Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Wisconsin’s Beau Benzschawel is a physical interior offensive lineman who has the raw skills needed to succeed in the NFL.
Beau Benzschawel features good size and bulk for the guard position. However, he does have a bit of a linear build which hurts his ability to gain leverage. This is a common theme when evaluating Benzschawel’s tape.
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He is an interior lineman who fires off the ball and looks to generate a push. His initial jolt helps him great some space and gain inside hands. Benzschawel also pays with the toughness needed to play in the trenches.
A lot of his success is thanks to his awareness and use of angles. He does a good job setting up defenders and using their momentum against them. His quick first step helps him get in proper position to keep the defenders away from the play.
Benzschawel is a solid athlete who can be effective on the move. He has experience pulling to the edge and trapping along the interior. However, he needs to do a better job remaining balanced when working in space.
In pass protection, Benzschawel uses his long arms and frame to mirror the rusher. He is someone who knows when to move off his area to help his fellow linemen.
The biggest issue with Benzschawel’s game is his pad level. He struggles to keep a low base which hurts his leverage. This will allow defenders to get into his frame and stop his momentum. In pass protection, his poor pad level allows guys to rip through the gap or gain the leverage to use a bull rush.
Benzschawel is a good enough athlete to get a better bend and play lower to the ground. He just needs to make to focus on improving this part of his game.
Overall, this is a solid guard prospect with the chance to be a long-time starter at the next level. The trouble areas of his game are all things that can improve.