Optimistic about O Line

[Vintage]

At any rate, we are going to see if Kosier is worth a lick of salt in week 1.

And if our OL is actually "top 10" material....


Tested early by Jax :jaguars:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Columbo is several years removed from being 1st rounder.

Ware isn't. Furthermore, Ware actually lived up to being a 1st round pick. Columbo never did. So continually saying "Colombo was a 1st rounder" means little.

Fact of the matter is; he has never lived up to it; and is a backup on a team that has OL troubles.

it means he has talent that made him a 1st rounder, and he was side-tracked by a serious injury

 

[burmafrd]

Jacksonville has a mean D line. We will find out pretty quick.

 

[fortdick]

And we couldnt block half of them

Before Flo got hurt or after? We were a top rated offense, even top in the NFC for a while, until Flo got hurt. Shooting out zingers doesn't make your point.

 

[iceberg]

I'd challenge the naysayers to show how the line could be as bad - or worse than what they ended the season with:

it's speculation that way also. i'd just as soon challenge everyone to realize we *ALL* speculate and *NO ONE* knows for sure what the line will be - but that won't happen much either.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

JJ was supposed to run all over the field last year as well. And when your line is so pitiful it cant block a rush 5 on 4, it doesnt matter how many weapons you have. You can have the best gameplan in the world, it doesnt mean anything if you dont have good players to run it with.

it helps the pass-protection though, you can't argue that

 

[The30YardSlant]

Marcus Stroud is going to be sent to prison for the abuse he will bestow upon Al Johnson

 

[Vintage]

forget it, notice how everyone is just brushing that aside? it's because it's a good arse point

Yep.

Because its proven to work, right?

I mean......wait.... It hasn't.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

If I saw my starting RG get run over by a guy half his size, I'd have second thoughts as well.

what did you want the Lions to do, franchise him? we signed him on the 1st day of free agency, he's not that good, but he's solid

 

[The30YardSlant]

Before Flo got hurt or after? We were a top rated offense, even top in the NFC for a while, until Flo got hurt. Shooting out zingers doesn't make your point.

So, getting Flo back turns the worst offensive line in football into a top 10 line? Even though Adams is not likely to ever make the PB? Even though Adams is not an elite tackle?

 

[The30YardSlant]

what did you want the Lions to do, franchise him? we signed him on the 1st day of free agency, he's not that good, but he's solid

For what we spent on him, he damn well better be more than "solid". LA was a lot better than just "solid", even last year.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Clearly the weak link of the team, but it's otherwise a pretty strong team. Gotta have a weakest link somewhere.

The line last year, when healthy, was pretty average. What I like about this year is that we've gone about adding versatility. Because Kosier can play anywhere but center, and Fabini can swing to either tackle position, and Gurode can play center or guard, we should be able to use our best 7 linemen most of the year, even when injuries crop up.

The trick is having a line that's flexible enough that you can count only ever playing your best linemen. It's not too difficult to get 7 decent or above-average linemen on a team. Backing up every starter with a starting-quality alternate is really hard to do.

Oh, and I think you're underestimating Johnson, Chief. He's a pretty solid player right now, and he benefits this year by finally being able to pull left. Mobility alone with he and Kosier makes our running game a lot less predictable.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

And if our OL is actually "top 10" material....


Tested early by Jax :jaguars:

only a few people are saying our line is top 10, 2 at most, you're going to have to change the criteria of who would be right or wrong, such as the line will be better than last year's group

 

[wileedog]

LA was a lot better than just "solid", even last year.

No, he really wasn't.

 

[The30YardSlant]

it helps the pass-protection though, you can't argue that

Somehow, I dont think having TO will stop Greg Williams from blitzing us into submission.

 

[burmafrd]

I would argue about LA being solid last year- especially late in games- he was really gassed. I saw him miss too many blocks last year to call him solid.

 

[The30YardSlant]

No, he really wasn't.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2267706

 

[burmafrd]

I am not worried about blizes- Bledsoe is pretty good at them. What hurt us last year is that most of the sacks came with just the 4 down linemen.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yep.

Because its proven to work, right?

I mean......wait.... It hasn't.

it hasn't been proven in Dallas, but there must be a reason Dallas is doing it, in hopes that it will, so yes, something that is on level with what a coaching staff feels will help is a goodarse point

 

[wileedog]

Somehow, I dont think having TO will stop Greg Williams from blitzing us into submission.

Williams stopped blitzing us early in the 1st half of the 1st Washington game because we were burning them on it.

And that was without TO.