Alabama has had one of the best offensive lines in the country the last few years. In the last five years they have put out four first-round draft picks on the offensive line as well as some other later round picks. In just this past draft, the Tide had two offensive linemen taken in the first-round of the NFL Draft. Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker were the 10th and 12th picks in this past draft while Barrett Jones went in the fourth-round. Jones would have been a higher pick if not for an injury last year. Cyrus Kouandjio is one of the top tackle prospects in the country and started at left tackle for Alabama last year. The only starting offensive lineman from last year who didn't get much press was Anthony Steen. However, is he set to make a rise up the prospect rankings and be taken in the first-round like his fellow guard Chance Warmack was last year?
Steen came in as a redshirt freshman in 2010 and was one of Alabamas top reserve lineman. He started two games at right guard when Barrett Jones went down with an injury. Then as a sophomore Steen started nine games, helping them rank 16th nationally running the ball and 26th nationally in sacks allowed. Last year he started all 13 games at right guard on one of the best lines in college football history. He was the only player on Alabamas line that didn't give up a sack or have a penalty all year. He wasn't talked about much with the other talented players around him, but just starting all 13 games on that offensive line shows you he has talent.
Steen stands at 6'3" and about 310 pounds. He could still put on about five to ten pounds of muscle once he gets into a NFL strength program. However, he will never get a ton stronger than he is right now, pretty close to physically maxed out. He is a good athlete for his size and position. He works very well in space and is able to pull and get to the second level effectively. Not a great athlete but his feet, body control and fluidity are all good.
Steen isn't a guy who will rack up a ton of pancakes. He gets into good position and uses great angles to cut off defenders and open up holes for the run game. He isn't as big and strong as Warmack is, but he knows how to get into the correct position to turn the blocker and really open up a hole. He uses really good technique and really good hands to keep the defender where he wants him. He keeps his hands on the trunk of the defender which keeps him from getting called for many holding penalties. He was the least penalized lineman for Alabama last year.
Steen is also a good pass blocker. He isn't overly powerful, but he can anchor and re-anchor without getting pushed back into the backfield. He will give up some ground, but he rarely gets beat and gives up the sack. He very rarely gets confused by blitzes and stunts. Even if no one is directly in front of him he stays put long enough to ensure no one is coming towards him. Then he will move and help someone else with their block. He also sells the screen very well and is athletic enough to still get out in front of the back and open up the way for him.
Right now Steen is probably being looked at as a mid to late second-round or early third-round prospect, but a lot of things could change for him depending on how he does now that he isn't surrounded by big time NFL talent in Jones and Fluker. If he comes out and has some bad games it will look like he was only good because of the talent around him. However, if he can come out and be as dominant as he was last year for the Crimson Tide, then he could boost his stock way up. Will he be able to boost his stock enough to be taken in the first-round? I'm not sure with the other guard prospects that are out there this year, but it certainly is a possibility if he plays well.