Andy Heck, Notre Dame

  
via Day Life

Andy Heck was never a great left tackle, but he was solid and underrated in pass pro. Despite being an outsized for the time 6-6 298, Heck was never dominant, but it’s not hard to see he was good. Seattle drafted Heck in the first round of the 1989 draft. He immediately assumed their left tackle duties. Left tackle is a zero tolerance position, and players who can’t cut muster rarely stick. Heck started his first 3 seasons at left tackle. In `89, Krieg posted his second best overall sack rate, 6.9%. After that, the wheels sort of came off for Kreig and from 1991-1993 (the final two seasons in Kansas City) he posted 3 straight seasons of 10%+.

In 1992 Tom Flores took over for Chuck Knox and moved Heck to LG. That season, Seattle scored just 140 points. Each of its starting quarterbacks suffered a sack% of 11+. But though moving Heck was a mistake, he wasn’t why the offense collapsed, but he was part of why the offense collapsed. Heck signed with the Bears in 1994. The contract, 4 years, $10 million, was pretty substantial at the time. Heck would start 5 seasons for Chicago, a squad that didn’t do much well, but did protect the quarterback. Quarterback Erik Kramer experienced his best protection of his career while in Chicago, enjoying a breezy 4.4 sack%. The Bears quarterbacks enjoyed good pass pro throughout Heck’s 5 years and only the Rick Mirer Express fresh derailed from Seattle could break his stretch of not allowing a single starter to post a sack% above 8.1.

So there you have it. Andy Heck, a quick technician without a ton going for him, but probably the last left tackle available in this draft that I’d spit at. And ask Marc Bulger, no left tackle, no offense.