Va_Pats_Fan

I've been meaning to ask this for a while, just keep forgetting...

what are the physical and talent traits that make a good guard vs a tackle? I look at the draft when Mankins and Kaczur came into the league. Mankins is obviously the better athlete, but projected to be a guard in the NFL. Even if Light was out, Kazur (or Britt) would move to left tackle before Mankins would be considered. What makes Mankins the better football player, yet the lesser tackle?

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spacecrime

Good question. Matt Light was also projected to be an OG in the NFL.

patsfan12

I'm certainly no expert, but my assumption would be that the guard would need to be more powerful in order to block the (typically) heavier Defensive Tackles. While a tackle needs to be more fleet of foot ( obviously with some power), in order to keep up with the Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney's of the league. I'm not sure it's a matter of Mankins not being considered, but more of a " Who would fill in for Mankins if he became a Tackle?".

Again, I'm no expert, someone with more knowledge feel free to correct me. It's just on my high school team, we've typically put the bigger guys in the middle, and the quicker guys on the outside.

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"Anybody in this league can go out and make a play or two – there's plenty of talent on the field. But if you want to be a good team you have to sustain it play-after-play, week-after-week. That's the big challenge."- Bill Belichick