Rob Havenstein, 6'7.5" 321 T, Wisconsin
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #114 player overall, #12 tackle. 3rd-4th round grade.
Nawrocki: #16 tackle. Not rated in top 150 players. Grade: 5.26, should make a roster and contribute on special teams. Ouch. But he's projected as a 4th-5th rounder despite this ranking.
Mayock: Not rated in top 100 players.
Kiper: #215 player overall, #14 tackle.
Draft Countdown: #138 player overall, #16 tackle. Mid-round grade.
Sports Illustrated: #112 player overall, #12 tackle.
Scouts Inc: #102 player overall, #12 tackle. Grade: 69, good to solid prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: First team all-Big "10". Team captain. Started all 14 games at right tackle. Wisconsin rushed for 320 yards per game (3rd in nation) and shattered its record for yards per rush (6.91). The line allowed less than a sack per game. Wisconsin had a 2,500-yard rusher (Melvin Gordon), a 644-yard rushing game against Bowling Green and a 581-yard rushing game against Nebraska.
2013: Second team all-Big "10". Started all 13 games at right tackle. Wisconsin set school records for total yards, rushing yards and yards per rush (6.62)
2012: Started all 14 games at right tackle.
2011: Appeared in 13 games with one start at right tackle.
2010: Redshirted.
Academics: Graduated with degree in life sciences communication. No, that's not talking to animals like I hoped; it sounds like it's journalism with an emphasis on scientific topics like health and the environment.
Twitter: @RobBigDaddy78. I think. Rob's on at least his third different Twitter handle.
Injuries
2011: Had right labrum repaired prior to season.
2010: Arrived on campus weighing 380 pounds. Had surgery on left labrum and left knee surgery (meniscus and MCL) that summer.
NFL Combine Stats
(2015 NFL Combine averages for tackles in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 5.46 (5.27)
10-yard split: 1.88
Vertical: 28.5" (29")
Broad: 8'0 (8'7")
3-cone: 8.28 (Worst at Combine. Average tackle ran 7.86)
Shuttle: 4.87 (4.70)
Bench: 16 (Worst at Combine. Average was 25)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Nasty mauler with rare size and reach who dominates defenders in the running game when he gets his hands on them. Finishes his blocks. Very good technician, plays with very good leverage and positioning. Very good functional strength. Good drive blocker. Showed a strong power step in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl, and at right tackle, was adept at shutting off inside rush attempts. Much better football player than athlete. Finds a way to get the job done. Quick hands and surprisingly quick feet, which are the key to his game. Committed no holding penalties in 2014. Wins with intelligence, toughness and angles.
Minuses: Limited athletically. Just average recovery speed. Plays too tall, flat-footed and stiff-legged. Not a natural bender. Gets outleveraged and put on the ground too often. Overextends at times. Slow getting to the second level. Limited blocking range. Doesn't get out well on sweeps. Doesn't move well to his right. Got beaten inside and outside at LT at the Senior Bowl. Has problems with speed rushers and gives them too much ground. Doesn't mirror well. Inconsistent at recognizing blitzes. Unsuited for zone blocking. Motor and mean streak are inconsistent. Will be a right tackle only and his shoulder injury history is a significant concern.
Compares to: Phil Loadholdt
Fun Facts
Rob blocked for three of the top five rushers in Wisconsin history: James White, Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon, all of whom had 1,000-yard seasons. Along with football, he played basketball, soccer and lacrosse in middle and high school. As a redshirt freshman on Wisconsin's scout team, Rob had the chore every day of going up against J.J. Watt. He says his weight got as high as it did because he didn't realize his high school's scale only went up to 340 and he thought he wasn't gaining any weight.
RamView
A mauling run-blocker, Havenstein was a good player for the Rams to pick. He fits what they want to do and his run-blocking and excellent footwork no doubt showed well on game tape and put him high on their draft board. His lack of athleticism and subpar Combine, much easier and quicker things for draftniks to see and process, put him low on theirs. No one had him in their top 100. It's been hard to go wrong with Wisconsin linemen in the draft over the years, but unless you tell me that Havenstein is an all-time elite run-blocker, the Rams reached by at least a round here. They unquestionably filled a need but paid too much for the player they got.
Sources: University of Wisconsin, Frederick (Md.) News-Post, Ramview (Mike Franke)
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #114 player overall, #12 tackle. 3rd-4th round grade.
Nawrocki: #16 tackle. Not rated in top 150 players. Grade: 5.26, should make a roster and contribute on special teams. Ouch. But he's projected as a 4th-5th rounder despite this ranking.
Mayock: Not rated in top 100 players.
Kiper: #215 player overall, #14 tackle.
Draft Countdown: #138 player overall, #16 tackle. Mid-round grade.
Sports Illustrated: #112 player overall, #12 tackle.
Scouts Inc: #102 player overall, #12 tackle. Grade: 69, good to solid prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: First team all-Big "10". Team captain. Started all 14 games at right tackle. Wisconsin rushed for 320 yards per game (3rd in nation) and shattered its record for yards per rush (6.91). The line allowed less than a sack per game. Wisconsin had a 2,500-yard rusher (Melvin Gordon), a 644-yard rushing game against Bowling Green and a 581-yard rushing game against Nebraska.
2013: Second team all-Big "10". Started all 13 games at right tackle. Wisconsin set school records for total yards, rushing yards and yards per rush (6.62)
2012: Started all 14 games at right tackle.
2011: Appeared in 13 games with one start at right tackle.
2010: Redshirted.
Academics: Graduated with degree in life sciences communication. No, that's not talking to animals like I hoped; it sounds like it's journalism with an emphasis on scientific topics like health and the environment.
Twitter: @RobBigDaddy78. I think. Rob's on at least his third different Twitter handle.
Injuries
2011: Had right labrum repaired prior to season.
2010: Arrived on campus weighing 380 pounds. Had surgery on left labrum and left knee surgery (meniscus and MCL) that summer.
NFL Combine Stats
(2015 NFL Combine averages for tackles in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 5.46 (5.27)
10-yard split: 1.88
Vertical: 28.5" (29")
Broad: 8'0 (8'7")
3-cone: 8.28 (Worst at Combine. Average tackle ran 7.86)
Shuttle: 4.87 (4.70)
Bench: 16 (Worst at Combine. Average was 25)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Nasty mauler with rare size and reach who dominates defenders in the running game when he gets his hands on them. Finishes his blocks. Very good technician, plays with very good leverage and positioning. Very good functional strength. Good drive blocker. Showed a strong power step in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl, and at right tackle, was adept at shutting off inside rush attempts. Much better football player than athlete. Finds a way to get the job done. Quick hands and surprisingly quick feet, which are the key to his game. Committed no holding penalties in 2014. Wins with intelligence, toughness and angles.
Minuses: Limited athletically. Just average recovery speed. Plays too tall, flat-footed and stiff-legged. Not a natural bender. Gets outleveraged and put on the ground too often. Overextends at times. Slow getting to the second level. Limited blocking range. Doesn't get out well on sweeps. Doesn't move well to his right. Got beaten inside and outside at LT at the Senior Bowl. Has problems with speed rushers and gives them too much ground. Doesn't mirror well. Inconsistent at recognizing blitzes. Unsuited for zone blocking. Motor and mean streak are inconsistent. Will be a right tackle only and his shoulder injury history is a significant concern.
Compares to: Phil Loadholdt
Fun Facts
Rob blocked for three of the top five rushers in Wisconsin history: James White, Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon, all of whom had 1,000-yard seasons. Along with football, he played basketball, soccer and lacrosse in middle and high school. As a redshirt freshman on Wisconsin's scout team, Rob had the chore every day of going up against J.J. Watt. He says his weight got as high as it did because he didn't realize his high school's scale only went up to 340 and he thought he wasn't gaining any weight.
RamView
A mauling run-blocker, Havenstein was a good player for the Rams to pick. He fits what they want to do and his run-blocking and excellent footwork no doubt showed well on game tape and put him high on their draft board. His lack of athleticism and subpar Combine, much easier and quicker things for draftniks to see and process, put him low on theirs. No one had him in their top 100. It's been hard to go wrong with Wisconsin linemen in the draft over the years, but unless you tell me that Havenstein is an all-time elite run-blocker, the Rams reached by at least a round here. They unquestionably filled a need but paid too much for the player they got.
Sources: University of Wisconsin, Frederick (Md.) News-Post, Ramview (Mike Franke)