Feature article on John Estes

HA Note: "Through years of study, it has been found that the most successful National Football League centers have arm reaches of at least 30 inches. The significance, it has been argued, is that a long reach is needed to fight off nose tackles as more NFL teams go with 3-4 defensive schemes. On several scouting reports, Estes' reach is listed at 29 inches. A scout told Advertiser NFL draft analyst Curtis Murayama that Estes is "a tough guy, plays hard, but has short arms." Thing is, the source of the measurement is a mystery. Estes' reach has been measured twice by NFL scouts — at UH's Junior Pro Day last year and at UH's Pro Day earlier this month. Both times, Estes' reach exceeded 30 inches — 30 1/4 inches at Junior Pro Day, 30 1/2 at Pro Day. Perhaps a mixup occurred because during Junior Day, cornerback Chris Black's reach of 29 inches was listed just above Estes' 30 1/4 measurement."

About how he's recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered while running the 40-yard dash during UH's Pro Day, John Estes said:
"Everything is OK now. I'm ready." (HA)

Estes' agent Kenny Zuckerman says that critics have wondered if Estes is:
"big enough to do it game in and game out. It's a lot different than playing against big sloppy guys. The NFL is different. (Nose tackles are) 350 pounds of beef." (HA)

HA Note: "Zuckerman said Estes' body of work — at UH and in the East-West Shrine Game — prove he is capable. But unlike college, NFL teams usually activate only eight offensive linemen for games. The reserves are usually combination players, such as guard/tackle or guard/center. Because Estes is a pure snapper, he probably would need to go to a team with an older center. Likely matches are the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears."

About how he will work hard for whatever team drafts him, Estes said:
"Whatever team I go to will get a solid football player who will work hard every play. The guy who played 54 straight games, that was me." (HA)

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