Draft Prospects/O-Line/Gaurds: Brandon Scherff vs. La'el Collins

Which of these two beast would you rather have to anchor our o-line for years to come?


Brandon Scherff

Iowa / 6-5 / 320 lbs.




STRENGTHS: His upper body strength, along with proper hand placement and good knee bend, make Scherff a force in the running game. Balanced with a naturally wide base and light feet, controlling his momentum well. Outstanding drive blocker with the punch to jolt and drive his man where he wants with above average hand use to attack rushers, keeping separation between him and his target.

Quickness is more functional than flashy. Pass drop from the snap is efficient and controlled rather than explosive. Shifts his weight well and can be a wrecking ball at the second level with an eager blocking attitude and the demeanor of a wrestler, taking down rushers.

Strong hands to latch on and control opponents when pass blocking. Impressive power, as he'll stop pass-rushers in their tracks at times.

WEAKNESSES: Some hip and joint tightness. Can get himself in trouble when relying upon his strength, occasionally settling onto his heels rather than playing on the balls of his feet, which makes him susceptible to speed rushes upfield and quick counters back to the inside. Occasional missteps in pass protection can be corrected with more experience.

Some question as to whether he will be able to stay on the left side in the NFL. Missed the second half of the 2012 season due to an ugly right leg injury, but appeared fully recovered in 2013.






La'el Collins

LSU / 6-5 / 308 lbs.




STRENGTHS: Collins possesses a square-ish build that makes him appear better suited to guard. His frame belies his quick feet, an attribute that when combined with his long arms, impressive strength and aggression make him a devastating run blocker. Collins is often the quickest of LSU's offensive linemen off the snap and he routinely drives his assignment off the line of scrimmage with pure power, creating easy running lanes for LSU's backs. He's surprisingly quick to the second level and has good body control to adjust to moving targets.

As a pass blocker, Collins shows good initial quickness in his kick-slide and uses his long reach to maintain the arc. When he gets his hands on opponents and remains square, it is generally lights out for the defender.

WEAKNESSES: He does not possess elite balance and can be challenged by speed-rushers. He'll over-compensate occasionally and leave the inside open for counters.

Collins' aggression is admirable but also leads to mistakes. Rather than patiently waiting for defenders to come to him, Collins will occasionally lunge, making himself top-heavy and prone to slipping down the body of his opponent. This can lead to his hands getting too low or slipping onto the side and/or back of defenders, which invites them to swim over the top of him to disengage.


Which one would you rather?

Scherff is ranked higher than Collins right now and at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Scherff owns a wide frame with surprisingly light feet, allowing him to control his momentum. While his missteps are a weakness, he still has those strong hands to lock onto his opponents while pass blocking.

Health issues have been a problem, but it seems as if he has overcome those past injuries. Scherff is a special talent that will likely go far as a true anchor on an offensive line in the NFL. However, and not trying to be an LSU homer, I still like La’el Collins better for the Saints due to his position flexibility between guard and tackle.

It’s left guard Ben Grubbs that must be the first lineman to be replaced, and Collins is a better fit for that specific role. Regardless, be sure to keep an eye on Scherff and the abilities he displays at this month’s Combine.