Columbo to LT?

[The Quest for Six]

You've never played football have you?

Actually I have, if you think attitude is what's key to play left tackle in the NFL, I got news for you..why do you think Leonard Davis isn't playing left tackle, because he doesn't have the attitude, or would it be that he's not agile enough.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Actually I have, if you think attitude is what's key to play left tackle in the NFL, I got news for you..why do you think Leonard Davis isn't playing left tackle, because he doesn't have the attitude, or would it be that he's not agile enough.

Can I take a guess?

 

[Big Dakota]

Flo will be playing LT next year.

 

[CowboyWay]

Actually I have, if you think attitude is what's key to play left tackle in the NFL, I got news for you..why do you think Leonard Davis isn't playing left tackle, because he doesn't have the attitude, or would it be that he's not agile enough.

LD was WAY too big to play LT. Always has been. But I bet he could muster it if he had the attitude to match his size. He's never had the killer instinct attitude that a LT needs.

FLozell is 20lbs bigger than Columbo. So all these guys who say he is too big, are nuts. Maybe he just flat out does'nt have the athletic ability, but he definetely has the attitude.

 

[Eskimo]

How is drafting a college player in the first round to play LT more certain than promoting the guy that you see play everyday in practice, who gets to go up against the premier pass rusher in practice everyday and who has shown the feet necessary to play LT in the NFL in the mirror opposite position at RT (even though he was an LT in college and that is his preferred and natural position).

We do need to draft more OL depth but once Flo moves on Free is going to be our LT. Jerry, Houck and Garrett have already figured that part out. There is no need to trade up in the draft to fill a non-existent need.

We should be looking at OL, ILB and Safety as our top priorities.

 

[Paniolo22]

LT is really about feet, strength, and arm length. Columbo has the arm length and strength, but not the feet. Same with Davis. You can't teach it. Free has the arm length and feet, but not strength. That you can improve. Free seems to be the future at the position due to his progress at RT. I don't see Jerry going tackle early unless a steal is there at pick 32.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

LT is really about feet, strength, and arm length. Columbo has the arm length and strength, but not the feet. Same with Davis. You can't teach it. Free has the arm length and feet, but not strength. That you can improve. Free seems to be the future at the position due to his progress at RT. I don't see Jerry going tackle early unless a steal is there at pick 32.

Who says it has to be a tackle at the end of the 1st round?

There could be the top guard or center available at that spot. And given the age/depth of the guard/center position on this team, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a top-flight guard or center at the end of round 1.

 

[DFWJC]

I don't think Colombo moves well enough for LT, but i could be wrong.

 

[gimmesix]

LT is really about feet, strength, and arm length. Columbo has the arm length and strength, but not the feet. Same with Davis. You can't teach it. Free has the arm length and feet, but not strength. That you can improve. Free seems to be the future at the position due to his progress at RT. I don't see Jerry going tackle early unless a steal is there at pick 32.

Although I do think Free's athleticism makes him the eventual successor at left tackle, I think Colombo is getting too little credit for his ability to handle the role.

Before he got hurt, he was starting to look like a long-term answer at left tackle for the Bears. He doesn't have great movement skills, but he might be the most technically sound lineman we have, which helps him overcome his athletic deficiences. He doesn't guess or play off-balance, which helps him counter speed.

Now, his physical play makes him better suited for right tackle, but I don't believe Colombo being able to handle the left side is far-fetched.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Although I do think Free's athleticism makes him the eventual successor at left tackle, I think Colombo is getting too little credit for his ability to handle the role.

Before he got hurt, he was starting to look like a long-term answer at left tackle for the Bears. He doesn't have great movement skills, but he might be the most technically sound lineman we have, which helps him overcome his athletic deficiences. He doesn't guess or play off-balance, which helps him counter speed.

Now, his physical play makes him better suited for right tackle, but I don't believe Colombo being able to handle the left side is far-fetched.

You'd see Bigg at LT before Colombo.

Free at LT and Colombo at RT, makes more sense to me than the other way.

 

[gimmesix]

You'd see Bigg at LT before Colombo.

Free at LT and Colombo at RT, makes more sense to me than the other way.

Colombo was better during his time at LT than Davis was during his time at LT.

But as far as Free going to LT ahead of Colombo, I agree with that. I think Free is better suited for the role (which I said). I just also think some are discounting Colombo's ability to handle it simply because he lacks great athleticism.

 

[Paniolo22]

Who says it has to be a tackle at the end of the 1st round?

There could be the top guard or center available at that spot. And given the age/depth of the guard/center position on this team, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a top-flight guard or center at the end of round 1.

I'd be ok with a G or C. I was furious that Seattle stole the kid from Oregon from us this past draft, and we definitely need players to push our starters there.

 

[Four]

line play is the single most misunderstood thing about football.

I know I am a ****** about it because I played every position on the line(center is the hardest, I don't care what anyone says), it annoys me none the less.

 

[Eskimo]

Who says it has to be a tackle at the end of the 1st round?

There could be the top guard or center available at that spot. And given the age/depth of the guard/center position on this team, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a top-flight guard or center at the end of round 1.

If OL is the top value on the board, I would take it at virtually any of the spots but I wouldn't trade up for an LT prospect.

I am still really hoping a dynamic ILB with some pass rushing but more importantly excellent instincts and coverage skills is available. We really need a guy like that to counter all the receiving TEs on the contending teams - Celek, Shockey, Gates, Dallas Clark (Indy), etc.

 

[Eskimo]

Colombo was better during his time at LT than Davis was during his time at LT.

But as far as Free going to LT ahead of Colombo, I agree with that. I think Free is better suited for the role (which I said). I just also think some are discounting Colombo's ability to handle it simply because he lacks great athleticism.

You're talking about ancient history with Colombo at LT - ? 2003. That was before his leg injury and nerve injury.

Bigg is thought to be a failure at LT but I think he made the Pro Bowl as an alternate and his numbers were comparable to Flo's (and that's not Flo's bad year in 2002).

 

[sago1]

Colombo was drafted by the Bears to be their future LT but they started him in his rookie year at LT. He suffered a very severe knee injury a few games into the season. Bears cut him about 2 years after the injury cause his rehab simply washn't going well. Fortunately Parcells gave him a chance & signed him in Nov 2006 to 2 year contract; he told Colombo to spend rest of 06 season rehabbing his knee & we would try to use him in 2007. Fortunately his rehab was successful to the extent he won the starting RT job. However, he never able to regain the full dexterity needed to play LT. There was simply too much damage done to his knee.

 

[VThokie7]

Who says it has to be a tackle at the end of the 1st round?

There could be the top guard or center available at that spot. And given the age/depth of the guard/center position on this team, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a top-flight guard or center at the end of round 1.

With Gurode still under a fairly large deal I would be pretty annoyed if we took a center at the end of round 1. And probably slightly annoyed if we spent a 1st on a guard when you can typically find good guard prospects later. Then again our history proves we haven't been so good at that feat.

With the makeup of our team, it looks like we will likely be drafting for depth either way though. Outside of maybe Safety or DE if Spears leaves in free agency.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

With Gurode still under a fairly large deal I would be pretty annoyed if we took a center at the end of round 1. And probably slightly annoyed if we spent a 1st on a guard when you can typically find good guard prospects later. Then again our history proves we haven't been so good at that feat.

With the makeup of our team, it looks like we will likely be drafting for depth either way though. Outside of maybe Safety or DE if Spears leaves in free agency.

I understand the Gurode thing, but I can not think of another spot on the team where the drop off from stater to 2nd stringer is wider than at center.

And top-flight centers can many times be used at guard, so I don't think grabbing a center in round one would be a bad move.

 

[FLcowboy]

I think Brewster's ultimate position is greatly unsettled.

That were many that figured he to be a better prospect at guard.

I seem to remember he was drafted for guard, specifically left guard. Bigg has a few more years. I think the O-line might be getting better next year.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

If OL is the top value on the board, I would take it at virtually any of the spots but I wouldn't trade up for an LT prospect.

I am still really hoping a dynamic ILB with some pass rushing but more importantly excellent instincts and coverage skills is available. We really need a guy like that to counter all the receiving TEs on the contending teams - Celek, Shockey, Gates, Dallas Clark (Indy), etc.

No, I wouldn't trade up either.

I'd take the best lineman I could at whatever spot it was in the first round.

If a higher rated center or guard is available over a tackle, then I'm taking the higher rated player.

I think you're underselling Williams and at least need to see if the kid on IR (Hodge) can contribute anything.

Carpenter is here for one more year.

I just can't see the team spending a 1st round pick on an ILB at this point.