I agree. LT is a wash, RT is upgraded. The other three positions are the same and two of those were at or near a pro bowl level last season.
So, by saying the OL is better than last year, we are supposed to be OK with it. That's not a high enough standard for me. If I'm trading picks, its for OL, not a RB like Ingram. If everything else is the same............if we had a top 5 OL this year, we would make a LEGIT run for the SB. Without one, we MIGHT make the playoffs. IMO
Usually when OLs really improve it's the result of them being given time to learn to play as a unit rather than b/c you throw more picks at it. The OL added talent this offseason (I wish they had kept Louis) the next step is to give it time to gel.
I really think have a different opinion after this weeks game against the Colts. That is provided we don't go down by 20 points and have to throw our way back into the game. I expect a close tightly fought game so Lamar Miller should get ample opportunity.
Trade for a back that has proven he can run over 900 pounds of unblocked charging linemen and I'm in. Until Superman decides to take up American Football trading for a back does this offense nothing. As many have stated, the issue is clearly up front.
LT is a wash? Really? Long wasn't the same Long as in years past but he was not Jonathan Martin by any means. RT upgraded on paper..... I'll believe it when I see it. Ritchie graded out pretty well but the other Guard position is a mess. Center should be a strong point but maybe he's having to compensate for other shortcomings on the line..... like a gaping Guard hole next to him. There were clear issues against Cleveland. Hopefully they get straightened out.
Since people keep bringing up Long... The Rams offensive line was responsible for stalling their first drive, incurring penalties by both tackles Jake Long (holding) and Rodger Saffold (false start). Long also was injured somehow during the game and there is a picture of him piggy backing a ride on a blitzer at some point that wasn't called for holding... Let's wait for a body of work, 3-4 games or so, before we start writing guys off and see how the line gels and where we're at. New players and guys in new positions need time. We also need to see what we have in Watkins at RG.