JC Latham

Overview
Bulldozer in human form with the upper- and lower-body power to forcibly evacuate run lanes and instantly upgrade a team’s ground attack. Latham's body type is girthy, and he has elite drive-blocking talent. He has operated in a variety of run schemes but will be an average move blocker both laterally and when climbing to the second level. His pass sets are well-balanced with good initial quickness and active hands. He unleashes lefts and rights and mirrors effectively after contact but gets beaten by inside moves when he over-sets. He has the length and hand strength to shut rushers down but needs to become more comfortable setting diagonally rather than vertically to avoid sinking too deeply into his own pocket. Latham’s size, strength and talent give him a chance to become a heralded right tackle or Pro Bowl-caliber guard.

Strengths
Built like a big NFL guard but protects like an NFL tackle.
Quick into pass sets, maintaining posture and balance through the rep
Syncs feet with active, independent hands for effective mirroring.
Firm inside hand and consistent arm extension help negate rush momentum.
Possesses true knock-back pop with heavy hands and explosive hips.
Turns early advantages into quick knockouts with his furious finishes.
Upper-body power to catch, turn and seal play-side edge setters.
Grip strength allows him to save blocks that start to slip away.

Weaknesses
Average recognition and plan for pre-snap pressure looks.
Opens outside shoulder early and sets too deeply into the pocket.
Beaten inside by over-sets and down the middle by long-armed stick and drive.
Over-sets to speed; can be beaten inside and long-armed.
Can be impatient into first contact as run blocker, causing him to lunge.
Below-average lateral quickness for backside cut-off blocks.
Inconsistent entry angles make it tougher to seal and sustain his work