Hroniss Grasu NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Bears’ Rookie
Published by Team Stream Now on May 1, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
STRENGTHS
A four-year starter who never missed a game at Oregon, Hroniss Grasu is a lean, quick, agile center prospect. He’s a fighter up front and plays with good, functional strength.
Grasu can move off his spot and was asked to get downfield to take on linebackers at the second level. His hands are tight and his base is wide when engaging a defender. He’s a high-accuracy downfield blocker who will knock defenders around and look for more contact.
Grasu can be a Week 1 starter in a zone-blocking scheme, especially if there is a lot of shotgun involved.
WEAKNESSES
Grasu has been a shotgun-only center at Oregon, with quarterback Marcus Mariota coming under center just five times in 2014. A lack of power will be an issue for man-blocking teams, as Grasu doesn’t roll through defenders or bulldoze rushing lanes.
His game film is clean, but he doesn’t dominate in any one area or trait. The timing of the Oregon passing game and the amount of misdirection has protected him from having to hold up in pass protection for longer periods of time, so his redirection and recovery skills aren’t well-tested.
PRO COMPARISON: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers
A smaller center but an upper-echelon athlete with toughness, instincts and big upside, Grasu is a similar prospect to Maurkice Pouncey.
FINAL GRADE: 5.65/9.00 (Future Starter)
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