Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Xavier Su
Scouts seem confused by the prospect of Xavier Su’a-Filo. They watched him play left tackle at UCLA last year and although he still played well, he is a much better fit for guard at the NFL level. He was only playing tackle because injuries to teammates forced him to play a position that natural to him.
Some folks seem to have him as a first round talent. Others have put a third round grade on him. However, for the sake of this evaluation, I’m looking at him as a guard only. While some teams may see him as a fill-in talent at tackle as well, I’m not sure that would be wise for him right out of school.
Another minor strike against Su’a-Filo may be his commitment to the game of football. Although he is a hard worker with a non-stop motor, he took two years away from football to perform missionary work in his Mormon faith. I don’t personally see this as a negative. Instead, I like the fact that he has values and believes strongly in them. Hopefully that kind of passion and dedication applies to his devotion to football as well.
Feb 20, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Xavier Su
Strengths
- Speed off the snap
- Powerful blocker
- Movement along the line
Weaknesses
- Balance during contact
- Leverage on power moves
Fit For The Vikings
The offensive line for Minnesota has returned and is fully intact from last year’s team. While continuity is a good thing, there are spots that could use some competition and upgrading.
My Take
By now, most readers on The Viking Age should know that I believe that Charlie Johnson should be replaced at left guard as soon as possible. If Su’a-Filo is available with the Vikings second pick, I would JUMP on the chance to get him or another of the equally impressive guards in this year’s draft.