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Would Belichick take a flier on Vladimir Ducasse? I read that he can play either tackle or guard, and like Vollmer, he's big.

6'5'' and 328 lbs.
 
Would Belichick take a flier on Vladimir Ducasse? I read that he can play either tackle or guard, and like Vollmer, he's big.

6'5'' and 328 lbs.

Definitely one of the guys in the mix in the 2nd round, if he's available. He could certainly play RG, and possibly RT. I rank him about even with Mike Iupati and Gabe Carimi (if he declares).
 
Would Belichick take a flier on Vladimir Ducasse? I read that he can play either tackle or guard, and like Vollmer, he's big.

6'5'' and 328 lbs.

How's his footwork?
 
If he's still available by the middle of the second round, you've to strongly consider him.



Athletic Ability

Ducasse shows very nice balance and body control for a player with such a thick frame, reminding some of Carolina’s Jeff Otah. He has the footwork and short area quickness to mirror edge rushers in pass protection and pick up action in space, thanks to improved kick slide agility. He is a good leverage player who works hard to sustain and possesses decent quickness and balance for his position. He is coordinated, showing quick lateral movement to get out in front and lead on traps and pulls, making some teams to also consider him as an offensive guard. He is only on the ground when he overextends and lunges as a drive blocker, but recovers quickly due to his lower body flexibility. He has shown much better quickness in pass protection since the beginning of his senior year and flashes the ability to move his feet working up field. While he may not have great speed, he can accelerate when running and it is his great balance that keeps him on his target longer than players his size usually do on the move…GRADE-6.7


Balance/Stays On Feet

This is his best asset. Ducasse plays on his feet and does a very nice job of working his hips and putting the defender down when working the chase route. Even when he overextends, he has the balance to quickly recover. He uses his hands very effectively to separate and sustain. The only thing he lacked as a sophomore and junior was a bone-jarring hand punch, but in 2009, he has demonstrated much better power shooting his hands in attempts to shock and jolt. You can see his great development in using his hands to gain inside position (see 2009 Kansas State and Stony Brook and 2008 Holy Cross, Texas Tech, Northeastern and New Hampshire games). With his improved quickness, he has no problems trying to gain initial position. On contact, he has that natural size and raw power to sustain and finish. Still, with his ability to adjust on the move, he could see action quicker in the NFL as a guard while continuing to improve his pad level and kick slide, as he is one of the better tackle prospects when it comes to angling wide on end-arounds or stepping laterally to scoop a defender when blocking for the inside running game…GRADE-7.3


Compares To

JEFF OTAH-Carolina…While some teams consider Ducasse a better guard prospect than at tackle, he has a lot of the same God-given athletic ability, along with the relative inexperience that Otah possessed entering college. He is a quality road grader, but those that have doubts that he can handle the speedier edge rushers as a left tackle need to note that on 1,842 offensive plays, he’s allowed just one-half a quarterback sack. Whether he begins his career as a guard or tackle, it is evident that with patient coaching, he can surpass the success Otah has had since entering the NFL.



DUCASSE READY TO TACKLE NFL LINEMEN | Bleacher Report
 
That's a fine comparison. Otah's been absolutely superb for the Panthers.
 
Lovely article. Great quote from him at the end.

Hmmm, might have found something.....
 


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