Charles Cross formed a fantastic duo with Abe Lucas in his rookie year. He needs to take another step in his development in Year 3 and this could be crucial.
The last time the Seattle Seahawks had a pick in the top 10 was when John Schneider took Russell Okung in the 2010 selection. That run of success ended in 2022 when the team selected Charles Cross, a left tackle from Mississippi State, however Cross hasn’t established himself as a top-10 player after two seasons.
Cross had just two years of experience and 25 games under his belt when he declared for the draft. One of the most effective pass protectors in college, Cross, a 6’4, 300-pound, 34 1/2-inch arm, gave up just two sacks in over 700 passing snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He regularly took on many of the nation’s best pass rushers while playing in the SEC.
Charles Cross via PFF in College:
- 44 pressures in 574 pass-blocking snaps in 2020;
- 16 pressures in 719 pass-blocking snaps in 2021;
Coming into the NFL, Cross’ biggest area of concern was the run game, largely due to his limited experience as a run blocker. Playing on an Air Raid team, an offense focused primarily on passing, coached by the legendary Mike Leach, he always played in a two-point stance (without any hands on the ground, which is more characteristic for running) and only had experience in this way in high school.
At the time of his draft there were two other prospects who formed a sort of top-3 at the position: Ikem Ekwonu from NC State and Evan Neal of Alabama, both of whom were chosen before Cross, by the Carolina Panthers in the 6th and by the New York Giants in the 7th, respectively.
Let’s look at their numbers:
Ekwonu: 2166 snaps, 65 average pass block rating, 70.5 average run block rating, 25 penalties, 71 pressures conceded, 44 hurries, 10 hits, 17 sacks;
Neal: 1,322 snaps, 40.4 pass block average, 49.6 run block average, 12 penalties, 81 pressures allowed, 56 hurries, 15 hits, 10 sacks; (OUCH)
Cross: 1,988 snaps, 74.15 pass block average, 60.3 run block average, 14 penalties, 92 pressures allowed, 70 hurries, 9 hits, 13 sacks;
The numbers and his work on the field make him the best or at least the second best of the three, even though he was the last to be picked at No. 9.
Here are the rest of his numbers compared to other OTs in 2023:
- 27th among OTs in pass block grade (69.7);
- 41st in run block (58.3);
- 16th in most pressures (42);
- 17th in most hurries (31);
- 13th in most sacks (6);
- 9th worst in EFF (Pass Blocking Efficiency – A PFF Signature stat measuring pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed.) with 95.4;
Charles Cross in Run Blocking
As mentioned a little earlier in the article, the running game has always been his biggest weakness. However, he can be useful, just as he was in 2023. Cross is not, and likely never will be, a mauler who will impose himself physically and push his opponents down the field for 20 yards.
However, the team can take advantage of his athletic ability. Part of a coach’s job is to maximize a player’s strengths and minimize his weaknesses. This seems like an excellent fit for Ryan Grubb’s scheme, which relies on a lot of zone runs and that puts a lot of the OLs to block in the open field on pulls and traps.
Put him in open space
Screen call and Cross has to shoot to block the defensive back by throwing him to the ground.
Once again put into space with a positive result. DK Metcalf, who is not on screen at the start of the play, executes a crack block on the EDGE to allow Cross to advance to the second level.
A very similar play to the previous one, but this time the crack block is executed by Dareke Young. Cross advances to the second level and blocks the defensive back to give more yards to Zach Charbonnet.
This is the kind of thing I want to see when an OL advances and gets into a 1v1 against the defensive back. The physical difference is huge and this physical imposition has to show in the plays.
Charles Cross reaches and seals the defender opening the running lane for Zach Charbonnet.
Charles Cross Pass Blocking
This is what draws the most attention because it was a point of dominance for him in college. However, this is a point that hard work, experience, and the coaching staff will help him improve in the NFL.
Technique Problems
Cross was one of my favorite prospects to watch when it came to his handwork. He hasn’t translated that trait to the NFL. He couldn’t maintain contact and gave up sacks.
The synchronization of the feet with the hands must be constant for an offensive lineman. Note that the moment he tries to establish contact there is this disconnection and he loses his balance, conceding the sack.
This pressure doesn’t make any sense for Cross. Missing the snap on the edge usually denotes a lack of athleticism. Cross has plenty of it, the problem is that he takes a terrible angle on his pass set and makes life easy for the defender.
He simply rushes into the opponent’s shutter step and shows problems with his footwork, quickly giving in to pressure.
A problem that dates back to his college days. He is vulnerable to inside moves because he leaves a large space between himself and the guard.
Inexperience showing on the snap. He sees DeMarcus Lawrence’s alignment and thinks he’s going to attack the C gap (outside the OT), but the veteran just made the youngster fall into his trap. The DL attacks the B gap (space between the OG and OT) and as Cross messed up the snap, he is beaten and we are denied the fourth down conversion. It is up to Cross to learn from these mistakes and not repeat them.
Anchoring
This is a long-standing issue and he hasn’t shown any improvement in the last two years. He may need to add some weight. He weighed 280 lbs in college, played in 2020 at under 300 (298) and went up to 307 at the Combine. I think he probably needs to get to 315-320.
Byron Young is slowed down by the TE and still comes in with enough power to knock Cross to the ground.
This is a pressure that costs 6 points. He is unable to reestablish the base and is thrown into Geno Smith’s lap, disrupting the connection with DK Metcalf in that crushing loss against the Ravens.
Notice that the Ravens defender doesn’t do anything fancy. He simply goes towards the QB and Cross can’t do anything to stop it.
Snaps that remind us of a certain number 65…
Okay, maybe this is just an overreaction.
Where to have faith?
This is the kind of rep that reminds me of his work at Miss. St. He chops the edge when he tries to get to his chest, countering the defender to the ground. Pure technique and talent.
He lines up on a snap against the power move, which exposes his anchoring problem. Note that this time, despite losing early in the snap, he manages to reestablish himself and prevent the pressure.
Not giving in to pressure against Myles Garrett should already be considered a win. Here, Garrett manages to push Cross, but he sets up a good base again and has good handwork (PLEASE DO MORE OF THIS!) to make Garrett lose his balance.
