A.Q. Shipley
Strengths:
Tough, physical and aggressive…Excellent strength…Real smart with outstanding instincts and awareness…A technician who understands angles and leverage…Good feet with nice agility and balance…Mobile with the range to pull and get to the second level…Intense…Plays with a nasty demeanor. .Has a non-stop motor..Hard worker…Team leader.
Weaknesses:
Does not have either the height or bulk that you look for…Short arms and small hands…Isn’t stout at the point of attack…Doesn’t get a great push in the run game…Has some trouble maintaining blocks…Upside ?
Notes:
Full name is Allan Q. Shipley…Began his college career as a defensive tackle…Three-year starter for the Nittany Lions…Won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in 2008…1st Team All-Big Ten as a junior and senior…Was named a 2nd Team All-American as a senior…Overachiever who compensates for his lack of ideal physical tools with top-notch intangibles and by doing all the little things…The type of guy you hate to doubt…Don’t be shocked if he ends up starting.
Our Take: This might turn out to be great value in the 7th round. He slipped all the way to the bottom of the draft for a reason….but some think he can play at the NFL level and might be your starting G in 2010 after Hartwig’s contract runs out. I don’t watch Big Ten football very often so I couldn’t tell you how Shipley projects at the next level but all the experts think he has a chance.