Even The Iggles Know How To Build An Offensive Line

[Chocolate Lab]

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding this comment...

We had the chance to take Winston Justice, Nick Mangold, Max Jean-Gilles, Davin Joseph, Marcus McNeill, Eric Winston, Charles Spencer, etc. NONE of these players were as good as the ones we took. That's pretty amazing considering VERY FEW publications gave us above a "B" rating on our draft efforts.

Was this a misstatement? If these guys weren't as good as the players we took, then didn't we do the right thing?

I just don't think you can claim that any of these rookies, no matter how highly regarded the Kipers of the world say they are, will be good players. You just don't know yet.

We've tried to draft O-line players for a while now, but with some they just haven't worked out (Rogers, Peterman so far) and with some the draft didn't fall right (Shawn Andrews, Daryn Colledge). But we know all too well around here that you can't reach for players just to fill a certain position, and I for one am glad we haven't done it. What if, for instance, a Gilles turns out to be just an above-average player while Jason Hatcher becomes a star defensive lineman? We'll have made the right move, even if our O-line isn't the best in the league.

Really, if you look around the league, good lines don't always have highly drafted players. Even Jackson, the player exalted in this Philly puff piece, was an undrafted free agent. IMO a lot of what we've lacked has been scouting and player development... Not so much a failure to devote resources to the position.

 

[Alexander]

I
We've tried to draft O-line players for a while now, but with some they just haven't worked out (Rogers, Peterman so far) and with some the draft didn't fall right (Shawn Andrews, Daryn Colledge). But we know all too well around here that you can't reach for players just to fill a certain position, and I for one am glad we haven't done it. What if, for instance, a Gilles turns out to be just an above-average player while Jason Hatcher becomes a star defensive lineman? We'll have made the right move, even if our O-line isn't the best in the league.

It could also be argued that the Rogers and Peterman picks were exactly what you get when you do target a need and take a player at the position not matter if they are a good value or not. Which is amazingly what some are advocating we should have done in April.

But that doesn't matter because everyone heard of Jean-Gilles and immediately scratched their heads at the Hatcher selection.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

Dallas has as well. Flozell, Allen, Andre Gurode, Al Johnson, and Jacob Rogers were all 2nd rounders. Stephen Petermann was a 3rd rounder. Problem is outside of Flozell and Allen, none of these guys have worked out real well. And Allen was drafted 12 years ago.

Rich..........

You're making my point for me. Most of these guys were drafted 3-5 years ago, and not one a 1st rd. pick. I used the Eagles to make a point that even bad lines are better than ours. However, take the Seahawks. At the time of the 2005 draft, they had, from L to R: Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray, & Floyd Womak. They had blocked well enough for Shaun Alexander to gain 1,696 yds. & a 4.8 ave. He lost the rushing title by one yd. to Curtis Martin. So, who do they take in the 2005 1st rd.? Chris Spencer, C, Mississippi. They also took OT Ray Willis from Florida w/the 4th rd. pick. What does Alexander do in '05? Rushes for 1880 yds., & wins the rushing title and league MVP award. The 'Hawks also go all the way to the SB, where they lose to the men in stripes-I mean the Steelers.

My point is-great teams just keep beefing up both sides of the line-EVERY YEAR! Football will never change. You win or lose at the line of scrimmage-end of discussion. You keep picking players who play at the line, even if you have a drawback or two. There is no other choice.