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AJ Arcuri draft profile

A Backup Traded for a 2nd Round WR

With the next to last pick in the draft, the Rams selected Michigan State offensive tackle, AJ Arcuri. My NFL comp for Arcuri is Dennis Kelly, who was a 5th round pick in 2012 by the Eagles. Kelly was a LT at Purdue and was taken 3 slots after the Rams got Rokevius Watkins.

Louis Riddick was a front office executive for the Eagles when Kelly was drafted. Eagles were 4-12 in 2012 and Andy Reid was fired after the end of the season. One reason the team struggled was their talented OL was decimated by injuries. They finished as the 19th ranked OL per PFF. Kelly was forced to make 10 starts as a rookie and predictably he struggled. Howard Mudd, one of the most respected OL coaches in NFL history, was the OL coach for the Eagles.

The following season, the Eagles had the best OL in the NFL. Kelly didn't play a single snap that year. He saw limited action in his 3rd and 4th pro seasons. The Eagles signed him to a cheap one year contract to retain him for 2016. In August of that year, they traded him to the Titans for Dorian Green-Beckham, a WR who was an early 2nd round pick in 2015. DGB was a bust for both the Titans and the Eagles. He was waived by Philly after only one season.

Kelly proved to be a solid backup player for the Titans and when Jack Conklin left in free agency to join the Browns, the Titans gave Kelly a big bump in salary. Their 1st round pick in 2020, Isaiah Wilson, was supposed to be the RT, but he had character issues and became a completely wasted pick. Kelly became the starting RT. The Titans waived him after that season to save money and his replacement, David Quessenberry, was the best graded player on their OL in 2021.

The best graded seasons in Kelly's career came when he was with the Titans, in years 7 and 8 in the NFL. His 9th season, 2020, was the only year he was a full time starter and if weren't for Wilson's issues Kelly might have again just been a valuable swing backup. Kelly played RT, LG and RG for the Titans and sometimes also was part of a jumbo package as an extra offensive lineman. He even had 2 TD catches for them.

Like Kelly, I don't anticipate that AJ Arcuri will ever be regarded as a starting level NFL lineman. He's too limited in athleticism and strength to have much developmental potential. Nevertheless, Arcuri has traits that could lead to a long NFL career. He has NFL length and size, he's smart, has solid technique and he has starting experience playing on both the left and the right side of the line.

Background

Pro Day: 6'7'' tall, 308 pounds, 33 7/8'' arms, 10 7/8'' hands, 83 3/8'' wingspan

Hula Bowl: 6'7'' tall, 307 pounds, 34 1/4'' arms, 11'' hands, 83 1/2'' wingspan

Arcuri has a huge frame. Compare him with Rob Havenstein, who measured 6'7 3/8'' tall, 321 pounds, 33 3/4'' arms, 9 7/8'' hands and 82 1/4'' wingspan. Michigan State listed Arcuri at 6'7'' and 320 pounds last season. He spent 6 seasons in college and was listed at only 260 pounds back in 2016, his redshirt year. Dennis Kelly was 6'8'' tall and 321 pounds.

Pro Day: 5.48 sec (40 time). Another source listed his 40 at 5.21 sec. Slow split times of 1.89 sec (10 yard) and 3.07 sec (20 yards). Hav's 10 yard split and 40 times were essentially tied with Arcuri's times. Shuttle time of either 4.75 or 4.94 seconds. Three cone of 7.75 sec. Needless to say, Arcuri doesn't have great speed or agility. He did better in the other tests. 27 bench reps, 33.5'' vert jump, 9' broad jump.

Turns 25 years old in August. Graduated with a degree in packaging (similar to how Luke Goedeke at one time was planning on studying paper manufacturing, Arcuri's degree involves the industrial production and use of packaging material. He was a graduate student in the same discipline.) Five time Academic All Conference. Was roommates with Brian Allen's younger brother.

After redshirting in 2016, he got injured in 2017 and didn't play that season. He played on special teams (FG unit) in 2018. A different player was slated to be the LT in 2019, but got hurt. Arcuri was supposed to take his place as the new LT, but he also got injured, before finally returning to the lineup later that season and starting games at LT. He continued to start at LT in 2020. In 2021 he made starts at both LT and RT (mostly RT).

I wasn't able to find official confirmation of his injuries, but one source said he had surgery for a broken leg and tightrope surgery on his ankle. The coach said that the reason he wasn't able to play early in 2019 was that he wasn't able to push off, which would be consistent with an ankle problem.

In 2021, when he was at RT it looked like MSU used a rotation system. At times in the 2nd quarter, Arcuri would come out of the game and they would slide a different player over to RT, then insert someone else in at guard. Then, Arcuri would return to the lineup, sometimes in the 3rd qtr or later in the 2nd qtr. Sometimes they did the same thing in the 2nd half.

Strengths

Massive frame. NFL size and length. Good effective length, not just measured size. Defenders have long path to run around him. Size helps him to absorb power moves. Decent grip strength.

Good first step depth in his vertical set, remains balanced and patient in his kick slide, doesn't overset. Times his punch in pass protection well. Moves his feet laterally to mirror.

Generates lateral movement on double team blocks, a valuable skill for an outsize zone running team. Hits proper target area, has flexibility to bend and hit the DL around the hip. Understands proper timing for coming off of combo blocks to work to the LB and when to immediately climb to 2nd level instead of engaging at LOS.

Displays understanding of blocking angles and how to achieve leverage on the block with proper body positioning. Shows technique to get his body around to make seal on backside block on zone run play.

Solid awareness. Pre-snap sees safety blitz coming and signals to the RB to make the block. While engaged on double team blocks, has eyes on 2nd level movement of LB. Aware to potential green dog blitz after the snap.

Quick into his stance after the snap or to squeeze the inside gap. Adequate body control for his size. Able to react to inside moves and handle some of them.

Has starting experience at both LT and RT. Footwork looks natural playing on both left and right side, doesn't appear to be substantially weaker on one side vs the other.

Had some solid reps against Hutchinson and Ojabo of Michigan.

Smart academic student. Has both physical and mental traits that fit the mold for being an NFL backup offensive lineman.

Should be ready to contribute sooner rather than later. Not a long term developmental project.

Weaknesses

Lunges into some of his pass blocks. Hesitation move got him to show his hands, then beaten by swipe move. Lunged and missed on his initial punch. Average recovery ability due to lack of quickness and lower body explosiveness. Limited lateral foot quickness as pass blocker.

He mixes up a more traditional pass blocking punch with a 2 handed clamp technique where he tries to grab the outside of the defender's shoulder pads. I'm not a fan of how he does the latter, because it leads to passive hand placements where he fails to control the block. The defender can knock his hands up or away and drive into him and knock him backwards. On one play, Arcuri nearly got knocked onto his rear end.

Not creative with pass sets, doesn't mix up his approach enough. Defenders can get a read and develop a plan to set him up. Destroyed by some higher level pass rush combinations.

Poor change of direction, both in tight quarters and in open space. Almost useless on screen passes, slow and lumbering movement that is painful to watch, not able to get out in front of the RB quickly to set up the block and adjust to moving defenders. Poor short area change of direction costs him in a variety of different pass blocking situations. Slow as a pull blocker.

Not a good 2nd level blocker. A basic slide step by the LB beats him as he lunges forward, not under control or with sound footwork and when Arcuri can't stay square to seal, the LB helps tackle the RB. Lacks speed and athleticism to climb to the 2nd level fast enough to consistently block the LB. On a critical 3rd down, whiffed on 2nd level block against the LB.

Slow twitch athlete. Loses after the initial engagement to more aggressive and athletic defenders. Trying to sustain run block, his base weakens when he tries to change directions and the defender threw him violently sideways. Feet can get lethargic when trying to sustain blocks. Whiffs against quick moves on run plays like swim and spin moves.

Balance issues when trying to shift his body weight, change directions and when engaged on the move. Slips and falls down more than he should. Beaten by push pull moves.

Average core strength and upper body power. Lacks aggression, strength and power. Sometimes slow with his initial punch on run or pass blocks, allowing defenders to fire their hands first, get into his chest or beat his punch and gain the advantage.

Not a drive blocker. Plays too tall in short yardage situations, struggles to get pads lower. Knocked to the ground on 3rd down short yardage play when his athletic limitations prevented him from getting his body into position to block quickly enough.

Unable to run laterally fast enough on wide zone plays to cut off penetrating and fast flowing defenders.

Multiple times appeared to get caught by surprise by twist.

Part of the reason he held up against Michigan edge rushers was he got substantial help, whether from chip blocks by RB/TE or the OL sliding in his direction. Both Hutchinson and Ojabo beat him in more 1 vs 1 type situations where he wasn't protected.

Much older than a typical NFL rookie. Has lower body injury history. I view him as a low ceiling, but higher floor type prospect. Good candidate to be a backup, but likely will never be more than a reliable backup.

Rams Outlook

I see Arcuri as competition for the OT swing backup role. His primary backup position would be at RT. He also might be able to provide depth at G and that versatility to play every OL position except for C is probably what made him an attractive prospect to the Rams as a late 7th round to UDFA player.

In terms of his draft range, there is no difference between Arcuri, Anchrum (late 7th) and Alaric Jackson (priority UDFA). I don't have high expectations for any of those 3 long term, but unexpected things happen. Mike Remmers was an UDFA in 2012. He was briefly on the Rams' PS in 2014 in his 3rd NFL season. The Rams were his 5th NFL team. Remmers would eventually become a prized RT free agent. In hindsight, if the Rams had just kept this random, undrafted PS guy around in 2014, Remmers would have provided better long term value than Greg Robinson, the 2nd overall pick in the 2014 draft. Ryan Schraeder of the Falcons was an UDFA in 2013 and had a better career than Luke Joeckel, the 2nd overall pick in the 2013 draft. Not every quality lineman was a big name or a high pick in the draft.