Is Beau Benzschawel The Guard The Redskins Need?

Beau Benzschawel, OG
School: Wisconsin | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: RS Senior | Age: 23
Height / Weight: 6-6 / 309 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd or 3rd Round
NFL Comparison: Connor Williams

College Statistics

N/A

Player Overview

Beau Benzschawel was a 252 lb tight end when he committed to Wisconsin. The Grafton, Wisconsin native had been a 2-star recruit who committed to Syracuse earlier but he withdrew and accepted the scholarship offered by Wisconsin immediately. He was given a redshirt his freshman year but after that got starts at right tackle and right guard. He was a part of what some consider the best offensive line in the country for the past 2 or 3 seasons. His RS sophomore season and beyond is where he worked full time at right guard for the rest of his college career. Benzschawel was named consensus first team All-American twice in his career including this past season. He is considered a technically sound guard prospect who specializes in pass protection. He is viewed as a pro-ready guard who should be able to come in and compete for a starting role immediately and should be of special interest to teams who run a power blocking scheme.

Strengths

• Good size, toughness, physicality, and decent athleticism for the position.
• Technically sound and can control his opponents with a powerful punch, plays with good arm extension, hand placement, and can move and mirror well enough as an interior OL in pass protection. Gets his hands underneath pads of defenders and can maintain control. Has good awareness and knows when to ‘pass off’ less threatening defenders to his teammates and engage others. Handles blitz stunts well.
• Moves well on the run and looks great as a pulling guard. Has enough athleticism in space to take out second level blockers and spring his running back. He is always looking to push the pile as well. Footwork looks good in both pass pro and in run blocking.
• Competitive, tough, and has a little mean streak in him. Looks for work when his dries up and likes to knock guys down.

Weaknesses

• Tall guard who can have trouble maintaining consistent leverage. Short and more powerful defensive players can knock him off balance and make him bend and lunge.
• Needs to improve strength and balance. He could be dominant if he could match opposing strength and power consistently.

Let’s see his work (#66 RG):

More Beau Benzschawel videos

How Would He Fit On The Redskins?

The Redskins still desperately need to fill the void at left guard. More patchwork additions have been made to the roster in the offseason but we all know they are not long term viable solutions. Benzschawel has the potential to be that solution but he does need some work. He was exposed at the Senior Bowl against speed and power during one on ones and its clear that he in part benefited from the core group of guys he played with at Wisconsin. This isn’t a terrible thing but something to be mindful of if the team drafted him and threw him out there on day one. His weaknesses can be improved but it will be overtime. I’ve already expressed my confidence in the Redskins offensive line coach to get the most talent out of players and refine their fundamental skills. This coupled with some weight room work could make Benzschawel a bonafide starter in a season or two. Considering his projected draft position some may be adverse to spending such a high pick on him considering the work he has to do and there may be some noise as he will struggle at times during his rookie season. Investing in him should pay off in the near future and Benzschawel’s ceiling could eventually be Pro Bowl caliber.