lot of talk about our OL

[Mike 1967]

I like your thinking on this, but what about Rivera? Remember, we just paid through the nose for the guy. I don't think we could get rid of him even if we tried (unless the Texans take him) I really think he'll improve next season with another year to get healthy and get his confidence back.

So, this is how I see it...

LT - Flozell/Tucker
LG - Allen w/ Paycut/Gurode
C - Bentley/Johnson/Gurode
RG - Rivera/Gurode
RT - McNeill/Pettiti

Realistically....I think we should cut our losses with Rivera....or...if he has gauranteed money then keep him as a backup.

He is old....and had a back injury.

Back injury's tend to be degenerative and tend to occur to older players. And it is especially a handicap when you are talking about a lineman who is trying to muscle open holes.

 

[Chief]

I would start from scratch ... starting with the offensive line coach.

Bring in five free agents that will play hard and aren't stupid.

Let Flozell compete for a job. He's played hard one year during his tenure in Dallas (Parcells' first year).

The rest of them aren't even worth considering and, yes, that includes Allen.

Just my opinion.

 

[CowboyChris]

I would start from scratch ... starting with the offensive line coach.
Bring in five free agents that will play hard and aren't stupid.
Let Flozell compete for a job. He's played hard one year during his tenure in Dallas (Parcells' first year).
The rest of them aren't even worth considering and, yes, that includes Allen.
Just my opinion.

i wouldnt mind that at all, but in todays salary cap world, can we afford to do that? bringin in 5 FA's on the OL isnt going to be cheap you know, unless you are collecting other teams garbage.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

I like your thinking on this, but what about Rivera? Remember, we just paid through the nose for the guy. I don't think we could get rid of him even if we tried (unless the Texans take him) I really think he'll improve next season with another year to get healthy and get his confidence back.

So, this is how I see it...

LT - Flozell/Tucker
LG - Allen w/ Paycut/Gurode
C - Bentley/Johnson/Gurode
RG - Rivera/Gurode
RT - McNeill/Pettiti

I still think we need some more bodies for camp. IMO, Gurode cant be counted on to backup two postions, until he proves himself. We need a RT, future RG, competition at C and LT, and either Peterman must step up, Rogers backs up Flo, Tucker moves to guard or Pettiti moves to guard for depth reasons. If we get Bentley our Oline instantly becomes very good at running the ball. So with Bentley and McNeil/Rookie OT we become a team that can pound the ball in the running game.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

Realistically....I think we should cut our losses with Rivera....or...if he has gauranteed money then keep him as a backup.
He is old....and had a back injury.
Back injury's tend to be degenerative and tend to occur to older players. And it is especially a handicap when you are talking about a lineman who is trying to muscle open holes.

Very true about the back injury. But if it really was the elbow injuries he just got operated on, how dependable is this guy to start? 3 Surgeries in less than 6 months in spots that are nessecary for Olineman. His contract needs to be restructured so we can either cut him soon or afford to just keep him as a backup.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Good to see you, Chief... Don't be a stranger...

 

[AbeBeta]

I don't understand why people excuse Petitti's performance out there this year - he was downright horrid. He had no business starting at RT this year and was consistently abused by second tier DEs. His quickness is poor, the angles in his dropback were poor, he easily got overpowered and his initial punch was very weak. He also didn't seem to work well with TEs when they were supposed to be helping him with double teams.

'mo -- can you tell us which second tier DEs abused Petitti?

Looking back over the games, I recall that Strahan abused him for 5 sacks, Peppers ate him up for 3 more, and Little got him for 1.5. It is tougher to evaluate the running game -- and Rob clearly gave up far too many sacks. But I see a guy who gave up a lot of sacks to some very good players. He seemed to be alright when he went against the mediocre guys.

Then I look at the other side -- Tucker got lit up by guys like Daniels and Hargrove.

 

[Clove]

Tucker can back up a guard IMO, that's his natural position. Petitti needs to lose alot of weight, and work on his foot work to be a back up at this point. If he can't do that, I would put him on the PS.

We need to draft a RT but I'm not sure it should be a 1st rounder. We're freaking out over what Petitti and Tucker did to us, but remember that Tucker is not a tackle, and Petitti is a late round draft choice. If we pick up an average Tackle in FA, and draft a tackle in the 2nd/3rd round, the problem is fixed.

We don't need an all world RT, we just need one with a pulse. Petitti had no pulse and Tucker was way out of position. We need to bring in a solid soild RT to keep Bledsoe upright atleast 80% of the time. Someone who will allow us to block with 5 linemen 20% of the time. That would give us the opportunity to put 3 wr/ Witten/and Julius or Barber in the passing plays all at once, giving Bledsoe 5 targets to throw too.

 

[canters]

Adams stays
Allen stays unless we can find a better player. He has lost a lot of footwork and balance, but do we have a better player?
Johnson must upgrade his play or be replaced
Rivera gets another year to pan out.
We draft a RT in either round 1 or 2.

Gurode is a quality reserve, as will Rob and Tucker.

 

[AbeBeta]

I would start from scratch ... starting with the offensive line coach.

That's a total over reaction -- the line is a unit. any one weak part of the unit screws the entire line. We were OK before Flo went down -- not great but OK.

Petitti is credited with giving up 13.5 sacks and Tucker with 12.5 -- but Tucker only had 10 starts, meaning he was worse. We would have had a couple more wins with Flo in there.

You replace one or two bad parts and you've got a solid line. Unlike many folks I'm not sold on Petitti being a bad player -- he's a rookie who had his worst days against Strahan (twice) and Peppers -- you take out the 8 sacks he gave up to those guys and his numbers would look much better. Tucker's worst day came against Phillip Daniels - eek. Petitti got owned by guys who should be owning rookie 6th round picks.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's a total over reaction -- the line is a unit. any one weak part of the unit screws the entire line. We were OK before Flo went down -- not great but OK.
Petitti is credited with giving up 13.5 sacks and Tucker with 12.5 -- but Tucker only had 10 starts, meaning he was worse. We would have had a couple more wins with Flo in there.
You replace one or two bad parts and you've got a solid line. Unlike many folks I'm not sold on Petitti being a bad player -- he's a rookie who had his worst days against Strahan (twice) and Peppers -- you take out the 8 sacks he gave up to those guys and his numbers would look much better. Tucker's worst day came against Phillip Daniels - eek. Petitti got owned by guys who should be owning rookie 6th round picks.

I agree. I think Petitti had a rough season and got his butt handed to him on occasions but I also realize he is a rookie playing a very tough position going up against some of the games best sack artist. He needs learn from his mistakes and put a lot of work in this off-season especially in his foot work. On the other side I'm not happy at all with the play of Tucker who still looks bad.

 

[Chief]

That's a total over reaction -- the line is a unit. any one weak part of the unit screws the entire line. We were OK before Flo went down -- not great but OK.
Petitti is credited with giving up 13.5 sacks and Tucker with 12.5 -- but Tucker only had 10 starts, meaning he was worse. We would have had a couple more wins with Flo in there.
You replace one or two bad parts and you've got a solid line. Unlike many folks I'm not sold on Petitti being a bad player -- he's a rookie who had his worst days against Strahan (twice) and Peppers -- you take out the 8 sacks he gave up to those guys and his numbers would look much better. Tucker's worst day came against Phillip Daniels - eek. Petitti got owned by guys who should be owning rookie 6th round picks.

You're being too analytical and putting way too much thought into this.

Blow it up and start over.

I don't like the wide receivers either.

 

[BigDFan5]

You're being too analytical and putting way too much thought into this.

Blow it up and start over.

I don't like the wide receivers either.

sarcasm? I hope.

 

[AbeBeta]

You're being too analytical and putting way too much thought into this.
Blow it up and start over.
I don't like the wide receivers either.

you are right -- I'll try to be less realistic -- does anyone have a copy of Madden I can borrow -- I'd like to work on my ability to over inflate player value to start.

 

[BigDFan5]

you are right -- I'll try to be less realistic -- does anyone have a copy of Madden I can borrow -- I'd like to work on my ability to over inflate player value to start.

Andre gurode Rox0rs!?!?!?! he can get us a 1st!

 

[superpunk]

Quit raggin on Madden. It's the greatest video game of all time, even if every year, they basically release the same game, just with updated rosters.
In other news, I think if we give up our first, second, and Roy Williams this year, the Colts will give us Edge AND Peyton. But, I'll have to check on that when I get home.

 

[31smackdown]

Didn't the Buffalo and NE fans warn us that our OLINE would all of the sudden begin to resemble a turnstyle with Bledsoe at the helm?... I'm pretty sure they did.
Not that he's the full reason, but I saw a lot of QB's get pressured this year.. some just happen to move, drift or scramble to help the situation. Instead of using the happy feet, happy feet, pat, pat, pat, "look at me. I'm a statue" technique... but hey... that guy is hard to bring down and can take a hit I tell ya.

 

[Dye]

on the surface, taking away peppers and strahan's sack-fest is only the start. it was clear our offense was stifled and quite limited due to the help pettiti received during the course of the season. imagine if he didn't receive help, his sacks-allowed numbers would be even higher. add that with the number of times bledsoe was hurried or flushed to another defensive player.

i think it was commendable for a 6th rounder to be able to start as a rookie. unfortunately, he was nowhere close to being ready to assume the starting position. i wouldn't abandon all hope for pettit but he needs to time to develop.

i'd like to see us draft two quality linemen and a couple more solid, proven players who can anchor that right side. what we have now - from the center to the right tackle, isn't going to get it done.

 

[Clove]

I'd like to see us draft two quality linemen and a couple more solid, proven players who can anchor that right side. what we have now - from the center to the right tackle, isn't going to get it done.

Yet I would not go 1st round on a tackle. As far as I'm concerned, and this is just my opinion.

the 1st round is designed for your Exotic positions on the team. QB/WR/HB/CB/DE.

If you don't need any of those, then the next to me is MLB/LT/DT/TE
After that, you can fix the rest of the areas.

My only argument would be a player that is so overwhelmingly great, you have to take him, and I don't see that in the Tackle position in this draft.
McNeill seems to be fairly close, but he's going to have issues with the speedy guys, as is most of them.

So in my "world", I would go either ILB or DT.
BP won't get a QB.
I don't see us going after a RB
I dont' see a game changing WR
We're set at CB
I can see us going after another DE/OLB in FA.
So the next on my list would be ILB or DT.
I see several guys in FA that can solidify us at RT or in the 2nd and even 3rd round.

The guys that I see us getting at the Tackle position will more than likely be gone, and it doesn't guarantee us they will protect Bledsoe very well.

 

[ravidubey]

Petitti reminds me of Kevin Gogan who despite his height was best suited as a guard. Of course Rob was injured and is very young so he may improve his footwork and power yet. Regardless, Petitti will be a valuable part of the team next year.

We need to find a at RT who can play, that might end up being Petitti, but right now I doubt it.