I think most of the deal with everyone wanting to either switch guys from being a LT in the NFL or saying they are questionable at LT in the NFL is the arm length issue. It just seems like the instant any guy strays too far away from the 'ideal' 34" or longer arms, nope can't play LT.
For exmple, Alex Leatherwood is 6'5", 312 lbs, 33 7/8" arms and 9 1/2" hands. First bullet under strengths for him is:
- Looks the part with well-proportioned frame and long arms.
Now, let's go to Teven Jenkins. NFL.com has him at 6'6", 317 lbs, 33 1/2" arms and 9 1/2" hands. First bullet under weaknesses is:
- Very short arms for tackle position.
So, you're telling me that 3/8" is the difference between long arms and very short arms. That is just asinine.
I was not going to click on every profile, but looking at the OT's taken in the first 3 rounds of this year's draft, only 3 guys had 34" or longer arms: Christian Darrisaw, Dillon Radunz, and Spencer Brown.
I mean, I get it, in a vacuum, longer arms are better than shorter arms - especially at OT. But, there is so much more to being successful than just arm length it is crazy to me how much the media and their various unnamed scouts fixate on it. Or qualify it with - oh, well with shorter arms he is going to have to work on his technique. Like you wouldn't have to work on improving technique with longer arms. It's the NFL. Once you hit a base level of athletism, the better guys are pretty much always going to have better fundamentals and technique. And then the truly great ones add just elite size and athletism to the mix.
Teven Jenkins has the baseline athletism needed to be successful. So, now it's going to be a matter of whether or not Juan Castillo can refine his fundamentals and technique enough to be a consistent starting caliber LT in the NFL.