David DeCastro or Kevin Zeitler?

**leachisabeast** · 05-07-2012, 04:50 PM

Both our AFC North rivals took guards that a lot of people here wanted Baltimore to take, both had impressive college careers.

However who do you guys think is really a better guard, and who will do better job of blocking our massive Dline? To me DeCastro looked great on film, but was overrated because he was protecting Andrew luck. Kevin Zeitler had the most knockdowns out of any lineman in the draft, and I agree with Cossell that Zeitler is better prospect than DeCastro. Zeitler is a bigger and more physical run grader, and along with his buddy Konz, was the best player on that elite Wisconsin offensive line.

**SugarRay52** · 05-07-2012, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Both our AFC North rivals took guards that a lot of people here wanted Baltimore to take, both had impressive college careers.

However who do you guys think is really a better guard, and who will do better job of blocking our massive Dline? To me DeCastro looked great on film, but was overrated because he was protecting Andrew luck. Kevin Zeitler had the most knockdowns out of any lineman in the draft, and I agree with Cossell that Zeitler is better prospect than DeCastro. Zeitler is a bigger and more physical run grader, and along with his buddy Konz, was the best player on that elite Wisconsin offensive line.

According to Tony Lombardi the Ravens liked Zeitler more than DeCastro, they thought DeCastro was a little overrated.

**alien bird** · 05-07-2012, 04:54 PM

I think Zeitler may end up being better, but I am hoping Osemele is better than either one of them.

**leachisabeast** · 05-07-2012, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by SugarRay52

According to Tony Lombardi the Ravens liked Zeitler more than DeCastro, they thought DeCastro was a little overrated.

Doesn't surprise me, I listen to Greg Cossell a lot, and he thinks Zeitler is the better player. I watch Wisconsin a lot, and Zeitler is a beast of a guard, some people might have thought he was a reach in the first round, but I think he is going to a player to look out for whenever we play them. I guess the good thing is, they don't exactly have the most explosive of running backs.

**leachisabeast** · 05-07-2012, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by alien bird

I think Zeitler may end up being better, but I am hoping Osemele is better than either one of them.

I hope so too, he certainly has the size and physicality to excel as a great interior lineman.

**SugarRay52** · 05-07-2012, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Doesn't surprise me, I listen to Greg Cossell a lot, and he thinks Zeitler is the better player. I watch Wisconsin a lot, and Zeitler is a beast of a guard, some people might have thought he was a reach in the first round, but I think he is going to a player to look out for whenever we play them. I guess the good thing is, they don't exactly have the most explosive of running backs.

If Zeitler does his part he'll be playing week one against us, great first test for him against Ngata and the Ravens Dline.

**cjandrze** · 05-07-2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

I guess the good thing is, they don't exactly have the most explosive of running backs.

Green-Ellis? He did a fine job running all over us in the AFCCG.

I picked Zeitler, but I think they are both gonna be formidable opponents.

**The Excellector** · 05-07-2012, 05:02 PM

Just sparking debate here:

So, Kevin Zeitler is not overrated for playing on that Wisconsin offensive line, next to Peter Konz and co.?

**The Excellector** · 05-07-2012, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by cjandrze

Green-Ellis? He did a fine job running all over us in the AFCCG.

New England was able to use their TEs out wide to spread the Ravens out into lighter formations, before turning to the run. Cincinnati might not be able to do that.

**cjandrze** · 05-07-2012, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Just sparking debate here:

So, Kevin Zeitler is not overrated for playing on that Wisconsin offensive line, next to Peter Konz and co.?

I think he may be even better because of it. He had to pick up the slack for a good player that didnt show up 30% of the time due to injuries.

**wickedsolo** · 05-07-2012, 05:04 PM

I think Zeitler will end up being one of the better draft picks in this class.

**leachisabeast** · 05-07-2012, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by cjandrze

Green-Ellis? He did a fine job running all over us in the AFCCG.

I picked Zeitler, but I think they are both gonna be formidable opponents.

He didn't really run all over us, we where so focused on defending the pass, we weren't accounting for Green Ellis. Besides, the facts remain that he just isn't an explosive RB, he has never been a multi 100 yard rusher. Great solid, reliable type player, but he's no Ray Rice, or Trent Richardson.

**leachisabeast** · 05-07-2012, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Just sparking debate here:

So, Kevin Zeitler is not overrated for playing on that Wisconsin offensive line, next to Peter Konz and co.?

Good point, but I think it's fair to say that Zeitler is probably underrated if anything, most people had him down as a second rounder.

**The Excellector** · 05-07-2012, 05:39 PM

Just to spark more debate:

Isn't much of what Stanford runs, offensively, predicated on running the ball to setup the play action? It's not as if Luck was asked to do as much as the analysts say he will be capable of handling. It's like the idea that Griffin is this developmental scrambler and that Luck is this pure pocket passer. When you really look at it, they run the ball pretty well at Stanford, don't they?

**leachisabeast** · 05-08-2012, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Just to spark more debate:

Isn't much of what Stanford runs, offensively, predicated on running the ball to setup the play action? It's not as if Luck was asked to do as much as the analysts say he will be capable of handling. It's like the idea that Griffin is this developmental scrambler and that Luck is this pure pocket passer. When you really look at it, they run the ball pretty well at Stanford, don't they?

They certainly are a more physical offense, and run the ball first.

**GOTA** · 05-08-2012, 04:32 AM

I like them both but I see DeCastro with a much higher upside. He moves better than most Guards I've seen come out of college.

**JAB1985** · 05-08-2012, 06:11 AM

If you look at the line as one cohesive unit, its hard to not point out that zeitler benefited from having better players around him. If you want to knock Decastro for having Luck behind him, you need to knock Zeitler for that. I think Zeitler has potential to be very good, but DeCastro will be a better player from day one, imo.

**bmorecareful** · 05-08-2012, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Just to spark more debate:

Isn't much of what Stanford runs, offensively, predicated on running the ball to setup the play action? It's not as if Luck was asked to do as much as the analysts say he will be capable of handling. It's like the idea that Griffin is this developmental scrambler and that Luck is this pure pocket passer. When you really look at it, they run the ball pretty well at Stanford, don't they?

Stanford is and was a run-first offense. They ran the ball more than they threw it every year with Luck, and their offense revolved around the run. The 49ers run literally the exact same offense with Alex Smith as Stanford ran with Luck. I've scouted Luck and he is a very good quarterback, but the reality is that he is a high-ceiling, low-upside player. He reminds me of what Alex Smith was last year: smart, mobile, makes good decisions, puts his team in position to win, but not a terror with the ball in his hands. He is not going to dominate you by throwing lasers all over the field and shredding your coverage. He does not have the "arm characteristics" of an elite pure passer. I'm not saying that's the be-all end-all, but it is reality.

I think Andrew Luck has a high bust rate, if only because the hype surrounding him is so ridiculous that almost nobody could live up to it. He essentially has to be Peyton Manning from day 1 in order to NOT bust, and I do not think he will. For example, I believe Robert Griffin will have a much better 2012 in DC than Luck will in Indy.