What Does It Take To Have A Good Offensive Line??!!

[MichaelHuffForFreeSafety]

Isn't Parcells thinking that Al Johnson in the middle can get overpowered by bigger DT's? Johnson is pretty athletic for a C, but he's only 300 lbs. or so.

 

[burmafrd]

Johnson is not really close to 300; he is around 290 or so. Johnson is just not big enough or strong enough to battle big NT's or DT's one on one. He was getting pushed back into the pocket/backfield a lot this year. He has apparently maxed out regarding building up his strength; and has not been able to learn enough about leverage to make up for that.

 

[JIGGYFLY]

I think all playoff teams have an experienced OL coach who has coached at that position for lot longer then 1 year.

None of our starters played well at their positions, particularly after Adams went done. Come on guys, you can say all you want about Bledsoe's lack of mobility but he does move around well in the pocket. And Bledsoe is not responsible for the poor run blocking committed by the OL, etc. on a regular basis. And we also got poor blocking from our FB & TE. Don't think Campbell was that good this year either.

Bledsoe does not move at all in the pocket, thats the problem he does not step up or side step he just stands there.

 

[WV Cowboy]

What does it take to have a good O-line ?

Competition within, depth, and a good Offensive line coach.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Bledsoe does not move at all in the pocket, thats the problem he does not step up or side step he just stands there.

Obviously he is no Mike Vick, but he does move "within" the pocket, he just needs a pocket to work with.

In this day and age of the NFL that may not be enough though.

I think a QB needs to be able to move enough to buy some time, and even rollout to keep a defense honest.

Big Ben is no Mike Vick but he does move around well enough to find a scrambling WR coming back to him.

He also runs towards the sidelines when the secondary is tied up and picks up first downs that way.

He isn't really looking to run but can when needed.

 

[brucem78]

It's really quite simple. Pick a scheme, any scheme. Get a coach who is familiar with that scheme. Get players that fit said scheme, jettison those that don't.


Adams is in the top five in the league as far as physical talent, Rivera excelled until he came to Dallas, Johnson would be excelling on a team that relied on lineman mobility.


These player have talent, it's just not being used.


If Parcells would have picked what he wanted to do his first year, this problem would be solved by now. Unfortunately, there's almost no way to fix it in just one year.

I really think that Dallas wants to go to a more finesse type line but the albatross that is Larry Allen prevented it. Of course all the teams that have used the smaller, quicker lineman have mobile QBs because they do get overpowered on occasion so Bledsoe doesn't really fit that line of thinking.

I guess in a sense I'm confused by the direction that Parcells wanted to go and it still looks like a rudderless ship for the forseeable future.

Exellent Post! I agree in all areas

 

[JIGGYFLY]

Obviously he is no Mike Vick, but he does move "within" the pocket, he just needs a pocket to work with.

In this day and age of the NFL that may not be enough though.

I think a QB needs to be able to move enough to buy some time, and even rollout to keep a defense honest.

Big Ben is no Mike Vick but he does move around well enough to find a scrambling WR coming back to him.

He also runs towards the sidelines when the secondary is tied up and picks up first downs that way.

He isn't really looking to run but can when needed.

I'll have respecfully disagree I can count on one hand the number of times n saw Bledsoe even try to buy more time once he sets up in the pocket its like someone has encased his feet in concrete. Compared to Bledsoe Big Ben looks like Mike Vick :laugh1:

P.S. I am no fan of Vick.,

 

[Zaxor]

A mobile QB...not a runner...but someone who can at least take a step or two in the pocket when things breakdown...or when that extra second is needed.

All the guys we have seen in today's games can at least avoid the rush....

There were a number of plays where the drive would have ended if an immobile QB was under center.

In this era of pressure defense, no line is going to be able to hold out max blitz, zone blitz, etc, packages. The QB has to at least be able to avoid ONE rusher.

Now why is that so hard to understand...

 

[Zaxor]

Obviously he is no Mike Vick, but he does move "within" the pocket, he just needs a pocket to work with.

In this day and age of the NFL that may not be enough though.

I think a QB needs to be able to move enough to buy some time, and even rollout to keep a defense honest.

Big Ben is no Mike Vick but he does move around well enough to find a scrambling WR coming back to him.

He also runs towards the sidelines when the secondary is tied up and picks up first downs that way.

He isn't really looking to run but can when needed.

Please if you have the means..(games on tape) count how many times Bledsoe stepped into a sack or might have avoided one with a little mobility... I am certainly not going to ask you to take my word for it but I will ask that you look at it objectively...I am not much of a Carter fan but if you have a tape of him watch it and see the difference in avoiding the rush...just don't watch the pass that Carter makes... blech also if you would.. watch the D-lineman they don't even worry about staying in their rush lanes when Bledsoe is back to pass nor do the LB's drop back more than 2 steps if at all...

Now I have told you all this before (beat that dead horse)... but realize that the O-line isn't going to get much better... The real questions are if we know it why don't they know it out at the ranch (I bet they do)...so why won't they do something about it..

 

[WV Cowboy]

I am really not a big Bledsoe fan, but I will be fair and give him his due.

To compare him to QC is ridiculous, as is suggesting he has his "feet in cement", that is such an exageration.

He is by no means mobile, but he slides left or right sometimes as needed.
As well as moving up in the pocket, if there in not a DL coming right at him.

He could definetly move more, I bet he wishes he could a lot of times.

He was in the top 1 or 2 QB's through ten games when we were 7-3.

How can that be if he is such a terrible QB ?

We protected VT better last year than DB this year.

 

[Zaxor]

I am really not a big Bledsoe fan, but I will be fair and give him his due.

To compare him to QC is ridiculous, as is suggesting he has his "feet in cement", that is such an exageration.

He is by no means mobile, but he slides left or right sometimes as needed.
As well as moving up in the pocket, if there in not a DL coming right at him.

He could definetly move more, I bet he wishes he could a lot of times.

He was in the top 1 or 2 QB's through ten games when we were 7-3.

How can that be if he is such a terrible QB ?

We protected VT better last year than DB this year.

the ONLY comparison I wanted to draw between Q and Bledsoe was their elusiveness or lack there of in the pocket...

A top 1 or 2 QB going by QBR is not a very good way to judge imo cause the QBR does not take many things into effect, that are essential when grading a QB...

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Bledsoe is what he is, an immobile QB, so crying about it, and pleading on here for him to move around is pointless

bottomline: we need to improve the Oline, because we can't get much better than Drew Bledsoe at QB, at the moment, but we can upgrade the Oline, and need too