To me HC Sparano has been waiting for Donald Thomas to show he has fully recovered from the pec injury, and playing at the level he was at last preseason before he broke his foot. Clearly, the Panthers game made the decision clear, our Oline is now complete and we can expect to see Carey/Thomas/Grove/Smiley/Long play most of the game against the Bucs this Thursday. Thomas's health allowed Alleman and Ike to be traded to KC. Bottom line is, what we have this Thursday, is what we will open the season with up in Atlanta.
was there ever any doubt? high drama & intrigue in training camp: Long-Smiley-Grove-Thomas-Carey the Orca-5 will eat defense alive
Yes, there was a banana boatload of doubt about D thomas playing this season, when the news came out about the "torn pec" Thomas looked ready to go back into the oven to finish baking.
Really glad Donald Thomas is back in playing shape. But it would have made an interesting factoid to drop on game day that our starting RG was the son of Dale Murphy. I still think Shawn has a future with this team. And I feel certain he'll see some action this season. We got some pieces to the line last year, we added some more this year, after next off season I think we'll have a deep, young, talented o-line that we will continue to build for the next 5-6 years. Thank God that we finally have a HC, GM who truely understands the importance of the O-Line in today's NFL.
DT back in the OL is the best news we've had in a while, and we've had a LOT of good news the past year & 1/2. FINALLY on Saturday we got solid running behind our starting OL in the standard offensive sets! And Murphy has shown we have a solid backup in case DT or Smiley go down again. I am more stoked about our OL than ever!
I had my doubts about his foot, and they were not "cautiously optimistic" either. He must be as flat-footed as you can get to have come back from it so well. Arch support? We don need no arch support!
[pedant] Not to be picky or anything (well actually I am ) but Sperm whales are actually whales while Orca's are the largest of the Dolphin family. Orca seems more appropriate to me. [/pedant]
TBH, neither seems appropriate to me until the OL actually goes out there and does something to PROVE they deserve a nickname. Right now it is nothing more than potential and potential doesn't win you jack squat. And not to be picky, but all dolphins, orcas, etc, are whales.
whatever... for me, they are the Orca-5 what is important is that they live up to expectation the way they go, so goes the season it all begins in the trenches
Totally agree. I'm hopeful this line grows into something like the Chiefs line a few seasons ago. If they get anywhere near that level I'll be delighted. Uncle.
