http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol There it is. Nobody on that 2010 line could get to the second level. I could honestly not give a crap about that when I have 3 and 4 WRs out there. As long as they can win that battle and get a little push at the line (perhaps a little misdirection). When you have nickel and dime formation defensive lines out there you usually don't have time on those plays to develop long run plays. It's one reason why if you remember we were far more effective running the ball when the other team would take their LBs out. With Bush and perhaps two WRs out there, second level blocking changes.
I noticed Oakland is 8th in open field blocking, and their best open field blocker on the OL is probably Satele, who we gave away for next to nothing. That was really stupid to not keep him for depth and to compete for a starting guard job. We could use a guard now that can move around in the open field like Satele can and not look like a stumblebum in the process.
Satele would have been alright as a guard. He was incredibly mobile. Pouncey at LG wouldn't even match that. He was weak in creating room up the middle. None of these guys are great options down the field and that's just going to be the case really no matter what. Fortunately I'd say your team can get by without great second-level blocking as long as the pass blocking and the short area blocking are ok. For all the hate we threw at Berger we were 14th in efficiency up the middle last year with two old RBs. A little optimism is in order: There was a team with great passing numbers back in 2003, a very mediocre running game, and a great defense that won a SB (also a Michigan QB). Henne might not be Brady even of that day, but he's got better weapons and if we could get Sparano's head out of his *** perhaps a better pass blocking line.
IMO, Pouncey will help our 2nd level and open field blocking, even if none of the other 4 positions improve in that regard. He moves well in the open and gets out quickly. He and Incognito were pulling on the screen that Bush dropped, and Pouncey was leaving Incog in the dust, even though they started side by side. Pouncey just moves IMO like a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB in the open field. No rumblin' bumblin' stumblin' with him.
And we haven't mentioned the fact that having three Cs along the interior of the OL along with two intelligent tackles is a heck of a way to form a cohesive pass blocking group. Colombo is a very smart player as is Long obviously.
Fasano made some positive comments about playing next to Colombo again. Something about how smart MC is and it makes his own job easier.
What's with all this talk about just having pass blocking lineman? I know we changed OC but we need to get that push at the point of attack and establish our dolphin running game or these defense of lineman and outside linebackers are going to be having their ears pinned back and run right by goofy Colombo all day. And I have all the faith in Henne but we can't expect to throw the ball 40 times a game, remember this is still inconsistent chad
so you really think coughlin just dumped a pro bowl lineman on the free agent mkt? Ever why he is still available?
stop-gap measure...what you have to ask yourself: 1) can we get one good year out of this guy 2) can the experience he brings to the offensive line improve our overall play 3) a good contract should be had
1)Carey is no cupcake, he is the original PancakeMonster. they're playing him out of position & he is obvious unhappy & struggling. let him compete for the start @ RT with Murtha, then he either proves his metal or sits on the bench. 2)Carey is not the answer @ RG. if Sparano want s a project, better to return John Jerry & let him compete for the start @ RG with Joe Berger.
The Giants signed David Baas to a big FA contract, since he was available, very good, and 4 yrs younger. O'Hara from what I recall, refused to rework his contract and was due about 3mil and they didn't want to pay that for a guy who may not start. I heard he wants a multi-year deal and teams prefer to give just a 1 yr deal to a player his age coming back from an injury. He'll likely have to settle for a 1 yr deal eventually unless some team is hit by a rash of OL injuries.
Forget about Carey moving back to RT. I'd bet dollars to cupcakes we never see Carey at RT for the Dolphins again. IMO, Colombo has the job unless he gets hurt or does worse than he has so far. Then either Murtha or Garner would replace him. IMO the RT this season will one or more of those three. They may replace Carey at this late date, but I don't see them making changes for the entire right side.
Is there any chance that Carey and Colombo are at their 'low point' and their performance will improve as they get their legs back? With the abbreviated training camp and the need to put in a new offense, is OL at a disadvantage due to the typical time frame to condition their body for NFL game speed?
Marc Colombo is still the biggest problem this OL has. With respect to Carey. it's still possible he could move back to RT and play better than he is right now. There are a fair number of football people that question the move to Guard for him.
O'Hara is washed up. The guy simply isnt any good anymore. I'm not against getting a lineman in here but not him
Is it inconceivable that Carey could be dogging it? After all he was pushed out of the position he's played since becoming a pro, and it was fairly clear that he had to be dragged kicking and screaming to it, and with an accompanying pay cut to boot. Plus the fact that they guaranteed his salary for this season in order to get him to agree to the switch and pay cut is a disincentive for a guy like him who's never exactly been a self-starter.
I doubt it, Nabo. He doesn't seem like the type. As much as I have stood up for Vernon Carey, he's been downhill for a couple years now.
I agree that he has been in decline, although that alone has been the subject of some hot debate. But man...what I saw Saturday night was just awful; several times I noticed Carey either flat on his butt or completely unable to move his man at the point of attack.
Actually, the Pats 2003 team didn't have great passing numbers and they had a decent running game. Their defense was ranked 1st. In fact, the only time Brady has had "great" passing numbers was 2007 and 2010. The rest of his career has been average to good with mostly mid-80 QBR seasons.
We guaranteed Carey's salary when we did the pay cut? Man, big mistake!!! Better should have just cut him and let Garner or Berger played RG, or delve into free agency to sign a legitimate RG. I wonder how much more Harvey Dahl is counting against the Rams' cap this season than Carey is to ours?
That was my understanding when I read about the whole thing when it happened. I could be wrong, but that one thing sticks out in my memory.
Yes we guaranteed his salary and yes Carey was flat on his back , knocked over , beaten down and when he had to get up he struggled . Just rewatched the game and Carey and the rest of the line simply was dreadful , they really were.
He's hit bottom , and those that said he was declining aren't surprised to where he is now. That was a sad performance , really.
Could he be struggling so badly because of the position change or is he just so banged up he can’t play football anymore? The only reason I ask is that he doesn’t look fat to me at all, but then again I have no idea what it takes to move from tackle to guard.
probable starters: long-incognito-pouncey-berger-carey the PanCakeMonster will eventually reclaim (sooner than later) his position @ right tackle
Chris Long, as I said, has a Dad named Howie and if he did not no one would have heard of him. Although Chris Long is far from being a bust he is also pretty dam far from having again, number two overall selection talent dude. If it was not for his Pa, Long would have been a mid 2nd rounder to early 3rd. He did shiiiit in college but again, because of his Dad Howie he was SECOND TEAM ALL ACCC, woo hoo, second overall pick man. His Sr. Year he was all american, again, Dad named Howie man. Cameron Wake runs circles around this kid, literally and received little or no recognition. Dad named Howie in the Hall of fame carries a lot of wood with the media who by the way, does select the all american teams. Keep Long, Keep Smith and Keep friggin Jacob Bell man and throw in there center Brown, another overhyped midget center that cannot move a shopping cart instead, he is moved like a shopping cart. A great you kid named Sam Bradford turned that team around, not their crap Oline. For years they had to put up with Bulger with two cement buckets on his feet and could throw the ball a mile but just do not ask him to actually throw it to someone. Bulger is now retired, why? No one wants him. Look no further then Sam Bradford and you will find why the Rams even have a pulse again.
Bradford did so well as a rookie, not only because he is talented but because the Rams had a good offensive line already in place before he got there, except for Saffold who was a rookie too. Far different from how the Lions did it with Stafford, who gets beaten up every year because of the line he plays behind. You can believe all you want that Chris was drafted high just because he's Howie's kid. It is your opinion, no way to prove it one way or the other. Jason Brown btw, is not a midget center, he is the biggest center in the league. On the rest of the stuff, just agree to disagree, you have your opinions, and I have mine.
