Imo, we cannot pass up on high graded OGs for the hope and gamble that McGovern can suddenly up his game and be a fit starter for the
LG role.
1) McGovern had his chance at gaining the LG role when they benched Williams and implanted McGovern at LG.
2) McGovern failed at that chance, he was benched and the penalty plagued Williams regained his starting role.
3) OG and RB are probably the easiest position to transcend and adjust in the NFL,.
4) Usually a high regarded OG is an immediate plug and play guy;
I'll start with my conclusion:
- I reviewed all of this snaps vs KC/Saints/Washington.
- If only 1 interior OL is added, I would prefer to upgrade OC and play McGovern at LG.
- Obviously an All Pro upgrade at both positions would be nice, but unlikely this season.
LG Connor Williams struggled with penalties and was replaced for 4 games by Connor McGovern.
- The overall OLine didn't improve during that time and Connor Williams regained the starting role.
I had said prior to the McGovern experiment that CM would not be an upgrade over CW.
- i.e. I was not 'Pro McGovern'.
- Having said that, it was the logical decision to try McGovern due to CW's penalty issues.
McGovern Game Footage
- McGovern was better than I remembered.
- His issues were primarily mental (technique/awareness/angles).
- He has 'good enough' power and athleticism.
- He managed to hold up to Chris Jones in the KC game on most snaps.
- There were a couple of snaps where Jones whipped him, but Chris Jones does that to many OLinemen.
- The bigger issue was the overall OLine.
- If CM or CW had played between prime years Tyron and Frederick, then they would have been OK.
- Instead the OC was Biadasz and LT Tyron was out for 6 games.
- Steele is good at RT but not at LT. Nsekhe is a career backup.
- Summary:
- He looked capable but tentative. Almost like a young QB that has ability but tends to panic.
- I'm somewhat surprised they didn't give him another start.
- They won 2 of the 4 games that McGovern started at LG including the final 2.
OL Coach
- It has come out this off-season that the OL coach favored CW over McGovern.
- It was a McCarthy decision to try McGovern.
- CW didn't have penalty issues until McCarthy and staff were hired.
- The Packers OL under McCarthy were known for a specific method of holding.
- This holding technique was against the rules but subtle enough to avoid excessive penalties.
- I think the OL coach supported Connor Williams because he is the one that taught him to hold.
- There have been articles about the Green Bay holding technique and sports talk discussions about it.
- GB's approach was similar to the Legion of Boom and their approach to penalties.
- Basically the LoB strategy was that eventually the Refs would give up calling penalties.
- The league requires refs to limit penalties to keep game times within limits.
1) McGovern had his chance at gaining the LG role when they benched Williams and implanted McGovern at LG.
2) McGovern failed at that chance, he was benched and the penalty plagued Williams regained his starting role.
3) OG and RB are probably the easiest position to transcend and adjust in the NFL,.
4) Usually a high regarded OG is an immediate plug and play guy;
5) McClay gave McGovern a 2nd round grade, thought he was too valuable to pass up in 3rd rd.
6) Philibin has never been fond of McGovern; wasn't here when we drafted him, forced to play him per team injuries, Covid
7) among the skinniest arms i think i've ever seen on an interior player; looks like Jarwin's arms
5) McClay gave McGovern a 2nd round grade, thought he was too valuable to pass up in 3rd rd.
6) Philibin has never been fond of McGovern; wasn't here when we drafted him, forced to play him per team injuries, Covid
7) among the skinniest arms i think i've ever seen on an interior player; looks like Jarwin's arms
- Cowboys did not even invite Linderbaum in as a 30 day visitee, what's the likelihood of drafting him in the first rd ?
- Ironically Cowboys reportedly never interviewed McGovern but eventually drafted him in the 3rd round.