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- Sep 13, 2004
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I guess it is a given that we will draft at least a couple of offensive linemen.
The open question may be how many changes can we absorb in the 2011 OL. If we are pessimistic, all we have going forward is Vollmer and we want to move him to LT. This gives us new players at EVERY OL position in the next two seasons,!!!! The team is capable of such transitions. We have seen it in the secondary and at linebacker.
TACKLE
Personally, I think that we will be fine with two (or even three) of Vollmer, Kaczur and Light. I'd extend Light in a heartbeat if I could, "overpaying" to solidify the position. Light's performance is down a bit, but he doesn't have Mankins next to him. Kaczur has been underrated by this board since he arrived and STARTED at LT in his rookie year. He did OK, but not great. The issue is his injury. LeVoir has regressed, but could make the roster again as the #4 OT.
CENTER
Koppen has one more year at most. I suppose the good news is that we have OK backups in Connolly and Wendell (but they are NOT starters). The failure of the Larsen pick hurt. For the third year in a row, we will go into the draft needing an interior lineman who projects to be a future starting center. We need to do better than drafting Ohrnberger and Larsen.
GUARD
What can I say? It was 100% clear that we had an issue going into the 2010 draft (some would say 2009). We have Neal who cannot be counted on for a full season. And we have backups who rotate depending on how they are playing. I believe that we should project an interior line without Neal, and be pleasantly surprised with any production we get out of him in 2011. Make no mistake, I think that we should keep him on the roster and start him if he is ready and able.
BOTTOM LINE
We are fine at OT if Kaczur is OK after his injury OR IF Light can be counted on and re-signed. Either would have us being OK at tackle, and still looking for a kid to fill out the roster (Welch was the 2010 attempt).
The interior line is an absolute mess. HOWEVER, the good news is that rookie interior linemen can often step right in and be productiive (more so than at any position but running back). The other good news is that we have lots of early picks and few other needs that would require a pick in the first couple of rounds.
I certainly would be a happy camper if we drafted three linemen in the first two rounds (one for the defense and two for the offense).
The open question may be how many changes can we absorb in the 2011 OL. If we are pessimistic, all we have going forward is Vollmer and we want to move him to LT. This gives us new players at EVERY OL position in the next two seasons,!!!! The team is capable of such transitions. We have seen it in the secondary and at linebacker.
TACKLE
Personally, I think that we will be fine with two (or even three) of Vollmer, Kaczur and Light. I'd extend Light in a heartbeat if I could, "overpaying" to solidify the position. Light's performance is down a bit, but he doesn't have Mankins next to him. Kaczur has been underrated by this board since he arrived and STARTED at LT in his rookie year. He did OK, but not great. The issue is his injury. LeVoir has regressed, but could make the roster again as the #4 OT.
CENTER
Koppen has one more year at most. I suppose the good news is that we have OK backups in Connolly and Wendell (but they are NOT starters). The failure of the Larsen pick hurt. For the third year in a row, we will go into the draft needing an interior lineman who projects to be a future starting center. We need to do better than drafting Ohrnberger and Larsen.
GUARD
What can I say? It was 100% clear that we had an issue going into the 2010 draft (some would say 2009). We have Neal who cannot be counted on for a full season. And we have backups who rotate depending on how they are playing. I believe that we should project an interior line without Neal, and be pleasantly surprised with any production we get out of him in 2011. Make no mistake, I think that we should keep him on the roster and start him if he is ready and able.
BOTTOM LINE
We are fine at OT if Kaczur is OK after his injury OR IF Light can be counted on and re-signed. Either would have us being OK at tackle, and still looking for a kid to fill out the roster (Welch was the 2010 attempt).
The interior line is an absolute mess. HOWEVER, the good news is that rookie interior linemen can often step right in and be productiive (more so than at any position but running back). The other good news is that we have lots of early picks and few other needs that would require a pick in the first couple of rounds.
I certainly would be a happy camper if we drafted three linemen in the first two rounds (one for the defense and two for the offense).