Brandon Scherff: Chicago Bears Draft Prospect Profile
Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (68) gets ready to block Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Chris Weatherd (42) in the first quarter of the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
With the draft just roughly a month away Bear Goggles On will be breaking down a wide range of options for the Chicago Bears 2015 draft. We’ll profile different positions and different rounds where players who might fit with the Bears new management regime.
Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
A lot of focus has been put on rebuilding the defense, but there’s a real possibility that the Bears could go on the offensive side of the ball with their first round pick. Despite having Jermon Bushrod in the fold, the Bears could certainly look to the best player available and #7 and that very well could be offensive tackle Brandon Scherff out of Iowa.
College Career:
After redshirting his first year at Iowa, Scherff saw action at left guard in his second year before supplanting Riley Reiff as left tackle in his sophomore season. Scherff was highly regarded after his junior season, but chose to return for his senior year. It’s a good thing he did because he earner himself the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best offensive lineman. If there’s any red flags on Scherff it could be a medical concern as he’s had to have his right leg surgically repaired twice.
Strengths:
Scherff’s upper body strength and hand placement make him a force in the running game. He is an aggressive blocker, adept at pulling and eager to get to the second level to finish his blocks. He’s got experience at both tackle and guard, so a potential position change should inside at the next level wouldn’t be too dramatic.
Weaknesses:
Scherfff has had issues with speed rushers, which might be why analysts are suggesting that a move to either right tackle or guard could be on the horizon.
Bears Fit:
After a stunning turnaround during the 2013 season, the Bears offensive line took a step back in 2015. Injuries had a lot to do with the issues the Bears had, but there are still a couple of weak spots that the Bears could address. The most obvious opportunity for an upgrade is at right tackle. Jordan Mills struggled in his second season, which could be the product of missing most of the 2014 offseason program after suffering a foot injury in the last game of the 2013 season.
There’s been a healthy amount of buzz about moving Kyle Long from his right guard spot out to tackle. In my opinion, if you’re going to move Long outside, you should take his superior athleticism to left tackle and slide Jermon Bushrod over to right tackle. That could leave an opening at right guard and that’s where a prospect like Scherff, who’s a candidate to move inside, could make a lot of sense.
If the Bears want to follow the Cowboys blueprint of running the ball to take pressure off Jay Cutler and the passing game, they’ll need to have a rock-solid offensive line. Adding a piece like Scherff would go a long way to boosting their O-line.
Draft Projection:
Scherff is projected in most mock drafts as a top 10 pick. Would he intrigue Ryan Pace enough to pull the trigger at #7?