I'd heard conflicting things about how Michigan's 0-2 start had affected the draft position of the Wolverines' best pro prospect, left tackle Jake Long. So I watched Long closely in Michigan's thumping of Notre Dame this afternoon. And let me report: NFL scouts will love this guy. He's at least as good as the two Big Ten tackles who went in the Top 5 of this year's draft, Joe Thomas and Levi Brown. Mel Kiper ranks Long as the third best prospect in the country, and that seems about right. As long as he makes it through his senior year healthy, I'd be pretty surprised if he isn't gone by the time the 11th pick rolls around.
Long has the pass-blocking skills that teams look for in a left tackle, but I sometimes think scouts overlook a lack of strength in guys who have good pass-blocking skills. (D'Brickashaw Ferguson is a good example of a player who was a high pick because he can pass block, but has struggled against stronger NFL defensive linemen.) Long, however, is incredibly powerful in run blocking and can collapse the opposing defensive line.
Bottom line: No matter what kind of team Michigan has, there is one incredibly talented player on this roster. Long is a Top 10 pick.
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