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Looking to help shore up one of the NFL’s worst pass blocking units, the Chicago Bears selected offensive lineman Kyle Long out of Oregon with the No. 20 pick in the first round.
Long, the son of former Raiders Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Howie Long, is regarded as being remarkably athletic for a 6-6 lineman that weighs upwards of 310 pounds. A two-sport athlete, Long’s fastball reached the mid-90s at Florida State before he decided to concentrate on football.
Long spent two seasons at Saddleback Junior College, one at defensive end, then transferred to Oregon for the 2012 season. After starting four games for the Ducks at left guard in 2012, Long entered the NFL Draft when his petition for another season was denied by the NCAA.
Here's Long's reaction to the selection on his Twitter account:
BEAR DOWN!
— Kyle Long (@ky1eLong) April 25, 2013
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com indicated that Long has tremendous upside in his scouting report on the former Ducks’ offensive lineman:
Long, Rang writes, “possesses a naturally large frame with long arms. Impressive athlete, light on his feet and possesses good balance and flexibility for a man of his size. Very mobile. Often asked to block on the move in this scheme, demonstrating very good lateral agility and straight-line speed, as well as the short-area quickness to adjust and hit the moving target."
"(He) flashes some nastiness to his game, doesn't back down from physical challenges, has heavy hands and can stun opponents with his initial punch. Keeps his legs driving on contact and can move defenders out of the hole. Enjoyed a solid performance in the Senior Bowl, itself, after missing a few days of practice with the flu. Clear talent and is just scratching the surface of his potential.”
Last season, the Bears ranked 28th in the league in sacks allowed per pass attempt, according to NFLGSIS.com.
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