2016 NFL Draft: Chase Farris switched sides of the ball three times at Ohio State before finally settling in at tackle. Is a move inside his best bet to make an NFL roster?
Player Summary
Chase Farris, a 2011 four-star recruit, was originally recruited as a defensive end. After redshirting in 2011, he made the switch to the offensive side of the ball as a freshman in 2012. The position changes continued over the next two years as he went back to the defensive line in 2013 before making his final switch back to offense in 2014. He started all 13 games at right tackle for the Buckeyes as a senior in 2015. He possesses adequate height and weight on a dense frame to go along with adequate athletic ability.
Measureables
Height: 6’4” 1/4
Weight: 295 lbs
Arm Length: 32.25 inches
Hand Size: 9 inches
Pro Day Results
40-Yard Dash: 5.26 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.85 seconds
Vertical Jump: 26.5 inches
Broad Jump: 8’6”
Three Cone: 7.88 seconds
Short Shuttle: 4.88 seconds
Games Watched
2015: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech
Strengths
Chase Farris displays good awareness at the snap as he understands who to block and where the quarterback is going to be on pass plays. He has quick feet and is able to quickly set or kickslide to protect the edge. Farris shows solid patience and allows the defender to make his move before initiating contact.
In the running game, Farris comes off the ball quickly and smoothly. Once engaged, he utilizes his good play strength to fuel blocks with his lower body and drive the defender off the line of scrimmage.
Farris is quick to the second level and displays solid awareness to locate the defender and take him out of the play. Below is an example of this as Farris clears the way for Ezekiel Elliott to take the ball 47 yards for a touchdown.
Here’s another angle where we can how wide the running lane is for Elliott to run through.
Farris is a physically tough lineman who plays through the whistle and displays a mean streak when necessary.
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Weaknesses
Farris possesses poor hand speed as he allows the defender to initiate contact and get into his chest. This allows the defender to gain immediate leverage when rushing the passer. In this play, Farris doesn’t allow a hit or sack, however the pressure forces a back shoulder throw on the screen pass. Farris is beaten off the snap as the defender initiates contact and isn’t able to recover.
When he does initiate contact, Farris does so with his body rather than his hands as technique is an issue in the passing game. Marginal posture hinders his ability to maintain leverage and allows defenders to drive him back towards the QB. As a result, Farris finds himself off balance and on the ground too often in pass protection.
In 2015, his only year as a starter, Farris allowed more hurries (8), QB hits (6) and sacks (4) than any other Ohio State offensive linemen. He also tied for the most penalties with four.
Overall
Overall, Chase Farris is a backup guard in a zone blocking scheme who is a much better run blocker than pass protector. As only a one-year starter, Farris is extremely raw and will need time to develop into an NFL offensive lineman. As a result, it’s unlikely he’s selected in the 2016 NFL Draft and will need to make a roster as a free agent.