Joe Thomas is a "can't miss" prospect (1 Viewer)

[Ed Wood]

By most accounts, Thomas is going to be great. Of course, Gallery was going to be great too. And Mandarich was going to be great too.

Is Thomas all that much better than Gallery and Mandarich and that's why he's such a sure thing? Or are Thomas' skills similar to Gallery's and Mandarich's and there's as good a chance that he'll bust as much as they did? (I understand the jury is still somewhat out on Gallery but it doesn't look like he'll ever have the value attached to his draft status.)

 

[joffer]

no, he could miss

 

[Kleck.]

Thomas has better technique and footwork than Gallery.

 

[Ed Wood]

Thomas has better technique and footwork than Gallery.

Are they THAT much better? I watched clips of Thomas and I thought, "This reminds me of Gallery knocking over people when he was at Iowa..."Not here to knock Thomas at all. Just trying to gauge if people think he's that much better than Gallery and if so, why. Maybe another way to put it (or ask it): If Gallery and Thomas were both coming out this year, where would they go? Would the Browns have clearly taken Thomas over Gallery?

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Detroit knows Badger linemen. After all they drafted Aaron Gibson, and see how that worked out.

Actually Thomas stikes me as the real deal.

 

[Ed Wood]

Detroit knows Badger linemen. After all they drafted Aaron Gibson, and see how that worked out.Actually Thomas stikes me as the real deal.

I agree. I just thought Gallery was the same.

 

[massraider]

By most accounts, Thomas is going to be great. Of course, Gallery was going to be great too. And Mandarich was going to be great too.Is Thomas all that much better than Gallery and Mandarich and that's why he's such a sure thing? Or are Thomas' skills similar to Gallery's and Mandarich's and there's as good a chance that he'll bust as much as they did? (I understand the jury is still somewhat out on Gallery but it doesn't look like he'll ever have the value attached to his draft status.)

I don't think his rating is actually as high as some of the stud LT prospects. Just one guy talking here, but I imagine he would be rnked lwer, coming out of college, than Pace, Mandarcih, Gallery, and Ogden.And he's not a sure thing. And I don't think he's considered a sure thing. That phrase needs to stop getting used.

 

[Marauder]

There is no such thing as a "can't miss" prospect.

 

[Phurfur]

There was speculation that Arizona would have taken Levi Brown over Thomas if they were both avalable.

 

[Kleck.]

Thomas has better technique and footwork than Gallery.

Are they THAT much better? I watched clips of Thomas and I thought, "This reminds me of Gallery knocking over people when he was at Iowa..."Not here to knock Thomas at all. Just trying to gauge if people think he's that much better than Gallery and if so, why. Maybe another way to put it (or ask it): If Gallery and Thomas were both coming out this year, where would they go? Would the Browns have clearly taken Thomas over Gallery?

I think so. He's a textbook book player that is very coachable, and after his ACL tear I thought he was even more technically sound. Thomas also has a great work ethic, at least at UW he did. He does still needs some work, but he's far ahead of most rookie LTs, IMO. I would be very surprised if he was not at least good for many years. Comparing him to Gallery, I thought Gallery showed more strength/power in college. He has the raw tools to be solid, he just needs some good coaching and a system that is better than some high school level scheme. That mess of a system and coaching staff last year only set him back. Tom Cable is a good line coach, so if Gallery has the desire to live up to his pick, Cable will help him get there.

 

[Ed Wood]

There is no such thing as a "can't miss" prospect.

Fully aware of this, thanks. I'm just using the term to talk about Thomas' prospects, which are deemed excellent.

 

[NorrisB]

There was speculation that Arizona would have taken Levi Brown over Thomas if they were both avalable.

 

[Kleck.]

There was speculation that Arizona would have taken Levi Brown over Thomas if they were both avalable.

It would make sense since there are some who feel Levi may be a better fit at RT, which is Leinart's blindside.

 

[chris1969]

By most accounts, Thomas is going to be great. Of course, Gallery was going to be great too. And Mandarich was going to be great too.Is Thomas all that much better than Gallery and Mandarich and that's why he's such a sure thing? Or are Thomas' skills similar to Gallery's and Mandarich's and there's as good a chance that he'll bust as much as they did? (I understand the jury is still somewhat out on Gallery but it doesn't look like he'll ever have the value attached to his draft status.)

Nobody was hyped more than Mandarich and Pace out of college. Mandarich more because of his Body Builder looks and Pace because of his pancake blocks and his athletism lining up at multiple positions when they were trying to get him the heisman. I'd say Ogden and Thomas were hyped about the same. Gallery wasn't hyped as much as it was a given that he'd probably go early, same thing with D'brick. I think that the LT's that do fail are the ones that had their speed and agility over-rated. I'm not too worried about that with Thomas.

There was speculation that Arizona would have taken Levi Brown over Thomas if they were both avalable.

AZ figured out early that Thomas would not be there at #5. They also knew that they had to get Levi Brown if he wasn't. So they float the rumor and if Thomas is there, they draft him and deny the rumor. If not, they say that they got the guy they wanted and avoid all the critics saying they reached for a need.

 

[redman]

There was speculation that Arizona would have taken Levi Brown over Thomas if they were both avalable.

:( . . . soooooooo, you're saying that Thomas is a can't miss prospect, then?

 

[Chaos Commish]

There was speculation that Arizona would have taken Levi Brown over Thomas if they were both avalable.

It would make sense since there are some who feel Levi may be a better fit at RT, which is Leinart's blindside.

This has made me laugh every time I've heard it going back about a week before the draft.

 

[weasel3515]

Thomas has better technique and footwork than Gallery.

Comparing him to Gallery, I thought Gallery showed more strength/power in college. He has the raw tools to be solid, he just needs some good coaching and a system that is better than some high school level scheme. That mess of a system and coaching staff last year only set him back. Tom Cable is a good line coach, so if Gallery has the desire to live up to his pick, Cable will help him get there.

Couldn't agree more. Gallery has the potential but ending up in the graveyard of NFL talent, also known as the Oakland Raiders, will kill anybody's career. If he ever gets a good coaching staff and/or leaves for another team he will be very solid.