Mar 19, 2011
Position: G/C Bench Reps: 27
Height/Weight: 6’2″ 300 NFL Comparison: Jeff Saturday
10 Yard Split: 1.76 Projected Round: 2-3
My Take: Maybe it’s just because I used to be a small lineman too, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Rodney Hudson. I’m sure there’s a fair amount of NFL scouts who think he’s too small to make in at the next level, but he’s had to deal with being undersized over his 4 years as a starter at Florida State and he has still been one of the premier offensive lineman in the country. He’s learned how to overcome being undersized, and he has figured out how to shut down opponents bigger, faster, or stronger than him. Hudson is someone who just gets it and has always been successful, and that is going to continue at the next level.
There are very few flaws in Hudson’s game, the chief one being size. He has bulked up to 300 lbs, which is certainly heavy enough. It remains to be seen if he can hold that weight, but even if he drops to the 290 range I wouldn’t be concerned. He dominated in the 280 range in high school because every other aspect of his game is top notch.
Hudson plays with outstanding leverage and does not just get tossed around. He has the mobility to get to the second level, but for whatever reason he struggles to finish that block at the second level. He gets there and gets in pretty good position, but just misses the cut block or whiffs often. I’d like to think that’s something that can be fixed by NFL coaching, so hopefully he can shore up that weakness.
Hudson is an outstanding pass blocker. Despite his size, he doesn’t get bull rushed into the quarterback. He holds up very well and does a great job staying in front of the opposing lineman. He is never fooled by stunts or blitz schemes, which is one of the most underrated aspects of pass protection. With all the intricate blitzes of the 3-4, the hardest thing to do can be just blocking the right guy. Hudson is an outstanding pass blocker and that shouldn’t change in the NFL.
Hudson has to go to the right team if he’s going to be successful. As much as I like Hudson, I realize he will struggle in a power running scheme. He’s not going to blow his man off the ball, but simply put he’s just going to block his man the majority of the time. If he goes to a zone blocking team or just any team that doesn’t feel they need huge linemen, Hudson will be a very dependable lineman. For some reason I can just see him going to the Colts in round 2 0r 3, stepping in right away as a starter, and that he will end up being talked about as one of the best rookies. I have few concerns about his game, and going to a team like Indy who emphasizes the passing game and smaller linemen would just minimize them. Hudson is a proven commodity who will continue to use the same skills his size has forced him to develop, and he will be a very good starter for many years.
-Tom
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