Held Hostage by the OT Position

[mgteich]

That is looking unfortunately true. And Wolf announced before TC that he would be LT1. How’s that working out?

We badly needed a LT, even a below average LT. If Lowe is better, then Okorafor is a starting RT or swing OT. We needed to add THREE solid OT's. That's a lot to ask.

If Lowe is OK as a starter or even as a backup at LT, then we have our three OT's without having to move Onwenu back to RT.

 

[PatMan]

I really hope anyone and everyone who is feeling really down about the state of the offensive line watches this video about Wallace...

A couple traits jump out that can't be taught:

1. He has GREAT feet... agile, quick, and balanced. In my opinion this is THE prerequisite for an NFL tackle - without this you're a guard.

2. He gets out of his stance really fast and has no problem (athletically) reaching speed rushers

After watching this tape I can see why Elliott Wolf and company thought he might be an NFL left tackle

 

[n1997y]

But he’s a RT, doesn’t solve our LT problem.

Don’t let such a detail stand in the way of a good lynch mob

 

[n1997y]

…
Anyone have a suggestion? Mine is to trade with the Saints for Landon Young, their backup RT.

I always love suggestions that all we have to do is trade with another team, like we just call and they’ll automatically say “yes”.

What makes you think the Saints would make that trade?

Why is it not a good assumption that if he’s good enough for us to want him they’d want to keep him?

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Maye won't be a Statue back there I remember Burrow his Rookie year always running for his life with former First Rounder Joah Williams at LT. Yeah they made it to the SB against a powerful Rams Teams. Moral of post a Good QB can overcome a bad OL not every Team have a Stud @ LT. Wallace May turn out good no pun intended. I like the direction the Offense is going they can only go up or get better from here.

until he blew out his knee.......

 

[Wozzy]

I really hope anyone and everyone who is feeling really down about the state of the offensive line watches this video about Wallace...

A couple traits jump out that can't be taught:

1. He has GREAT feet... agile, quick, and balanced. In my opinion this is THE prerequisite for an NFL tackle - without this you're a guard.

2. He gets out of his stance really fast and has no problem (athletically) reaching speed rushers

After watching this tape I can see why Elliott Wolf and company thought he might be an NFL left tackle

There won’t be a dedicated youtube page to an UDFA tackle but watch what game film you can of Zuri Henry from the Carolina game. He’s almost a carbon copy of Wallace and has good strength.

It won’t shock me if both of these rookies are starting by the end of the season and look decent. The tackle position is not a hopeless case… it’s just young and inexperienced.

 

[James Keddy]

Throw Lowe in the trash where he belongs. How much more of his terrible play do we have to watch?

Get Anderson, Wallace, Henry, Diesch all the reps... fade Okorafor, he was a poor free agent signing.

If the coaches don't recognize how bad their two starters are, there's a problem with the coaches.

There are one or two decent tackles out there but they want crazy money. The alternative is
watching the season go down the drain at game one.

 

[Wozzy]

There are one or two decent tackles out there but they want crazy money. The alternative is
watching the season go down the drain at game one.

There’s some really old and fading fossils like Donovan Smith or David Bakhtiari. Not sure their availability is about money as much as nobody wanting to commit it to players who can’t stay healthy.

Smith would be my choice of the two, he has played more the past few years. That being said I would prefer developing the options already on their bench. That’s their best hope IMO.

 

[Sciz]

I always love suggestions that all we have to do is trade with another team, like we just call and they’ll automatically say “yes”.

What makes you think the Saints would make that trade?

Why is it not a good assumption that if he’s good enough for us to want him they’d want to keep him?

Especially with how horrific Penning looks as the starting RT. Why is Young not winning that job outright?

 

[n1997y]

There won’t be a dedicated youtube page to an UDFA tackle but watch what game film you can of Zuri Henry from the Carolina game. He’s almost a carbon copy of Wallace and has good strength.

It won’t shock me if both of these rookies are starting by the end of the season and look decent. The tackle position is not a hopeless case… it’s just young and inexperienced.

The remainder of camp and the early season will be interesting to see OL development. I hope you are right that youth and inexperience are making talent difficult to recognize.

There are one or two decent tackles out there but they want crazy money. The alternative is
watching the season go down the drain at game one.

Come on rookie, get with the program! The season is already down the drain before the first game! /s

My prediction is that reality will be somewhere between your prediction and Wozzy’s. It’s a long season, first game won’t put the entire season down the drain. Unless maybe the entire team staff goes crazy and benches Brissett so the OL puts both Milton and Maye on crutches in game 1. There’s a good reason Brisket will be starter, and it’s exactly to avoid having the QB of the future go down the drain right away. Plenty of time for that later.

 

[Boomer B]

O-line got their asses handed to them in the joint practice today. Without upgrades at both tackle positions we’ll see the same crap as last year.

 

[Water Boy]

 

[sb1]

Obviously Mac Jones fault. He was the only reason why the team only won 4 games last year. The O-Line was great there was nothing wrong with it at all, it was all Jones that was the problem. Lowe was awesome last year not sure why he sucks now.

 

[Love The Drake]

Obviously Mac Jones fault. He was the only reason why the team only won 4 games last year. The O-Line was great there was nothing wrong with it at all, it was all Jones that was the problem. Lowe was awesome last year not sure why he sucks now.

We need Tight ends who can block.
It’s not Henry and Hooper,
Anyone know can Bell block?

 

[Thunderhead]

OL is going to be worse than last year, if that's even possible.

 

[Pape]

Obviously Mac Jones fault.

agreed. AND that argument is a hill worth dying on.

 

[State]

Can former first round Cole Strange bulk up 10 pounds or so and play LT when he returns? His elite athleticism and upper body strength (31 bench presses at the Combine!) are tailored made for outside zone runs. His arms are only 33”. He did play a couple of games at LT in college. He also practiced as center at the Senior Bowl.

We had a guy similar in size, though not as athletic, in Matt Light. Light was half an inch shorter but I remember his arms being slightly longer than Strange’s.

Of course Light was a total stud LT at Purdue protecting Drew Bree’s blindside. But the consensus thinking by teams was give him a looksee at LT; however, it was considered likely he’d need to be kicked inside to guard.

I love Sidy Sow at LG. His natural position. When and if Strange returns this season, put him at LT. Even in a backup role.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

[mgteich]

OL is going to be worse than last year, if that's even possible.

You mean when Lowe was starting at LT, Onwenu was starting at RT, and McDermott was the swing OT?
And our IOL's were Strange, Andrews and Sow?
And our backup IOL's were Mafi, Jake, and Ferentz?
===================
As expected, it might take a few weeks to gel, but we have better talent this year.
NINE OL's, l2023 and 2024
A) Onwenu, Andrews, Sow and Lowe are back.
B) OUT: Mafi, Jake, Ferentz
IN: Robinson, Jordan, Leverett,
C) OUT: McDermott. Wheatley/Brown
IN: Okorafor, Wallace
===========
That's at least 5 new players. It could be 6 if we add a 10th OL (from another team or Henry). I expect Lowe to make the 53, but not Anderson.

At least two are rookies. It will take time to work this out.

 

[captain stone]

We need Tight ends who can block.
It’s not Henry and Hooper,
Anyone know can Bell block?

Bell’s blocking is worse than Henry’s or Hooper’s, mostly because he’s smaller than they are.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I love Sidy Sow at LG. His natural position. When and if Strange returns this season, put him at LT. Even in a backup role.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Strange is not great at the bull rushes by the big inside DTs. Seems to be quick enough to play LT, and Strange could handle the smaller speed rushing DEs.

Definitely desperate times.