The Front Row

Definitely good to have the big fella back. I'm excited about our guards this year with Hakk and Mewhort.

What differentiates a guard from a tackle is nebulous to me. Everybody Ohio State gets who played tackle in high school seems to end up at guard.

I'm sure you'll get a response from someone who really knows, but my guess as someone who really has no clue about offensive line play is that it takes more mobility to play tackle since you are the guy responsible for making sure no one gets around the corner. In high school the best offensive line talent plays tackle since it is the more difficult and more critical position. When those guys get to college, some can make it as tackles, and those that don't exhibit the mobility requitred get moved inside to guard. Also, the guards seem to be a little shorter and more compact players (ala Boren).

Now someone who really knows get on here and make me look like an idiot.

Tackles must be long and athletic. You need the reach in pass protection. Tall is a big asset as it adds to length and leverage. The sooner a tackle can put his hands on a pass rusher the better chance he has of disrupting the pass rush. The quick feet are just as important. Tackles must be athletic enough to kick step and get in front of that pass rusher but they have to be agile enough to change direction should the pass rusher come back inside. Being able to move laterally is much more important for a tackle than speed. That is why I pay no attention to the 40 times for offensive linemen.

We continue to chose big over athletic. That is why we end up seeing so many guard types.

What Duane said.

It's a matter of space and personnel. In pass pro, the interior 3 OL don't have to be as quick laterally, because there is A LOT less room inside for rushers to go around them. The interior guys also very seldom face rushers who have serious wheels (like a OLB, Safety or Rush End). Combine the wide open flank to one side and faster/quicker rusher facing them and you get a need for tall knuckle-draggers who are fast enough to keep themselves in front of a speed rusher off the edge by moving more-or-less sideways.

To a lesser extent, the same thing is true on rushing downs. Interior guys tend to drive block straight ahead a lot and work in crowded spaces. OTs have to get outside position on their DE/OLB to set the edge and they work in an area with a lot of empty space for their man to use to get past them. So OTs have to be able to cover more ground and then block...and do so quick enough that a RB doesn't run up their azz.