C, Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas

C, Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas

Pros:  Prototype size for the position. Rare athleticism. Good burst off the snap and can block on the move. Quickly moves his feet to get the appropriate angle on his man.

Cons:  Relies on quickness and technique rather than pure strength to generate movement at the point of attack

Styg's Broncos Fit:   Less-than-desirable lower-body strength, and inconsistency in bending his knees and driving forward will drive down Luigs' stock, but there may be no better "game smart" player at the center position in 2009.  Applauded by coaches for his ability to translate coaching to on-field production, Luigs could execute even complex plays and schemes with minimal practice.  His love for the game and competition shined when he was put up against tougher or faster players, and he would fight to the whistle to stay with a block.  His explosion off the snap is excellent, and he has relied on it to compensate for his lack of brute power, but he will need to address his lower-body strength in the pros.  He is excellent when pulling and locating blocks on the second level, but needs to do a better job of maintaining his balance when blocking fast DBs, as he will overextend himself to make the block.  His highest value will be to zone-blocking teams, but any team will be able to appreciate his awareness of the defense and alignment on the field.  I am thinking Denver may grade Luigs out very highly among offensive linemen.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

From "2009 NFL Draft: Centers" at Windy City Gridiron:

Jonathan Luigs is probably the hardest worker among Center prospects in this draft class.  He turned in the 6th-best 40 yard dash time at the combine among OLinemen, and had the 7th highest vertical jump.

Luigs is very athletic, and is good at both pass and rush blocking.  He constantly faced some of the best defensive tackles and linebackers in the NCAA, and consistently performed well.  He has proven to have a very admirable work ethic, and this has impressed many NFL scouts.  The only thing that might hinder Luigs come draft day will be the fact that he isn't a very scrappy player.  He is strong, but doesn't have a real killer instinct.

From Scouting Report at Mocking the Draft:

 For such a large player, Luigs displays solid athleticism and agility. He has quick, active feet hat allow him to get to the second level with ease. Gets off the line with relative ease and attacks defenders. Intelligent lineman. Recognizes blitzes nicely and works well with guards to handle stunts. Has the smarts to adjust to blitzes during a play. Plays with some aggression and will seal off blocks driving defenders to the ground. Leader of Arkansas' offense as a senior.

From "Steeler's Draft Analysis" at Behind the Steel Curtain:

Luigs has everything you're looking for in a zone blocker - he's very smart and aware, he has good lateral agility, and he's a solid pass protector. However, he has fairly poor lower body strength and could really struggle to handle the big NT's we're going to see every year. Sean Mahan, we have not forgotten you.

Highlights:

Some highlights and commentary.

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

• Luigs said he has been training at a facility in New Jersey with a small group of players, including former South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley and former Arkansas State fullback David Johnson.
  
  Much of Luigs' training was focused on getting him into better shape so he could do well in the handful of skill drills he can expect to take part in over the next few days.
  
  "It was a lot of concentration on the drills, but a lot of what took place was eating right and learning how to get on the right diet and maintaining it," Luigs said. "So I met with a nutritionist twice a week and really tried to lean out and just get my body to where it needs to be."  [see more...]
• Luigs was one of the unsung heroes for Arkansas last season as Darren McFadden and Felix Jones rushed into stardom, but his play up front did not go completely unnoticed. In fact, Luigs won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center and he was a consensus All-American. Regardless of how talented the running backs are, the accolades are well-deserved when you pave the way for an offensive attack that led the SEC in rushing and set a school record for yards on the ground. Luigs is big, but not massive; it is his feet that really make him the force that he is.   [see more...]
• Last name is pronounced "luh-WEEGS"...Redshirted in 2004 then went on to become a four-year starter in the SEC...Won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center as a junior and was a finalist as a sophomore and senior...Named a 3rd Team All-American in 2006 and 2nd Team in 2007...Was recognized as an All-SEC performer four times...Started every game he ever played for the Razorbacks and finished his career with 46 consecutive starts...Also saw some action at right guard his freshman year...Missed some time with a high-ankle sprain in 2005...Helped pave the way for Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Michael Smith and some potent Hogs rushing attacks...Highly decorated pivot  with a fantastic mix  of physical tools  and intangibles.  [see more..]
• A smooth, coordinated athlete in space who plays with good technique and hand placement inside. Snaps and steps very quickly and showcases the foot speed to get around on reach blocks and seal run lanes inside. A fluid lateral athlete who breaks down well at the second level and displays the ability to eliminate a moving target.  [see more...]
• Luigs captured the Rimington Trophy in 2007 and shared the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy (conference's top offensive lineman) with Alabama's Andre Smith. The consensus All-American first-team choice was credited with a career-high 84 knockdowns and led the league's interior linemen with 14 touchdown-resulting blocks. With their center leading the way, the Razorbacks again led the SEC and ranked fourth in the country with an average of 286.54 yards per game rushing. Arkansas also ranked second in the league and 17th nationally in total offense with an average of 450.0 yards per game.
  
  With both Darren McFadden and Felix Jones having left Arkansas for the NFL, the team's once formidable running game came to a screeching halt in 2008. Luigs was again named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, but lost out to Alabama's Antoine Caldwell for first-team All-SEC honors. He delivered 66 knockdowns and graded 85.42 percent for blocking consistency. But the Hogs finished 97th in the nation in rushing (113.5 ypg). The team's offensive line was the main problem, as the front wall placed 118th among the 119 major colleges, allowing 46 sacks for the season.  [see more...]