The popular saying among experts is that it’s impossible to evaluate offensive linemen in the spring and summer. This is because they don’t have pads on, and there is no way to get a proper grasp of blockers without actually being able to block people. However, history shows that this isn’t the total truth. Three years ago, Braxton Jones flashed during minicamps and OTAs to such an extent that the coaching staff felt comfortable slotting him in as the starting left tackle for training camp. They had good reasons to. Now it appears Ozzy Trapilo is doing the same.
The rookies took to the practice field for the first time on Friday, giving coaches their first glimpse of what they have. It became apparent immediately that Trapilo was working exclusively on the left side despite his last two seasons at Boston College being spent at right tackle. Impressions were quick to come in. People were taken aback by his mixture of sheer size and mobility. There was also clear evidence of a young player who understands the intricacies of his job. This was reflected in his answers about the competition for left tackle.
“Yeah, it definitely wouldn’t be the end of the world. My goal here is to play football, to get on the football (field) as soon as I can, so I’m going to do whatever I can to get that done. But at the same time I know I have a lot to work on as a player. I’m a rookie. I’m not going to show up and be the best. My goal is to become the best player I can. I’m not just going to do it without work. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of time. So my job is not to be results-driven. It’s to be process-driven.”
Ozzy Trapilo is a grinder, and that is a great thing.
GM Ryan Poles said it was easy to get bored watching the young tackle’s college tape. That was because he did the right thing on every snap. Coaches will tell you this is exactly what they want. The more boring a player is to watch, the better he is as a blocker. Ozzy Trapilo is not without his flaws. He’s not a premier athlete and tends to play high due to his size. Still, his dedication to the crack allows him to avoid those problems for the most part. When he talks about being process-driven, he means focusing on the work. If he puts in the time and effort, things should work out how he wants. Don’t be surprised if he’s already positioned to snag that left tackle job by the start of training camp in July.
