5 offensive tackles to watch in the 1st round
Kansas City’s offensive line could have been comvps with Patrick Mahomes after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win.
Holding the Eagles, the first team in Super Bowl history to bring a 70-sack pass rush into the game, without a sack was huge, especially with a quarterback who was playing with an ankle injury.
It wasn’t an accident. The Chiefs had allowed the fewest sacks of any AFC team (26) and the third-fewest in the league.
As the offensive line goes, so goes any NFL offense.
That brings us to the Patriots. Last season, the offensive line struggled. By extension, so did quarterback Mac Jones.
The biggest problems came at the tackle position with Trent Brown and Isaiah Wynn both having difficulty. And with Wynn, Yodny Cajuste and Marcus Cannon approaching free agency, tackle is a huge offseason priority. Even though the team re-signed pending free agent Conor Mcdermott, they still need to shore up the position.
Fortunately for the Patriots, there’s quite a few plugand-play possibilities in the NFL Draft. And sitting at 14th overall, Bill Belichick should have a few options if the Pats go that route.
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
A three-year starter at left tackle who is considered the most Nfl-ready lineman in the class, Skoronski would be a dream at No. 14.
According to Pro Football Focus, Skoronski allowed just six pressures on 474 pass-blocking snaps this past season, which is other-worldly.
The one bugaboo has to do with his arm length, and whether that might hinder the 2022 AP All-american at the next level. But having shorter arms never bothered Patriots Hall of Famer Matt Light, who was an Allpro
“Our girls were very disciplined on defense,” said Panthers coach John Mcnamara. “We kind of covered Tatum Murray all over the court and on Maddy Genser we switched all over the court. The kids executed really well.”
The defense forced six of their 20 turnovers over the final eight minutes to build the double-digit advantage.
In a back-and-forth first half, when Pentucket (17-5) needed a big bucket senior captain Abby Dube found a way to make it to the basket or knock down a triple.
“The senior captain stepped up and hit some big shots for us,” Mcnamara said. “At times, (Newton South) started to make a little run and she hit some big-time shots.”
Dube led all scorers with 15 and none was bigger than a three-pointer to make it a 35-23 lead late in the third to make it 10 straight points for the Panthers. Senior captain Alyssa Thompson added nine points for Pentucket.
the 200 free relay when WA girls coach Caitlin Klickmchugh offered up the idea that Schwab switch from the 200 medley relay to the 200 free relay. Three days earlier, she also suggested he switch to the 400 free relay.
Those moves certainly paid off.
“He is fun to work with because his swimming IQ is way beyond his 17-year-old self,” said Klick-mchugh. “We saw an opportunity for a possible win in the 200 freestyle relay, so we met and talked with the other boys (before we made the final decision). We thought it could be a turning point to the meet. He was on board for it and it was an awesome team player move. It came out as we planned it. At the time we were trailing BC High something like 112-60 so that was a big boost.”
Going into the final event of the day, the 400 free relay, the WA foursome of Brian Hall, Aeden Curtin, Oliver Yorke and Schwab was seeded fourth but needed to finish in the top three to secure the team championship. The group got it done with a time of 3:11.92.
“When I finished and saw that we got third
4:20.23). Austin Desisto of Westford is the sixth seed in the 1,000 (2:33.11).
In the two mile, talent abounds. Paul Bergeron of Westford is the second seed (9:11.21), while Timothy Rank of Littleton (7th, 9:18.54) and Billerica’s Leslie (9:20.97) are also outstanding distance runners.
In the 4×800 relay, Lowell is seeded seventh (8:10.99) and Westford is seeded ninth (8:16.56).
Parker Charter’s Theo
and part of three Super Bowl championships.
Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
The former five-star recruit might not fall as far as No. 14, but stranger things have happened on draft day.
The Buckeye, who is a mammoth 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, started at both right guard and left tackle. Given his size, length and athleticism, he seems more like a prototypical tackle.
According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 10 pressures all season. He projects to be a starter for many years to come.
Whether he starts out at right tackle next to Mike Onwenu, or heads to left tackle right away, where he’s a classic fit, he figures to make offensive line coach Adrian Klemm’s life a little easier.
Broderick Jones, Georgia
At 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, he’s built like a block of
For Newton South (119), Genser, a senior captain,
place, it was awesome. I knew that we did it and you could see the team on the sidelines excited and I saw (boys head coach) Harriet (Kinnett) jumping up and down, which is awesome. It was just an awesome experience.”
Kinnett said Schwab will be irreplaceable come next year.
“He’s been such a leader for this team. With his work ethic, and attitude, the kids really look up to him. He puts in the work and it shows,” she said. “His work ethic and his understanding of what he needs to do and how he prepares for meets, he really has a knack for it all. We’re going to miss him so much next year when he’s in college between his leadership in and out of the pool.”
Schwab comes from a family of swimmers. His parents, John and Kimberly, both swam at the University of New Hampshire, while older brother Owen swam at WA and then a little bit at Providence College, where he is a senior.
The middle brother is Griffin, who played hockey and lacrosse at WA, but swam recreationally during the summer months.
Puterbaugh is the second seed in the shot put (564.5).
Girls
Jones headlines the local girls field with her top seeding in the shot put.
Elliana Tweedie of Westford is the fifth seed in the 55 dash (7.19), followed closely by eighth seed Jayani Santos of Tewksbury (7.28).
In the mile, Billerica star Anna Mcelhinney is the granite. He’s also an athletic tackle who has been a master at moving defensive ends and linemen anywhere he pleases.
He’s a dynamic blocker who could jump in immediately, and help get the Patriots offensive line back on track.
He played in every game of Georgia’s back-to-back national championship seasons, starting all 15 games in 2022.
He’s another who might not last to No. 14, but if he’s still there, it’s a no-brainer to take him, assuming the Patriots don’t land a top tackle in free agency.
Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
He’s 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, and moves with with swiftness and fluidity of an NBA player according to some evaluators.
He excels in pass protection and that ability to move sets him up nicely to play either tackle position. The three-year starter began his career playing on the blindside, but switched led with nine points as both teams now await
Schwab will attend Providence in the fall with plans on majoring in finance, while being a member of the men’s swim team.
“Quinn just has a different
eighth seed (5:10.10), while she’s also the second seed in the two mile (10:56.12). Two other locals are seeded highly in the two mile — Emily Wedlake of Westford is eighth (11:20.91) and Georgia Brooks of Groton-dunstable is 10th (11:23.90).
In the 600, Abby Hennessy of Westford is seeded four (1:38.36), while Emily Burdick of Billerica is the sixth seed (1:38.71).
Tewksbury’s Santos to right tackle in 2022.
He needs some work as a run blocker, but the overall package will be hard for teams to ignore. He also plays with a mean streak, which would suit the Patriots, or any team. Scouts believe he has a very high ceiling.
Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Like Trent Brown, he stands at 6-foot-8, and at 375 pounds, is actually a little heavier than the Patriots tackle.
Whatever the weight, Jones is a beast.
His arm length (36 ⅝ inches) and wingspan (89.5 inches), measured recently at the Senior Bowl, trump Brown’s (36/87.3). In fact, no player in Senior Bowl history has ever had a longer wingspan than Jones.
He was dominant during the first day of Senior Bowl practices. There are some issues with footwork, but his huge frame, long arms and monster wingspan could very well land him in the first round. their playoff seedings over the weekend. level of love for the sport,” said Klick-mchugh. “A lot of kids do it for the camaraderie and the team aspect, but Quinn just loves the sport.”
should also be a factor in the 300. She’s seeded fourth (39.94) and Quinn Petzold of Lowell is 10th (40.94). Petzold is also the seventh seed in the long jump (17-9), showing her versatility.
Lowell’s 4×200 relay team is seeded second with a time of 1:44.95. Wilmington’s Mollie Osgood is a strong title contender in the high jump, entering Saturday as the second seed (5-5) in the event.