I'm going to run a series of threads on completing all the positions where we still have needs or questions, starting with the OL. LT- Long- next RT- Carey- Appears to be a lock. Small chance of replacing him with a FA if still hurting. LG- Incognito- Here or C is the question. He is also a bit better at RG than LG. C- Pouncey- Here or G is the question. Really hope it's at C. RG- This is the missing piece. Jerry "should" be much improved, and I do like him. Garner played vey well before the injury, and would be solid. Then there is FA. What I would like to see at G is to sign a nasty old vet with a year or two left. Jerry gets his chance. We have a good option and/or depth, Garner is a super sub across the line, and the young guys have a mentor. A lot of playoff experience would be a nice plus. I would look for the same type of vet at OT, and draft one next year. Thoughts?
Nate Garner figures to handle LG SB, and I really like Rey Feinga for RG as the primary asset there is size and toughness. JJ moves to the #7 Olineman, and Berger moves back to the #6 G/C, that means we still need a Swing Tackle..hopefully Lydon Murtha beats out the annually disappointing James Martin for that job.
I agree for the most part. Our LT is locked personally I would rather see Pouncey at LG rather than C unless those snap issues are fixed and fixed well, RG is a hole and RT is decent. We need depth at OT imo Carey is aging and I was hoping we would draft his eventual replacement, I agree we need a FA OG who can maul though...Actually Id like to go all out and spend money on a big time guy like Harvey Dahl, or Logan Mankins but since this isnt likely we need to target solid starters like a Kyle Cook or Casey Wiegmann. To me those are inexpensive options for RG. Either way our OL issues are not 100% fixed.
I think Lyndon Murtha given a chance can win the job & is an excellent backup to Carey. Murhta needs more reps & some play-time to improve his game. would like Garner in the mix & would like to see if JJ can play LG. let them compete Canada anyone?
JJ waqs hot garbage in 2010 23, as in really really bad, sticking him at LG is moving him out of position, he is not athletic enough to play there, Murtha is athletic but injury prone. No one up there Bro, not this yr, maybe 2012 BC has a Left Tackle by the name of Olifaye who could make the jump but is under contract.
From LT to RT: Jake Long/Mid Tier (ie: $5-7 million signing bonus) Guard/Pouncey/Incognito (Unless Jerry can beat him out)/A true 330lb enforced Vernon Carey (No 330 that's really 350 on the field). That would be my lineup.
Without FA there are none to be had, and Mankins is not leaving NE so there are no Olineman who made the pro bowl on the market.
Padre, Did you forget about Incognito? My jury is still out on Jerry, and would much prefer a couple of FA vets to Berger and Murtha.
Richie I plays RG, Feinga is his backup, but he will have to show he can play C and some LG. I'm not a fan of Berger SB.
Cook and Wiegmann are good examples of the type of G who will fill the need. If Jerry is not the answer, a vet is going to help Carey and more importantly Pouncey if he stays at C. As you say, not fixed yet but close.
As far as my thinking takes me, Long and Carey at left and right tackle can be written in ink. It appears Pouncey is going to be looked at as a C first (I may owe padre that 6-pack after all) and then at LG. I would guess that if Pouncey ends up at C, Incognito gets first shot at RG. The best option currently on the roster for LG is Nate Garner, but that's iffy at best. My guess is the O-line ends up looking one of two ways: LT - Long LG - Pouncey C - Incognito RG - Jerry/Garner RT - Carey or LT - Long LG - FA/Garner C - Pouncey RG - Incognito/Jerry RT - Carey I'm more inclined to think it's the latter of the two, and you have Lydon Murtha as a potential swing tackle, as well as Garner. Everyone seems to forget he took snaps at RT in 2009 before he took snaps at any other position. I'm fine with Berger as a backup C/G. My ideal scenario would be the latter with a FA at left guard to upgrade over Nate Garner, and a direct competition at RG between Incognito and Jerry. Ultimately, you have to hope Jerry locks down that position, whether it's this year or in the future, and you've got a pretty young, save for Vernon Carey, athletic line built for the next several years.
OK, now I'm with ya. We're playing musical chairs here on the interior. I like Garner as well. It would be a luxury to have him as a 6th man.
Agreed on everything but Murtha. With a number of OT's going in the draft, I can see some good vets looking for a job, and not costing as much as normal.
I think we should consider looking at another OT in free agency. As for the interior I think we're set. Jerry's main problems I thought were technique related which is pretty common for rookies. I expect him to be much improved in the technique department as well as the conditioning department. Add in Gardner and the fact that Incognito and Pouncey can switch between OG and C and we have plenty of depth on the interior. The only thing we could really add is another backup OT
Well there is always our first round pick next year. 3 more drafts we can have a line full of 1st round picks.
we can fix the offensive line with the inclusion of Pouncey Long-Incognito-Pouncey-Jerry-Carey (Garner/Murtha) having said that we need one more prime pick to go elite on the offensive line someone has to step up big time on the interior line or we need a find in free-agency
This is funny. A friend ad I were just talking about some potential FA OL, and Yanda was on the top of our list. Plug him in now at LG, and then RT for Carey. This would justify paying him. The only G we came up with was Kyle Kosier. He's 32, could fill in nicely for a year, and won't cost much. Also, to go along with Cog going to RG, PFF graded him at 1.8 run blocking last year. He got a 4.6 the year before at RG.
Where were Dahl and Kosier rated? Can Dahl pull effectively by the way. I could care less if we're running Graig Cooper, Derrick Locke/Corey Sheets, Daniel Thomas, and Lex Hilliard if we have the offensive line completely squared away. Kosier is actually pretty solid from what I've heard. 32 is not bad for a guard especially if he comes reasonably cheap. He can pull, has decent strength, plays aggressively and would be a good bet to have next to the young Pouncey. I'd say he'd be just about the right guy until Miami has time to take a guard to replace him in a couple of years. Incognito would look good at RG and that's a wrap for the offensive line.
PFF gave Dahl a 4.3 run, and 7'1 pass. #3 RG, and #6 overall Kosier was -3.9 run, and 4.2 pass. In 09- 9.8 run, and 4.2 pass. Don't know what happened on the run. Yanda (09, RG) was 8.2 run, and 4.0 pass. #6 RG (10, RT) was 10.6 run, and 4.2 pass. #2 RT, #4 overall Carey (10) was -0.3 run, and 0.6 pass. Still #11 RT (09) was 11.5 run, and 6-2 pass. #3 RT I think Dahl will cost too much without being able to replace Carey. Gonna check to see if Kosier was hurt. Yanda will be expensive but, can replace Carey in a year. If Carey plays like 09, we have a GREAT but very pricey OL. A few interesting potential options. *Kosier played 1098 snaps in 09, and 849 in 10. FWIW
Kosier was hurt at the beginning of the year. See if his production picked up as the season wore on. He'd be a great choice to finish off that offensive line.
