http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-clabo-0616-20130615,0,3643423.story?track=rss More ...
For some reason, I thought Clabo was African-American. not that it matters. just excited as hell that we finally have a solid RT.
Is it too much to ask for a newspaper to get its facts right? Sigh. Pouncey is entering his third year, not second.
yep i caught that too yesterday, i even played police and wrote them an email about it no answer of course Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
I have two questions about the reshuffling of the OL and this seems as good of a thread as any to post them. First is with Clabo - He has made it clear that the Phins were pretty high on his list of teams that were a good fit for him but it doesn't seem like the FO was initial as excited about him (since we spent more time flirting with Winston, McKinney and others). So my questions is why were we not interested initially? Did the FO think they couldn't afford him but then his price dropped and they were thrilled to get him or is there something about his game that they were turned off by but ended up settling for. The second questions is concerning Long. By all counts his wife wanted to stay in Miami, he was being courted by teammates to stay and the Phins offer a contract in the same range (if not more) than the Rams. So why did Jake leave? Was he that unhappy with the coaching staff or FO? Does he think the Rams have a better window of opportunity?
Hope the editors give the young intern a talking to.... But that likely won't happen.... all they care about is hits on the website and papers sold...if they get a hit or two more because one of their young writers did something like.....get her facts wrong....well, that doesn't matter, does it ??
To answer your first question, and this is just pure conjecture, but there might have been more question marks with Winston and McKinnie. McKinnie, notorious for his weight at the start of last year, and Winston, who had been cut by 2 teams in 2 years. Clabo made the Pro Bowl 2 years ago and might have just been a cap casualty for the Falcons.
My opinion on your second question is that Long realized he was a better schematic fit in St. Louis. I think he's pretty average in the run game as a zone blocker. I also think his injuries have made him pretty average as a pass blocker (regardless of the scheme). So here he'd be average all around. I was not happy with the idea of paying > $9 mill/per for an average LT. In St. Louis, I think he at least has the potential to be an elite run blocker for a few years if he can stay healthy.
Agreed, but that's why its puzzling. Clabo was cut by the Falcons back in April but the FO continued to kick the tires on Winston, Justice, McKinnie etc... without really pursuing Clabo until the end.
He should still be a pretty good pass protector at this point, kind of a pedestrian run blocker. One thing I do wonder about is how, at his age, he's going to deal with the pace of the offense. Dolphins ultimately want to be one of those offenses run at blinding speeds. Can he at his age handle that?
1 year rental, I'm looking for a tackle next year, doesn't keep in good enough shape imo to be one of those guys who play late in their careers.
What's the matter? Don't like his buttocks? Clabo is or has been extremely durable. There is no better way to measure how well a player stays in shape. They all don't need a build that gives you a chubby in your dungarees.
I don't think there is a tremendous amount of correlation here. There are plenty of players who look like **** who play at a high level late into their careers.
He's a pretty good player, all I said was that I'm gonna look for the replacement next year, are you give a multiyear deal to a 32 year old right tackle? The body stuff was secondary, getting younger would be a priority for me if I'm the Gm.
Yeah there's some of course, your body doesn't affect your functional movement unless your seriously overweight, i understand that and im not close minded to the contrary, however, my theory on this is if that specific athlete you speak of was more dedicated to training their bodies at optimum levels, they would be even better players, just like many players in this league. Any player who is not going full metal jacket on their training for their sport is only cheating themselves, their families, their teammates, their employers and their fans.
I believe there are many strong correlations between poor play, college busts, shorter careers, and intelligent strength training, nutrition, and strong work ethic..( this is not about tyson Clabo, just in general) If I'm directing a scouting staff for a team, it's going to be 2nd on the list after position specific movement.
British/Irish boxer, Tyson Fury. Outstanding name for a boxer...pity a name is all he really share with Iron Mike, he's **** as boxer.
IMO Long was uncomfortable with the the new offensive scheme and his performance last year demonstrated that.He is a better fit on the Rams offense IMO.
Just didnt fit the zone scheme I guess.. ??.. Is there a difference in the way a left tackle pass blocks in a zone scheme as opposed to a more man on man scheme? I know there are differences in the run game but how bout the pass? It seemed to me Jake gave a lot of space up off the snap in pass protection relative to the sparano years, I saw a lot of guys get into his chest last year.
He said himself that he played in a zone blocking scheme at Michigan. I heard him say it in an interview last year. His performance in said scheme was apparently good enough to get drafted 1st overall. IMO, there is more to it, than just saying he is better suited, more comfortable, or what have you, in a man blocking scheme now. We can all speculate, but may never really know all the true reasons why his performance last year returning to a zone scheme was worse than it was before.
Well you know how I think when it comes to jake leaving, guess I'm still trying to convince myself I was wrong.
Seems the prevailing theory is that he left because he is better suited to a man blocking scheme. But if that is the case why did the FO offer him a similar contract to the Rams? I agree with Mr. Clean in that there is something else here that we don't and may never know.
IMO, no, there isn't much of a schematic difference in pass pro between zone and man. I think the difference in Long was physical. I think the back and knee injuries have taken away a step. He was always borderline in terms of foot speed (in terms of being an elite tackle). He made up for it with excellent technique and abnormally long arms. I think the speed loss has dropped enough that he can no longer compensate and is now an average pass protector who really struggles against speed. I don't have much faith that he'll ever be that elite LT again. I think that going forward he is an average pass protector and an above average run blocker in a man scheme (but an average run blocker in a zone scheme that favors more movable linemen).
I thought it was out of loyalty (part of a culture where you reward your own, which I generally agree with) and the hope that he could regain his previous form. I don't believe that if Long had been a FA with no connection to Miami that the team would have offered that big of a contract.
Not the scheme.. Wife wanted to stay in Miami. We were his original team. We offered him a little more money. His teammates were rallying for him to stay publicly.. He left anyways. Unfortunately I was right about him last preseason.
May need to drop a few pounds (from 329 - maybe to 320?) and work to keep his wind up. But, one would think it would tax John Jerry a good bit as well ... But, there are a lot of athletes who are in their 30's in different sports who are able to keep their wind / endurance up pretty high - it seems to me. Hopefully he'll be motivated to come into camp in great shape. Also hope Jerry does so.
Clabo like Clemons and Keller was given a year for both $$$$$ reasons AND to buy time for the development of other players. Depending on how this year goes (and the development of guys like Yeatman, McCray, Egnew, Sims et al ... ) will determine what happens to the handful of 1 year signings. I don't include Grimes in this as his bargain was simply an injury induced signing ... I do believe we will sign him again at the end of this season regardless of how well our development players do (assuming he is healthy) .... Similar to Starks ... we will see how the season plays out, but don't expect to see us resign him next year - UNLESS Soliai underwhelms ... i can't see us keeping more than 1 of them.