gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
- Messages
- 40,008
- Reaction score
- 37,150
I went back over the tape last night, specifically focusing on the offensive line, and was surprised to see James Marten have a really solid game at right tackle. Up until this game he was the odd man out, especially after acquiring Montrae Holland, but now I just think Dallas was trying at a position that's not a good fit for him. At tackle, he showed very good form, cutting off the inside rush and moving and sliding to push rushers wide on outside rushes. It might have been a product of whom he was facing, but he just played very well and I hope that after Dallas reviews the tape that it keeps him and leaves him at tackle.
The next-best lineman was probably Cory Proctor. Proctor didn't have many mistakes and he didn't get pushed back near as much as in previous games. He didn't move the line of scrimmage, but he didn't give up ground and he was technically strong. When moved to guard, he did allow a lineman to swim around him, but kept a hand on him (possibly held) to keep him from going to the quarterback.
After that, we weren't very good overall. Free was having a good game until his guy went wide to get around him and hit the quarterback twice (the first one was at least partly Bartel's fault for holding the ball too long). After that, he either overcompensated or lost confidence and was beaten several times.
Berger was very good on the move, but missed a stunt and was beaten a lot by an up-and-under move. For a guy who is supposed to be one of the strongest linemen in the weight room, he doesn't show a lot of strength on the field. I would not be comfortable with him in the starting lineup, but the only time he's consistently good is when he's pulling or going to the second level.
McQuistan was worst of all and did nothing to deserve to start. It's amazing to me that the guy who is supposed to be the most athletic lineman on the team shows no agility, no ability to adjust well in space. About the only positive I saw was good speed on screen. Other than that, he was beaten regularly often not getting low enough to keep his man from driving through him.
If I had to pick a lineman from this group to start at guard, I'd go with Proctor. He plays with good technique and doesn't get outright beat very often, so he's the safest choice even though he's not going to add anything to the line. But we'd be best off getting Holland ready.
The lineman that I would cut or attempt to pawn off on Parcells is McQuistan. I sort of dismissed the pretty rough preseason he had at right tackle, but his play at guard last night showed that he's not at the level of development we should expect at this point in his career. I know he hasn't played guard really since college, but we need more than what he has shown out of our backups and it's time to move on. ... If not McQuistan, then Berger because he hasn't shown much either, but at least he made a few key blocks, esp. on Tashard Choice's two TD runs in the preseason.
The next-best lineman was probably Cory Proctor. Proctor didn't have many mistakes and he didn't get pushed back near as much as in previous games. He didn't move the line of scrimmage, but he didn't give up ground and he was technically strong. When moved to guard, he did allow a lineman to swim around him, but kept a hand on him (possibly held) to keep him from going to the quarterback.
After that, we weren't very good overall. Free was having a good game until his guy went wide to get around him and hit the quarterback twice (the first one was at least partly Bartel's fault for holding the ball too long). After that, he either overcompensated or lost confidence and was beaten several times.
Berger was very good on the move, but missed a stunt and was beaten a lot by an up-and-under move. For a guy who is supposed to be one of the strongest linemen in the weight room, he doesn't show a lot of strength on the field. I would not be comfortable with him in the starting lineup, but the only time he's consistently good is when he's pulling or going to the second level.
McQuistan was worst of all and did nothing to deserve to start. It's amazing to me that the guy who is supposed to be the most athletic lineman on the team shows no agility, no ability to adjust well in space. About the only positive I saw was good speed on screen. Other than that, he was beaten regularly often not getting low enough to keep his man from driving through him.
If I had to pick a lineman from this group to start at guard, I'd go with Proctor. He plays with good technique and doesn't get outright beat very often, so he's the safest choice even though he's not going to add anything to the line. But we'd be best off getting Holland ready.
The lineman that I would cut or attempt to pawn off on Parcells is McQuistan. I sort of dismissed the pretty rough preseason he had at right tackle, but his play at guard last night showed that he's not at the level of development we should expect at this point in his career. I know he hasn't played guard really since college, but we need more than what he has shown out of our backups and it's time to move on. ... If not McQuistan, then Berger because he hasn't shown much either, but at least he made a few key blocks, esp. on Tashard Choice's two TD runs in the preseason.
:laugh2: