Positives -- Seems to be comfortable in both the run and pass game, which makes him a very valuable asset in the NFL... Moves with the defender very well in pass coverage and may be the best inside blocker in the draft... Has a great outside step, but can also shuffle inside to prevent a defender from undercutting his block... Very shifty pass blocker, can stick with defenders no matter where they go... Very quick on his feet, blocks on his toes, never seems be caught blocking a defender on his heels... Always moving forward and pushing the pass rusher... Even if he has to take the defender behind the pocket, he continues to push, instead of simply just getting in the way... Has a very uncanny ability to move around the pocket for a left tackle... Constantly driving the defender forward, even in the passing game... Is a very tenacious blocker, especially in the running game where he can drive his defender up-field... When he's on a block in the run game, he drives forward extremely well for a left tackle... Very good down-blocker in the run game, cuts off the edge nicely... Very good motor for being such a big man, is always moving his feet.
Negatives -- Occasionally has a problem getting his helmet on the right side in the running game... If he's beaten in the run game, usually not because he was beat physically, but more so in the sense that he blocked his defender into the play... Seems to have an issue if he has to help chip on another defender... Very good one-on-one blocker, but seems to have a problem chipping to the inside and helping the guard if needed... Very aggressive blocker, which is good in most cases, but there is reason to believe that veteran NFL defenders will use his aggression against him and get him off balance, has showed signs of being susceptible to that. At Iowa -- (Official School Bio) 2010: Started all 13 games at left tackle and has 21 consecutive starts... started at left tackle in 37-7 opening win over Eastern Illinois as offense gained 435 yards total offense... started at left tackle in 35-7 win over Iowa State as offense gained 479 yards total offense... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 34-27 loss at Arizona... started at left tackle in 45-0 win over Ball State as offense gained 562 yards total offense... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 24-3 win over Penn State... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 38-28 win at Michigan... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 31-30 loss to Wisconsin... started at left tackle in 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 18-13 win at Indiana as offense gained 445 yards total offense... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 21-17 loss at Northwestern... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 20-17 loss to Ohio State... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 27-24 loss at Minnesota... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 27-24 Insight Bowl win over 12th-ranked Missouri. 2009: Started 11 of 13 games, with three starts at left tackle, seven at left guard and final game at right tackle... saw action on special teams in 17-16 win over Northern Iowa... started at left tackle in 35-3 win at Iowa State as offense gained 426 yards total offense... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 27-17 win over Arizona... started at left tackle and played every offensive down in 21-10 win at Penn State... saw action on special teams in 24-21 win over Arkansas State... started at left guard in 30-28 win over Michigan... started at left guard in 20-10 win at Wisconsin... started at left guard and played every offensive down in 15-13 win at Michigan State... started at left guard in 42-024 win over Indiana as offense gained 480 yards total offense... started at left guard and played every offensive down in 17-10 loss to Northwestern... started at left guard and played every offensive down in 27-24 loss at Ohio State, as offensive line allowed just one QB sack... started at left guard in 12-0 win over Minnesota... started at right tackle in 24-14 Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech as offense gained 403 yards total offense.