What about that guy named Jake?

 

What about him?

 

Indifferent. I'd much rather keep him at RT if he shows he can play it well. That way half of the line isn't a turnstyle.

 

You know...

 

I agree that Richie is a RG. I'd rather sign Jake Scott (if he is still available? Havent heard of him signing?) Plug him in at LG.

Long-Scott-Pouncey-Incognito-Martin

 

I don't think there are any WR worth the money available. Sign Scott to a deal that is cap friendly this year and elevates next when we have the space. If he is interested of course. Jerry/Murtha are backups IMO.

 

.......Jake Long since he's a RT

 

The only one I would want would be Jones, and he wouldn't command enough money to preclude signing Scott.

 

I don't really see the point. If Martin reaches his potential, he should be at Tackle, the harder position. The guys who have proved themselves under-qualified to play Tackle should play Guard.

I think people are also working with the assumption we need a pulling left guard. There's probably not going to be very much pulling in this offense. There are other solutions to the same need.

 

Ireland stated he was drafted as a tackle , Right Tackle. Much like he said Marshall was signed as a CB , tend to believe what he says.

 

The hole on the Dolphins offensive line is at RT. Why play Martin at a position he's never played, then move Jerry to a position that isn't his strength? If Incognito and Jerry/Hicks/whoever else don't work out, you can go find another guard. It's much easier to find guards than tackles. That's why despite the fact that David DeCastro is a far superior prospect, he went after Riley Reiff, who is a tackle.

 

I heard he was cut anyway, we drafted Martin.

 

If you don't have the personnel you're not forced to pull the guards. Something Sparano could not understand was pulling the center. Hudson Houck ran a zone scheme if I'm not mistaken (used larger players in his scheme) and would pull the C all the time.

If you have John Jerry and Incognito doing short pulls you'll be fine, not to mention it gives you tremendous power on the inside.

 

perfectly said. Martin has a chance to anchor our RT position, that gives us studs at LT, C and RT now. all we need is acceptable play from our guards and we could have an excellent Oline by mid-season once Martin gets some seasoning. To potentially go from the worst RT in the league to a position of strength is a HUGE swing in our favor, especially if Tannehill sees the field at all by seasons' end.

 

Martin has never played RT or LG. Which one would be the more seamless move? When asked about moving to RT, Martin said it would not be a problem and that he'd just need to train his leg muscles to be used to a kick slide to the right rather than left.

I can see good reasons to do either one I guess. Moving one position to the right of where he had been maybe easier for him than moving to the opposite side of the line. However, I'd think our pass protection is going to be best off in the long run with Martin at RT. Also, leave Richie where he is, and start Hicks at RG unless we sign Scott, who played RG the last 4 seasons for the Titans, and also played the right side as I recall for Indy before that. Jake was a RT his entire 4 seasons in college at Idaho, so may just feel more comfortable playing that side. I'd expect we keep him at RG if we sign him.

 

BTW, Jon Martin would be the shortened version of Jonathan Martin. Not John....for Pete's sake.

 

I think Jonathan Martin will be used as the back-up swing tackle and used in short-yardage situations as the 6th OL.

This approach allows the team to make a decision to play or move OL that are making more than 1 million (Incognito, Murtha, Garner, Hicks, and Cook). Players from this group that cannot win a starting job would be the 8th or 9th best lineman and likely be cut for a cheaper player. Jerry's has an inexpensive contract so he's safe if he can maintain his weight.

It would be interesting if pair linemen on the right side. I thought Garner looked good with pass blocking when he played RG next to Carey. He might compliment Jerry so John can cheat for outside rushers. This also allows for Murtha to be paired with an experienced veteran, which can isolate his play to determine if he can compete against starting DEs and OLBs.

 

I would actually rather the other way around, put Martin at Right Tackle and Murtha at Left Guard.

 

You all haven't heard?,Jake Long is on his way out. :confused2:

I would much rather put Martin at Right tackle and let him develop there, that way we have bookend tackles and a center and just have to fill in the guards. Remember how a lot of people were saying after Pouncey was drafted that he needed to be moved to guard? I am glad we didn't because I think Pouncey is going to be a long time starter there and do well at the position. Maybe we have the makings of our next Dwight Stephenson or Jim Langer , both of whom were great centers with many Pro-Bowls between them.
If Martin struggles too much at right tackle they can still move him, but you can't find out until you try him there and right tackle is a serious need. If John Jerry is adequate at LT then him being at guard would make it easier to shift him to LT or RT if Long or Martin goes down. If Jerry plays right tackle it would be harder to shift him to LT in emergencies and then to find a replacement right tackle.

 

Jones you'd take on potential. Sure he didn't step up in houston when Andre went down but no Shaub either.

Burress is old, doesn't run routes, never really did. Only teams that should look at him are playoff teams looking for a tall red zone threat. I'd take him if we got him cheap and didnt commit more than one or two seasons to him.

Driver is old as well. The advantage to him would be his ability to teach other WRS.

Jones is the only one I'd actually want and that's if the coaching staff is high on him because they obviously have more knowledge and access than any of us do. If they passed I wouldn't care.

 

So we're gonna ignore that Jake Long is a top 3, if not the best LT in the NFL because padre31, the supreme judge of oline talent says Jerry played better last season? Jake Long played hurt, basically with one arm all season. I know you hate jake long because I'm sure you're one of those Matt Ryan is a god why did we pass on him people but the general opinion of people who actually know football is that Jake Long is a hall of fame talent. You've made ignorant statements like "linemen don't score TDs" so they shouldn't be drafted in the top two rounds so really your opinion is meaningless.

You build a winning football team from the ball out. If your quarterback can't take a five step drop without getting hit from his blind side, your skill players don't have time to get open. If your line can't create holes for the running game, your RB is going to be hit for a loss (unless he's barry sanders, a once in a lifetime talent) more often than not.

The cowboys dominated a decade behind an enourmous Oline and an amazing defense with a nasty front 7. The Pats also won super bowls behind a nasty front 7, a power running game and a line that later developed into one of the best pass blocking lines in NFL history. Do you honestly think Tom Brady becomes Tom Brady throwing from his back?

 

To be honest, lets all stop with this player or that player is or will make the Pro bowl. Pro Bowl has been a joke for years and years now. Love Jake but lets face it, he had a shiiit season last year, put on IR and he still makes the Pro Bowl ? Really ? No, thats just wrong, he did not deserve it at all. Its gotten to be a popularity contest at best. Even then, when the players actually play the game its a joke. The players that are on teams going to the Super Bowl almost never play in the game at all.

I agree with a recent article I read, NFL is thinking about doing away with the Pro Bowl. IMO, good riddance, its making it all look like a dam joke.

 

Although Jerry may be the size of a garbage truck right now I do have to agree. Jerry played decent in his brief appearance at LT. when Jake went on IR. As a matter of fact, Murtha did not do half bad at LT in the pre season. Like I said, love Jake but the first 5-6 games he played last year was plain horrible due to not practicing all spring or summer and having surgery right when the lockout ended. Then he picked it up a few games and played pretty good, then he hurt his back and that was that. By far, 2011 Jake Long in no shape or form played like a pro bowler and no way he was a top tackle in the NFL, no way

 

who said anything about the pro bowl? Jake Long, if he can stay healthy will end up in the HoF. He's everything and anything a team could want in a LT for any system. If he has another injury plauged season then I could see cutting bait with him but why give up on a talent like that?

Long played hurt and faced most opposing teams best pass rusher on a line with very little help and a quarterback and playcalling that didnt do much to help. Talk like this is crazy just like the article that said long is on his way out save for another bad injury.

 

IMO, the ONLY way Martin does not start from the get go and play the entire season as the starting RT is because of injury.

 

Jake Long was on Finsiders recently and they asked him about his physical health, and he said he is totally 100% now and hasn't felt better in years.

 

which will mean dominance if true but how often does a player say he's not 100 percent lol

I'd like to see someone brough in to play LG. Incog had a lot of holding calls last year because...well he gets beat a lot. I might be spouting nonsense but he seems more like a mauler/run blocker than someone suited for the WCO. I could be wrong. but Im not his biggest fan.

 

We need to hear more about how the team plans to develop OL. Moving Murtha to LG while developing a new right side sounds too much like Sparano's approach, which has resulted in the current dilemma of having too many 'flexible' players but few with proven ability against NFL starters.

Murtha and Garner combine for 3.5 million in salary and have previously had the role as back-up T. Putting Martin in this role provides time to develop RT skills and increase strength, while Murtha and Garner focus at being their best at a single position. If this is team's approach, I think Murtha would stay at RT where he's been training for over 2 years and proclaimed he would be last year's starter.

Green Bay has been very good at developing depth and Ireland likes to hold on to his acorns. Therefore, for a rookie to leapfrogged other young prospects, they would have to prove during preseason to be significantly better, since this will result in cutting an acorn.

My assumption is that training camp will have the following priorities:
1. Is there any activity on Jake Long's contract? (until Long re-signs, Martin cannot focus 100% at RT)
2. Open competition between Murtha and Jerry for RT with veterans at rest of OL (focus on running offense, establishing tempo, correcting WR/TE/RB mistakes versus OL mistakes from learning new positions)
3. Monitor Martin to see if outperforms Murtha and Jerry
4. Determine which RT can be bump inside now and next season if Martin becomes the starter (another desired result is for Murtha/Jerry to have increased trade value)
5. Provide competition at G spots Garner, rookies, and leftovers.

 

To be realistic what is the kid supposed to say. " My side I could not work out is still smaller, less muscular then the side I could work out on and I am still stiff sometimes when making quick moves " ? I am sure he will be 100% fine once the season starts but I bet a billion dollars he is not fully 100% " ready to go " right now.