CONTENT

Post Draft Analysis
Youtube Highlights
ESPN Insider Draft Analysis (paid subscription)
NFL.COM Draft Analysis
NFL Draft Bible Analysis (paid subscription)
Pro Football Focus Draft Analysis (paid subscription)
Gridiron Draft Guide (Simon Clancy) (paid subscription)
Pro Football Network (Tony Pauline) Analysis
The 33rd Team (Ireland et al.) Analysis

POST DRAFT ANALYSIS

(Coming Soon)

Pre-Draft Analysis
Eichenberg has below-average length and might have to kick inside at the NFL level, but he's an effective pass-blocker on tape. He gets set quickly, shoots his hands, stays inside-out and powers down to take away inside moves. Eichenberg is a technically sound and tough run-blocker with the ability to move defenders off the ball. -- Steve Muench

Post-Draft Analysis
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Player Bio

Eichenberg was so impressive in youth football camps that Ohio State offered him a scholarship before his freshman year at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. The High School All-American and top-100 overall recruit nationally decided to sign with Notre Dame instead (though his brother, Tommy, signed with the Buckeyes as a linebacker in 2019). As a redshirt freshman in 2017, Eichenberg played in five games as a reserve. He started all 26 games for the Irish at left tackle in 2018 and 2019, portending a big senior season. Eichenberg came through, starting all 12 games at his left tackle spot to earn second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC accolades. League coaches voted him the winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top lineman in the conference, and he was also an Outland Trophy finalist. -- by Chad Reuter

Analysis

• Draft Projection - Round 2
• NFL Comparison - Justin Pugh

Overview

A better run blocker than pass protector at this juncture, Eichenberg is a three-year starter at left tackle but might be asked to move to the right side due to average slide quickness and inconsistencies in pass protection. He's well-schooled in a variety of running schemes and attacks his job with above-average strain and leg drive once he has his block centered. His punch lacks crispness, accuracy and is too easy for defenders to time up. He could see early starting reps at tackle but could face early difficulties until he learns to cinch up defenders with his grip rather than popping and separating so often.

Strengths

• Three-year starter who learned under Quenton Nelson and Ronnie Stanley.
• Adequate thickness with proportional frame.
• Allows slanting defender to declare before he fits and runs him.
• Strikes with force into first contact.
• Well-schooled working hip to hip on double teams.
• Works with good strain during sustain phase as run blocker.
• Adequate athleticism and body control up to second level.
• Diverts and turns his block away from run lane.
• Displays feel for drop depth in his sets.
• Reloads and fires when his punch is discarded.
• Able to slide and recover once pass rush disengages.

Weaknesses

• Could struggle gaining early depth with kick slides versus NFL speed.
• Timing, hand placement and body control all need work in pass sets.
• High hands easily swatted and discarded.
• Punch is monotonous and predictable.
• Needs to eliminate punch hitch and diversify his attacks on rushers.
• Reaches looking for two-hand contact rather than sitting back and ripping it.
• Has a tendency to play too far forward when seeking moving targets.
• One-pop hitter, allowing rushers secondary opportunities.

Sources Tell Us:
"He can get better in some areas but he plays like a short-armed guy and that concerns me if he's going to be a tackle. He will start and probably early on." -- Director of scouting for NFC team

LIAM EICHENBERG | Notre Dame | OT | #74 | rSr | 6051 | 305 | Cleveland, OH | Saint Ignatius | 01.19.98 (23)

OVERVIEW:
Dating all the way back to 2009, the Fighting Irish have had a future first-round pick manning the left tackle position. Eichenberg looks to continue that trend it the 2021 draft. With a lot of experience at the position, Eichenberg has seen a positive progression in his play during his career. He boasts a prototypical frame to slot in early as a blind-side protector. Eichenberg hits all the requisite size thresholds wanted at the position. He is a very smooth pass protector who possesses outstanding patience and balance to remain square against more athletic edge rushers. Eichenberg has good hands, remaining active early in reps. In the run game, Eichenberg is powerful enough to compete at a high level. He is a hustler who plays with a bit of a mean streak, working to the echo of the whistle on more than a few occasions. The biggest question is: Just how high is his upside? There is nothing physically that pops out about Eichenberg. He is a solid but not exceptional athlete who could cause some issues working in space on the next level. There is a clear projection moving forward. With a consistent and calculated approach, Eichenberg possesses a solid blend of size, athleticism and consistency to hear his name called on the first two days of the 2021 draft.

BACKGROUND:
A four-year letter winner for the Fighting Irish, Eichenberg started 38 games at left tackle for the team, earning first-team All-America nods in 2020. Was a consensus four-star recruit by every major recruiting service coming out of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Played for head coach Chuck Kyle while at Saint Ignatius.

5. LIAM EICHENBERG - NOTRE DAME #74

• School: Notre Dame
• Size: 6'6", 305#
• Class: Senior

HE SKINNY:
Ultra-consistent, hardworking, battle-tested LT who is the epitome of the phrase ‘don’t overlook good college players’. Solid down-to-down player who’s calm and under control.

DEEP DIVE:
Eichenberg is a three-year starter at left tackle and as NFL-ready as anyone at the position in the class. Not only is he the only tackle to not allow a sack on 400-plus pass-blocking snaps this past season, he also just goes out and does his job snap after snap, game after game. He’s not the fastest, the strongest or the most athletic but he has the right makeup to be a long-term starter in the NFL. He understands when to short-set guys and when to jump them on the LOS and use his physical ability as an asset. He understands when to use those powerful hands as a pass protector, or to cut off angles. It may be that he transitions to the right side in time, but he should get the chance to start on the left side from early on in his career. There’s some Mitchell Schwartz to his game in terms of his traits and you could easily see him talked about in the same way as the former Chiefs All-Pro. Eichenberg is a better run blocker than he is in pass protection: for me he has a tendency to play a little high in his pass sets – he pops up, his pad level can be poor and he’s immediately leaving his chest open to being bull-rushed. Powerful edge rushers will use that against him unless he snaps out of that habit. He’s also a two-hand puncher which can lead him to being unbalanced, especially against speed, and although he has incredibly fast hands with great timing and location of delivery, he does need to find some independent hand usage. However, he’s so experienced that when he eliminates those issues or when he’s winning reps, he will sink his hips and play with really nice leverage. He had a number of issues with false starts in 2019 and I wonder at times whether it was part of a wider concentration issue that sometimes rises its head. He played really well in 2020 and although he might be a little limited physically in comparison to Sewell and Slater, he understands that and adjusts his game accordingly.

OFF FIELD:
Eichenberg was one of the top players in the state of Ohio in HS. He played in the Under Armour All-America game. He backed up first-rounder Mike McGlinchey as a redshirt sophomore and initially lost the RT job to Tommy Kraemer. Great work ethic and highly respected off the field

LIAM EICHENBERG - OFFENSIVE TACKLE

• Grade: 3.87
• Projected Round: 2
• Position Rank: 7
• Overall Rank: 63

CAREER SNAPSHOT:
A highly touted recruit out of Cleveland St. Ig-natius in the 2016 class, Liam Eichenberg chose Notre Dame over Ohio State.
The Fighting Irish have a history of producing stellar offensive linemen, and Eichenberg spent two years learning behind now San Francisco 49ers tackle Mike McGlinchey.
As a three-year starter at left tackle, Eichen-berg has proven solid against some of the na-tion’s top edge rushers and didn’t allow a sack in 2019.

POSITIVES:
Large, strong college left tackle who projects to the right side at the next level. Blocks with proper lean and displays outstanding vision as well as awareness.
Terrific position blocker who picks up stunts and blitzes, squares into opponents, and seals defenders from the action. Keeps his feet mov-ing, correctly places his hands into opponents, and makes terrific use of angles.
Strong, flashes power as a run blocker, and moves defenders off the line. |
Better-than-average range off the edge, gets leverage on opponents, and looks to hit multiple defenders on each down.

NEGATIVES:
Really doesn't sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. Struggles handling speed rush-ers and gets exploited on the blitz.
Not light on his feet or effective blocking in motion and lacks quick, fluid footwork off the edge.

ANALYSIS:
Eichenberg is an imposing offensive lineman who gets the most from his ability and plays in-telligent, intense football. He was productive and durable for Notre Dame and comes with growth potential. Eichenberg has the tools necessary to develop into a terrific right tackle in the NFL.

PFN’S BEST NFL FITS
Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers

THE 33RD TEAM

BUILD
Prototypical length for a tackle, though narrow hips may limit his ability to add weight to his frame at the next level and is a bit light for the position. He has started every game since his Sophomore season with no injury concerns.

BODY LANGUAGE
He shows solid toughness and fight to recover when beaten. As a puller and at the 2nd level, he shows the patience to get square. In pass protection, he shows good awareness of stunts and blitzes in his peripheral and can identify potential blitzers well pre-snap. His is not overly aggressive as a run blocker and does not have a finisher's mentality.

ATHLETICISM
Has the mobility to get out in space effectively as an outside zone blocker with the upper body strength to keep defenders within his frame when properly engaged. He shows the lower body strength to drive smaller interior lineman out of the play down blocking. A tendency to lunge as a run blocker can limit his explosiveness at the point of attack. He lacks the lateral agility to properly adjust when over running his block, though his length usually allows him to shove the defender out of harm's way. As a pass blocker, he shows the initial quickness to get back in his vertical set effectively with the change of direction ability to use his length to guard against inside counters and has the balance to recover from awkward positions.

TECHNICAL
As a run blocker, he can tend to lunge with poor hand placement, as a wide punch does not allow him to routinely get his hands on the breastplate of the defender. This deficiency can allow the DL to get into his chest and limit his ability to move them or sustain. He can reset his hands after initial contact, and when properly engaged can roll his hips to create leverage and drive his feet through the block. As a combo blocker, he does not use his hands very well to seal, but at the second level and as a puller he shows the patience to get square and drive 2nd level defenders out of the play. In pass protection, he shows patience to allow the defender to come to him and can use his long arms to keep edge rushers at bay. He does not have the smoothest footwork which can cause him to have to lunge against faster pass rushers, creating opportunities for him to be pulled off his base or have his hands slapped down. He does fight well when initially beaten and can use his long arms to widen defenders past the arc. He has the lower body strength and ankle flexion to anchor effectively, and his length makes it difficult for bull rushers to get into his body.

SUMMARY
Eichenberg is a tackle who wins with his length, awareness, and patience whose lack of consistent hand placement and tendency to lunge hold him back from being a top tier tackle prospect. He projects as a low-end starting LT at the next level who could develop into a solid starter.