_sturt_
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Left Tackle
If Schoonmaker is missing too much practice, how much more is that a problem now for Guyton, who many insist must be ready to start vs. Cleveland. And furthermore, everyone seems to have focused on Guyton the pass blocker, and seem somewhat relieved in (very) limited action that he's shown some reason for optimism... seemingly oblivious to the point that his most glaring weakness in college was his run blocking.
So, don't get me wrong, if you're going to tell me he's going to survive the transition from the right side to the left side well enough to not get Dak killed... that's worth celebrating. Love it. But then, on balance, what we're celebrating is only the plausible avoidance of ultimate disaster. It does nothing for a run game that cries out for a potent O-line, even among those of us who believe the RB stable is more than sufficient, having confidence that Rico is ready to step up now that he'll have a decidedly more prominent and consistent role. The best way to ensure your run game will go nowhere is to have an O-line with two significantly inconsistent starters.
I'm not going to panic until we see that first preseason game, but I openly admit, my trigger finger is itchy, and has been all this time.
My inclination is this, though. Edoga either proves in training camp that he's solid enough to represent a bridge to the Guyton future, or you let him go and look for someone who can be that. Best case scenario may be Richards... let's see if he can stack good days, and at least as importantly, get some preseason game snaps that give reason for confidence. But/and again, it's not just pass pro. We need something in the vein of Tryon-quality run blocking as well. I think McCarthy knows a guy
, but at this point, it makes sense to throw Richards into the fire and see how he holds up vs. the Rams.
Center
Hoffman's getting some attaboys, but let's face it, we can't really know right now the legitimacy of any of that because there's normally not been any proven-NFL-starter-quality DT lining up on the other side of the line. Add to that that it's been noted that he famously spent every day in the weight room this off-season, yet Mazi's gotten him on some bull rushes evidently... so, the heart is there, but will the body stand up? We have to hope that, indeed, they're both just that much better than they were last season.
It's especially scary in light of the fact that Beebe is as much a work in progress as it was anticipated that Guyton would be. Long term, I'm no different than a lot of people--I believe they're going to be assets. But in the short term, obviously, any success the team has will rely in large part upon the stability of the O-line.
By the way... what happened to Bass getting his shot at C? That sounds like it's already went by the wayside.
Free agents still possible...? Well, for all the talk around here that Connor Williams was most likely going to be forced into retirement, word is that SEA will be signing him very shortly, and that it's thought he can be ready for game #1. Technically, still available, but won't be. Then, another name we're familiar with, but not the actual person... Connor McGovern... the Jets' C out of Mizzou, not our former G out of Penn State... is still out there.
DT-1
I'm just very slow... glacier-like, even... to embrace that you're going to go into a season not only without an experienced, starter-quality DT-1 on the roster, but at least as amazing, you're seriously thinking about relying on the 244th player chosen in the 2024 draft to be next man up... and behind him, a 32 yr old who got 30 snaps in all of last year, all of them coming with us due to injury, and after having been cut from another team's practice squad.
Everything about this situation screams "do something!" More than the other two.
Mind you, I don't mind Mazi getting a full opportunity to claim the starting slot at all, I just want to see it earned not given by default, and right now, there is no other option on the roster, of course.
If Schoonmaker is missing too much practice, how much more is that a problem now for Guyton, who many insist must be ready to start vs. Cleveland. And furthermore, everyone seems to have focused on Guyton the pass blocker, and seem somewhat relieved in (very) limited action that he's shown some reason for optimism... seemingly oblivious to the point that his most glaring weakness in college was his run blocking.
So, don't get me wrong, if you're going to tell me he's going to survive the transition from the right side to the left side well enough to not get Dak killed... that's worth celebrating. Love it. But then, on balance, what we're celebrating is only the plausible avoidance of ultimate disaster. It does nothing for a run game that cries out for a potent O-line, even among those of us who believe the RB stable is more than sufficient, having confidence that Rico is ready to step up now that he'll have a decidedly more prominent and consistent role. The best way to ensure your run game will go nowhere is to have an O-line with two significantly inconsistent starters.
I'm not going to panic until we see that first preseason game, but I openly admit, my trigger finger is itchy, and has been all this time.
My inclination is this, though. Edoga either proves in training camp that he's solid enough to represent a bridge to the Guyton future, or you let him go and look for someone who can be that. Best case scenario may be Richards... let's see if he can stack good days, and at least as importantly, get some preseason game snaps that give reason for confidence. But/and again, it's not just pass pro. We need something in the vein of Tryon-quality run blocking as well. I think McCarthy knows a guy
, but at this point, it makes sense to throw Richards into the fire and see how he holds up vs. the Rams.Center
Hoffman's getting some attaboys, but let's face it, we can't really know right now the legitimacy of any of that because there's normally not been any proven-NFL-starter-quality DT lining up on the other side of the line. Add to that that it's been noted that he famously spent every day in the weight room this off-season, yet Mazi's gotten him on some bull rushes evidently... so, the heart is there, but will the body stand up? We have to hope that, indeed, they're both just that much better than they were last season.
It's especially scary in light of the fact that Beebe is as much a work in progress as it was anticipated that Guyton would be. Long term, I'm no different than a lot of people--I believe they're going to be assets. But in the short term, obviously, any success the team has will rely in large part upon the stability of the O-line.
By the way... what happened to Bass getting his shot at C? That sounds like it's already went by the wayside.
Free agents still possible...? Well, for all the talk around here that Connor Williams was most likely going to be forced into retirement, word is that SEA will be signing him very shortly, and that it's thought he can be ready for game #1. Technically, still available, but won't be. Then, another name we're familiar with, but not the actual person... Connor McGovern... the Jets' C out of Mizzou, not our former G out of Penn State... is still out there.
DT-1
I'm just very slow... glacier-like, even... to embrace that you're going to go into a season not only without an experienced, starter-quality DT-1 on the roster, but at least as amazing, you're seriously thinking about relying on the 244th player chosen in the 2024 draft to be next man up... and behind him, a 32 yr old who got 30 snaps in all of last year, all of them coming with us due to injury, and after having been cut from another team's practice squad.
Everything about this situation screams "do something!" More than the other two.
Mind you, I don't mind Mazi getting a full opportunity to claim the starting slot at all, I just want to see it earned not given by default, and right now, there is no other option on the roster, of course.