Content Post Why does Wingspan matter for Tackles?

[JoeSixPat]

We’re up to 8 pages, but has anyone offered a good answer to the OP’s question? Lots of comments about arm length and not being able to reach the defender before he reaches you, which wasn’t the question.
If your arm length is ok but wingspan is well below average (i.e., a narrow shoulder span), how does that matter? It doesn’t affect the distance you can reach straight ahead. Can someone answer this without talking about arm length?

The stats aren't great on college LTs drafted in the first two rounds with wingspans under 33 inches - less than 1%.

But my guess is many of those short wingspans were attached to shorter LTs and those who had other technique faults.

In any event, Dante would certainly come down on the side of saying wingspan is just one factor, and would emphasize technique.

No absolutes: A lesson on o-line arm length with Dante Scarnecchia

Are Will Campbell's undersized arms a red flag? Phil Perry turned to coaching legend Dante Scarnecchia for an in-depth breakdown of arm length and its imapct.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

I think Campbell will be an upgrade this year but I'm still open to the notion that even as a #4 pick, there's a possibility that his role might be to lock down the LG position as LT is a critical but tough position to fill.

If fans consider that a "bust" I'd just ask them if they felt like Logan Mankins was a bust too!

 

[Ring 6]

Yes it does. Wingspan matters

You have never been able to show me a play or give me an example where it does. That should indicate to you that you should listen and learn

 

[sb1]

I thought I read somewhere that Parcells believed that arm length is one of the most important measurements for NFL tackles…

 

[pazrul72]

You have never been able to show me a play or give me an example where it does. That should indicate to you that you should listen and learn

You have your opinion made up no matter what I show you and clearly never played offensive line. You could read and learn

 

[Wozzy]

I don’t know why people distill this conversation down to 1” of extra arm length as if that’s all that matters. Footwork, smarts and wingspan matter, athleticism and strength matter. It all matters.

Randy Moss was ridiculously fast, but that alone wasn’t why he was great. The more you have of everything, the better chance for success.

 

[TheRainMaker]

You need to go to YouTube and watch the end from Arkansas, now with the Bills, Landon Jackson, pretty much cause havoc all game long in the backfield vs. Mr. Stubby. Stubby is trigger happy to cover his outside that the inside opens up. Then his footwork goes all happy, frolicking Great Dane puppy.

His footwork.

All players will struggle against someone. The good news is Campbell and Jackson will have their rematch soon. Remember when Jake Long got beat badly by Vernon Gholston in college? Long had a good career while Gholston was a massive bust.

 

[Ring 6]

You have your opinion made up no matter what I show you and clearly never played offensive line. You could read and learn

I played OL my entire football career.
You just keep sstating your opinion and give nothing to back it up.

Here is where we stand. I say wingspan is irrelevant because there is nothing an offensive tackle does that required him to extend his arms vertically to their limit. That the extra inch or 2 will never be the difference in making a play. My opinion can be disproven by showing examples of blocks that were made only because of wingspan. You could literally prove me wind is such examples existed. Failing to show examples exist would prove me right.

You say, you heard this stuff about wingspan and watched Campbells tape. You agree that he was he best LT in college football. You don’t think that equals “dominance”. You think that lack of what you consider dominance would be from a lack of effort, but you don’t see a lack of effort so the only thing left is that it must be wingspan. Perhaps the weakest argument I’ve seen in years.

 

[Ring 6]

You have your opinion made up no matter what I show you and clearly never played offensive line. You could read and learn

And FYI, I have an opinion based upon knowledge and insight. Of course it isn’t going to change based upon you saying you think something without showing a single fact or insight that disputes what I know to be true.

 

[n1997y]

We will know in 6 months.

Will we have to put up with this same level of constant drivel for those 6 months?

 

[WhatJustHappened]

What do YOU think?

 

[dliverey44]

But you aren’t effectively blocking a pas rusher because you got that inch longer finger on him.
Let’s put it another way. Any situation where an OT who make use of his extra 1” long arm is a situation where he is already beaten and it won’t fix it.

I agree with you and that is why I stated that the arm length/wingspan is over rated. People point out how he has the shortest wingspan of OTs in such amount of time, but can that same energy be used with his athleticism? I personally did not want the Pats to draft him, but it wasn't his arm length or wingspan that was my reason.

 

[State]

If fans consider that a "bust" [Having Stumpy Camp move to guard], just ask them if they felt like Logan Mankins was a bust too!

Yeah, but back then there was a lot more talent on the Patriots. They had just won a SB. Had a solid guy at LT. Different team and time.

My position is fresh talent at TE is desperately needed. That’s why I would have taken unselfish, gutsy, team first guy in Tyler Warren.

If Hunter Henry goes down, so does the offense.

 

[pazrul72]

I played OL my entire football career.
You just keep sstating your opinion and give nothing to back it up.

Here is where we stand. I say wingspan is irrelevant because there is nothing an offensive tackle does that required him to extend his arms vertically to their limit. That the extra inch or 2 will never be the difference in making a play. My opinion can be disproven by showing examples of blocks that were made only because of wingspan. You could literally prove me wind is such examples existed. Failing to show examples exist would prove me right.

You say, you heard this stuff about wingspan and watched Campbells tape. You agree that he was he best LT in college football. You don’t think that equals “dominance”. You think that lack of what you consider dominance would be from a lack of effort, but you don’t see a lack of effort so the only thing left is that it must be wingspan. Perhaps the weakest argument I’ve seen in years.

I’m not a rookie, I’ve seen what you do to everyone who tries to have a discussion with you. I already know what you are going to say to anything I respond “that doesn’t prove what you think it does” “you’re the one with a crappy opinion I don’t have to prove a negative” “I’ve given this a lot of thought and know what I am talking about so nothing you have said changes that” despite me literally writing pages with pictures showing the very specific technique and pass rush moves that concern me. I’m not the one who keeps ignoring the facts and twisting them to fit his narrative, “it’s only an inch” when Campbell is measured at 77 inch wingspan which is 3 inches below the agreed MINIMUM of 80 never mind that most lineman have 81-84 inch wingspan. 4-7 inches is way more then “an extra long fingertip” and the person doing that is the one with a weak argument. I’m not the one who had a meme made about them “friends don’t let friends go more then 2 posts deep with Andy Johnson”. So if you keep posting your uninformed opinion like it’s fact I will keep pointing out you’re wrong. Try having an actual conversation with facts, the only reason I haven’t blocked you yet is every great once in awhile you write an excellent post where you aren’t trying to get you’re weird piss people off fetish fix.

 

[State]

Vrabel messed up pick 11 a few years ago taking a collegiate LT and billing him, Peter Skoronski, as a tackle but immediately moving him to guard.

If Vederian Lowe has been doing his Rocky in Siberia impression, it might just happen again.

Both Peter and Will have short arms and are best suited as guards in the pros. Even though they both dominated at LT at the college level.

 

[State]

when Campbell is measured at 77 inch wingspan which is 3 inches below the agreed MINIMUM of 80

His wingspan is so far on the left side of the bell curve, he’s all by himself.

Ben Woolridge, the rookie undrafted QB who stands four inches shorter and weighs 100 pounds less, has a longer wingspan. Several inches longer. Something is wrong with this picture.

If you’re not concerned, you must be overly optimistic.

 

[State]

Wyatt Milum, the dominant 6’6 1/2” LT from WVU, is considered a guard. He was pick 25 of the third round. His arms are a diminutive 32 1/8”. Depending on the measurement, that’s over 3/4” inch shorter than Campbell’s.

Yet even TRex Milum has a 2.5” longer wingspan than Stubby Campbell, 79.5” versus 77”. What gives?

Campbell has elephant thunder thighs supporting a ballerina chest cavity. Very strange.

 

[Ring 6]

I’m not a rookie, I’ve seen what you do to everyone who tries to have a discussion with you. I already know what you are going to say to anything I respond “that doesn’t prove what you think it does” “you’re the one with a crappy opinion I don’t have to prove a negative” “I’ve given this a lot of thought and know what I am talking about so nothing you have said changes that” despite me literally writing pages with pictures showing the very specific technique and pass rush moves that concern me. I’m not the one who keeps ignoring the facts and twisting them to fit his narrative, “it’s only an inch” when Campbell is measured at 77 inch wingspan which is 3 inches below the agreed MINIMUM of 80 never mind that most lineman have 81-84 inch wingspan. 4-7 inches is way more then “an extra long fingertip” and the person doing that is the one with a weak argument. I’m not the one who had a meme made about them “friends don’t let friends go more then 2 posts deep with Andy Johnson”. So if you keep posting your uninformed opinion like it’s fact I will keep pointing out you’re wrong. Try having an actual conversation with facts, the only reason I haven’t blocked you yet is every great once in awhile you write an excellent post where you aren’t trying to get you’re weird piss people off fetish fix.

I do the same thing I am doing with you. I state my argument and hold you to a high bar of proof to change it.
I honestly don’t believe there is anything you can show me that would be legitimate. But I would read it and RESPOND TO IT. That is what I always do.
You have not “written pages with pictures” showing wingspan matters. You have given your opinion of Campbell, saying he is the best LT in college football but since he isn’t “dominant” it must be wingspan. Hint here: the job of the assessment would be to determine why, not guys at reasons that don’t exist and say “oh well must be wingspan”.

It is a matter of about an inch because wingspan it both sides. His reach is 1-1. 1/2 inches different.

And you end the post not talking about facts but talking about me and say “try having a conversation about facts”. Your posts have no fact in them, you simply are resorting to “I dint need to give facts because you argue with people so I won’t give any of the facts that I don’t have”.

Seriously? I asked you 20+ exchange ago to show me clips of plays where wingspan made it broke the play. Or describe something a OT does that requires that extra inch of reach. You have refused to and just keep posting about me and saying this like “yes it matters” with no facts, explanation or evidence.

You are doing exactly what someone losing an argument does, avoiding facts and diverting attention from your argument by saying things about me.

Let me respond to you last paragraph so we are clear. I find you to entirely lack knowledge about football. I think you are wrong in that vast majority of your opinions. And I could not care less what you think of me, it is virtually the last important thing in the world to me. You are an anonymous person who has poor communication skills and often act like a ****. I consider your criticism toward me, in addition to being a tool to divert from how wrong you are, to be a complement based upon the source.

 

[Ring 6]

His wingspan is so far on the left side of the bell curve, he’s all by himself.

Ben Woolridge, the rookie undrafted QB who stands four inches shorter and weighs 100 pounds less, has a longer wingspan. Several inches longer. Something is wrong with this picture.

If you’re not concerned, you must be overly optimistic.

And it doesn’t matter. His arm length is an anomaly. You don’t find other LTs with that arm length for that reason. Arm length is irrelevant to the quality of the football player.

 

[Ring 6]

Vrabel messed up pick 11 a few years ago taking a collegiate LT and billing him, Peter Skoronski, as a tackle but immediately moving him to guard.

If Vederian Lowe has been doing his Rocky in Siberia impression, it might just happen again.

Both Peter and Will have short arms and are best suited as guards in the pros. Even though they both dominated at LT at the college level.

Amoroso was drafted to play G. You know why? His skillset. Campbell is a LT. You know why? His skillset.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

If fans consider that a "bust" I'd just ask them if they felt like Logan Mankins was a bust too!

Campbell was the #4 pick, and Mankins was the #32 pick. Not similar, but you knew that.