Isn't The OL Already Much Better Than In 2024?

[mgteich]

I expect that we will still add a couple of OL's, certainly a LT in the first 40 picks.
============
That being said, the OL won't be great, but it will greatly improved from last year.

We already have 3 new starters to play with Onwenu, compared to almost all of last year: Strange, Bradbury and Moses.

The OL that played much of the year consisted of Lowe, Jordan/Robinson, Brown, Onwenu, and Jacobs. Of course, for much of the year, they weren't all healthy.

Backups included Sow and Wallace and some scrubs.

Strange was available for a couple of games.
===========================
COMPARISONS
TACKLE
2024: an oft-injured Lowe, Jacobs, Wallace
2025: Moses, Lowe, Wallace (last two injured for much of last year)

GUARD
2024
Jordan, Robinson, Onwenu, Sow, Robinson
2025
Strange, Onwenu, Robinson, Schweitzer, Sow

CENTER
2024: Brown, Strange (for a couple of games)
2025: Bradbury, Brown, Andrews
=========
CONCLUSION
Our OL is already much more talented than last year, with 1-3 additions to come. A better OC, better coaching and better game plans should help a lot.

 

[yukon cornelius]

it has already been noted that McD blocking schemes tend to not leave Ts isolated (like AVP did), and tend to provide help to Ts, no matter who they are

that alone makes this OL better

 

[Rob0729]

it has already been noted that McD blocking schemes tend to not leave Ts isolated (like AVP did), and tend to provide help to Ts, no matter who they are

that alone makes this OL better

Yes, McDaniels always schemes to make sure weakness in the line are protected like designing plays for TEs to chip a DE before they run their route or adding an extra lineman on certain plays. That was lacking in last year's offense.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Not yet complete but it is considerably better. Moses, strange, and bradberry are all upgrades to what we had last year. Thats 60% of the line that should be better.

 

[jboston19]

Better, but not yet at a place at which to feel comfortable.

They definitely need to add a LT at minimum. LG and C are still questionable and our RT is a wonderful short term fix. Is Wallace a piece to the puzzle there?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Last year they had one of the worst LTs, LGs, Cs and RTs for most of the year. They've upgraded the latter 3 to respectable, even though I'd still say closer to poor than good. But respectable. They also brought in, on paper, better coaching at the position coach level and a better coordinator to help the OL with playcalling/play design/scheme to hide weaknesses (especially now that they only have 1 true liability type player). I'd expect Maye to make some incremental progress in pass rush awareness as well. And even though Lowe is public enemy #1 here, last year brought him to 20 career starts so just about a season's worth. I'd expect him to show some progress just with experience and seeing more things on the field.

If they end up going all 17 games with Lowe/Strange/Bradbury/Onwenu/Moses I think they'd be "fine" in the sense that it won't be so bad that it completely derails everything else. But injuries will happen and Moses might be washed. They still need to make multiple upgrades for better talent to actually be good and be an asset on offense and they're like 2 injuries away from back to futile.

I think they should approach the draft with an inclination towards addressing the OL. Let that be a tie breaker or push you if you think you're still taking the same caliber of player. But I wouldn't have an OL at all costs mentality like many on here.

 

[Ross12]

2024 vs 2025:

Scheme - Van Pelt < McDaniels
LT: Lowe = Lowe
LG: Robinson < Strange
C: Brown < Bradbury
RG: Onwenu = Onwenu
RT: Jacobs < Moses

Improvements with scheme and at LG, C, and RT. Existing LT and RG return, but RG was already good. So yes, definitely improvements although LT is still a weak spot. That said, McDaniels will scheme to protect the LT and reinforcement via draft is likely.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

2024 vs 2025:

Scheme - Van Pelt < McDaniels
LT: Lowe = Lowe
LG: Robinson < Strange
C: Brown < Bradbury
RG: Onwenu = Onwenu
RT: Jacobs < Moses

Improvements with scheme and at LG, C, and RT. Existing LT and RG return, but RG was already good. So yes, definitely improvements although LT is still a weak spot. That said, McDaniels will scheme to protect the LT and reinforcement via draft is likely.

I'd expect Lowe to be a little better this year even if only for experience and recognizing things on the field. He only has 20 career starts. I'd expect most players are better in starts 21-37 than 1-20 just based on that.

I'd also expect Onwenu to be better this year. His contract is set up that it's kind of a contract year for him. Team essentially has a $17.5M option next year and if he has another year like last year (which wasn't even bad, just not that good), I think he's looking at getting cut and probably forced to settle for not as good a contract. His heart and preparation didn't seem all the way in it last year, but could be this year.

you also left out positonal coaching, which seems to be better this year with Marrone.

 

[PWRxWLF]

Line is better but depth is a concern for me. How healthy is Strange and Moses isn’t exactly a young duck. Injury to those 2 and we’re practically back to where we were last year. I’d like an infusion of different bodies for camp. We know what we have backing up already and its not very good.

 

[lancerman]

Until we see it on the field, technically nothing is better.

@holyredeemer mentioned this, but depth has been an issue for a long time, this is a line that since at least 2019 really could not endure an injury without crumbling and having huge vulnerabilities.

 

[Sect140]

I'd expect Lowe to be a little better this year even if only for experience and recognizing things on the field. He only has 20 career starts. I'd expect most players are better in starts 21-37 than 1-20 just based on that.

I'd also expect Onwenu to be better this year. His contract is set up that it's kind of a contract year for him. Team essentially has a $17.5M option next year and if he has another year like last year (which wasn't even bad, just not that good), I think he's looking at getting cut and probably forced to settle for not as good a contract. His heart and preparation didn't seem all the way in it last year, but could be this year.

you also left out positonal coaching, which seems to be better this year with Marrone.

I’m thinking with a new coaching staff he shows up in shape this summer unlike last year.

 

[Real fan 02]

I expect that we will still add a couple of OL's, certainly a LT in the first 40 picks.
============
That being said, the OL won't be great, but it will greatly improved from last year.

We already have 3 new starters to play with Onwenu, compared to almost all of last year: Strange, Bradbury and Moses.

The OL that played much of the year consisted of Lowe, Jordan/Robinson, Brown, Onwenu, and Jacobs. Of course, for much of the year, they weren't all healthy.

Backups included Sow and Wallace and some scrubs.

Strange was available for a couple of games.
===========================
COMPARISONS
TACKLE
2024: an oft-injured Lowe, Jacobs, Wallace
2025: Moses, Lowe, Wallace (last two injured for much of last year)

GUARD
2024
Jordan, Robinson, Onwenu, Sow, Robinson
2025
Strange, Onwenu, Robinson, Schweitzer, Sow

CENTER
2024: Brown, Strange (for a couple of games)
2025: Bradbury, Brown, Andrews
=========
CONCLUSION
Our OL is already much more talented than last year, with 1-3 additions to come. A better OC, better coaching and better game plans should help a lot.

I've said myself that even before any FA acquisitions.. the offseason had already had an upgrade by the coaching.

Morgan Moses will end up being one of the most important signings in the Vrabel era. Even at his age he's still a force on the right side and exudes confi snd leadership abilities that have been lacking for years. I'm thinking when the battles end in camp the starters will be:

LT - Campbell
LG -Strange
C- Bradbury
RG- Owenu
RT- Moses

 

[Ross12]

Line is better but depth is a concern for me. How healthy is Strange and Moses isn’t exactly a young duck. Injury to those 2 and we’re practically back to where we were last year. I’d like an infusion of different bodies for camp. We know what we have backing up already and its not very good.

Sort of. Robinson was playing LG at the end of last year due to injuries and poor depth; Strange takes over that spot and probably pushes Robinson over to become Onwenu's backup. They now also have Schweitzer who is likely the top LG backup, and can also backup C. Bradbury replaces Brown and Brown is the backup. Jake Andrews is also returning to potentially backup LG/C. Moses replaces Jacobs at RT, and Wallace is also returning at RT. Jacobs becomes a swing tackle backup for now.

Overall LT is not good enough, and I'd like maybe one more decent reserve guard, but overall I think depth is not bad.

 

[Ross12]

I'd expect Lowe to be a little better this year even if only for experience and recognizing things on the field. He only has 20 career starts. I'd expect most players are better in starts 21-37 than 1-20 just based on that.

I'd also expect Onwenu to be better this year. His contract is set up that it's kind of a contract year for him. Team essentially has a $17.5M option next year and if he has another year like last year (which wasn't even bad, just not that good), I think he's looking at getting cut and probably forced to settle for not as good a contract. His heart and preparation didn't seem all the way in it last year, but could be this year.

you also left out positonal coaching, which seems to be better this year with Marrone.

Very true regarding Onwenu. If he gets cut next year then it's $7M dead money and creates about $17M in cap space, which is certainly enough to sign a top guard on next year's market to replace him.

 

[Real fan 02]

Sort of. Robinson was playing LG at the end of last year due to injuries and poor depth; Strange takes over that spot and probably pushes Robinson over to become Onwenu's backup. They now also have Schweitzer who is likely the top LG backup, and can also backup C. Bradbury replaces Brown and Brown is the backup. Jake Andrews is also returning to potentially backup LG/C. Moses replaces Jacobs at RT, and Wallace is also returning at RT. Jacobs becomes a swing tackle backup for now.

Overall LT is not good enough, and I'd like maybe one more decent reserve guard, but overall I think depth is not bad.

Your day 1 starters:
LT, Campbell
LG, Strange
C, Bradbury
RG, Owenu
RT, Moses

 

[PatsFan2]

I'd expect Lowe to be a little better this year even if only for experience and recognizing things on the field. He only has 20 career starts. I'd expect most players are better in starts 21-37 than 1-20 just based on that.

I'd also expect Onwenu to be better this year. His contract is set up that it's kind of a contract year for him. Team essentially has a $17.5M option next year and if he has another year like last year (which wasn't even bad, just not that good), I think he's looking at getting cut and probably forced to settle for not as good a contract. His heart and preparation didn't seem all the way in it last year, but could be this year.

you also left out positonal coaching, which seems to be better this year with Marrone.

Vederian Lowe sucks against Decent DE's: note I didn't mention the Better ones.

 

[PatsFan2]

Your day 1 starters:
LT, Campbell
LG, strange,
C, Bradbury
RG, Owenu
RT, Moses

Seems like we can get the BC's Boys Trapilo and Kendall. BC Centers have done very well for us.

 

[Real fan 02]

Seems like we can get the BC's Boys Trapilo and Kendall. BC Centers have done very well for us.

I'll take em twin... get all the talent you can on the line.. let em battle it out in camp...

 

[JayNM]

On paper yes

My biggest worry is that its all flimsy to me

Strange cant be counted on for 17 games until proven otherwise. AND he has not proved to be all that great if we are honest to ourselves, so the experience will be missed

80% of what read of Bradbury is lukewarm at best, and the cs in minnessota actually tried to make him work, but couldnt

Moses, while good, is old

And that's it. That is what has been improved from what it was, honestly, the worst oline ive seen for a full season. Which they are coming back to "fight for positions"

I will add to the chorus, though, that yes, they all deserve at least some time after last season

 

[TheRainMaker]

This was said for some reason last season. They are still arguably the worst group in the league.