By Charlie Campbell.
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This page was last updated March 14, 2014. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Position Review: Centers
Center Class
Early-round talent: B
Mid-round: B
Late-round: C-
Overall grade: B-
2012 prospects vs 2013
Travis Swanson < Travis Frederick
Weston Richburg > Brian Schwenke
Marcus Martin > Barrett Jones
Tyler Larsen = Khaled Holmes
Bryan Stork > Eric Kush
Russell Bodine > Jeff Baca
Gabe Ikard > T.J. Johnson
James Stone > Braxston Cave
This year’s draft class features a stronger group of centers compared to 2013; last year’s class was weak. Seven centers were drafted in all seven rounds. Six to seven centers should be taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, and maybe another one or two could have a shot at being selected.
If you were to mix the classes, Frederick would be the first one selected. Swanson and Richburg would go above Schwenke. Martin is about equal to Schwenke. Larsen would be behind Jones. Kush, Baca and Johnson would go behind Ikard. Stone is about equal to Johnson as a late seventh-rounder, but Stone could go undrafted like Cave.
Safest Pick: Weston Richburg, Colorado State
I think Richburg and Swanson are both safe picks to become good starting centers in the NFL. I went with Richburg because I believe he has more scheme flexibility to excel in a zone or man scheme. Richburg combines quickness, athleticism, strength, balance, intelligence and good technique. He could easily end up being a great value on the second day of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Biggest Bust Potential: Marcus Martin, USC
This was a tough choice, but Martin is the only other center prospect who could be selected in the top half of the 2014 NFL Draft. The reason I went with Martin is because he is less experienced at center. Martin will need more developmental time, and depending on where he lands, some teams are more patient than others. Martin helps himself by being able to play guard, but Richburg and Swanson look like safer picks after their long bodies of work from college.
As far as the other prospects, it is hard to label a third-day pick a bust.
Center Rankings by Attributes
Pass Protection:
NFL prototype: Max Unger, Seahawks
- Weston Richburg
- Travis Swanson
- Marcus Martin
- Gabe Ikard
- James Stone
- Tyler Larsen
- Bryan Stork
- Russell Bodine
Recap: The NFL is all about the passing offense, so centers must be be an asset at protecting the quarterback and helping to keep a clean pocket. They need to be able to stop interior blitzes, bull rushes from heavy nose tackles, speed rushes from three-techniques and double-teams effectively. Fortunately for franchises needing a center, this year’s class has some good pass-blockers.
In my opinion, Richburg is the best of the bunch. He is quick, agile and has great balance. Richburg can move with speed rushers and has the technique to stop heavy bull rushers. He should be a reliable pass-protector in the NFL.
Swanson isn’t far behind, and he excelled against LSU’s speed-rushers – among others in the SEC. Martin also did well in his junior season of 2013. Both of them can be trusted to keep a clean pocket.
Ikard is a nice pass-protector against speed rushers, but he could easily struggle with strong and heavy tackles in the NFL. Stone did a nice job as part of a line that allowed very few sacks the past two seasons. He held his own against good competition.
Larsen did pretty well at the Senior Bowl. He showed an ability to anchor against bull rushers and the athletic ability to handle speed-rushers; he was inconsistent though. Larsen will need some development with a pro offensive line coach.
Stork and Bodine were solid in college, but neither one of them has special skills for the NFL. They lack the speed and athleticism for speed rushers without the strength for heavy tackles. These two have to hit double-teams with guards and could be a liability in one-on-ones, especially early in their careers.
Run Blocking:
NFL prototype: John Sullivan, Vikings
- Travis Swanson
- Marcus Martin
- Weston Richburg
- Tyler Larsen
- Bryan Stork
- Russell Bodine
- James Stone
- Gabe Ikard
Recap: The Razorbacks had a lot of success running behind Swanson over the past few seasons. He can push defensive linemen around and open holes on the ground. Swanson is a good fit in a power man-blocking scheme and can be very effective in short-yardage situations.
Martin was an excellent run-blocker for USC last season. He has enough strength to move linemen and is surprisingly quick and agile to get to blocks on defenders at the second level. The junior really improved in 2013.
Richburg doesn’t pack as much punch as the top two, but he gets the job done. Richburg could fit in a zone- or man-blocking scheme.
Stork’s run blocking was good against a lot of the weak ACC defenses, but against better competition, he was far less effective. That was the case for Bodine, too. Jonathan Cooper, Brennan Williams and Gio Bernard helped make Bodine look good in 2012, but he wasn’t as good in 2013.
Stone and Ikard were solid run-blockers in college, but they are better in pass protection. Ikard needs to add power for the NFL.
Speed:
NFL prototype: Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
- Weston Richburg
- Gabe Ikard
- James Stone
- Travis Swanson
- Marcus Martin
- Russell Bodine
- Bryan Stork
- Tyler Larsen
Recap: Richburg is the fastest center in the 2014 NFL Draft. He moves really well at the point of attack. Ikard and Stone are both very quick off the snap and are able to pull well. All three of those centers are fast to hit blocks on the second level.
Swanson and Martin have underrated quickness. They both are bigger centers who move well for their size. Bodine isn’t slow, but he doesn’t really have speed. Stork and Larsen aren’t very quick.
Strength:
NFL prototype: Nick Mangold, Jets
- Travis Swanson
- Marcus Martin
- Tyler Larsen
- Weston Richburg
- Bryan Stork
- James Stone
- Russell Bodine
- Gabe Ikard
Recap: This was an easy choice. Swanson is clearly the strongest center of the group, and Martin is a definite second. Both can push linemen around. Swanson can make defenders look like they are on roller skates at times. Martin packs a nice punch when he hits a block on the second level. He and Swanson have more power than the other centers.
Larsen has some power to his game. He used it to be an effective run-blocker during the past few years.
Richburg is fourth in this category. He is strong for his size and is very well rounded. Richburg isn’t overly powerful, but he’s developed some strength.
Stork, Stone, Bodine and Ikard all need to get stronger for the NFL. None of them have the power to move NFL defensive tackles. Ikard is especially light in weight for the next level.
Zone Blocking:
NFL prototype: Chris Myers, Texans
- Weston Richburg
- Travis Swanson
- Marcus Martin
- Tyler Larsen
- Gabe Ikard
- Russell Bodine
- James Stone
- Bryan Stork
Recap: The athletic Richburg might be the best fit as a zone-blocking center in the NFL. He is agile, quick and lean, which makes him a perfect fit to be part of the moving wall of a zone-blocking scheme.
Swanson and Martin both were effective when their teams ran some zone schemes in college. These two are probably better fits for a man scheme, but both of them are able to execute in zone.
Ikard’s only good fit comes in a zone-blocking scheme where he can use his quickness and athleticism. Any team that drafts him probably runs predominantly a zone scheme.
Bodine, Stone and Stork could all execute in a zone scheme. They’re probably better fits for zone than they would be for man.
Power-Man Blocker:
NFL prototype: Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
- Travis Swanson
- Marcus Martin
- Tyler Larsen
- Weston Richburg
- Bryan Stork
- Russell Bodine
- James Stone
- Gabe Ikard
Recap: Swanson and Martin are both great fits in a man-blocking scheme. They can move defenders at the point of attack with power and strength. Both Swanson and Martin are strong with good size. Teams that run power schemes should like them.
At the Senior Bowl and in college, Larsen showed that he can fit in a man-blocking scheme. He isn’t as good as the top two, but he was effective for Utah State; the same with Richburg. Either one of these two centers should be able to adapt well to a man scheme.
Stork, Bodine and Stone could all be drafted by man teams, but all three should add some power. They would be developmental projects and backups for a time before they’re ready to compete. Ikard only fits a zone scheme and would need to add more weight for a man scheme.
Versatility:
NFL prototype: Mike Pouncey, Dolphins
- Marcus Martin
- Travis Swanson
- Weston Richburg
- Tyler Larsen
- James Stone
- Russell Bodine
- Bryan Stork
- Gabe Ikard
Recap: NFL offensive line coaches like their interior linemen to have the ability to play guard or center. Young players who are fighting to make the team as a backup help themselves by having flexibility on the inside. On game days, teams need interior linemen who can play guard or center.
Martin and Swanson have the most versatility. Martin started at guard and center for USC over the last three seasons. He could play either spot in the NFL. Swanson doesn’t have the same experience, but he has the size and skill set to move to guard.
Richburg can play some guard as well. If he did move there, he would need to add some weight. Larsen also should be able to make the move if pressed.
I’m not that confident in the respective abilities or Stone, Bodine, or Stork to move to guard. I don’t think any of them could handle tackles one-on-one. Ikard definitely can’t move to guard. He’s too undersized.
Intelligence:
NFL prototype: Matt Birk, Ravens
- Gabe Ikard
- Weston Richburg
- Travis Swanson
- Tyler Larsen
- Bryan Stork
- James Stone
- Russell Bodine
- Marcus Martin
Recap: The intelligence of Ikard is well known. He has the reputation a being nerd off the field and is very well educated. Ikard loved making the line calls for Oklahoma and studied to learn the best calls to defend a variety of blitzes.
None of the rest of the centers look like they are lacking intelligence. Richburg and Swanson look like they are very adept at making the proper line calls. Both should be able to make the mental transition quickly in the NFL.
Stork seemed to do a good job of setting the protections and worked well with Jameis Winston in the quarterback’s first year as a starter.
Martin has less experience after moving to center before the 2013 season. He also entered the NFL Draft early, so he may need more classroom development than the rest of the class.
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