CENTER OF ATTENTION
Michigan’s Ruiz could help fast
EDITOR’S NOTE: One of a series of profiles about draft prospects who would fit the Broncos’ needs.
The Broncos need a center who is comfortable leading from the moment he steps into the team’s facility.
Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz may be that guy. He just sounded like a center at the scouting combine.
“I’m in charge of the whole show,” he said. “If something goes wrong, I’ll take the heat for it. If things are going good, I’ll take the shine for it as well.”
That accountable mind-set should make Ruiz attractive to the Broncos, who are looking for their third center in three years. Matt Paradis (March 2019) and Connor McGovern (last month) departed in free agency to Carolina and the New York Jets, respectively.
Right guard Graham Glasgow has NFL center experience and left guard Dalton Risner has college center experience, but coach Vic Fangio’s preference is to not move them.
That leaves the draft to find a center, and Ruiz is among a group that includes LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry and Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz atop the board.
Ruiz, who said at the combine he had a formal interview with the Broncos scheduled, believes he’s a first-round pick.
“Because if you look at the film, if you look at how I dominate people, if you look at my character and how smart I am — I have everything for a first-rounder,” he said.
Said NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah: “He reminds me a lot of Travis Frederick when he was coming out (of Wisconsin in 2013). He’s consistent each and every game. He plays with great awareness. He’s not the quickest afoot, but he does a nice job of latching on (to a defender). And he’s good on combo blocks.”
If the Broncos drafted Ruiz and he’s the caliber of Frederick, they’re in great shape for years. Frederick, a first-round pick by Dallas, started all 96 of his career games and was named to five Pro Bowls in six years. He sat out 2018 and retired last month because of a battle with an autoimmune disease.
Frederick is one of only seven centers to be selected in the first round since 2010; nine have went in the second round.
Ruiz declared for the draft after his junior season. When he was a freshman, injuries forced him to start five games at right guard.
“And I didn’t play very well,” he said. “I went back to my natural position.”
Ruiz started 26 consecutive games at center to finish his career, excelling in multiple offensive systems.
“He was a great leader in the weight room and a great example for the other offensive linemen in how he works,” Michigan tight end Sean McKeon said at the combine. “It surprised me how quickly he was able to pick up the offense and make the calls. He did a great job with that, making the (middle linebacker identification), changing the protection and things like that. It was pretty impressive stuff.”
Also impressive were some of
Ruiz’s plays at Penn State last year.
The Nittany Lions stormed to a 21-0 lead before Michigan’s offense even got out of the blocks. But on its first touchdown drive, Ruiz had three noticeable plays.
Play 1: On first-and-15, Ruiz worked a double team against Penn State defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher before moving upfield for a second-level block on linebacker Micah Parsons, allowing Hassan Haskins to gain 10 yards.
Play 2: On the next snap, Ruiz manhandled defensive tackle Robert Windsor to create room for Haskins to gain 6 yards.
Play 3: On first-and-10, Ruiz pulled from left to right but quickly put on the brakes (showing good awareness and feet) to get in the way of Parsons, allowing Zach Charbonnet to score a 12-yard touchdown.
Ruiz was perfect on his shotgun snaps, anchored well in pass protection and was used five times as a pulling blocker. Penn State hung on for a 28-21 win.
“To me, he’s a ‘Steady Eddie,’ ” Jeremiah said. “High floor, knowexactly-what-you’re-getting player who will get a chance to be a Pro Bowl-caliber center. I’m a big fan.”