http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...The-best-third-down-running-ba?urn=nfl-wp2558 Cadillac Williams leading the NFL is something of a surprise, Big Lou was his usual self on 3rd and 4th downs but I felt his lead blocking and pass protection declined in 2010, hopefully he bounces back.
Why do you think he regressed Pod? I'am not sure if I'am seeing this regression that many folks have talked about...seems to me he was the same player..not sure I've read or heard any logical reasons out there about this regression..Do fullbacks sometimes forgot how to block for a year?, lol..I mean he was his consistent brilliant self in short yardage situations regardless of the lineup on the oline, I didn't see any dropped passes...I just think the guy is what he is..
Big Lou was not as effective a blocker Deej, from Taylor owning him for a sack to RB and RW averaging under 4.5 ypa, he just was not as effective in 2010, asked O about it and he mentioned that the Oline simply was not moving people off of the ball often enough to allow Lou lanes to attack his man and Lou was also dinged most of the yr. A strong comeback will really help the running game as Lexxy is not as dominant a blocker at FB.
Oh and about the topic..not only did we have the 2nd to last YPC in the whole stinkin league, but cobbs production from a very important offensive position, really is below par for an NFL football team..I'am not sure this kid could get a job anywhere else.. Like I said since the last season ended..The whole damn unit needs to be replaced.. DWill or Ahmad Bradshaw should be on this roster come training camp...We have the space, we have the money, we have a desperate need...Sign one Irish.. I feel strongly its gonna happen...I also feel strongly that after free agency, a lot of dolphin fans are gonna want to change their negative projection of the team....some dumb publications as well. You add the balance that Dwilliams, DThomas, Cyde Gates, Pouncey, and Clay can bring to our football team, and our defense is gonna be some happy mother grabbers.. Love that draft strategy, knew what they were set up to do...excellent job by Irish..To be able to spend that extra time just evaluating mostly offensive players...nice. Really like our team this year Pod..I know were gonna be players in free agency bro, and I know how close we were last year.
that doesn't sound like a lou problem what O told you, and missing a block on a JT type player is not enough to generalize is whole year imo, but maybe I didn't pay enough attention to his play.. Lou Polite...rewind thoughts???....lol....JK..
Bro, I kept an eye on his play this past season and he just was not as good as he was previously, that explosion he used in 09 to get underneath defenders pads was just not there. As for Bradshaw or Williams, the CBA holds us hostage Deej, neither may be "unrestricted", Sproiles however will be on the market for certain, and you have to wonder if they like Marion Barber if he is cut.
He must of been injured if he lost that explosion, he's really not old enough to blame age. I don't see Barber complimenting Thomas..I don't see the need to sign him.. Sproiles is definitley in the mix, very nice compliment..Must land one of those 3..
Problem to me with Sproiles is "if" a cap returns we really need that money to go to a FA Guard AND there is no telling what Sheets can do, this will require careful study Deej as it is a key crossroads for the Franchise do we pour money into a Fa Rb/Qb?
With whats available, I eyeball next years draft for that position if Henne doesn't perform up to par, so I'am not droppin no 3 or 4 year deal on any of the QB's available. Signing one of the vets this year should'nt be to lucrative... Don't you think Young and Mcnabb will be getting 1 year deals?
Young is in his last yr and McNabb wants a big contract as it is. Hasselback wants a 2yr deal as well. Orton is also going into his last yr of his deal.
The only problem that Lou had last year was Henning sending him out on 3rd and 10 for a 2 yard route and that being the only place Henne had to go with the ball. I really think those plays make people look at Lou different, but that isn't his game. He is exactly we we thought he was...a first down maching on 3rd and less than 3.
I agree and I have a theory about it. In 2009, when Lou had a phenominal year run blocking, he was usually leading with his head on the block. Heck, one of our popular poster had a saying "Lou will headbutt you in the hole" in his sig. However, during the following offseason there was a lot of publicity about concussions from repeated head blows. Now Lou Polite is known to be one of the smartest players in the league. I think he realized that sacrificing his body in that fashion could affect his long term health. So I think there was less willingness on his part to smash people with the head first blocking style he employed in 2009. Now this is just a theory but I payed attention to his blocking last year and it did seem to jive. If this is indeed the case, then he'll never be the same devastating run blocker. However his value as a third and short runner is beyond question, and he's worthy of a roster spot for this skill, IMO.
Could be, what was happening was Lou would go into Rhino mode, low and fast, but Defenders were able to steer him away from them by extending their arms, that explosion that Lou had in 09 wasn't there to get underneath their arms and into their chests.
I think a big portion of Polite's problem was the same general affliction that killed the running game, the interior blocking. A big portion of a fullbacks job is going to be isolation blocks on a linebacker on the second level, and if there are not holes, the fullback isn't going to be able to get there to execute his assignment, or won't be able to do so with any sort of force.
I don't know the reason but Polite was a different player last year. On just blocking, he was #2 in 09, grade at +9, and 4 bad games with 7 VG ones. In 2010, he was #29 of 30 listed, grade at -13.8, and 6 bad games (wks 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, & 14), 2 good ones (wks 9 & 11)
Caddy is a pure Rb and he's so hard to bring down upon contact. Not too much of a surprise but this is how he gets injured so often.
Insider rumors mention that Houston may be shopping Steve Slaton for around a 4th round pick. Cleve and Miami are listed as teams who could have interest. Another injury concern but he is only 25. Any interest?
The only issue I have with him is how bad his play fell off outside of that first year, and that his entire collegiate and professional production have come in zone blocking schemes that either came out of a spread offense or was a Broncos-style scheme that involved a lot of outside zone plays. Brian Daboll's offense in Cleveland featured a fair amount of zone blocking, but if he's dependent on either a spread defense or the kind of space outside zone plays create, then he might be too much of a one-trick pony in Miami. He's got to be productive on inside zones, and a variety of man-blocking plays too.
I like Steve Slaton's game, but I think a 4th rd pick is a bit steep for him, unless they throw him into the Returner mix as well. Think he would be a good compliment to DTrain, but he is a 10 yd to 10 yd line player SB, those tough, between the tackle runs a back has to make down in that area of the field is where he had fumblitis in 09 which led to his replacement, along with a neck injury, so I'd have to wonder if they would take a shot at a Kevin Smith for "free"? "if" they give up a #4 for Slaton, he is going to play, or should, what happens if Sheets or Smith outplay him in camp?
no real interest in Steve Slaton. If Sproles is available, he's my favorite choice. Thomas + Sproles + Ricky/Ronnie + Polite + Clay.
Lose Polite, keep Ronnie and put him at fullback. Take a flyer on Devine in UDFA. See how it all shakes out between Ricky, Sheets, and Devine.
So basically we want to give up on fullback being at all useful as a blocker and then pre-emptively replace Charles Clay with a guy who has never been productive running more aggressive routes?
