The deal for us is that we need not one, not two but at least 3 starting OL, including two tackles, (and that's assuming that John Jerry is the one OL not named Pouncey we have) I'd say we almost have to make a run at him....whether or not he is overpriced, which he surely will be, we are 'desperate' at this point. I don't know that we can hope to get someone in the draft. Now, there is a bit of a caveat because of who will be picking the OL. We all know that Ireland couldn't pick the one OL in a room with 99 other players, all CBs... That said, I don't know how desperate that Hickey will think we are. This franchise has a history, since Shula left of not being able to field a legit OL... It's an ugly history at that. As I sit here watching the snow continue to fall, I can only dream of the day we actually field a legit OL...
You've got to pick up two in free agency, must spend the bulk of your money there, shouldn't be that difficult to sign two starters there, if you go first round pick on the line and the lineman there are as good as the skill players then that should sure up another spot..all that's left is knowing how to evaluate talent and find yourself somebody in the later rounds.. It can be done..
They have to tag team the OL between FA and the draft, bottom line. The OL is a mess no matter how you look at it. As the line stands now, it's a mess. If the free agents leave, it's a worse mess. There is nothing there except Pouncey, depth included.
Well if your top 3 in cap space, and you've got your draft picks, and you can't fix it, then were fooked for another couple years.
We are top 3? Didn't realize it was quite that good. I don't miss him but I've said before he left us w/ a nice checkbook. I just hope we can use it and get some good results.
We are actually pretty low on cap space when you factor in the players we have hitting FA. Grimes, Clemons, Soliai, Starks, Carroll, Keller, Jerry, Incognito and Clabo IIRC. All this talk about splurging for OL is unrealistic, and it's not like I don't see this issues there. I was screaming for Irish to go all in on the OL last year, long before it was popular. But now we have more pressing needs at DT and CB. Re-sign Grimea and Soliai = priority one. Cut Patterson and re-up Carroll if possible. Even then, who's gonna play FS if Clemons walks? As as for the OL don't expect any blockbuster moves bc they'd come at a crippling cost w respect to the rest of the roster. Jerry aint good but he's cheap and he's "good enough". Clabo has another year in him. Pouncey is still a good player. That leaves LG and LT. Hopefully Thomas can develop into a starter, leaving LT where we'd have to draft a guy in the 1st or spend big $$$ on a FA. I prefer drafting one bc bargain FA LTs are usually bargains for a very good reason. It's not like we need a great OL we just need one that doesn't suck.
Must address oline...Resign grimes, won't be able to sign Nolan Carroll then, redo Pattersons deal, count on Jamar Taylor, Davis, and Jimmy Wilson...There's your five. Clabo and. Jerry, Clabo no, Jerry maybe if he dedicates ,no thank you if he doesn't, I think I can give a nice contract to one Olineman in free agency and a mid level to another, gotta hit on two draft picks. Whatever you have left put it towards Starks or Solai..
Patterson is better than Carroll when healthy, but Carroll is much more reliable, so I'd rather cut Patterson and resign Carroll if that's what it takes. Jerry cannot run block for sh!t in a zone scheme, but he at least was by far our 2nd best pass blocking lineman. If your bottom 3 all pass blocked as well as Jerry, you'd not have to worry about Tannehill being upright.
Two positions that dont get talked about enough are fullback and blocking TE. Gotta have those if you want or feature a guy like Lamar Miller at RB. Fasano and Lane were big factors in how the run game fell off last year. Im in favor of bringing Jerry back mainly bc he's a good pass blocker and bc we have so many other positions to fill, if we need to use more man blocking in the mean time then so be it.
