he did the identical factor with 425 kilos. And he solely did it thrice.
Scherff was a heck of an athlete himself, enjoying quarterback in high-school at 250 kilos earlier than changing to tight finish at Iowa earlier than inevitably touchdown at left sort out. He has since been named to the final three Professional Bowls without any consideration guard for the Washington Redskins.
If Scherff can go within the top-5, Wirfs most positively can. It might not occur on this draft as a result of quantity of different blue-chip gamers at different essential positions, however it wouldn’t shock me within the slightest to see Wirfs get taken as the primary offensive linemen within the draft.
For the sake of enjoyable clips, right here’s a bit of dandy that showcases a few of his uncooked power:
Talking of athleticism, here’s a clip from Iowa’s victory over the USC Trojans on this 12 months’s Vacation Bowl:
This sort of block by Wirfs wasn’t the primary time the Hawkeyes took benefit of his motion expertise. Right here’s one other clip from earlier within the season:
It’s not usually that coaches ask a 320-pound linemen to alter instructions like this within the run recreation. Not many linemen can stick their foot within the floor and get on their horse like Wirfs, although. Him being requested to do that and nonetheless having the body-control to gather himself and latch on to the defensive again can also be noteworthy.
Anthony Lynn loves having the ability to pull his blockers out into house. In reality, the lone vivid spot with Sam Tevi is that he’s truly fairly good when requested to do that. For those who return and watch a few of Melvin Gordon’s largest runs and touchdowns from that season, particularly in that recreation in opposition to the Seahawks, you’ll see Tevi main the way in which for Gordon’s 34-yard rating up the best sideline.
There’s a group of individuals among the many draft group, NFL Community’s Daniel Jeremiah included, that consider he would be capable to attain the next ceiling if he have been to slip inside to protect, sorta like his aforementioned teammate, Scherff.
I can perceive that prepare of thought, however I don’t suppose it will have an effect on his future as a lot as some wish to suppose. Wirfs is a significantly better lateral athlete than Scherff was at this level of their careers. Scherff was by no means requested to do the kind of blocking that you simply noticed Wirfs exhibit above when he was at Iowa.
To get some outdoors perspective on Wirfs, right here’s what Jordan Reid of the Draft Community has to say about Wirfs who’s at present the 11th-best general prospect on his newest huge board:
“After an early season damage to left sort out Alaric Jackson, Wirfs transitioned to the left facet seamlessly with little problem. Add in the truth that he’s an incredible athlete who has distinctive power, he has a limitless ceiling and will shortly grow to be one of many extra dependable starters all through the league. There are already debates about if he’s a guard or sort out. It’s utterly honest to consider that he has the next ceiling at guard, however he must be supplied the chance to show that he can’t play offensive sort out earlier than giving ideas a couple of place change.”
You possibly can see that Jordan echoes my sentiments that Wirfs can simply keep at proper sort out, and possibly even get a shot at left sort out in a pinch. However like I discussed earlier, he acknowledges that Wirfs may additionally unlock a brand new degree inside himself have been he to maneuver inside.
Simply to hammer house a few of these sentiments much more, here’s a blurb from Daniel Jeremiah himself on simply how excessive the ceiling of Wirfs’ may very well be if he switches positions:
“Wirfs is an enormous, highly effective offensive sort out. In move safety, he launches out of his stance and hasn’t had points versus outdoors velocity rushers. Nevertheless, he has skilled points in opposition to inside counter strikes. He over-sets and struggles to redirect again inside, permitting too many pressures within the video games I studied. When he can land his punch, it’s over. His palms are so robust and he has the facility base to finish the play proper there. Within the run recreation, he’s very robust and aggressive. He creates a ton of motion, but additionally will overextend and fall off at occasions. He’s on the bottom an excessive amount of. I really like his aggressive demeanor, however he must play extra below management. Total, I consider he can survive at sort out, however he’d profit from enjoying with neighbors on either side. I feel Wirfs has All-Professional potential at guard.”
On the finish of the day, I might be proud of Wirfs on the Chargers whether or not he was enjoying proper sort out or not. He’s the kind of expertise you simply decide as a result of he’s a rattling good soccer participant and he’ll immediately make the group higher.
With their being a number of choices at proper sort out on this 12 months’s free company class, signing and drafting a man to fill two spots alongside the entrance 5 can be such a simple and impactful transfer, particularly if Taylor continues to be the penciled-in starter.
