THE OL REBUILD - IS STRANGE HEALTHY?

[Wozzy]

That is the thing, he isn't terrible, he just isn't good. He's average and that is what I have been saying. Some great players dominate him and then against average players sometimes he holds his own and sometimes he gets beat. When you argue with people like Wozzy it ends up having to be some binary argument when that wasn't really the intent. Just because I said Strange isn't "good" doesn't mean he's bad. I think the origin of the back and forth was Wozzy stating Strange would automatically be the starter when healthy and I questioned that and I still do. I just try and read into the teams actions and two separate drafters have now taken interior offensive linemen relatively early in back to back drafts which makes me thing they know Strange is not the long term answer healthy or not.

He's is probably not going to be ready for the start of the regular season, he played on his injured knee instead of shutting it down so he had surgery later in the season. We'll see.

If healthy, I predict your Strange is "not very good" take will look pretty silly over time. He has to stay healthy of course, but that's 100% of the players in the NFL.

 

[rkarp1]

as the team rebuilds, I am sure the staff will look at ceilings. safe to say Sow and Robinson could have a higher ceiling than Strange.
we also saw J Andrews play very limited snaps last season, but when he did, those snaps came at LG.
Mafi was in over his head, but has played little OL as he was a DL convert late. he has size, strength and good feet.

Strange is older and a little undersized. That does not mean he sucks. it does mean other players simply could be better given the chance

 

[mgteich]

Strange is older and a little undersized. That does not mean he sucks. it does mean other players simply could be better given the chance

This would argue for trading Strange when he is healthy and perhaps has shown this on the field.

 

[State]

Both were taken a round earlier than projected. Both have long arms and big, heavy hands and the athleticism to compete.

One worrying thing about Caedan, however:

Wallace will open his hips early against the threat of speed on high-side rushes at tackle, which invites inside counters. That calls into question his ability to stick at tackle in the NFL.

 

[jdlboot14]

I'd suggest this as a desirable Starting OL: Wallace Strange Andrews Onwenu Okorafor
Backup OL: Anderson Leverett J. Andrews Robinson Sow

Onwenu is a versatile and stout OL, but more of a natural RG than RT. It's just we sucked so bad, he was better than our other options.
Sow was decent, and has a future, but they signed Okra to be a vet RT, and he would likely start there, with Sow as backup RG & RT.
If Strange returns healthy, he should stay at LG - with good athleticism for AVP's run game.
I expect Anderson & Leverett to stick as vet depth on the left. That leaves J. Andrews & Robinson as the rest of the corp.
Lowe, Wheatley, Mafi get cut (Mafi [& maybe Wheatley] stays on PS)

 

[50-yard-line]

I'd suggest this as a desirable Starting OL: Wallace Strange Andrews Onwenu Okorafor
Backup OL: Anderson Leverett J. Andrews Robinson Sow

Onwenu is a versatile and stout OL, but more of a natural RG than RT. It's just we sucked so bad, he was better than our other options.
Sow was decent, and has a future, but they signed Okra to be a vet RT, and he would likely start there, with Sow as backup RG & RT.
If Strange returns healthy, he should stay at LG - with good athleticism for AVP's run game.
I expect Anderson & Leverett to stick as vet depth on the left. That leaves J. Andrews & Robinson as the rest of the corp.
Lowe, Wheatley, Mafi get cut (Mafi [& maybe Wheatley] stays on PS)

More likely this year, I expect (health permitting): Anderson/Okorafor - Strange - Andrews - Sow -Onwenu (Onwenu is staying at RT).

Wallace, Mafi, Leverett, Robinson, and one of the the LTs above as depth. J Andrews PS.

 

[State]

Anderson is not a swing tackle. Strictly LT. Biggest need on this OL.

Onwenu operates best at his natural RG. Why not move him back if possible?

Sow is more of a LG, the more important of the two guard spots. Strange is coming off major knee surgery. And he’s undersized.

We’re not going to veer sharply from gap and inside zone. Outside zone sprinkled in. That’s probably it.

Jake Andrews is almost a guarantee as the center backup.

Ideally the team carries eight guys. Nine tops.

So I’m looking at the following to start the season:

Anderson-Sow-DAndrews-Onwenu-Okorafor

Backups Wallace, JAndrews, Robinson.

PUP: Strange. He’s a target for a team using a lot of outside zone. He never should have been drafted in the first round

Guys on the bubble: Mafi, who was replaced by Jake A late in the season at LG, and VLowe, who can only be a LT. And not a very good one at that.

 

[mgteich]

More likely this year, I expect (health permitting): Anderson/Okorafor - Strange - Andrews - Sow -Onwenu (Onwenu is staying at RT).

Wallace, Mafi, Leverett, Robinson, and one of the the LTs above as depth. J Andrews PS.

I strongly disagree regarding Andrews. He did very well when he played as a LG. I believe that he had moved passed Mafi in that depth chart. I'd expect him to be the most likely STARTER at LG if Strange starts on the PUP list. So, no PS for Andrews.

It is Mafi that it is on the outside looking in. After all, why did we sign Leverett? If Mafi were playing well, that wouldn't happened. I suppose Mafi could beat out Leverett, but I do doubt it. Mafi COULD make the 53 while Strange is on the PUP list, but I really see little advantage. Just put him on the PS with Jordan.

 

[mgteich]

Anderson is not a swing tackle. Strictly LT. Biggest need on this OL.

Onwenu operates best at his natural RG. Why not move him back if possible?

Sow is more of a LG, the more important of the two guard spots. Strange is coming off major knee surgery. And he’s undersized.

We’re not going to veer sharply from gap and inside zone. Outside zone sprinkled in. That’s probably it.

Jake Andrews is almost a guarantee as the center backup.

Ideally the team carries eight guys. Nine tops.

So I’m looking at the following to start the season:

Anderson-Sow-DAndrews-Onwenu-Okorafor

Backups Wallace, JAndrews, Robinson.

PUP: Strange. He’s a target for a team using a lot of outside zone. He never should have been drafted in the first round

Guys on the bubble: Mafi, who was replaced by Jake A late in the season at LG, and VLowe, who can only be a LT. And not a very good one at that.

I'd add Leverett as the 9th. He can backup both LG and C. This is especially true if the team chooses to have Onwenu at RG.

In any case, if Anderson can start (or even be the backup LT), we are in much better shape than I would have thought before free agency started.

 

[50-yard-line]

I strongly disagree regarding Andrews. He did very well when he played as a LG. I believe that he had moved passed Mafi in that depth chart. I'd expect him to be the most likely STARTER at LG if Strange starts on the PUP list. So, no PS for Andrews.

It is Mafi that it is on the outside looking in. After all, why did we sign Leverett? If Mafi were playing well, that wouldn't happened. I suppose Mafi could beat out Leverett, but I do doubt it. Mafi COULD make the 53 while Strange is on the PUP list, but I really see little advantage. Just put him on the PS with Jordan.

I didn’t really watch Jake Andrews much, but I’ll take your word for his play. Seems like mixed reviews here, although he negative ones are highly predictable.

So sure, we’re mostly in agreement here.

 

[State]

I didn’t really watch Jake Andrews much, but I’ll take your word for his play. Seems like mixed reviews here, although he negative ones are highly predictable.

So sure, we’re mostly in agreement here.

He came in to replace Mafi very late in the season and did better. I view Mafi more of a RG.

He is a perfect backup rendered redundant by Laydown Robinson, a much more experienced dude.

 

[hornetfb85]

I know it will never happen, but would like to see them bring in Connor Williams at C for 2025 and beyond. I know he had a really bad ACL late last year. Could be a great long term solution at C. Jake Andrews could be fine, but very questionable.

 

[Nunchucks]

I'd say that Robinson was drafted for 2 reasons. 1 - strange injury insurance
2 - strange is not worth the 5th year price and this allows them to have a guard ready to go.

Strange is okay as a player not worth a 1st round pick or the money that comes with that status

 

[mgteich]

I'd say that Robinson was drafted for 2 reasons. 1 - strange injury insurance
2 - strange is not worth the 5th year price and this allows them to have a guard ready to go.

Strange is okay as a player not worth a 1st round pick or the money that comes with that status

I think both Jake Andrews and Leverett provide Strange injury insurance for this year. Also, both also backup Andrews.

The issue is the future. Even if Strange is here for the rest of this year, next year is likely to be his last. Robinson could provide an option for the future. Of course, Sow could move over to the left, with Robinson on the right side. If Robinson and Leverett look good enough, I could see them trading Strange sooner rather than later.

I'm NOT down on Strange. I'm Ok with him staying. But he will never be worth the 5th year option, so we need choices. As an aside, I believe that signing Leverett and drafting Robinson means that the team wasn't very satisfied with Mafi. This is not a big deal for a 5th rounder. I think that both Andrews and Sow are part of the future. That is an OK result for 3 midround draft picks.
==========
ALSO
When Strange was injured, it was feared that the injury was a very severe one. I guess that the prognosis has improved. When an average player comes back from a severe injury a bit diminished in abilities, his future may not be what it was. In any case, an additional option was a good idea. Besides, Robinson could be our future RG with Sow as our LG. The key is to add talented options, hopefully ones with some position flexibility.