Ravens should not reach for Carimi at OT

Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi (6-7, 327) interviewed with the Ravens today. If he falls to the 2nd or 3rd round, I’d say grab him…but I wouldn’t spend a 1st Round pick on him.

Well, you’ve got to admire the kid’s confidence…Carimi flat out declared to the press today he thinks he’s “the best offensive lineman in the draft”…

I don’t have a problem with that statement. But the fact is, Carimi may not be the best offensive line prospect for the Ravens system…and since he’s projected to be drafted in the 1st Round, I would advise the Ravens not to reach for him that high.

My reasoning is: if Jared Gaither does not rebound full-strength to take back the left tackle position in 2011, Carimi would not be ready to move to that position, assuming Michael Oher moves over to right tackle. Carimi is primarily a run-blocking tackle, and played much of his college game time on the right side. Carimi even experimented at guard during the Senior Bowl. Sorry, but if I’m spending Ravens Round 1 money on a tackle, it’s going to have to be spent for a guy that is already a pass-blocking specialist on the left side.

Ironically, Carimi is probably best suited to helping out the Steelers on their right side of the offensive line—at least in an immediate-impact sort of way. I would not be surprised to see the Steelers reach for him in the 1st Round.

Now if Carimi somehow falls into the 2nd or 3rd rounds, I’d advise the Ravens to take him on as a work-in-progress and teach him the technique he’ll need to learn to protect Flacco’s blind side…which would be a process that would require at least two years of grooming. No doubt Carimi could be an excellent asset to the Ravens line in that regard…if given the time to develop.

I like the guy, don’t get me wrong. He’s brash and fiery, and is smart enough to be earning an engineering degree.  I also love the fact he’s Jewish — Gabe would be a huge fan hit in Baltimore, and not just because of our city’s strong local tradition of sports and fandom in the Jewish community, but because he does truly remarkable things out of commitment to his faith. An example is given  by Ian Rapoport, football beat writer for the Boston Herald:

“I wish the Patriots would draft him…I’d be entertained for hours.  Oh, and for good measure, he’s Jewish. Why do I bring that up? Because in order to play on Yom Kippur, he went on Israeli time, fasted, then ‘IV-ed
up’ before the game.Carimi said it won’t be a problem in the NFL. ‘Next Question,’ he said with a smile.”

Carimi is a highly-regarded prospect that is talented and plays with a mean streak, but not being a true left tackle in the NFL could ultimately hurt his overall stock.

Matt De Lima writes for FFToolbox.com  :

“Carimi possesses enough strength to hold his position. Carimi plays to the whistle and really excels in run-blocking. At the next level, a lot of his problems in pass protection can be worked on. The main issue is his footwork. He’s not quick, he leans forward too much at the waist and needs to learn to keep his feet underneath him at all times. Right now, he’s a big liability at left tackle but could eventually be a career pro at either spot if he’s given the right coaching. This is an optimistic point of view as many will see him as a pure right tackle in the NFL.”

“He attacks defenders with his hands and gets off the line well. Since he’s so aggressive, some of these fundamental issues did not matter as much at the college level. But against elite pass-rushers, it remains to be seen if he has any answer to their quickness off the edge. “

Gabe Carimi projects as a late-first to early-second round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft… not bad for a guy who’s primarily known as a run-blocker. He is simply a tenacious blocker who still has room to improve.  An OT taken in the first round generally projects as a left tackle, and Carimi is certainly not going to be a left tackle in the NFL anytime soon.