Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Originally posted by pasodoc9er:okay, doc, your repeated preaching of the gospel according to Lombardi raises a question: what's the difference between building an o-line and building a d-line?
"Build your lines first" ....V. L. When you look at the number of DLs we have acquired via draft or FA, it is lopsided compared to OL, going back into baalke's time here. Our OL acquisitions are way, way less than we have made for the DL. And yes, we had the #32 D in the league prior to Kyle, JOhn and Saleh. Specifically we could not stop runs up the gut. Everyone remembers how sickening that was. Well, Salem changed that to middle of the pack. We still lack the ER, and probably will once again, unless we get lucky and draft a young prospect and coach him up..
Meantime, it is time to splurge on the OL and bring it up to par. It is not that it is substandard, it is poor and cannot protect our FRANCHISE, #10.
So if we bought Norwell in FA, (gonna be top $$, no question about it), well that is way overdue. Then to commit to Nelson in draft...that would be perfect. That would still get us only 2/3 of the way there. We either need a Richburg or a genuine draft starter at C...or a guy who is not that far off of starting. And if Nelson is gone, then we are in need of one of the many OGs in draft or maybe two. But somehow, we need 2 OG starters and one C starter plus at least one or more OG/Cs to coach up. Forget OTs this yr as not really good yr for them. But load up on top flite OGs and Cs. Great yr for them. And based on the OL John and Kyle put together last yr (admittedly not a great lot to choose from) they owe us a good one this yr. I believe we will get it.
doesn't the o-line require more cohesiveness and "chemistry" while the d-line can rely more on individuals with great physical skills and techniques? aside from some "twists" or "stunts" the d-line doesn't really execute "plays" the way an o-line does--and has to--on every snap, does it?
so it may take longer, more reps together, to build an o-line than a d-line, and won't just magically happen by throwing 5 new guys together, no matter how great their physical abilities might be. it takes time together and coaching, to get all 5 guys to execute all their assignments together, cohesively on every play.
so I look for shanny to build his o-line with patience--working newer talents into his system slowly, after they prove they can execute it as backups in practice and on the ps. NOT by drafting or signing 3 or 4 new guys and then just starting them and hoping everything works out ok.
that might prove detrimental to the FQB.
Hey , OND, good points all. Yes, the OL does require chemistry...but also talent . With current Interior OL, Kilgore, Fsco, Laken, we don't have the talent to protect JG.
You are correct the OL has to learn to work together. That is why I like Norwell so much. He is an all pro, still young enough but a real foundation to build your interior OL on. We aren't throwing 5 new guys together out there, but will be throwing three together. And yes it will take time to get all 5 on the same page. But Joe S and Trenton are already broken in. That's another reason I also like Sitton PLUS Norwell, even at an inflated price for Norwell of $12 mil/yr...or worse. Sitton has experience and would help immensely. Then if NELSON happened to fall to us (remember CLEVE can screw up a hammer) and do anything nutty if possible. But most likely Norwell is gone and we go Landry, Roquan, etc. We DO have our CB(assuming Achilles is healthy). So #9 is a starter no matter who we take. But Nelson would be extra special and make that OL NFL dominant.
As for working new talent in slowly to the OL, OND...I would just point out that Kilgore, Fsco, Laken...have proven they cannot protect JG. Yes they looked better because Jimmy got the ball out quick, but he can only take so much of a beating back there after throwing the ball. We don't have the option of getting the OL better slowly, IMO. We got that $137 mil package out there and have to protect him from the gitgo in game 1. If that all the OL can do...protect our passer, initially, fine by me. They can work on learning run blocking together slowly. But our die has been cast. We have our FR QB and protecting him has just become job #1. But come season, we better be prepared to protect our Franchise, #10. Only high quality new blood will do that.
Originally posted by Giedi:
