Originally posted by Paul_Hofer:Originally posted by krizay:Originally posted by Paul_Hofer:Originally posted by krizay:
So the 110 sacks we gave up the last 2 years is all on Jennings, Snyder and Martz?
The OL's chance of improvement is not all at RT.
Start with Staley who improved in the 2nd half with the firing of Nolan and Warhop. Staley said he went back to blocking techniques (more aggressive) he used in college. Nolan/Warhop wanted him to play more passively. This will also be only his 2nd year at LT.
Rachal will improve the RG position. He took over RG only at mid-year, again with the Nolan subtraction-being-addition firing. A full TC at RG (he practiced some last year at RT) should only improve his work.
Baas, a full year of work at RG behind him, and Heitmann, a second year from injury, should be at least as good as last year and likely improve.
Cohesion so important to the OL unit should benefit from the half-year Staley-Baas-Heitmann-Rachal spent together. The five-man unit (with Smith) having TC together is another thing the OL didn't have last year.
I counted 1 chance and 3 shoulds.
If these guys are as good as many of posters are claiming. They either A: wouldn't have been a part of a line that gave up the most sacks in team history. Or B: Wouldn't have been sitting behind guys that helped give up the most sacks in team history.
I suppose that there is a chance it can become a great offensive line. But it won't be because we signed Marvel Smith. Our problems up front stemmed alot further than RT. I find it hard to believe that all 4 guys will improve to the extent of us having a "Top 10 offensive line" That with adding a new guy. Who very well may not play/practice a whole heck of alot during TC because of his injury history. Which would just throw one of your "should"'s right out the window.
It's hard for this board to expect/predict better or good play. They have to expect/predict Top 10ish numbers and pro bowl type stuff. We seriously have like 25 guys who are suppose to breakout this season.
I haven't said the OL will be top ten. But they "should" improve over last year, with a "chance" to be significantly better. Even being an average-performing OL will be significant. My point is that each position "should" improve, not just RT. Just recreating last year's 2nd half results will be an improvement, and that was without M. Smith.
No you didn't say it. But you responded to me responding to someone else who did.
