Drafting a Offensive Lineman EARLY in the Draft

[Frosty]

With major holes to fill at Center, Right Tackle and Salary Cap inching closer. It only make sense to Draft a big RT or Center Early on day 1. Lookiing at the FA market only 1 right tackle could be avaiable thats worthy, John Runyan (philly) Yes he is old, but he could come in for a year or two and develop his replacement Rob Pettiti. Then we could draft a Center in the draft. either way draft a one lineman and the other thru FA..we need a Jordan Gross, Shawn Andrews type in this draft and we won't find him in rounds 6 & 7. Those where the majority of hit or miss type players.....

2006 Offensive Lineman

LG Larry Allen
LT Flozell Adams
C Bently (its a reach the saints will pay big to keep him)
RG Rivera (we paid him, its time to produce)
RT John Runyan (developin Pettiti)

Draft a OL early as the future replacement for LA,

 

[VACowboy]

Kevin Barry is my pick in FA, OT, Green Bay. He's 26 and good. We chose Rivera over Wahl last offseason. Lets not make the same mistake again.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Kevin Barry is my pick in FA, OT, Green Bay. He's 26 and good. We chose Rivera over Wahl last offseason. Lets not make the same mistake again.

Ide give Rivera a healthy season before I declare him a mistake. But thats just me.

 

[Eskimo]

I know it may not be a popular idea here after the Jacob Rogers debacle but our best course of action is to draft a quality LT if one drops to us.

If Flo recovers fully, then he can play LT and the rookie can play RT for one year and then they can flip positions. This will give the rookie a chance to get used to playing at NFL speed before entrusting him to the blindside.

If Flo has lost a step, then we can move him to RT and let the rookie play the LT position.

I really do not believe Pettiti isn't going to be the long-term answer at RT. He is obviously a project at this point in time. Hopefully he improves once a real OL coach is brought in and he gets a year in the offseason conditioning program but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[VACowboy]

Wahl is 28 and signed a contract almost identical to Rivera's. He's also going to Honolulu in February. I'm not saying "Rivera was a mistake." I'm saying we mebbe cudda had a younger Pro Bowl guard for the same money.

 

[jterrell]

Wahl is 28 and signed a contract almost identical to Rivera's. He's also going to Honolulu in February. I'm not saying "Rivera was a mistake." I'm saying we mebbe cudda had a younger Pro Bowl guard for the same money.

Actually read the board here and you'll see the deals were not almost the same.

Wahle made about 3 mil more in the first 3 years and wanted to go to Carolina.

Its always easy to say sign so and so but I don't think we ever had a shot at Wahle period.

 

[VACowboy]

I know it may not be a popular idea here after the Jacob Rogers debacle but our best course of action is to draft a quality LT if one drops to us.

If Flo recovers fully, then he can play LT and the rookie can play RT for one year and then they can flip positions. This will give the rookie a chance to get used to playing at NFL speed before entrusting him to the blindside.

If Flo has lost a step, then we can move him to RT and let the rookie play the LT position.

I really do not believe Pettiti isn't going to be the long-term answer at RT. He is obviously a project at this point in time. Hopefully he improves once a real OL coach is brought in and he gets a year in the offseason conditioning program but I wouldn't count on it.

Winston Justice already plays RT, protecting Leinart's blind side. I think he's more than athletic enough to switch sides in the future.

 

[Frosty]

FA is what is, The Draft will bring the most upside but there sure don't seem to be to many day 1 offensive lineman there..

Brickshaw Ferguson: Virgina
Jonathon Scott: Texas
Marcus Mcneil: Auburn
Eric Winston: Miami

Maybe if one of these dropped Big Bill and Jerry could pull the triger

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Actually read the board here and you'll see the deals were not almost the same.

Wahle made about 3 mil more in the first 3 years and wanted to go to Carolina.

Its always easy to say sign so and so but I don't think we ever had a shot at Wahle period.

I agree with that JT. I don't think we did either.

 

[Eskimo]

Winston Justice already plays RT, protecting Leinart's blind side. I think he's more than athletic enough to switch sides in the future.

The names you keep hearing about after Ferguson are McNeil, Scott and Winston all of whom play LT. How does Justice compare to them?

My only concern about going with a college RT (even though he is filling the blindside protector role) is whether he gets challenged by suddenly asking him to play the other side for the rest of his career. I know it seems I am being hypocritical because I just suggested getting a LT so he can play RT for us next year but I envision the player's long-term future at LT and want to make sure he can handle playing that side.

 

[VACowboy]

Actually read the board here and you'll see the deals were not almost the same.

Wahle made about 3 mil more in the first 3 years and wanted to go to Carolina.

Its always easy to say sign so and so but I don't think we ever had a shot at Wahle period.

I guess I consider three mil over three years pretty close. I didn't know he wanted to go to Carolina. My bad.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

FA is what is, The Draft will bring the most upside but there sure don't seem to be to many day 1 offensive lineman there..

Brickshaw Ferguson: Virgina
Jonathon Scott: Texas
Marcus Mcneil: Auburn
Eric Winston: Miami

Maybe if one of these dropped Big Bill and Jerry could pull the triger

I don't see us taking a OT in round one. One of the top three would have to drop.

I think we're going for ILB... Brooks.

 

[burmafrd]

I think if we had had a shot at Wahle we would have made the deal. We didn't so we went with option #2; which this year turned out to be not so good. RIvera was a pro bowl guard with a top reputation as a player and a man and was thought to be as little a risk as you could get for a FA. We just drew snake eyes. BUT he just might make up for it next year- at least I hope so.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The names you keep hearing about after Ferguson are McNeil, Scott and Winston all of whom play LT. How does Justice compare to them?

My only concern about going with a college RT (even though he is filling the blindside protector role) is whether he gets challenged by suddenly asking him to play the other side for the rest of his career. I know it seems I am being hypocritical because I just suggested getting a LT so he can play RT for us next year but I envision the player's long-term future at LT and want to make sure he can handle playing that side.

Well none of the tackles coming out are without blemishes. There are no Orlando Pace's or Ogdens in this draft.

 

[VACowboy]

I think if we had had a shot at Wahle we would have made the deal. We didn't so we went with option #2; which this year turned out to be not so good. RIvera was a pro bowl guard with a top reputation as a player and a man and was thought to be as little a risk as you could get for a FA. We just drew snake eyes. BUT he just might make up for it next year- at least I hope so.

Yeah. You're right. I was way off.

I do like Kevin Barry, though.

 

[jterrell]

Winston Justice already plays RT, protecting Leinart's blind side. I think he's more than athletic enough to switch sides in the future.

Rogers was twice the college player that Justice is. Justice has been an underachiever. I'd be fine drafting him in round 2 but no way at 18.

Marcus McNeill would be sweet at 18. Geez that guy can block.

 

[Eskimo]

Well none of the tackles coming out are without blemishes. There are no Orlando Pace's or Ogdens in this draft.

There are never going to be any LT candidates with blemishes who ever last until pick 18 in any draft.

It isn't often that there are so many legit LT prospects in one draft (last year there were none unless you want to count Barron) - if one drops to given our needs (Flo is no spring chicken and is coming off a serious knee injury) that has to be the pick unless a true impact defender is available.

Brooks doesn't pass the productivity test in college for a dominant player - he does look the part though. I heard there were possibly some attitude issues that may drop him to the second round.

 

[VACowboy]

I don't see us taking a OT in round one. One of the top three would have to drop.

I think we're going for ILB... Brooks.

Would Bill take Brooks at 18?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

There are never going to be any LT candidates with blemishes who ever last until pick 18 in any draft.

It isn't often that there are so many legit LT prospects in one draft (last year there were none unless you want to count Barron) - if one drops to given our needs (Flo is no spring chicken and is coming off a serious knee injury) that has to be the pick unless a true impact defender is available.

Brooks doesn't pass the productivity test in college for a dominant player - he does look the part though. I heard there were possibly some attitude issues that may drop him to the second round.

I don't think they worry about Flo... ACL tears are a dime a dozen anymore and the rehab (as reported) has gone well. Plus he's not at a position where a rehabbed ACL tear isn't career threatening.

I believe Pettiti will be given every opportunity to hold the RT spot without the threat of a 1st rounder over his head.

Brooks is the likely pick cos Parcells "loves" Virginia players and we have a huge hole at ILB.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Would Bill take Brooks at 18?

I think he not only could but will.

Either that or we trade down for more picks.