by MICHAEL C. WRIGHT , Florida Times-Union

Finesse player, not nasty enough.

That's what the pre-draft reports said about Virginia tackle Eugene Monroe, who on Saturday became the Jaguars' first-round pick (No. 8 overall) and just the second offensive lineman taken in the first round by the franchise since Tony Boselli (1996).

Widely considered the top pass blocker in the draft, Monroe struggles - according to most analysts - where the Jags use their offensive linemen most: in the run game. It's a knock Monroe hopes to shake quickly once he joins the Jaguars.

"I can bring it," he said minutes after the Jaguars drafted him. "If you really watch the film, you'll see I can bring it."

Obviously the Jaguars saw that, too, which is why they shied away from the sexy pick - wide receiver -and chose Monroe, despite signing free-agent tackle Tra Thomas in free agency. Monroe was expected to be off the board within the first five picks. Upon hearing his name announced as the No. 8 overall selection, Monroe slammed his fist on a table, knocking everything off it.

Is that nasty enough?

"Eugene is a tough man," said Jaguars offensive line coach Andy Heck, who spent three years (2001-03) as a coach at Monroe's alma mater.

"It's true he's further along in his pass protection. He possesses skills, athletic abilities in the passing game you don't find very often. As a run blocker, you see more and more these days with spread offenses and two-point stances, less development in the run game out of these offensive linemen. But that's no indicator as to how tough he is. He'll improve as a run blocker as he starts to put his hand in the dirt and gets accustomed to our system, our way of doing things. What really makes him valuable is his ability to protect on the edge."

Considered virtually impenetrable at left tackle, Monroe didn't allow a sack in all of '07, before giving up two in '08, when he won the Jacobs Trophy, annually awarded to the Atlantic Coast Conference's top blocker. A three-year starter at Virginia, Monroe becomes just the latest in a growing line of successful former Cavalier linemen in the NFL.

Two years ago, former Virginia star tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson was taken with the fourth overall pick of the draft. Last year, Monroe's former roommate, Branden Albert, became the No. 15 overall selection (Kansas City). Ferguson and Albert appear to be off to fast starts in their careers.

Teammates at Virginia nicknamed Monroe "Brick Junior" for his tendency to emulate the style of Ferguson. Coincidentally, like Monroe, Ferguson was considered a finesse player coming out of college, too.

"He was a mentor to me," Monroe said of Ferguson. "I learned a lot from him, both about the college experience that would be ahead of me and also playing football at left tackle. Branden came out after that and he was my roommate and one of my closest friends. Brandon is like my brother and to experience the process with him closely this past year and to get advice from him helped me tremendously."

General manager Gene Smith couldn't believe Monroe fell to them at No. 8. Prior to the draft, the Jags had rated Monroe as the draft's best pass blocker. As soon as they went on the clock, the Jaguars knew Monroe would be their pick.

"He was the guy," Smith said. "For it all to come together today, it doesn't happen very often. It's certainly nice to see it did."

michael.wright@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4659

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