Did anyone form an initial opinion on Noll on the

[Woods]

OL?

And any opinion on Polite? Any bets if he supplants Barnes as the FB next season?

[Chocolate Lab]

Noll wasn't horrible, I guess, but on the radio broadcast Brad Sham said he'd heard that Noll was a major project. It sounded like they didn't expect him to really be a big time player.

Polite, I kind of liked, but then I admit I'm not a Barnes fan. At least Polite looked like he was built more like a fullback, a little shorter and thicker. I'd forgotten from camp that he was almost 250 lbs. He looked like he had more sand in his butt than Barnes.

But now I'm not calling Polite a star. :)

[JohnsKey19]

I don't remember Noll getting blown up or completely blowing an assignment, so i guess that's a good start for him.

Didn't see enough of Politte as a blocker to really form an opinion. He certainly looks faster, more fluid and agile than Barnes. Barnes certainly didn't do enough this season to have a strong hold on his starting job for next year.

[Woods]

Thanks guys.

One thing I noticed on Noll from looking at the stats, etc., is that he didn't appear to have ANY holding, false start penalties, or any penalties whatsoever.

For a player in his first game, and playing an away game, that's pretty good. At least he must have "some" focus?

If he held his own his first game, at least Noll could end up as a serviceable 2nd teamer . . . .

[p1_]

I saw him get schooled a time or two, but I saw that from Flo and Al too.

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't remember Noll getting blown up or completely blowing an assignment, so i guess that's a good start for him.

Didn't see enough of Politte as a blocker to really form an opinion. He certainly looks faster, more fluid and agile than Barnes. Barnes certainly didn't do enough this season to have a strong hold on his starting job for next year.


There was a negative play in the first half that I remember. The announcers said it was "Al Johnson" getting major-league pushed back on one play, but it wasn't. It was #60.

[Jersey]

Noll was horrible, often. I am an OL junkie, its my primary focus when I watch the games. He was truly lost out there. Why BP can play him and set Henson is beyond me. Playing him must be sending a major message to Gurode. Why not play Tucker at guard?

[Eddie]

Noll seemed to have problems in short yardage. Then again, why were we running on the Right side on short yardage when we have Flo and Larry on the LEFT side.

Makes sense to me ...

[p1_]

Why not play Tucker at guard?

JJT finally mentioned something about this, 'cause I was wondering the same thing. He says Tucker is too tall to get 'good pad level' at the guard spot. There was also mention that Tucker's senior bowl game performance aat guard was awful, that causing him to go undrafted.

I have been wanting Tucker to get a shot at guard, since he played there in college.

[jterrell]

Noll looked a bit smallish. Not a big road grader. Looked to be pretty steady though in that he didnt suffer the total blown assignments Gurode has.

RG needs to be addressed in the off-season, imho.

[Jersey]

JJT finally mentioned something about this, 'cause I was wondering the same thing. He says Tucker is too tall to get 'good pad level' at the guard spot. There was also mention that Tucker's senior bowl game performance aat guard was awful, that causing him to go undrafted.

I have been wanting Tucker to get a shot at guard, since he played there in college.

Then he has a huge problem. Kevin Gogan was 6-7 and he had no problems with height. Stuff like this is what is killing us. For everything that seemed to break our way in the early 90's, it's coming back to kill us now.

[Jimz31]

Imagine that.....give a guy a chance to play and he just might surprise you.

[junk]

I thought Noll looked pretty lousy. He was getting pushed around quite a bit out there.

I think a RG upgrade is needed. I think Gurode is physically good enough, but mentally challenged.

[pgreptom]

Polite looked a bit more like a fullback to me. He seemed to have better hands, looked a little quicker.. i'd be happy seeing a young movement there.

[Cowboy from New York]

On J Jones's late touchdown run you saw Polite make a block in the backfield, not a devastating one but you can tell the kid doesnt mind contact, Barnes always gives me the impression he'd rather not make a block unless he absolutely has to. No a desireable trait in a FB. Polite or someone else has to replace Barnes for next year, no doubt about it.

[Hollywood Henderson]

I think Barnes was almost awful as a blocker this year, average as a ST player...I watch what makes plays work & what doesn't...
I would be suprised if he even makes the team next year...

Polite did show to be a better blocker when I saw him play and yes, a bigger load with better hands as well from what I have read...

I saw Noll and it seemed to me that he is big enough (Not sure his size) but he lacks footwork as he was beaten in pass blocking...

The whole Oline has disapointed and inconsistant for the most part besides Johnson, who should only get better...

LA was limping around all game it seemed...Flo might finally be switched to RT...
Who knows if LA will be back?

Tucker & Gurode might improve, might not? They are still pretty young...
I expect at least 2 FA vet signings in this area...

Lets also hope a full offseason from Rogers makes him a player next season.

Lets hope Peterman can become a player, your only as strong as you are in the trenches...

[Crown Royal]

OL?

And any opinion on Polite? Any bets if he supplants Barnes as the FB next season?
I thought Noll looked like a RUFA. Hmmm...

As for Polite - he catches better than Barnes. We cut Martin because he couldn't catch. Barnes isn't lighting it up in receptions.

If Polite can continue to catch out of the backfield and block well, he will supplant Barnes.