O line has no excuses for not being ELITE

[burmafrd]

If BP is even CONSIDERING LA as possibly playing tackle, then he has to be in better shape and moving better then he has in years. That translates into another top season for him. All indications are that Rivera is healing well and should have no problems this season. Al Johnson is expected to break out and push for a Pro Bowl slot this year. The Hotel is reported to be doing well also. So we have 3 of 5 starters as current Pro Bowlers, in the last 2 years. We have a young center that did well as a rookie and should improve. We have good depth. The ONLY question is RT- and we have several candidates, including 2 that have started there multiple games. There is absolutely no reason to expect anything less then an acceptable level of ability there- so anyone NOT giving this line a top 10 rating in the NFL is simply a cowboy hater, or stupid. Show me another line with this amount of talent. I frankly think that a top 5 perfromance should be EXPECTED.

 

[KDWilliams85]

You shouldn't expect anything at this point. Parcells doesn't. Jerry Jones doesn't. You shouldn't either. Expectation is the fuel of disappointment.

 

[Alexander]

You shouldn't expect anything at this point. Parcells doesn't. Jerry Jones doesn't. You shouldn't either. Expectation is the fuel of disappointment.

I agree.

I felt very good before Rivera's back injury. I have not felt right since.

And this uncertainty about right tackle is not helping much.

If we had an OL better than last year, great.

But I am not expecting ELITE status.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

If BP is even CONSIDERING LA as possibly playing tackle, then he has to be in better shape and moving better then he has in years. That translates into another top season for him. All indications are that Rivera is healing well and should have no problems this season. Al Johnson is expected to break out and push for a Pro Bowl slot this year. The Hotel is reported to be doing well also. So we have 3 of 5 starters as current Pro Bowlers, in the last 2 years. We have a young center that did well as a rookie and should improve. We have good depth. The ONLY question is RT- and we have several candidates, including 2 that have started there multiple games. There is absolutely no reason to expect anything less then an acceptable level of ability there- so anyone NOT giving this line a top 10 rating in the NFL is simply a cowboy hater, or stupid. Show me another line with this amount of talent. I frankly think that a top 5 perfromance should be EXPECTED.

Well, maybe the rankings are coming from 'haters' who saw Old Man Testaverde running for his life last season, a right side of a line that for much of the year couldn't open a soda can, a penalty prone demoralized Gurode, a way beneath '03 level Flo, an improved over '03 but still living largely off past glory LA, an oft clueless Tucker, a Walter not proving he was "the most improved player on the line", a mismatched Lehr, and a young agile center who looked very promising but struggled mightily when too much out-sized...

..for those who have to see to believe, there is a lot to wait on, including Rivera's recovery, and a 'comeback' by Flo.

 

[Alexander]

..for those who have to see to believe, there is a lot to wait on, including Rivera's recovery, and a 'comeback' by Flo.

The doubt is what holds me back, LTN.

It should hold any reasonable person back.

Otherwise, you are putting stock in things that are not quite certain.

We WILL be better than last year, that is a given.

But this elite talk is premature.

 

[Zaxor]

listen if Bledsoe holds on to the ball forever the o-line could be a granite wall and it still would not help...so I think the O-Line might have a reason and then if a WR goes down and teams can afford to put 8 or even 9 guys in the box it would give the o-line a reason...

way too many variables for your prediction

 

[burmafrd]

I was talking about the O line- not about Bledsoe or anyone else. If Bledsoe holds on too long, WR's get injured, etc- that SHOULD not take away from what the O line is doing. All accounts agree that LA is in better shape then he has been in years- and is actually trying to help other players- so that argues BIG TIME that he is back. The Hotel has been seen to have lost some weight and is PHYSICALLY in top shape. Mentally- we shall have to see- BUT in his first season with BP he was in the Pro Bowl.
RIvera- as has BEEN mentioned- seems to be fine. Johnson was steadily improving- no REASON why he SHOULD NOT continue to improve. So that is 4 positions that at THIS TIME show no reason why play there WILL NOT BE BETTER. RT has 2 players with a good amount of playing time and should be OK- if not better then that. We have 3 Pro Bowl players starting out of 5 positions- how many teams have THAT. We have a good young center that might get close to that level this year. Right here and now there is no reason why this line should not be top 10. If RT improves we can bet to top 5. AT this time there are NO EXCUSES why we should not have a fine line this year.

 

[ravidubey]

Right Tackle is a good position for LA because it should let him just maul whoever is in front of him which is what he's best at. I would also love to see him seal to the inside and not only block his guy but also interfere with any backside pursuit.

Still, each and every OL position has its question marks. I'd like to see:

LT: Rogers
LG: LA
C: Gurode
RG: Rivera
RT: Flozell

which could be a very physical and deep OL. Too bad Rogers looks like a bust.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

I think alot of LA and Flo not really playing too well had to do with a terrible running game. We've all played sports, and as much as we try to play hard every play, when you are busting your *** and other guys aren't, or other guys just don't have the ability to do their job (yes you Eddie George), you lose faith. Remember, we were 3-4 with Jones as our starter, and LA and Flo looked alot better.

Rivera, if he can stay healthy, will be huge for us, as well as Campbell returning. The RT will surely get alot of help this year.

 

[Alexander]

I think alot of LA and Flo not really playing too well had to do with a terrible running game. We've all played sports, and as much as we try to play hard every play, when you are busting your *** and other guys aren't, or other guys just don't have the ability to do their job (yes you Eddie George), you lose faith. Remember, we were 3-4 with Jones as our starter, and LA and Flo looked alot better.

Rivera, if he can stay healthy, will be huge for us, as well as Campbell returning. The RT will surely get alot of help this year.

Perhaps.

And excellent point about Dan Campbell.

But we did not exactly have the best effort last year even when JuJo was lighting it up. He made alot of plays on his own.

I cannot count the number of jukes and jives he did in the last game of the year when the blocking by Adams, Allen, Johnson, Noll and Vollers was pretty bad.

 

[KDWilliams85]

Having Hotel Adams at the right side tackle isn't a half bad idea. We usually get blindsided from that side of the field anyway.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

I cannot count the number of jukes and jives he did in the last game of the year when the blocking by Adams, Allen, Johnson, Noll and Vollers was pretty bad.

Very true. But basically, Nool and Vollers will tell that story for you. I think everyone knew we werent too dangerous running to the right. This year at least we have Rivera over there. Maybe even LA.

Rivera, LA and Campbell on the right does sound nice for some power running. But so does Flo, Campbell and LA to the left.

Overall, this wasn't a very balanced team in any way last seasn. Half the season wehad no running game, the other half we had no deep threat. The left side of the line was good, the right was bad.