Held Hostage by the OT Position

[203Pat]

I feel like RT at least we have Onwenu as a fall back option if any of the new additions can't play there. Not ideal as he is a better guard than tackle but at least we have a few guards who can hopefully step in if Onwenu does end up at tackle. As for LT, we are basically in hope and pray mode that Okafor can play there. The fact that neither regime between this year and last year properly addressed the tackle situation is disappointing.

 

[TheRainMaker]

This OL is very similar to the OL in 1999 - overpaid and terrible.

 

[mike_usagisan]

This OL is very similar to the OL in 1999 - overpaid and terrible.

Other than Owenhu, who gives you flexibility at guard and tackle, who is it that is overpaid? Chuks wasn't paid much. Sow is on his rookie deal. Anderson was a bargain bin purchase. Lowe is still on his rookie deal, I think. The problem isn't that they cost too much money. The problem is that we don't have dependable tackles.

 

[rkarp1]

we still do not know who is playing where at RT and LT.
It does sound like Wallace and Okarafor are going to most likely get starter snaps to start, and they are each going to play both spots until everyone gets a better feel for where they are at.
IT also appears that Anderson and Lowe are the back up options with Onwenu able to kick outside in an emergency.
the interior feels pretty solid and deep.
no panic yet.
I also happen to believe in Peters.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Other than Owenhu, who gives you flexibility at guard and tackle, who is it that is overpaid? Chuks wasn't paid much. Sow is on his rookie deal. Anderson was a bargain bin purchase. Lowe is still on his rookie deal, I think. The problem isn't that they cost too much money. The problem is that we don't have dependable tackles.

Owenu is the overpaid one.

League execs don’t even few him as a top 10.

PFF assumes he’s playing T and ranks him just one spot ahead of Trent Brown at the 25th or 26th best T. That’s bad.

 

[Sicilian]

Owenu is the overpaid one.

League execs don’t even few him as a top 10.

That's kind of how new contracts always work though. In two years, I doubt his contract will be in the top ten for either guard or tackle. Every new contract that comes along will beat his. He's only in that range now because his contract is brand new.

And I think he wasn't in that top ten list because they were rating him as a tackle. If he plays guard this year I'll bet he makes the top ten there.

 

[rkarp1]

Owenu is the overpaid one.

League execs don’t even few him as a top 10.

even in that 10-15 range of rank, he is not over paid. his $$$ line up pretty well to his percieved rank, and this year he appears to be starting the season healthy, which he was not last year

 

[TheRainMaker]

And I think he wasn't in that top ten list because they were rating him as a tackle. If he plays guard this year I'll bet he makes the top ten there.

No that wasn’t it. They felt he was just a swing player at best.

 

[TheRainMaker]

even in that 10-15 range of rank, he is not over paid. his $$$ line up pretty well to his percieved rank, and this year he appears to be starting the season healthy, which he was not last year

He’s making elite T money.

 

[mike_usagisan]

The Pats were also kind of stuck, because they weren't willing to draft someone high to replace him. That means they needed to pay more to keep him. But his salary is more than offset by the rest of the rookie salaries and flea market buys on the line.

Worrying about the Pats and their spending is really not the problem. The problem is drafting and until we see how Wallace shakes out, still needs to be addressed.

 

[Sicilian]

No that wasn’t it. They felt he was just a swing player at best.

We know that for sure? Because that's the first I've heard anyone speak definitively on the motives of that survey. Sounds like speculation to me. Regardless, one overpaid (hypothetically) player on a brand new contract, out of five total positions, does not make a line overpaid in totality.

 

[rkarp1]

The Pats were also kind of stuck, because they weren't willing to draft someone high to replace him. That means they needed to pay more to keep him. But his salary is more than offset by the rest of the rookie salaries and flea market buys on the line.

Worrying about the Pats and their spending is really not the problem. The problem is drafting and until we see how Wallace shakes out, still needs to be addressed.

I mean...they did draft Strange, Sow, Andrews and Mafi

 

[rkarp1]

He’s making elite T money.

if you look at Onwenu at the OT position, 18 OT's are making more guaranteed money than he is
he is #10 for AAV
next year he will fall into that 15-20 rank as more OL sign

 

[Hyped]

Thoughts:

1.) It isn't an ideal situation. I'd have liked for us to draft a LT in the top 2 rounds, but we had so many holes elsewhere that had to be addressed.

2.) We tried the "zone blocking" scheme maybe 2 seasons ago and it didn't work out. Hopefully, Alex Van Pelt can have it installed....and our zone blocking scheme is a good fit for Cole Strange whenever he returns.

3.) I am OK with our interior....Stange/Sow, Andrews, and Onwenu....that should be one of the better interior OLs in the league. Side note: Just ordered my David Andrews game day jersey.

4.) RT is OK as mentioned here. We have options out there including sliding Onwenu out if needed. Plus, we can run TE's off that side too to create a 6th OL-man if needed.

5.) LT is the problem...and I am just hoping that one of Okorafor, Anderson, Lowe, or Wallace can be competent out there....all of them have LT experience either in the NFL or NCAA ball...might need some chip blocks by the RB's and for Brisset/Maye to run some bootlegs on the strong side. Don't think we will see a lot of 7 step drops this year...

 

[rochrist]

He’s making elite T money.

No. He isn't.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Average per year is:

9th for all T’s
4th for his position at RT.

5th for all G’s.
3rd for RG.

Cue the “ugh”.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I mean...they did draft Strange, Sow, Andrews and Mafi

True, and most of them are good to decent on the interior. The Sow to tackle conversion didn't work very well. We'll see if the Wallace to tackle conversion works better.

 

[State]

If you bothered to educate yourself on Wallace, you'd know that his coach said that Wallace took snaps at LT every practice during his 4 years.

That’s not what I read in the Phil Trautwein quote. It was more he played LT in practice on occasion.

The tone of your voice, however, could use improvement.

How many snaps did Wallace take at LT in, ahem, a game?

What’s that? Zero? Yep.

And aren’t you the guy who said Isaiah Wynn couldn’t play guard. The starting Dolphins LG?

 

[State]

Captain Stone: So who’s our LT?

He gets to the point in four words where it took me much more. I could use writing lessons from that guy.

 

[State]

OT (specifically LT) seems to be one of the toughest positions to nail down longterm in the NFL right now. Once the Patriots took Maye at 3, it became a real long shot as to whether a sure thing at LT

The Patriots were one of a flurry of teams who looked at Giovanni Manu, a Jordan Malata doppelgänger who the Lions drafted in the fourth round, moving up by giving up their next year’s third-rounder.

It’ll be interesting to see his progress. His physical attributes and demeanor are elite. But he played for British Columbia.