How does this sound?

[PoetTree]

---


An o-line of:

Flozel Adams, Kyle Kosier, Al Johnson, ANDRE GURODE, Rob Pettiti


The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to replace Rivera with Gurode. I know that erodes our depth at center considerably, but I'm just thinking about getting the best 5 starters on the field.

Parcells continues to affirm that Gurode is better at handling bigger players (as evidence, apparently, by how he's stonewalling Ferguson in practice), and that Al Johnson is better in space. Well, particularly with the added bulk, I think Johnson has a chance to be a good center. Maybe not great, but a guy you can win with.

(Hell, Mark Stepnoski, one of our best centers ever, weighed only 253lbs.)

(Al Johnson, by comparison, is 312lbs.)

But with the reports of Rivera's continued struggles & my remembrance of the game Gurode started against Carolina last season (yeah, the one where Julius racked up 194-yards) I'm thinking that Andre just might be the way to go at right guard.

At guard he would be able to use his larger size & strength to dominate the "big men" across from him. And though he struggled early in his career at guard, I think it's hard not to conclude that he's matured as a player. I mean, he played damned good in that Carolina game last year. Damned good! Particularly after watching Rivera get shoved around all year.

Now, they may try to milk another year out of Rivera. And maybe he's up for it. But I'm thinking Gurode will be starting at right guard before the season is over, and could be our long-term answer at the position when this season is up.

Then, if Kosier turns out to be everything the staff hopes he is & Pettiti continues his rapid development, plugging Gurode in at right guard would then give us a pretty young, pretty talented line for a potentially long time.


I don't know, this could be the wave of our future...





















Peace and Love

- PoetTree -

 

[theogt]

Most of what I have read has been positive on Rivera.

 

[Teague31]

no chance andre beats our marco... al on the other hand.........

 

[Yeagermeister]

If Gurode is not the starting center and Kosier isn't playing well put Gurode at LG.

 

[Hostile]

Trade Greg Ellis for Eric Steinbach in Cincy and plug him in at LG and I'll take it.

 

[jcblanco22]

The most important aspect about the move you're proposing is that Gurode would not have to worry about making line calls as he would were he playing center. That's what we've heard time and time again gives him problems, the mental aspects.

I could see this playing out the way you're proposing if Rivera does not perform too much above last year's level in TC and preseason and/or if Gurode and Johnson just prove to be too good to keep off the field.

We'd still sport Rivera as an excellent backup and could move Gurode back to center were an injury to Johnson necessitate it.

 

[America's Team]

its only the third day you gotta let things play out

 

[TheKey]

its only the third day you gotta let things play out

nothing will be accomplished if we have musical chairs.

 

[MONT17]

I think most people felt fine about the OL 2 weeks ago... we got at least 1 thread a week about how its going to be fine!!!

Let me just say this if FLO has a set back of any kind it will not matter who plays where...

This is where the Boys Scouting Dept. will make its money... I'm willing to bet the Boys will have 3 different starters (who are not currently on the team) by seasons end!

I see the Boys living off of Final TC cuts and other teams practice squads until we get a fit!!!

Parcells said today he mixed the line up in an attempt to find something!

I dont tink Fabini is a lock in his mind, Peteti may look like a different person but noone has felt the need to publish a pic of the guy!

Gurodes mental mistakes are more about focus he forgets that the 3rd down DT likes to shoot the gap even though the coaches told him time and time again!

ALJ anyone who thinks u need size to play Center has never played football! Center is all technique if u dont have it u cant play!

Kosier who knows, it sounds like BILL was saying today, Dehaven likes him... thats what I call passing the buck early! Well, not to be funny but Dehaven is a Teams coach!

When u have a guy who was cut by a CFL team u may have some problems!

as for FLO... I dont get it! we can point to injuries as to why every other OLmen has had troubles but with FLO we expect him to be Bruce Willis in Unbreakable!


I think the OL will be OKAY if they can find some useful parts from other teams... but whats on the roster now... well i dont have to worry because I know most of these guys wont be here if because they reek!!!

 

[AbeBeta]

Better is a healthy Marco Rivera. That would stabilize the line considerably.

Gurode is just a rotation idea that Bill came up with to go against big NTs. Last year Gurode played very little at center -- late in the season his only snaps came the time Johnson was recovering from knee surgery -- even then Bill started Al.

Book this -- Bill will always favor the guy who doesn't make mental errors. Period. End of story.

At other positions -- we need to get lucky - we gotta have at least 2 of these guys show that they can do something -- Peterman, Procter, Columbo, McQuistan. At least 2 have to show they can play at this level -- if we get that then depth becomes less of a problem.

 

[big dog cowboy]

---(Hell, Mark Stepnoski, one of our best centers ever, weighed only 253lbs.)

(Al Johnson, by comparison, is 312lbs.)

I think to much is being made of how much Johnson and Step each weighs. Either you can play football or you can't. If the answer is that you can't, then you need to be replaced.

 

[Clove]

I'm getting really worried about Al Johnson playing center. He was pushed around all last year by DT, and all I've heard from several witnesses, is that even though Al has become a more massive individual, he's still getting pushed around alot.
Somthing has to happen there at center.