From a scouting perspective,
@EWood70 was the type of interior offensive lineman whose value went far beyond the stat sheet. His combination of intelligence, toughness, versatility, technique, and leadership allowed him to excel at both guard and center while becoming one of the most respected centers in the NFL during his playing career
Coming out of the University of Louisville football, Wood’s athletic testing supported many of the traits that consistently showed up on film:
Pre-Draft Measurements & Testing
• Height: 6’4”
• Weight: 310 lbs
• Arm Length: 33⅜”
• Hand Size: 10”
• 40-Yard Dash: 5.16
• Bench Press: 30 Reps
• Vertical Jump: 28.5”
• Broad Jump: 8’8”
One of the first things that stood out on film was Wood’s ability to excel at both guard and center. At guard, he used his leverage, hand placement, balance, and lower-body strength to create movement in the run game while consistently executing double teams, combination blocks, pulls, and second-level assignments
After moving to center, his football intelligence became even more apparent as he identified fronts, recognized pressure, adjusted protections, and communicated assignments across the offensive line. His versatility, awareness, and ability to keep the entire unit on the same page made him a valuable leader up front
What consistently showed up on tape was his technical refinement. He played with good pad level, strong hand placement, and excellent balance through contact. He understood leverage, took efficient angles to defenders, and routinely positioned himself to sustain blocks rather than relying solely on size or strength. In pass protection, he displayed a strong anchor against bull rushes, active hands, and the ability to redirect interior rushers without losing balance
Traits That Consistently Showed Up on Film:
• Outstanding football intelligence and pre-snap recognition
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Strong leverage and hand usage
• Consistent balance and body control
• Effective combination and second-level blocker
• Strong anchor in pass protection
• Ability to identify and adjust to pressure packages
• Positional versatility at guard and center
• Toughness, competitiveness, and resilience
At
@LouisvilleFB, Wood earned Second-Team All-Big East honors in 2007 and First-Team All-Big East honors in 2008. In the NFL, he became a first-round pick of the
@BuffaloBills and went on to earn two Pro Bowl selections (2015, 2016) and Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2015 while serving as a leader of Buffalo’s offensive line for nine seasons