Ed Wang Could Really Help the Redskins

by SSBlitz on Apr 5, 2010 4:19 PM EDT

Okay, so enough with the McNabb talks for a bit. Time to look at a promising prospect who could really help the Redskins franchise on a number of levels - Ed Wang - OT from VT.

He's been featured in one or two articles already as a mid-round talent that could help our 'weakest link'. It's unanimous that our offensive line could use as many positive additions as possible. And with the recent McNabb trade, it is looking much more plausible that the Redskins decide to go with an offensive tackle at #4 in the upcoming draft. Okung is the favorite, Trent Williams is consolation. Okung would move into our line as an immediate starter at left tackle. Next to him is a solid starter in Derrick Dockery. In the middle is another solid starter in Casey Rabach. There's a crowd of available right guards to choose from in Rinehart, Big Mike Williams, Artis Hicks, and Stephon Heyer. Finally, there is a big hole at right tackle where Levi Jones is expected to start, though not exactly the ideal plug.

Insert Wang.

As covered by KevinE earlier this year, Ed is 6'5, 315 lbs, All-ACC second teamer projected for the 4th or 5th round (We actually still have those picks!) His NFLDraftScout report:

Scouting Report: Wang is an athletic big man with some rough edges. He can explode into players while on his feet. As a tight end in high school, his team likes to run behind him quite often, and he is normally taking on the key block in the plays. Defensively, he plays a standup defensive end, rushing on 90% of the plays. In the film, teams ran away from him normally, but he never gave up on plays. On the plays to his side, the corner is always secure and runners are forced inside.

Eddie Wang was also recently showcased on NFL.com, in a feature title An American Tale, about how Wang can become the first player in the NFL of full Chinese descent. The feature also shows his parents, who were both long-time Olympians and began training Ed and his brother (a guard at VT), with their knowledge of the training, from a very young age. There's something about his upbringing and demeanor that appears more professional than the wife-beating, gun-toting children that are becoming more common in the league.

There's another obvious benefit from drafting Wang. Not necessarily our benefit, but one that could make the acquisition more likely. Remember Yao Ming? He's kind of a big deal in the NBA. Pretty tall, really scrawny, a five-foot bank shot is really the extent of his game. But they LOVE him in China. It's pretty evident when you look at the yearly all-star balloting and see his name towering over everyone elses with a country's worth of votes. With an ever expanding population of discretionary spenders, China has found interest in American sports. Attaching the first Chinese player to a 'new look' Redskins with Shanahan and McNabb should attract a whole new market of potential fans for Danny Boy to profit off of.

Finally, there's one Hogs Haven blogging benefit of picking up Ed Wang: The obvious comparisons to Jumbo Fumiko from The Replacements.

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As a big VT fan

Wang is a really good player. He didn’t face too much of an elite pass rush at VT aside from GT’s Derrick Morgan. He looked rough in the Senior Bowl, but throughout the season this guy was lock down for VT. Like I said, the roughness in the Senior Bowl showed he is not ready for an elite pass rush, because he never had a chance to work against it. But if you grab this guy in the 4th/5th, he could be a big surprise starter at RT. The guy is excellent, I just don’t think he has been adjusted to an elite level of play because of the ACC’s lack of D-linemen aside from a select few. Put him at RT, he may be rough a few games, but the guy has big potential.

Also, I would like to throw Sergio Render’s name out. The guy is a MONSTER at G, and if he drops due to just a lack of interest, this guy would be a great RG. Him in the 4th, Wang in the 5th, and we could have a few surprise starters. Render is more then likely a 3rd rounder, but he was a beast at Tech.

by BigOLinemen on Apr 5, 2010 5:31 PM EDT reply actions

Jones should be able to start while Wang gets up to speed too.

by SSBlitz on Apr 5, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Jones isn't even on the roster, is he expected to resign?

by skinsfan28 on Apr 6, 2010 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Hehe

Insert Wang

In all seriousness, this guy has the potential to be a key contributor in a Shanny offense. He moves really well for a big man and dominated in college. I would definitely support this selection.

by CarverM on Apr 5, 2010 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

That's the other blogging benefit I forgot to mention

So many funny Wang jokes to use.

by SSBlitz on Apr 5, 2010 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Ed "The Stud" Wang

Seriously, sounds like a good 5th round bet. By the way, I never heard that Heyer could play guard – I thought he only botched up the tackle positions. As of now, I guess Jones (has he been signed?) and Hicks are the leading right tackles – sort of a scary thought. But we could probably live with Okung, Dockery, Rabach, Williams and Jones/Hicks if we had to. But I’d sure like to get a top RT.

by Donnio1234 on Apr 5, 2010 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

Jones is still FA

If we could get Okung and Wang, swing the bandwagon back around my way

SpottieOttieDopaliscious

by Rekka on Apr 6, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Wang has been moving up on the CBS Sports prospect rankings

after having dropped from the beginning of the year to after the Senior Bowl.
In a two row format for each player in the tackle, guard, and center positions that are on approximately the same ranking as Wang in the CBS Sports and Scouts Inc. grades.
OV..PR Player………Pos…School….Ht…Wt. PRd. Stock 40 Time..Bench Vert. Jump 20yd 10yd B Jump Shuttle Cone Scouts Inc grade
82 10 John Jerry……..OT..Mississippi..6-6..328..3…..same…5.15…(na)….27 1/2……3.02 ..1.81…08’05"..4.69..7.93…..78
93 3 J.D. Walton……..C….Baylor……..6-3..300..3…..same…5.19 ..24……27……….2.93..1.80….08’05"…4.69..7.60…..59
103 11 Ed Wang……..OT…Va Tech….6-5..314..3-4….up….5.18…29……27………..2.93..1.78….08’00"..4.70…………..47
105 3 Mitch Petrus……OG..Arkansas..6-3..310..3-4..same…5.34…45….(na)………3.07..1.85…………………………….. 57
123 4 Mike Johnson…..OG..Alabama..6-5..312..4….same…5.37….(na)…25………3.09..1.87…07’07"…5.01….8.15…..68
126 12 Selvish Capers.OT…WVa……6-5..308..4….same…5.11….19…30 1/2……2.81..1.74…08’10"…4.68….7.68…..71
131 5 Zane Beadles…OG…Utah…….6-5..310..4….same…5.28….27………………………………………………………..74
141 13 Kyle Calloway..OT..Iowa………6-7..323..4-5..same…5.46…22….23 1/2……3.10..1.89….07’08"..4.86….7.96…..66
145 4 Eric Olsen……..C..Notre Dame6-4..306.4-5…same…5.25…35….29 1/2……3.03..1.87…07’09"…4.82….7.50…..31
164 7 Shawn Lauvao..OG..Arizona St..6-3..315..5….same…5.22…33….26 1/2……3.00..1.80…08’05"…4.51….7.56…..60
171 8 Ciron Black……OG..LSU…….6-5..327..5-6…same…5.53…23….25 1/2……3.07..1.87…07’07"…5.13….8.52…..50

by Jefferson1935 on Apr 6, 2010 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

Hahaha

Sweet post. That makes complete sense…

by SSBlitz on Apr 6, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Should have annotated the abbreviations in the header plus made some comments

OV = overall draft rank, PR = position rank, PRd = projected draft round, Bench = bench repetitions

Note that Wang’s Scouts Inc. grade of 47 is next to the lowest grade for these o-linemen. While Beadles is a OG he has the highest grade for the players overall rank below the 3rd round, but may not have been invited to the Combines. I can’t say that I know the merit of the CBS Sports versus the Scouts Inc. appraisals.

by Jefferson1935 on Apr 7, 2010 5:25 AM EDT up reply actions

SBN needs a chart-making feature

your posts would rule

by CarverM on Apr 7, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry can't support this

he looked rotten and was completly exposed in the senior bowl.

by Tiller56 on Apr 6, 2010 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

I said earlier

This guy was lockdown at Tech, but it was against lower grade tackles. With a lot of offensive lineman, they aren’t used to upper level talent, so it takes them time to adjust. Have you ever watched a High School All-American game? The O-Line gets slaughtered, because they are going against premier talent. Wang is a good T. He shouldn’t start day 1, but if you give him time to catch up, work against players like Orakpo, he’ll be up to speed, at the latest, next year.

by BigOLinemen on Apr 7, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm concerned he won't even be an upgrade to Heyer

by Tiller56 on Apr 7, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Its really unfair what they do to the oline at these bowl games

it is impossible for this hodge-podge of different linemen to learn a blocking scheme and gel in a week. On the other hand, its very easy to learn a few stunts and rush the passer as a defensive lineman or linebacker.

by CarverM on Apr 7, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

im like 5 steps ahead of you on this post

ive already stated Wang as a sleeper prospect in like 4 posts already. I also said Greg Boone from V-Tech is a good prospect. They say he’s too short but to me that just means better leverge

by mr.snyderhireme on Apr 7, 2010 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

I gave a bit of credit

though not to you specifically (it’s not a competition).

He’s been featured in one or two articles already as a mid-round talent

by SSBlitz on Apr 7, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Boone is not a good prospect

he was a good player in college, but I don’t know if he’s going to be a real recieving threat at the next level, and he’s certainly not going to be a lineman….

by CarverM on Apr 7, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

What!?! Huh?

Am i the only one who see’s Boone as guard in the NFL

by mr.snyderhireme on Apr 7, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

Yes.

Very few people project 6’3 283lb college tight ends to be guards at the NFL level. Boone will probably go undrafted as well.

by CarverM on Apr 8, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

The TE to OT move happens frequently.

Chris Samuels was a high school TE and Jason Peters made the switch in college. Okung wanted to play defense but his high school coach said he was too slow and made him a OT. Nevertheless, Greg Boone’s Scouts Inc. Grade was 30 which is at the bottom of the totem pole.

by Jefferson1935 on Apr 8, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions