Positional Ranking: 46 out of 58
Overall Ranking: 756
Height/Weight: 6’2”/302 lbs
Overview:
Fred Zerblis was being recruited to Alabama out of Grayson, Georgia. He followed Jim McElwain to the Colorado State Rams were he became a consistent force on a very good offensive line. Has a mean streak to him. Uses his strength and leverage to help him keep blocks
Strengths:
Zerblis has good upper body strength. Zerblis uses his strength to sustain and finish blocks. He has a good understanding of the angles he needs to take to get to defenders in space and at the second level on pulls. He is able to use the angles well without over running his block.
Zerblis absorbs contact well in pass protection. He is able to lock down rushers before they can create movement in the pocket. Zerblis is great at picking up stunts and slants. At CSU he was part of an O-Line that only allowed pressure on 26% of pass snaps where defense stunted.
Zerblis plays with good depth and has the awareness to pick up loopers. He Has the necessary physicality to deny the stunt penetration. He has good versatility to play both zone and gap schemes.
Weaknesses:
Strength of completion is a concern. Playing in the Mountain West raises concerns about Zerblis’ ability against top level competition. Single games against Colorado and Minnesota show he has the ability to step up though.
Zerblis isn’t a top-end athlete at his position. But he uses his technique and has the efficiency and consistency to overcome this shortfall on consistent basis.
He doesn’t go and get players in space and the second level when pulling. Puts a lot of faith in taking the correct angle to get to his defender. This can leave him unable to get to his defender on broken plays.
Bottom Line:
Zerblis graded exceptionally well during the 2016 season. Earn second-team All-American from Pro Football Focus. Had a fine season both pass blocking and run blocking. His best fit might be with a team that uses a gap-blocking scheme. This to take advantage of consistency in getting to linebackers in space on pulls. He is able to work in any scheme. And showed he was able to work well enough as both a run and pass blocker to have a career in the NFL
Projected Draft Position: Free Agent