Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern OT

Strengths

Great run blocker: effective puller, a good mover of the defense, consistently takes the right angle and finds the right man.
Great play strength in both phases.
Anchors down and uses hand placement and length effectively in pass protection.
Very consistently shuts down the first pass rush move used by the defense.
Good overall athlete.

Concerns/Weaknesses

Has a tendency to put his head down when driving blocks in the run game. Could be a symptom of him being taller at the position.
Has some issues dealing with pass rushers that have multiple moves in the same sequence; they can leave him flustered, and if it does, he can get lunge-happy.
Not consistent in diagnosing stunts or blitzes.

Key Statistics / Notes
Pass Rush Hurry Rate: 3.0%
Exclusive left tackle

Summary

Tiernan has a lot of the run blocking tenacity I like to see in offensive lineman, and has a decent pass protection base to work with as well. The problem right now, in my eyes, is that the run blocking is much more consistent than pass protection. In order to be a reliable starter in the league, the latter will have to come up. Even if pass protection just gets up to average, the run blocking ability holds upside for him to be a starter that a run heavy team can be okay with.

Tape Grade: RD 2 (7.75 - Competent Starter)
NFL Position-Type: Left tackle - Zone > Gap

2025 Games watched: Oregon, Penn State, Michigan