Breno Giacomini

Because of his rare quickness and natural hands, the staff bounced Giacomini back and forth between tight end an offensive tackle during his Cardinals playing days. The one constant was his consistent performance, no matter what task he was asked to perform. A big, physical player, Giacomini began his career at tight end, starting four games at that position during his first two collegiate seasons. He shifted to left tackle as a junior, earning a pair of starts. He then found a home at right tackle, where he excelled as a 12-game starter in 2007. At Malden High School, Giacomini was a three-year starter as a defensive end and outside linebacker. He led the team in passes defended and recorded one interception, earning Greater Boston League All-Star honors. He started his freshman and sophomore years, but didn't play football as a junior to concentrate on basketball, as he averaged 21.0 points per game as a senior and was second in the league in scoring. Despite having experience on defense, the coaches were so impressed with Giacomini's speed and catching ability, that they shifted him to tight end as a true freshman at Louisville. He appeared in eight games that year, catching a 3-yard pass vs. Army. The following season, he started vs. West Virginia and Virginia Tech at tight end coming up with three receptions for 16 yards (5.3 avg) and a touchdown. By the time he reported for fall camp in 2006, Giacomini had grown from a 242-pound tight end, forcing the staff to move him to the offensive line. He played behind George Bussey at left tackle in 11 games, starting vs. Kansas State and Middle Tennessee State when Bussey was injured. He also recorded a solo tackle vs. Syracuse. Giacomini made the most of his opportunity to start, earning second-team All-Big East Conference honors after moving to right tackle in 2007. The ground game struggled, but he provided solid pass protection, allowing four sacks and two pressures on 491 pass plays.

positives

Has a developing frame that needs at least a good year in the training room to fully develop, but he can add at least another 25 pounds of bulk without the weight affecting his timed speed...Has a thick lower body with good calf and thigh development, but does need to show better knee bend...Lacks technique and upper body strength, but did a good job of using his size to lean into and occupy defenders...Has rare timed speed for an offensive tackle and moves around well for a big man, especially when getting into the second level...Needs to stay lower in his pads, but has a good concept for taking angles and did a very good job of stalking second-level defenders the later stages of 2007...Has good, light feet in his kick slide and does a good job of playing off edge rushers, keeping good position to prevent backside pursuit...Shows good mental awareness and is a smart player who has lined up at multiple positions, as he picks up things well and rarely blows an assignment...An above-average student in the classroom, he is starting to develop good nastiness, staying after blocks and finishing with aggression...Has shown a quick burst off the snap and good relationship with the guard and tight end to execute combo blocks working in-line...Has been described as the nastiest offensive lineman on the team and will not hesitate to get after defenders, even after the whistle...Possesses outstanding football character and is a hard worker in the weight room who does extra work on his own...Switched positions multiple times without a complaint and responds well to tough coaching...Has explosive initial quickness, as he gets out of his stance in time and changes directions well for a player his size...Shows good foot quickness, as his nimble feet allow him to move well in the open field and in his kick-slide...Can be a little lethargic, at times, but has good feet overall for a big man...When he uses his hands to lock on and control, he can ride the defender wide with adequate leg drive...Has the big hands and long arms to reach out and keep defenders off his outside shoulder...With his natural hands, he could be an inviting target on tackle-eligible plays.

compares to

TYSON CLABO-Atlanta...Like the up-and-coming Clabo, Giacomini is still a work in progress and might need a year or two before he can contribute. But it is evident that he is a rare athlete with good speed and a developing frame. Put him in the weight room for a year, work on his zone blocking technique and along with his quickness, you could unearth a solid right tackle with good reach blocking skills. He's certainly worth a long look, as few tackles have his athletic ability. It is just experience and technique that he is lacking...Had a pre-game incident vs. Kentucky that leads to some questions about his maturity.

negatives

Has had a rapid weight growth the last two years, but still has not developed neck and trapezoid muscles and has thin hips. That sometimes affect his anchor, as he does not sink his pads well, leaving him higher in his stance, which results in bull rushers having success driving him back into the pocket...Because of his tall stance, he flashes just adequate knee-bend and is a bit of a waist-bender...Needs to improve his hand quickness, as he lacks functional strength with his punch...As an in-line blocker, he needs to show better shuffling agility, as he is not the type who can skate, lacking strong movement at the X's...Needs to roll his hips better, as he does not turn quick enough to get proper body position and placement...Works to stay after his blocks, but needs to sustain better, as defenders can slide off and often get in run-off mode vs. him when he fails to keep his hands active in attempts to get good placement...Has only adequate ability as a run blocker, as he lacks the leg drive and power to generate much movement in-line...Even when he bends at his knees, he must do a better job of exploding through his blocks better...Possesses only adequate ability to pull and trap, as he might get out of his stance and into space quickly, but his pad level is very high and he will lose balance on the move...Shows a tendency to get eluded and slipped by defenders when pulling or trapping...Must be quicker when trying to adjust to downfield movement...Has the ability to advance to the second-level well, but needs better body control at the point-of-attack (did show improvement taking angles later in the 2007 season)...Allows defenders to get underneath him at the second level...Has only adequate ability as a pass-blocker, as he does display light feet in his pass set, but his hands can be a little slow to get into the defender's body... Displays too much latch and lean with his athleticism and needs to be quicker with his hands to strike a blow rather than pushing and leaning into his man with his body...Works to keep his hands inside, but lacks the violent punch needed to deliver a good blow and takes too long to recoil.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 5.08 in the 40-yard dash

345-pound bench press

Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times

455-pound back squat

313-pound hang clean

26.5-inch vertical jump

321/8-inch arm length

9 5/8-inch hands

24/45 Wonderlic score. Combine: 5.2 in the 40-yard dash

1.79 10-yard dash

2.98 20-yard dash

4.63 20-yard shuttle

7.56 three-cone drill

22.5-inch vertical jump

9'0" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times.

Attended Malden (Mass.) High School, playing football for head coach Rich Cullen

Three-year starter as a defensive end and outside linebacker

Led the team in passes defended and recorded one interception, earning Greater Boston League All-Star honors

Started his freshman and sophomore years, but didn't play football as a junior to concentrate on basketball, as he averaged 21.0 points per game as a senior and was second in the league in scoring.

Sports Administration major

Son of Conceicao and Joao Giacomini

From Brazilian descent

Born 9/27/85

Resides in Malden, Massachusetts.