Hroniss Grasu to the Chicago Bears: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown
Published by Ross Read on May 1, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears drafted a lineman for the second pick in a row, but this time it’s on the offensive side of the ball. Oregon’s Hroniss Grasu comes to Chicago to help bolster the Bears’ interior offensive line.
Grasu played and started in 52 games at Oregon all at center. He’s a 6’3”, 297-pound pit bull who’s willing to take on every challenge up front and will battle with the best of them. He has big hands and is a problem for defensive players to handle at the point of attack.
Energy and conditioning is not a problem for Grasu. He’s used to a high volume of snaps playing with quarterback Marcus Mariota in the Ducks’ uptempo offense.
In the NFL, Grasu is going to have to take on bigger nose tackles, but he’s a player able to take on the challenge. He’s a hard worker with great intangibles and leadership qualities you look for in a center.
When on the field at Oregon, it was Grasu who set the line coverage and identified the defensive schemes on the fly. He now forms a formidable interior front with Matt Slauson and former Oregon teammate Kyle Long.
Grasu consistently hits his blocks and actively engages linebackers in the second level. He’s a good enough athlete to pull and effectively reach targets in space. Pass-rushers up the middle will struggle to move Grasu off a spot due to his ability to reshift his hands and keep them inside his chest.
In the NFL, Grasu has to watch his hand placement. He has a tendency to position his hands outside a defender’s chest, which will get him a few holding calls in the NFL. When pulling to the edge, Grasu doesn’t have the quick burst you would like, and he can stand to gain a few pounds at the next level.
The Bears needed a good young center. Roberto Garza held down the fort when Pro Bowl player Olin Kreutz left. Garza did an admirable job, but you never got the feeling he was an upgrade or long-term fit.
With Grasu coming aboard, the Bears figure they have two spots on the offensive line locked down for the next seven to 10 years. The pick also fits an immediate need as they want to get back to running the football.
It was important the Bears find three starters in the first three rounds, and they did just that. Grasu isn’t a flashy pick, but he’s a consistent player who should develop into a reliable starter and locker room leader going forward.
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