From now until the 2020 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#68 Damien Lewis/OG LSU – 6’3 330
The Good
- Naturally thick athlete with great lower body strength
- Low pad level and great hip flexibility
- Good run blocker who can quickly work hips to seal off a hole
- Ideal body type for the guard position with good arm length
- Nasty demeanor that translates to the field well
- Blows open holes and generates yards before contact for the running back
- Can climb to the second level and secure linebackers in space
- High-level reps on film that show his potential as a pass blocker
The Bad
- Absolutely terrible footwork and technique at times
- Leaner who lunges in pass protection
- Does not keep his initial pad level, plays too high
- Doesn’t arrive to target ready to punch and control
- Will shoot wide and hold in both run and pass game
- Poor balance, falls over way too often
- Footwork in pass protection is especially erratic
- Will stop feet and shove on contact, does not play with control
- Scheme dependent player who doesn’t pull or get out in space.
Bio
- Two-year starter with 27 consecutive starts for LSU
- Part of 2019 Joe Moore award offensive line (best overall unit in college football)
- 2019 Second-team All-Sec
- JuCo transfer who graduated from community college in 18 months
- 49 career starts between LSU and junior college
Tape Breakdown
There are certain players whose natural gifts override their suspect fundamentals and that is certainly the case with LSU guard Damien Lewis. The two year starter for the Tigers is a prototype for the right guard position with a thick lower body, natural bend and good arm length. When you combined his obvious power with a desire to move men off the ball, he’s an exciting prospect with a lot of raw potential. We’ll start with the issues that Lewis has as a technician first.
The issue is that all of these traits are intermittent and spliced in with some of the most wild, poor footwork from a quality guard prospect. As a run blocker Lewis does not consistently keep his pad level low and sacrifices leverage and base when he lunges at defenders. He also does not bring his hands and feet in coordination at all times, which limits his ability to drive block.. His 33’ arms are more than long enough to execute just about any block, but he does not consistently move his feet and put himself in position in order to win. This effectively shortens his arms and makes him look like a sub-par candidate physically for the position.
Lewis is also likely a scheme specific player at the next level because he lacks the speed necessary to pull or zone block against quicker defensive tackles.
The issues with Lewis’ footwork and movement skills are much more pronounced as a pass blocker. His footwork in pass protection is downright awful at times. He’s shown the propensity to get his pad level too high, which allows defenders to blow him off the ball, which is something that should never happen to a player with his physical profile. Pad level affects balance and center of gravity.
When a blocker’s center of gravity is off, this happens:
There are far too many reps that Lewis is on the ground. It’s not just one issue either. He lunges, stops his feet, and sometimes just doesn’t have the foot speed to recover. There’s a lot of work to be done in this area in order to make him a starting caliber guard in the NFL.
Despite all of that, when Lewis puts it together, he’s exactly what you’re looking for in a powerful, people-moving right guard.
His strengths lie as a run blocker who has enough athleticism to work off a double team to the second level and secure the linebacker. When done correctly, this creates massive yards before contact for running backs.
Even as a pass protector Lewis flashes the ability to be a high-quality pocket protector with enough foot speed to recover when beaten or to handle delayed blitzes. He shows the ability to absorb contact without giving ground and can fight back to a stalemate with a bull rusher if he initially gives up his chest when hand fighting.
Lewis has shown enough improvement on film and has enough physical traits that some team is going to take a chance on him in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft. While he might be a bit of a project, he seems to have the temperament and desire to improve in all areas of his game. There is a bit of bust potential with Damien Lewis, but his high-end play is encouraging enough for the risk of an early Day 3 prospect.
Projected Round: 3-4
Games Watched: CFB Championship, vs Alabama, vs Auburn, vs Southern Miss, vs Texas
