Round 6: Cole Van Lanen

[ReasonablySober]

SUMMARY: Cole Van Lanen (LANN-en) was a two-time First Team All-State offensive tackle at Bay Port High School and won the discus and shot put titles at the 2015 state meet. He was a U.S. Army All-American and four-star recruit, committing to Wisconsin over Iowa and Michigan. Van Lanen became the Badgers’ starting left tackle as a junior and started 19 total games, earning All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. He played better on his 2020 film compared to his 2019 tape, but there still are several areas he needs to clean up. Van Lanen is a determined run blocker with the hand strength to turn defenders and the natural momentum to strike and
widen lanes. In pass protection, he has a patient, stout punch, but his slide mechanics and footwork are choppy, diminishing his functional mirroring skills in space. Overall, Van Lanen is smart and physical, but his average length and balance issues will push him inside to guard for some teams. He projects as a possible backup.

GRADE: Priority Free Agent

[M-C-G]

6'5 312lbs

Positives

College left tackle who is best in a small area. Stays square, keeps his feet moving, and shows strength at the point. Correctly places his hands into opponents and steers them from the action. Stays square and out-positions defenders. Strong run blocker with the ability to turn defenders off the line.

Negatives

Doesn't sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. Heavy-footed and minimally effective blocking in motion. Lacks footwork, agility, and lateral blocking range.

Analysis

Van Lanen is a strong, wide-bodied blocker with possibilities at right tackle or guard. He lacks starting potential at the next level but could be an inexpensive utility blocker.

[Matches Malone]

I like that we're building a big line. These guys are all in that 6'5-6'6 height range and can all move around the line.

[LittleRooster]

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[M-C-G]

Can't find any arm measures on him. As I recall, the Packers don't really entertain tackles without 33", I think Bulaga might have been a very narrow exception

[Balls2TheWalls]

Can't find any arm measures on him. As I recall, the Packers don't really entertain tackles without 33", I think Bulaga might have been a very narrow exception

33.375 inches according to his RAS.



ETA:
RAS at Guard

[tski1972]

I feel like every Badger game I watched over the last two seasons, edge rushers didn’t find much resistance against their OT’s

[M-C-G]

Can't find any arm measures on him. As I recall, the Packers don't really entertain tackles without 33", I think Bulaga might have been a very narrow exception

33.375 inches according to his RAS.



ETA:
RAS at Guard

Well now, that is viable. Let the cream rise to the top.

[Balls2TheWalls]

22 reps on the bench is worrisome. He has solid technique however. Again, linemen, especially interior linemen, is not an arena where I am going to doubt the Packers on scouting or development.

[sdn40]

Bay Port Pirate

[M-C-G]

22 reps on the bench is worrisome. He has solid technique however. Again, linemen, especially interior linemen, is not an arena where I am going to doubt the Packers on scouting or development.

I feel like historically we have been willing to give this later round OL a year to develop, almost like we either like their skills and think if they can get strong enough they will work, or we will look for guys that are physically ready but need a year of coaching technique to see what we have.

[Balls2TheWalls]

22 reps on the bench is worrisome. He has solid technique however. Again, linemen, especially interior linemen, is not an arena where I am going to doubt the Packers on scouting or development.

I feel like historically we have been willing to give this later round OL a year to develop, almost like we either like their skills and think if they can get strong enough they will work, or we will look for guys that are physically ready but need a year of coaching technique to see what we have.

The room is starting to get full, right? Maybe we have room to put someone like Cole on the PS like we did with Hanson last year, but we wanted to protect a Stepaniak that saw 0 playing time. Assuming Bakh, Jenkins, Patrick, Stepaniak, Turner, Myers, and Runyan are all sure things, there is probably room for 2 more guys. We still have Hanson and we drafted Newman and Van Lanen. I expect for now that Hanson will be the odd man out and that we will see them try to get some functional strength onto Van Lanen before moving inside.

[M-C-G]

22 reps on the bench is worrisome. He has solid technique however. Again, linemen, especially interior linemen, is not an arena where I am going to doubt the Packers on scouting or development.

I feel like historically we have been willing to give this later round OL a year to develop, almost like we either like their skills and think if they can get strong enough they will work, or we will look for guys that are physically ready but need a year of coaching technique to see what we have.

The room is starting to get full, right? Maybe we have room to put someone like Cole on the PS like we did with Hanson last year, but we wanted to protect a Stepaniak that saw 0 playing time. Assuming Bakh, Jenkins, Patrick, Stepaniak, Turner, Myers, and Runyan are all sure things, there is probably room for 2 more guys. We still have Hanson and we drafted Newman and Van Lanen. I expect for now that Hanson will be the odd man out and that we will see them try to get some functional strength onto Van Lanen before moving inside.

With any developmental players you need to know when hold them and when to fold em. Maybe a couple of previous dev guys didn't progress enough to hang around?

[Balls2TheWalls]

With any developmental players you need to know when hold them and when to fold em. Maybe a couple of previous dev guys didn't progress enough to hang around?

I actually forgot about Yosh Nijman, who they seem to really like. Maybe there is only room for 1 guy from this draft, assuming we end up cutting Hanson.

[chonestown]

Bay Port Pirate

Bayport Pirate

[sdn40]

Bay Port Pirate

Bayport Pirate

Nope. Bay Port

[chonestown]

Bay Port Pirate

Bayport Pirate

Nope. Bay Port

Well, dip me in sht you're right. Shows what a public school education in the now defunct Bay Conference got me.

[sdn40]

Bayport Pirate

Nope. Bay Port

Well, dip me in sht you're right. Shows what a public school education in the now defunct Bay Conference got me.

I had the edge since I went there.

[chonestown]

Nope. Bay Port

Well, dip me in sht you're right. Shows what a public school education in the now defunct Bay Conference got me.

I had the edge since I went there.

<Jon McGlocklin voice>
Ya think?

I deserved to have my card pulled on that.

[raysbookclub]

We'll see how things shake out with the O-line. You'd much rather have tough cuts than have not enough guys that can play. Idk if Stepaniak is a sure thing. But GB would be thrilled if Stepaniak and Yosh Nijman and Van Lanen and Runyan were all fantastic this summer and pre-season. Esp Nijman at tackle, it would be awesome if he is playing to his potential, which is really through the roof with his size and athleticism. I wouldn't be surprised if they carry 9-10 OL's to start the season.

Let's just say, L-R, then bench, assuming health: 1) LT Jenkins 74; 2) LG Runyan 76 3) C Myers 71 4) RG Patrick 62; 5) RT Turner 77; 6) T Nijman 73; 7) G Stepaniak 72; 8) G/T Newman; 9) G/T Van Lanen; 10) C Hanson 67; *PUP Bakhtiari 69; plus one or two on the practice squad.