hagan714

OK 3/3 of my picks and crow over flows the freezer.

Intel on Saints 1st Round Wisconsin OT Ryan Ramczyk

Posted by Andrew Juge on May 27, 2017

Many thanks to Noah Seligman, writer for Badger of Honor, for taking the time to do this Q&A with us on Ryan Ramczyk.

Andrew Juge, Saints Nation: I don’t really have a stat to back this up, but the Saints and injuries go well together. Fans have learned to distrust our medical staff. So when a guy gets draft in the first round that isn’t healthy and is coming off hip surgery, we’re nervous. Should we be?

Noah Seligman, Badger of Honor: I would be a little nervous. You drafted Marshon Lattimore and his chronic hamstrings at #11 and were supposedly on the phone with Reuben Foster and his shoulders when the 49ers pilfered him so I guess injury risk is something the Saints will tolerate. I can’t/won’t speculate on what Ramcyzk’s surgery and what it means moving forward. But I totally think some murmuring of concern is warranted.

The injury prevented him from participating in the Combine or the Wisconsin Pro Day so we were not able to get athletic testing numbers to confirm or question what we saw in his game film.

Some rated Ramczyk as the best tackle in the draft. Granted, this was a weak class at that position – but how good do you think he is?

No question this was a weak class. Ramcyzk was one of two OT taken in the 1st round. I wrote a willfully tendentious piece arguing for him to be the first OT picked but the Denver Broncos evidently only skimmed it. He was Pro Football Focus’ top rated run blocker and I think on balance is a fairly safe pick.

He’s not going to be Joe Thomas, but like most Wisconsin OL, he has an above average, solid floor. Kevin Zeitler and Ricky Wagner got paaaaiiiddd this offseason, Travis Frederick is arguably the top C in the game, and Thomas continues to string together dominant seasons in Cleveland. Ramcyzk’s first Division I game was against LSU and he put the NFL notice with a solid performance there. He was not troubled by Michigan State, Michigan, THE Ohio State, or Iowa this season either.

Character wise, can you tell us a little about the player? Good locker room guy?

Absolutely no red flags which is not something you could say about the other top OT in Bolles and Robinson. Wisconsin coaches loved him. One thing that supposedly was an issue according to ANONYMOUS SCOUT is that he quit football after high school. He has since resumed of course, but given the physical and mental demands of the pro game, there could be some question as to his passion and what that means in terms of work ethic. Again, no problems during his season in Madison but definitely something to keep an eye on. Especially if he suffers an unfortunate injury and has to work his way back.

If you had to point to the main weaknesses in his game, what are they?

We know he can mash you. The passing game is a different question. Wisconsin as you know is built around the running game. Aside from one awesome Russell Wilson year in 2011, the quarterback situations has been a struggle over the last decade. That means lots of rushing attempts and passing off play action. I’m not saying he can’t pass protect but like most Wisconsin OL, run blocking is his strength. The Badgers use a lot of heavy personnel packages with extra OL, TE, or FB.

He had one tremendous season for the Badgers but that was it. Only one season of Division I football. That’s a small sample size especially compared to a Cam Robinson who started for Alabama for three seasons.

How do you think he fits in with what the Saints like to do? For context, they’re a pass heavy team that likes to occasionally take shots, but mostly keeps the defense honest with high volume high efficiency short passing. The running game has always been an extension of the passing game, but some think the Saints may commit more with Brees’s age, the addition of Adrian Peterson, and the trading of Brandin Cooks.

If I were the Saints I would commit to the run to set up play action and try to keep your own defense off the field. You made an expensive trade for Alvin Kamara so I do think the fantasy football hype train on him will be insane, and he will catch a lot of passes. This is where it would be nice to see athletic testing numbers for Ramcyzk to better project how he’d fit blocking down field for screens and other short completions.
I wrote a post after Round 1 noting that your current RT Zach Streif will turn 34 early this season (as Mike Mayock said during draft coverage). Terron Armstead’s deal is structured such that he is a Saint for at least the next two, and probably three, years. So if Armstead and last year’s first rounder Andrus Peat are the left side of the line, I would think Ramcyzk is there in the wings to take over the RT job sooner rather than later.

Anything else we should know?

Ramcyzk has the size in terms height, weight, arm length, hand size, etc. to be an OT. But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of him getting some reps at OG to perhaps compete with free agent acquisition Larry Warford or at least backup Warford and Peat.

Keep an eye on Wisconsin football this season because despite losing TJ Watt and Vince Biegel to the NFL, the Badgers are still loaded with pass rushers.

Intel on Saints 1st Round Wisconsin OT Ryan Ramczyk from @NSFansided


This is pretty much explains my feelings about 3 of our picks

I would be a little nervous. You drafted Marshon Lattimore and his chronic hamstrings at #11.

I can’t/won’t speculate on what Ramcyzk’s surgery and what it means moving forward.

If I were the Saints I would commit to the run to set up play action and try to keep your own defense off the field. You made an expensive trade for Alvin Kamara so I do think the fantasy football hype train on him will be insane, and he will catch a lot of passes. This is where it would be nice to see athletic testing numbers for Ramcyzk to better project how he’d fit blocking down field for screens and other short completions.

He had one tremendous season for the Badgers but that was it. Only one season of Division I football.

Why the pick and why I wanted Ricky Wagner so badly

Your current RT Zach Streif will turn 34 early this season[/I]

Conclusion

a fairly safe pick.

Bottom line: Ramczyk is the likely consensus top OT prospect in this year’s draft class despite coming off hip surgery and despite having just one year of FBS football on his resume. He isn’t the stereotypical physically dominant lineman we’re used to seeing out of Wisconsin, as his game is more about his foot quickness and balance. He faced a slew of outstanding edge defenders in the Big Ten this year (also in games against LSU and Western Michigan), and gave up just one sack, three hits and eight hurries on the year, and never more than two pressures in any single game. He is scheme-versatile as he can make all of the necessary blocks in the run game while doubling as one of the best pass-protectors in the class.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/dra...k-t-wisconsin/

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

Sarik

Yessir. We had a great draft imo, as soon as the 32nd pick was announced i was a little upset and heartbroken we didnt land Reuben Foster or TJ Watt, but immediately saw the upside in Drafting Ryan Ramczyk despite concerns and outcry from the fan base over not drafting defense. First thing that came to mind was the Zach Strief/Jon Stinchcomb situation a few years back when we added Strief....i remember going to games and hearing over the PA "#64 is an eligible/additional blocker." That went on & it worked out really well as Strief eventually took over and became a solid player over his Saints career. The possibilities of the running game having Armstead, Peat, Unger, Warford, Strief, Kuhn & Ramczyk as an additional blocker in year 1 excites the heck out of me.

The Dude

Sure looks like a lot of concerns to me. Idk at this point, with our injury history I wouldn't have taken ANYONE that is said to have concerns based on injury. I would rather pass and take the next best player.

AsylumGuido

Which players are you concerned about? Few players have never experienced any injury through high school or college. My youngest cracked two ribs diving for a catch in practice preseason. It happens.

jeanpierre

Ramczyk was a near perfect match of value and need in this draft...

In fact, I'd argue we haven't had the stars line up for us for a pick like that any better...

I'd been thrilled if we'd taken DE Malik McDowell; but I'm equally thrilled with the selection of Ramczyk...

Rugby Saint II

Well we just gave Strief a substantial raise......it looks like he may have been pondering retirement rather than face another camp battle, but he's back for the year and will help coach up the new kid.

I imagine we will see a lot of jumbo packages where we get Ram and Strief on the right side. Wow! Imagine Armstead, Peat Unger, Warford, Strief and Ramczyk on goal line situations. Just think about what an extra four points could do for our record instead of Lutz kicking a field goal.

AsylumGuido

And don't forget you can hand the ball to the active leader in rushing TD's.

Papa Voodoo

Didn't Matt Birk have a hip issue and surgery? Dude was a beast. Jamaal Brown never recovered so I guess it's case-by-case.

jeanpierre

Some guys get paid and feel they have to return the gratitude; some guys get paid and it's "why now?"...

Jairus Byrd comes to mind...

triman

The NFL has long held that LT was the second most important offensive position,protecting the blind side of QBs. In the current spread offenses however this has evolved to be less of a truism . RT is as Important as LT
.Defensive coordinators move their pass rusher from side to side often against the weakest blocker. JJ Watt
dominated Streif two seasons ago.
I believe that the Saints picked Ramczek partially due to this new paradigm.