Notre Dame Commit Guerby Lambert Can Help Continue "OLine U" Lineage
After a long and unique recruitment, Notre Dame was able to land a priority 2024 offensive tackle when West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial star Guerby Lambert opted for the Irish over Ohio State, Alabama, Boston College and Harvard among many others. That commitment solidified a tremendous first offensive line class under offensive line coach Joe Rudolph.
Lambert was not only the final piece of the class, but the frontliner and potential elite piece that the group truly needed. The Massachusetts native brings the raw gifts to develop into the next in line of elite offensive tackles for Notre Dame down the road. If those tools are developed properly, keeping the title as “OLine U” is very well in tact. Lambert has that much potential.
DOMINANCE IN THE RUN GAME
Lambert’s biggest, and most translatable skill set is in the run game. At 6-7 and right around 300 pounds, Lambert is a massive offensive lineman with a really well proportioned. He already possesses a really sturdy built lower half and developing upper body. Once he gets into a college strength program, his frame is going to be even more impressive.
On film, Lambert specializes as a down and drive blocker. His combination of size and lower body strength can really take over. On this play, it is a great example of just how dominant Lambert can be at the point of attack.
He is at right tackle, showing a square base and fires out of his stance with low pads. Lambert quickly gains inside position and shows displacement power to create movement. It is almost impossible to counteract that raw power when he comes out low and explosive.
The best way to really quantify power is in short spaces. On this play near the goal line, you see the offensive line playing with very tight splits. With everything condensed, it is a lot harder to create a ton of momentum or a proper angle early in a rep.
Despite that, Lambert is still able to create some easy movement on the down block. He gains control of the opposing defensive lineman, collapsing him inside to open up a running lane. It becomes a heavyweight fight in these condensed areas, and Lambert won convincingly.
Drive blocks are the same concept as a down block, just more of a straight ahead angle then playing on a 45. Lambert once again fires out with low pads, easily gaining inside position on the defensive lineman.
Off the field, Lambert is mild mannered and very respectful. On the field, he plays with a nasty temperament. Not only does he win the rep early, Lambert also finishes the block exceptionally well. He finished the block on the ground to put the exclamation point on the play.
The Catholic Memorial offense is a very downhill oriented team that makes its living off of being powerful at the point of attack. There are, however, some instances of getting offensive lineman on the move. On this play in particular, you see the offense working to the perimeter off of the jet sweep.
Lambert is at left tackle on this play specifically. He is playing against a defensive end who is in an outside alignment. You can see Lambert get out of his stance quickly, showcasing his lateral moment to attempt a reach block. Lambert’s angle wasn’t the best, not able to establish outside leverage off of first contact. He is, however, able to wash the defensive end out of the play while showing his smooth and explosive movement skills to carry him toward the sideline.
Whether utilizing his power or movement skills, Lambert’s upside in the run game is extraordinary. He has every tool in the tool box to be dominant in that area.
EASY UPSIDE IN PASS PROTECTION
Speaking of tools, Lambert also has everything you could want for him to develop into a very good pass blocker on the next level. Unfortunately there is a lot of work to be done in the area, mainly because Catholic Memorial is not much of a passing team in general. That doesn’t change the fact that the tools are all there to be a very good pass protector down the line.
Lambert is almost exclusively a short setter in pass protection right now, wanting to make contact with the defensive lineman quickly in reps. From there, it’s about his short area explosion and length.
Simply put, when Lambert gets inside positioning, it’s over. His length is outstanding, as is his hip flexibility. It is hard for defensive lineman to get off of blocks when his body is aligned properly.
There are some reps were Lambert works more of a 45 degree set, which is meant to gain more depth and force opposing defensive lineman on an outside track. You can see there is some discomfort in this set. Lambert opens up his shoulders early in the rep, which can be an issue in college.
That lack of comfort isn’t from a deficiency in terms of athleticism. You can still see the foot quickness in the set. It is very easy for Lambert to gain depth and play outside of his frame. It is simply something that he needs work at, while eventually adding a vertical set to become a well rounded pass protector.
When you are evaluating and projecting, you are trying to isolate athletic gifts and figure out what translates best moving forward. Lambert is super long, strong and has plus foot quickness and bend. That all translates very, very well.
DEVELOP WELL AND FLOURISH
In the end, Lambert will be as good as the development and coaching allows him to be on the next level. There is no offensive tackle in the 2024 recruiting class who has Lambert’s blend of size, length, power, foot quickness and bend. He truly has some rare upside.
The keys are going to be from a technical perspective moving forward. Physically he is almost ready to play on the college level. If the finer points of playing the position catch up to those physical gifts (which they should), there really is no ceiling on how good Lambert could become.
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