What will we do about Center?

[Hiero]

I think most of us can agree that Al Johnson had a bad year, and quite frankly he probably isnt the answer at Center.
Do you guys think we should draft one? go for one in FA? Bentley is hte only guy i know, and he may or may not leave NO. Or do we plug in Al J or Gurode and hope it magically gets better?
There are two guys I like at center in this years draft.
Nick Mangold and Kyle Young.

http://www.nfldraftforecast.com/Profiles/nickmangold.shtml
Strengths:
• Great from point of attack
• Good lead blocker
• Tremendous balance and focus
• Physically and mentally tough

Weaknesses:
• Needs slightly better footwork and lateral movement
• Called for holding a little to often
• Wouldn't hurt to add several pounds over the year

I dont have a scoutign report for Kyle Young, but he is 320 lbs. He is one of the top 5 center prospects out of Fresno St. and he is supposed to be a mean physical guy. Would love to get him in hte 3rd maybe, or later if he fell.

 

[Nors]

Pat Watkins is too skinny to play in the NFL for 2 years at best.

Center?

Tackle is our most pressing need....

 

[sago1]

Don't understand it but GBN does not list a single center in its top 100 players; report is dated 12/2/5. Unless that changes, seems to be we have to look in FA for that center we need.

 

[The30YardSlant]

 

[neosapien23]

If Dallas cannot land Bentley, then they should stand pat at center. The centers in the draft are similar to Johnson. All are in the 295 lb range. Hopefully Johnson can get a little bigger and stronger. I don't get it, Al is a gym rat. He just can't seem to get bigger.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I think that gurode will move into the starting spot if he can improve on his mental play. He has the physical tools to be good at center. I think this off season with grooming from an O line coach and gurode will be the starter. I dont think we need to spend big money on a FA at that spot and since no one in the draft really stands out and would be an improvement over what we have, I think we stand pat and work with the two we have.

 

[burmafrd]

Al is not going to get any bigger or stronger; he has been working at it hard but the truth is that he is now all he is ever going to be physically. And he does not seem to be able to learn how to leverage or handfight or whatever to make up for it.

 

[Da Hammer]

 

[trueblue1687]

If Dallas cannot land Bentley, then they should stand pat at center. The centers in the draft are similar to Johnson. All are in the 295 lb range. Hopefully Johnson can get a little bigger and stronger. I don't get it, Al is a gym rat. He just can't seem to get bigger.

Needs to hit the JUICE a little heavier. I'm sorry, that doesn't happen in organized sports, does it? And besides, everyone who uses the stuff dies anyway right?

 

[jterrell]

I think that gurode will move into the starting spot if he can improve on his mental play. He has the physical tools to be good at center. I think this off season with grooming from an O line coach and gurode will be the starter. I dont think we need to spend big money on a FA at that spot and since no one in the draft really stands out and would be an improvement over what we have, I think we stand pat and work with the two we have.

The problem with Gurode at center is he is horrid at making line calls.
This killed us on a few plays this season while Gurode was swapping out with AJ or playing while Al was banged up.

Its too bad we can't combione th ebest attributes of both guys. Al seems ot make solid line calls but get abused by bigger tackles and Gurode is physically imposing but just misses defenders at times.

 

[VThokie7]

I can't imagine Bentley not being franchised by the Saints. They clearly don't have Howard in their plans any longer, so i'm sure they will let him walk in favor of keeping Bentley.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I dont care what we do with center until we get somone in at tackle. Some people here dont like the names out there but I take Samuels Stuessie or McDougle at a good price in a heartbeat.