Athleticism sets OT O’Neill apart
The play jumps out when you watch Brian O’Neill’s film.
Against North Carolina State this past season, O’Neill lined up as a tackle eligible as Pittsburgh snapped the ball from the Wolfpack’s 11-yard line. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben DiNucci dropped back and threw a backwards pass to O’Neill on a screen. The 6-foot-7, 297-pound O’Neill snagged the ball and rumbled 10 yards to the 1-yard line before the Panthers scored on the next play.
It was a remarkably athletic play for someone O’Neill’s size, but talk to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, and it’s not the only time the Panthers featured the tackle in an unusual way.
“He’s a great athlete. If you look at 2016, we threw the same pass to him for a touchdown,” Narduzzi said. “So he’s had two of those in his career, if you can imagine that. He also had a reverse for a touchdown. Virginia Tech, we tried to get him another one. He didn’t score because the blocking wasn’t as good.”
As the Patriots seek out a successor to Nate Solder at left tackle, they have a number of options. They can look to players who are currently on the roster like LaAdrian Waddle, Tony Garcia or Cole Croston. Or, in a draft with some intriguing possibilities at the position, the Pats can hit the reset button with someone new.
If they go that direction, O’Neill, who will likely be there on the second day, might be a smart pick.
What stands out the most about O’Neill is that athleticism that he flashed in college. It stems from his background as a tight end before Narduzzi and his staff asked him to convert to tackle.
“He proceeded to say, ‘Coach, I’m all in.’ He’s a team guy,” said Narduzzi. “He is a team guy if there ever was one based on that whole conversation. He proceeded to get with our strength coach and our nutritionist and devised a plan to put on more weight.”
O’Neill dedicated himself to adding more weight in a way that impressed Narduzzi.
“This is how committed he is: He set his alarm every night at midnight to eat a couple peanut butter sandwiches and put the weight on,” Narduzzi said. “He didn’t do that because he wanted to be (fat). He did it so he could be a bigger-sized offensive tackle. He wanted to do it to be a better player for the future. He is a committed, just a tremendous person.”
Even as he added weight, though, O’Neill maintained his ability to move better than most players at his position, and he proved it at the NFL Combine. O’Neill ran a 4.8-second 40-yard dash on his first attempt and 4.82 on his second, the best times out of any linemen there. His 3-cone drill of 7.14 seconds was also best among all linemen.
Obviously, those traits stick out on film, too. O’Neill moves as well as any tackle in this draft, especially when he’s asked to stretch out to the second and third levels and block linebackers and defensive backs. It’s a rare skill for players his size, and one the Patriots covet.
But, according to Narduzzi, his No.1 asset is also the No.1 job for any left tackle.
“His strengths are to protect the quarterback. That’s the biggest thing,” Narduzzi said. “I think the longer he gets to play the position, I think the question is where he’s going to be in the next five years. I think his best football is ahead of him. I wish we had another year to work with him, to be honest with you, because I think he can get even better.
“But, honestly, his ability to move his feet and protect the quarterback and protect the quarterback’s blindside if he’s a righthanded quarterback — that’s his major tools, his athletic ability and ability to protect the quarterback.”