Below is the PFF draft profile for Iowa's Austin Blythe, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports,click here.
Position fit: Center. Zone fit
Stat to know: Highest run blocking center in the Power-5. 97.1 pass blocking efficiency was 63rd among centers in the FBS
Combine stats:
Height: 6-2
Weight: 291
Arm length: 30 ¼ inches
Hand size: 9 ⅜ inches
40-yard dash: 5.36
Broad jump: 8-3
Vertical jump*: 31 inches
Bench: 29
3-cone drill: 7.52
20-yard shuttle: 4.53
*Pro day numbers
What he does best:
• A ball of muscle. Has some serious ability to drive in his lower half and if he locks in you’re toast. Took Wisconsin’s nose tackle four yards off the ball snap after snap in the highest-graded run-blocking performance from any lineman last season
• Accomplished in a pro-style running system. Easily the highest-graded player in the entire class on inside zone runs
• Extremely quick to explode out of his stance after the snap. Can get the angle quickly working off shades
Biggest concern:
• T-Rex arms that are a nightmare in pass protection. Graded around average in that area last year. Nose tackles routinely get into his shoulder pads and bounce him around. Likely be an issue his whole NFL career
• Recognition of stunts was noticeably bad. Almost always lat
• Inconsistent controlling blocks on the move. Has trouble locking in on reach blocks
Bottom line:
He’s no pass protector, but you can get away just fine without being one at the center position. He offers considerable upside in a zone running scheme.