Nate Newton on playing Pat McQuistan at guard:
He's tall, he's bigger (than Kosier), I think it's a better move when you take a tackle and move him to guard. He's goes from dealing with open space and you close him in, it's like a security blanket.
Mentions Kevin Gogan going from right tackle to guard with his Boys teams.
Guys usually go to another level when moving from tackle to guard, versus the other way around. Nate moved from guard to tackle and then back to guard.
This is the ultimate move for McQ. If he handles this right, it's his job for years to come. He's young, has everything ahead of him. Says that if it was him, he'd tell his wife to shut everything up, Kosier would never see the job again.
That's how you have to be.
McQ is younger, quicker, stronger, doesn't know if he's as technically sound. Might not know the little knicknacks of the game as well. He can make up for that with his athleticism.
Mickey and Rob thought it would be Joe Berger yesterday, but McQ has worked first even though Wade did qualify that the spot is up for grabs. Spags said they wanted to try McQ at guard last year and couldn't with Flo and Cola being rested after off-season knee scopes. The rookie tackles weren't ready to be counted on.
Nate says Corey Procter is also your back-up center, but that he noticed two or three plays where he got blown into the backfield against the Texans. That shocked Nate, thought he played fairly well in spot duty last season.
He likes Doug Free, which should make it easier to play McQ at guard. Eric Williams and coach Hud think free has some kick to him.
Nate agrees with Jimmy Johnson, put your best five linemen on the field. He thinks adding McQ may be our best five.
