The move to guard seems to be working for Alex Leatherwood. The No. 17 pick from the 2021 NFL draft was selected to be the team’s starting right tackle, but he has since moved to guard (starting in Week 5) after a rough opening month.
The former Alabama star was not playing well at right tackle and it was hurting the entire offense. But at right guard, he is less of a liability. In fact, he’s actually become an asset as a run blocker at that position.
According to Pro Football Focus, Leatherwood had the best game of his young career in Week 9. While he still allowed six pressures, he was fantastic in the run game. Here is what the site had to say about the first-round pick after this week’s performance:
“Leatherwood has been better since the team moved him from right tackle to right guard. That isn’t to say he’s been good but, rather, far less of a liability. Against the Giants this week, Leatherwood allowed six total pressures from 49 pass-blocking snaps while earning a 70.0 PFF run-blocking grade, his second consecutive above-average grade in that area. Playing at guard seems to have him moving in the right direction, but it remains to be seen what his long-term outlook is.”
While Leatherwood still isn’t playing like a first-round pick, he has certainly improved since moving to guard. His length and athleticism is on display more from that position and it’s helped the run game in a big way.
The hope is that Leatherwood can continue to improve over the final two months of the season and lock down the starting right guard spot. After a rough start to his career, it appears he is finally starting to settle down and play more like what we saw at Alabama.
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