fortdick
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It is slow right now in the football world, and a lot of prognosticating about who will do what this season is filling time. There have been some predictions that the Boys will be world beaters, and some that they will be roadkill. Those that say TO will be a distraction are just haters. But those that say our O Line wasn't improved enough to make a run are not seeing the big picture.
First, we did strengthen our O Line with one very big acquisition; Flozell Adams. Prior to Flo going down with the knee injury, our offense was rated near the top of the NFL. With Flo back, we should be able to protect Bledsoe and buy him time to find some pretty good receivers.
Kosier is not Larry Allen. But then again, Larry Allen wasn't Larry Allen last year either. With Kosier at LG, we lose the explosion at the LOS that Larry gave us, but we gain a presence in the second level and the ability to pull - one of the main prerequisites for a LG. Heck, maybe we can even throw a screen pass now.
Riveria is healthy now, Pettiti has a year of experience and conditioning, Peterman and Gurode look to compete, and Columbo may sneak in if he is healthy. And let's not forget Fabini who can start right away if Pettiti doesn't show improvement.
All that is great, but what everyone is forgetting is the changes we have made in personnel at other positions. With TO and TG wide, and two tight ends that can catch, opposing defenses cannot continue to load up against the run. Instead of the eight man front we saw most of last year, we will be blocking seven, and probably six most of the season. I see the nickle becoming the base defense against the two TE offense. You have to double TO, and then play man up on Glenn, Witten, and either Fasano or Hannam.
This new personnel package and scheme will relieve a lot of pressure on the O Line. Against 4-3 defenses, that means no corner or safety blitzing. Against 3-4 defenses, pressure off the corners should be eased.
Taken as a whole, Parcells has done a great deal to help our O Line without adding a mess of new people. I think the threat of our passing game will open up the running game, and JJ will have the year we have all thought he was capable of.
JMHO.
First, we did strengthen our O Line with one very big acquisition; Flozell Adams. Prior to Flo going down with the knee injury, our offense was rated near the top of the NFL. With Flo back, we should be able to protect Bledsoe and buy him time to find some pretty good receivers.
Kosier is not Larry Allen. But then again, Larry Allen wasn't Larry Allen last year either. With Kosier at LG, we lose the explosion at the LOS that Larry gave us, but we gain a presence in the second level and the ability to pull - one of the main prerequisites for a LG. Heck, maybe we can even throw a screen pass now.
Riveria is healthy now, Pettiti has a year of experience and conditioning, Peterman and Gurode look to compete, and Columbo may sneak in if he is healthy. And let's not forget Fabini who can start right away if Pettiti doesn't show improvement.
All that is great, but what everyone is forgetting is the changes we have made in personnel at other positions. With TO and TG wide, and two tight ends that can catch, opposing defenses cannot continue to load up against the run. Instead of the eight man front we saw most of last year, we will be blocking seven, and probably six most of the season. I see the nickle becoming the base defense against the two TE offense. You have to double TO, and then play man up on Glenn, Witten, and either Fasano or Hannam.
This new personnel package and scheme will relieve a lot of pressure on the O Line. Against 4-3 defenses, that means no corner or safety blitzing. Against 3-4 defenses, pressure off the corners should be eased.
Taken as a whole, Parcells has done a great deal to help our O Line without adding a mess of new people. I think the threat of our passing game will open up the running game, and JJ will have the year we have all thought he was capable of.
JMHO.
