Who’s the best candidate for swing tackle?

[john van brocklin]

Consider all the OTs drafted in the first two rounds and beyond, the OTs signed in free agency. Tackles who are no longer deemed quality starters but are making starters money are usually released at some point if they can’t be traded. That’s a great time to sign guys who are not the answer at OT, but do have experience and can muddle through as a swing tackle. Meanwhile, you hope your young OTs who may grow into quality starters show that they can be the guys to muddle through for a year…..not unlike Steele. Our young OTs should be at least as good as he was, hopefully better.

Nice plan !

 

[buybuydandavis]

A VERY important position we MUST fill! Who’s the best candidate? Ball, Waletzko, or should we use our cap space to go outside? Who’s available?

Bad premise.

We don't need a swing tackle, we need a backup for LT and a backup for RT. Doesn't have to be the same player.

Makes most sense to have Tyler backup his eventual future position which he had also just played in college.

Probably gets our best 5 out there for Martin to backup RT, and backfill RG with McGovern. Though I suspect we'll go with a warm body as backup RT instead.

Ball, Waletzko, or the Unicorn? Three young guys competing makes for fun. We should hope that Ball prevails, as he has the most potential.
But I'm sure Jerry would *love* to succeed with the Unicorn.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I contend, and I admit I might be wrong, that the decision to cut ties with Collins was because they had confidence in Ball.

Best case scenario. Great if it's true.

 

[buybuydandavis]

In the 2014 offseason, Broaddus said that OT Darion Weems looked great at the beginning of camp and that Jermey Parnell was struggling.
Broaddus predicted that Weems would be the Swing Tackle and that Parnell would be cut.

• Within 1 year:
  • Weems was cut.
  • Parnell started 7 games and gave up a total of 1 sack. He was an elite run blocker in those games.
  • Parnell in 2015 received a 32M contract from another team.
  • Weems was briefly with another team, active for a total of 6 games with zero starts before being completely out of the NFL within 2 years.

#HateFacts

 

[Typhus]

It's the biggest question mark on the roster.

• Option 1:
  • Josh Ball: 2021 4th round pick.
  • Matt Waletzko: Rookie 5th round pick. Looked better in Senior Bowl 1-on-1 drills than Penning.
  • Aviante Collins: 4th season in the NFL including practice squad. 1 start with Vikings in 2019.
• 
  
• Option 2:
  • Sign a veteran OT during camp or after the cut to 53.
  • There will likely be some cap cuts of older veteran starters that were replaced by a premium draft pick.
• 
  
• Option 3:
  • Move Steel to LT and use one of the above at RT.
• 
  
• Option 4:
  • Move Steele to LT and Martin to RT.
  • McGovern or Farniok at RG.
• 
  
• Option 5:
  • Move Tyler Smith to LT with McGovern or Farniok at LG.

Do you believe that Alarcon can fit into the equation here?

 

[ESisback]

Bad premise.

We don't need a swing tackle, we need a backup for LT and a backup for RT. Doesn't have to be the same player.

Makes most sense to have Tyler backup his eventual future position which he had also just played in college.

Probably gets our best 5 out there for Martin to backup RT, and backfill RG with McGovern. Though I suspect we'll go with a warm body as backup RT instead.

Ball, Waletzko, or the Unicorn? Three young guys competing makes for fun. We should hope that Ball prevails, as he has the most potential.
But I'm sure Jerry would *love* to succeed with the Unicorn.

Bad premise?

 

[CWR]

It's the biggest question mark on the roster.

• Option 1:
  • Josh Ball: 2021 4th round pick.
  • Matt Waletzko: Rookie 5th round pick. Looked better in Senior Bowl 1-on-1 drills than Penning.
  • Aviante Collins: 4th season in the NFL including practice squad. 1 start with Vikings in 2019.
• 
  
• Option 2:
  • Sign a veteran OT during camp or after the cut to 53.
  • There will likely be some cap cuts of older veteran starters that were replaced by a premium draft pick.
• 
  
• Option 3:
  • Move Steel to LT and use one of the above at RT.
• 
  
• Option 4:
  • Move Steele to LT and Martin to RT.
  • McGovern or Farniok at RG.
• 
  
• Option 5:
  • Move Tyler Smith to LT with McGovern or Farniok at LG.

Option 4 is probably our best bet, although it's not what I expect to happen. I dont think we currently have a swing on the roster. Hope I'm wrong, just haven't seen evidence to the contrary.

 

[Batman1980]

Option 4 is probably our best bet, although it's not what I expect to happen. I dont think we currently have a swing on the roster. Hope I'm wrong, just haven't seen evidence to the contrary.

We'll probably have to sign one in camp before we start making cuts to 53.

 

[xwalker]

Option 4 is probably our best bet, although it's not what I expect to happen. I dont think we currently have a swing on the roster. Hope I'm wrong, just haven't seen evidence to the contrary.

Either somebody steps up in camp or they go with option, IMO.

I think Waldo can be the guy next year but he was very raw in college. He did look better in 1 on 1 drills at the Senior Bowl than Penning against the same players but Penning was also very raw. I thought Penning was as raw as Tyler Smith but none of the draft media seemed to notice.

The only reason that I can come up with for Josh Ball not stepping up is that maybe he couldn't lift heavy due to the injury and needs more time to get back his muscle mass. I think about how much Moose shrunk within 1 year of being out of football.

The question with Ball in the draft was not physical ability, it was mental makeup. He was a better college player in 2017 than Steele was in 2020.

 

[CWR]

Either somebody steps up in camp or they go with option, IMO.

I think Waldo can be the guy next year but he was very raw in college. He did look better in 1 on 1 drills at the Senior Bowl than Penning against the same players but Penning was also very raw. I thought Penning was as raw as Tyler Smith but none of the draft media seemed to notice.

The only reason that I can come up with for Josh Ball not stepping up is that maybe he couldn't lift heavy due to the injury and needs more time to get back his muscle mass. I think about how much Moose shrunk within 1 year of being out of football.

The question with Ball in the draft was not physical ability, it was mental makeup. He was a better college player in 2017 than Steele was in 2020.

I'm excited about Waldo. The talk is he can add a solid 30lbs of muscle to that frame, without it slowing him down. I think he's a great prospect, but it may be a couple off seasons of strength training before it comes to fruition.

 

[Risen Star]

Disagree. Steele did well at RT and I expect him to continue to develop.

Cool story.

Steele is a backup. It's a disgrace that he is the penciled in starter for this team anywhere on the OL and we will be looking to replace him in the near future.

 

[ESisback]

Cool story.

Steele is a backup. It's a disgrace that he is the penciled in starter for this team anywhere on the OL and we will be looking to replace him in the near future.

It’s cool that you can see so many absolutes in the future. It’s also cool that you always know more about it than the people immersed in it for a living. It would be SERIOUSLY cool if you could slow up on the snark factor, and the ultimate cool would be to maybe not snip at people who occasionally point out that constant angst solves nothing.

Steele actually performed fairly well last year, and MAY have a higher ceiling than many speculate.

 

[Risen Star]

It’s cool that you can see so many absolutes in the future. It’s also cool that you always know more about it than the people immersed in it for a living. It would be SERIOUSLY cool if you could slow up on the snark factor, and the ultimate cool would be to maybe not snip at people who occasionally point out that constant angst solves nothing.

Steele actually performed fairly well last year, and MAY have a higher ceiling than many speculate.

26 years of being right over those "who do this for a living".

Bathe in it.

 

[nalam]

It's the biggest question mark on the roster.

• Option 1:
  • Josh Ball: 2021 4th round pick.
  • Matt Waletzko: Rookie 5th round pick. Looked better in Senior Bowl 1-on-1 drills than Penning.
  • Aviante Collins: 4th season in the NFL including practice squad. 1 start with Vikings in 2019.
• 
  
• Option 2:
  • Sign a veteran OT during camp or after the cut to 53.
  • There will likely be some cap cuts of older veteran starters that were replaced by a premium draft pick.
• • .

I vote for Option 1 , we need to find out if Ball can hang with NFL DEs, and he would need reps like any other rookie to improve. look at 1 year Steele and the 2nd year one.

 

[Bullflop]

The best candidate as our swing tackle is yet to be found. Anyone wanting a clear idea of the winner is destined for a letdown.

 

[ESisback]

26 years of being right over those "who do this for a living".

Bathe in it.

And “being right” means more than anything the team does, right? Sad “fandom”. 31 teams DON’T win the SB every year, and hundreds of variables determine a season. With the percentages overwhelmingly stacked against success, strutting over “validation” seems kinda hollow.

So if you’re so equipped to guru the team to success, why not apply for the job? Riches and glory await!

 

[Buzzbait]

Broaddus is a tool. Cowboys don't use a super costly 1st round pick for an Olineman to become a swing O-Tackle. Tyler Smith will be starting at Left Guard. Bank on it.

I hope you're right, he'd excel there. We don't need a talent like that as a "swing" tackle.