Rams Add Two Offensive Linemen After Minicamp

Alex Kozan – OG – Auburn

6’4″, 300 LBS.

He completed his career as a War Eagle by winning second-team All-SEC honors, again starting every game at left guard.

STRENGTHS Functional movement as pull blocker. Plays under control with skip-pulls and generally operates with good radar to find his work. Technically sound player. Plays under control with efficient feet. Operates with good timing on combo blocks and rarely gets cheated on secure block. Understands athletic limitations and adjusts his second-level angles accordingly. Has adequate core strength and can battle back against power players. Able to sink and anchor against bull rushers. Coachable and consistent.

WEAKNESSES Is a little fleshy around the midsection. Below average athletic ability. Plays with some leg stiffness when asked to move in space and is labored out of stance in lateral movements. Will struggle to get to his reach blocks and win. Can take early losses when matched against athletes at point of attack. Feet are sluggish laterally in pass pro. Will lunge a bit rather than mirror when rusher gets to his edge. Would generate better arm extension with quicker, more compact punch.

BOTTOM LINE Scrappy guard with average power and limited athletic ability who still finds ways to maintain a level of consistency as a blocker. Kozan doesn’t have any of the physical or athletic traits that will help him stand out, but he’s a coachable tough guy who should find his way into a camp and put together some solid reps. If Kozan can take some snaps and offer center flexibility, that might help his chances to make a roster.
-Lance Zierlein

Michael Dunn, Maryland, 6-5, 300
The Maryland rushing offense had a big season in 2016 and Dunn was a big reason why. He started 10 games at left tackle and was a force up front. He suffered a shoulder injury and wasn’t invited to the combine. He’s a likely seventh-rounder or undrafted free agent.

***

from: http://saturdayblitz.com/2016/01/29/big-ten-football-top-5-returning-offensive-tackles-2016/

Dunn, who came to Maryland as a preferred walk-on, has started 37 of Maryland’s 38 games during his first three years at College Park (he missed last season’s finale against Rutgers with an injury). Dunn has also shown his versatility as a lineman by playing both on the edge and on the interior. He’s played the last two seasons at tackle but began his career by playing at guard for the first nine games of the 2013 season.

[Coach] Durkin will be looking to establish a culture of toughness and grit in College Park. Having a guy like Dunn who’s worked his way from walk-on to one of the conference’s best tackles will help go a long way in doing so.

***

from: https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2017/4/25/15417286/football-nfl-draft-profile-ot-michael-dunn-day-3

Michael Dunn is an experienced player that is probably going to get some looks because he’s a decent technician and he’s got the necessary footwork,” Chavous said. “If not on the left side, then the right.”

Dunn’s been a tackle since game 10 of the 2013 season; he started the first nine at right guard. He logged 31 starts at left tackle and eight at right tackle during his Maryland career and was the Terps’ most reliable lineman last season. Dunn was a crucial part of a line that paved the way for Maryland running backs to hit the 2,500-yard mark for the first time since 2003.

He has the skills to play at the next level and was the essence of durability and consistency at Maryland. Dunn walked on and redshirted his first year in College Park, then started on the offensive line for four years. After earning a scholarship and a starting job, he started 37 straight games before missing the season finale in 2015 with a high ankle sprain. Dunn started all but two games last season.

CROMWELL21 wrote:

Both were in Rams rookie OTAs. Kozun was cut with failed physical. Dunn was injured but in on a tryout. Guessing both healed enough to be useful in camp come July.

JackPMiller wrote:

I believe our OLine is really going to struggle. In other words, it is going to be a mess. Should have drafted Pat Elflein over Cooper Kupp to start.

I think it;s already pretty evident it’s going to be a good one. The caveat as usual is health. They have to stay relatively healthy.