Name: C/OG Stefen Wisniewski
School: Penn State
Size: 6'3, 313 lbs
Expected Round: 1st-2nd
40 Time: 5.29s
Career Stats: Click Here.
Player Previews: CBS; Walter Football; NFL Combine [If you would like your website included, please e-mail me!]
Strengths: Versatile enough to play both center and guard. High football IQ and is able to put his body exactly where it needs to be to make the block. Extremely good technique and knows how to play the line. Team leader. Can help set up the offensive line before the snap. Extremely durable.
Weaknesses: Not a mauler. Does not play with a mean streak. Not the strongest player and can get pushed backwards by larger defensive linemen. And by "larger" I mean any lineman over 260 lbs. Does not do a good job creating space for the run. Not impressive in the second level as a blocker. I thought "Teddy Bear" when I saw him on film because it didn't seem like he was fighting for anything- just a guy who can do his job, but not at an elite level. Limited upside.
Why and Why Not the Patriots after the jump, and my final verdict!
Why the Patriots?: Wisniewski has all the makings of the next Dan Koppen- he's a smart player who can command the line of scrimmage. He brings versatility to play both center and guard like Dan Connolly and he could be a solid player for many years. He was high on a lot of draft boards early in the post-season, which means that people thought they saw something in him.
Why Not the Patriots?: He's not made to play Patriots' football. Not mean enough to play guard, not strong enough to play center. He'll be eaten alive by nose tackles and he'll be seeing those almost every week. He doesn't help the run game and our entire running offense is based on our offensive line making average running backs look great. He's not strong enough to sustain his blocks, so if we want Tom Brady to have more time in the pocket, Wisniewski will keep him dodging ghosts.
Verdict: Wisniewski seems to be dropping down a lot of draft boards and, after watching his tape, I can see why. He doesn't play like a first or second rounder with a lot of upside. He plays like a mid-rounder who is what you get from week 1. I don't see him drastically improving because his technique is solid- it's his overall body and that won't change too much. I see him being like Rich Ohrnberger in a sense that it's kind of forgotten that he's on the roster. I don't see Wisniewski with the Patriots and I see him taken in the middle of the draft.
(Watch #61, he's playing right guard in these tapes)