It's often said that football games are won in the trenches. In this year's draft class, there aren't many can't-miss offensive linemen, but there are a few intriguing prospects. One of those players is Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi, who is projected to be a first-round pick. The former Badger is both mentally and physically tough enough to handle the rigors of being a pro lineman.
In the Pro Football Weekly 2011 Draft Preview, Nolan Nawrocki said Carimi "should be able to step into the starting lineup readily at left tackle in the pros like he did in college."
PFW asked Carimi about the difference between playing left and right tackle, why he's training on his campus and how he benefits from the NFL lockout.
PFW: First off, how is your health? You've had some ankle issues this spring, right?
Carimi: Oh it's great, no problems about that any more. I'm doing all my stuff, all my training, all of my position work. There's no problem with it.
PFW: I've seen projections for you as both a left and right tackle; do you have a preference which position you play in the NFL?
Carimi: No, I'm going to come in and help the team out however they need to. Obviously I think I can be a left tackle.
PFW: Do you approach it differently, not knowing which position you'll play?
Carimi: I take steps trying to improve at both sides, trying to be as fluid and feel as comfortable coming out of both stances. I'm kind of trained both ways, just making sure I can have a solid ability until I finally get the call on draft day and find out what they're thinking and then I'll modify my training after that.
PFW: What improvements did you make from '09 to winning the Outland last season?
Carimi: A lot of it had to do with lack of injury; I had a shoulder injury that kind disabled me half the year that really affected my performance. That would be the No. 1 thing. Just overall, training in the offseason, just making sure I was ready for a long, dominating season.
PFW: You played well against both Adrian Clayborn and Cameron Heyward last year. How were you able to raise your game vs. those elite players?
Carimi: You know, from the year before I really didn't practice the week before Iowa and eventually was playing with one arm in that game. So I don't think I really raised my level, I think I was just consistent the whole year.
PFW: Did going up against J.J. Watt in practice every day help?
Carimi: Definitely, always going against a great guy helps tremendously.
PFW: What's Watt like off the field?
Carimi: He's just a real hard worker, one of those hard-working guys.
PFW: Why have you decided to remain in Madison to train?
Carimi: Because two of my other senior O-linemen are training here. I've been training here for general strength gains and technique work, and I can do that with my O-linemen here, which is pretty good. And I have to finish up some of my school work.
PFW: Are you set to graduate this spring?
Carimi: Yeah.
PFW: Have you had any time to relax since the Rose Bowl?
Carimi: After the pro day I was able to relax a little bit.
PFW: What do you do to take your mind off football?
Carimi: Well, it's never off football. I'm always doing interviews and stuff, so I constantly have to be thinking about it. And you know, I really enjoy understanding both sides of the football, understanding our scheme versus their scheme, that I really enjoy watching football, so it's never something that goes away. As far as relaxing, I just have more time to myself to do some stuff I want to do.
PFW: You've met with a bunch of teams already, talked with head coaches like Rex Ryan. What has that been like?
Carimi: It's been really good. It's been great to meet all these coaches and pick their brain about what their coaching philosophies are, and the more teams you go around, you realize that football is played the same by every team. It's just little tweaks here, little tweaks there.
PFW: Is it worrisome knowing that with the lockout, you may not see your playbook or meet your teammates for a few weeks or months after you get drafted?
Carimi: I think that's one of the benefits to drafting me. If you draft me, you're going to get a guy who's been brought up in a pro-style offense and been taught the right way to play football, because Wisconsin did an incredible job. There's not really much that I don't know as far as offensive schemes. The hardest thing is going to be the new defensive blitzes and stuff like that, and being able to adapt to that. But as far as scheme-wise and technique-wise, I have just a great concept on that. You know, that will make it easier on me if there is a lockout and there is a shorter (offseason).
PFW: Finally, what are your thoughts now that the draft is about a week away?
Carimi: I'm just excited to see what city I'm going to be living in and what team philosophy I'm going to. I met with so many teams that, it's just interesting to see what philosophy I'm going to be under.
PFW: Would it surprise you if you were picked by a team you hadn't met with, just kind of out of the blue?
Carimi: Not at all, because teams do do that. They'll pick someone they hadn't talked to at all because they don't want anyone else thinking they were interested. I really have an open mind to this whole thing, I don't know what's going to happen. If they do, I'm not going to be shocked. I'm just keeping a real open mind.
Natalie Imbruglia Patricia Velásquez Jennifer Morrison Adrianne Palicki Amanda Righetti
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