I noted where Hickey said the coaches need to get these guys to take the next step...

Isn't that our HC's career specialty, after PowerPoint?

He'll live and die by how well this O line performs.

 

IIRC, the team has always looked at Thomas as a LG. Turner and Thomas started OTA's as the starting guards so they're not in direct competition. Not sure this is much of a revelation or a diss on Thomas.

 

Reason for hope with Turner and Douglas? They weren't drafted by Ireland.

 

Turner is talented, he's athletic, he's cocky, and he got into great shape this offseason..

I don't even think about that position anymore..

 

In two seasons Thomas played every OL position except center. It's hard to say what the coaches looked at him as and its unfortunate for him bc he hasn't had an opp to settle in anywhere. Hopefully they put him at LG and just let him play. From watching him last year I know he can handle himself there.

 

He'll live and die by how well the TEAM performs this season. It's his team. All of it...

EDIT: And LOL on PowerPoint :lol:

 

I respect that you feel that way DJ, but Turner is a small school, mid round pick who barely saw the field as a rookie even though the team desperately needed help at his position. I have zero faith in him until I see him on the field, at least in the preseason.

 

I agree that Dallas Thomas is only a LG.....his college position. I have been saying this for 2 years to put him at LG and leave him there. Only then will we really know if he can handle the job or not. I have never been a big fan of drafting Offensive Lineman and switching their position. I know it has happened,and successfully,in the past,but sometimes they need to be played at their natural position.:up:

 

Agreed. They swung and missed with trying him at OT but I'm sure the staff would say it was worth a shot. Moving forward let's put him at LG and let him concentrate on one spot, one set of techniques etc. Its easy to underestimate how difficult it can be playing multiple positions, I mean did Mike Pouncey look good playing out of position last year?

 

That was due to ankle and foot injuries... he was pretty much set as the LG last year before the injuries cost him most of the season. This season the team is projecting him at RG. He has the size and mental and physical ability.

Turner actually did play well in his limited snaps at the end of the season. He played RT against the jets after James at LT went down and Fox moved to LT. He came off the bench didn't give up a single pressure, hit, or sack on 12 pass-blocking snaps in a game in which the team allowed 7 sacks...

Let's hope he stays healthy.

 

Yes Pouncey did....I think I remember several years ago we drafted a guard and inserted him at RG...he did not work out there but there you have Mathis second ranked LG, a FA and now available but the cost is high. I think that Thomas and Turner might just play good ball for us.....we sure could use them to work.

 

I can't see right off the bat how it makes any long term sense to give an old guard, good as he is right now, a multiyear deal at 6 to 7 mil a year, or even to get him for something less if that's what he's convinced he's worth.

But then I look at Dallas Thomas...