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

[TommyD4207]

Absolutely agree. Even some decent backups that have yet to show their potential:
G Sow, C Brown, RT Wallace, G Robinson

Suck suck suck and suck.
We can and must do better.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Now that they have drafted Campbell the OL should be considerably better than last season.

 

[TommyD4207]

Now that they have drafted Campbell the OL should be considerably better than last season.

Even if Campbell busts out at tackle...it's still better than what we had, yes, so I agree.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Yes I think it is pessimistic because we don't know what Campbell will be or if a change of scenery rejuvenates Moses for one year. Or we don't know how Wallace will be or if Lowe can swing over to right if needed. Or we don't know if Strange will even be the starter.

There are many balls in the air with this group. To say it's below average with the offensive line landscape of the league so below average is pessimistic.

You're right, I don't "know" what Campbell or Wallace would be. I'm making a projection. If you don't make a projection of how guys will play, how can anyone say we're improved and by how much? You have to make a preliminary assessment on guys to judge that right now.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I'll be satisfied once guys like Demontrey Jacobs are pushed off the roster etc. Our oline needs quality over quantity and we may have to dedicate more draft capital than we would like to rectify the problem. After that focus on last year's duds like Dugger and Stevenson who both got new contracts and see if they can be salvaged.

 

[Family]

You're right, I don't "know" what Campbell or Wallace would be. I'm making a projection. If you don't make a projection of how guys will play, how can anyone say we're improved and by how much? You have to make a preliminary assessment on guys to judge that right now.

I agree, but I just felt that overall your assessment offered almost worse case.

At minimum they have numbers, many high draft picks over the last three years. so with better coaching there should be a surprise or two somewhere.

You've accounted for none of that. The best you can point to for positive is that you say Onwenu will return to what he was.

Again there's about half a dozen high picks under rookie contracts, and you have every one of them under performing, despite having been through a mess in coaching.

That's a pessimistic assessment, almost unrealistic as an overly optimistic one IMO. So that was my only point.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I agree, but I just felt that overall your assessment offered almost worse case.

At minimum they have numbers, many high draft picks over the last three years. so with better coaching there should be a surprise or two somewhere.

You've accounted for none of that. The best you can point to for positive is that you say Onwenu will return to what he was.

Again there's about half a dozen high picks under rookie contracts, and you have every one of them under performing, despite having been through a mess in coaching.

That's a pessimistic assessment, almost unrealistic as an overly optimistic one IMO. So that was my only point.

Again, who am I being overly pessimistic on of the starters?

I expect Campbell to end up a solid, unspectacular LT in the NFL. I'd expect him to take some time to hit that "peak" though and be worse than it to start his career because that's a normal projection. I guess you can say I'm pessimistic here because I'm not forecasting him to hit the ground run running at his career peak or maybe his career peak will be higher and thus so will his starting point, but that's just my honest assessment of him as a prospect.

Strange so far has been on the line between average/below it. I expect that to continue. He's an older prospect and coming off a pretty serious injury for someone who's biggest strength as an OL was his athleticism. I don't think I'm being pessimistic at all here to project a guy in year 1 (essentially) back from a serious injury getting back up to what he was before that.

Bradburry has been below average for most of his 6 year career? Is it really pessimistic to think that will continue?

We've already established I'm not pessimistic on Onwenu.

On Moses, I'm not saying he's going to fall off a cliff, but at 34 and having played through lots of injuries I'm expecting that each year from here on he declines some each year. Is that pessimistic to you?

As far as the other guys, I've said their depth is better. I do expect young guys to improve. But Sow/Robinson/Brown/Lowe have all been terrible over extended snaps. Wallace was terrible in limited snaps. JAndrews hasn't played much but has never been seen as some stud prospect by most people. Even if they do improve, do you see any of them overtaking any of the starters this year? I don't. So even if they are better and it improves our depth, it still doesn't change my assessment of our starting OL. It's definitely a positive that we aren't as susceptible to a huge drop off with injuries though if those guys develop like I think/hope they can.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

A lot of the people who have touted the Campbell pick say he will be a long term "average" or "solid" LT. Whatever his overall career ends up at, expect less than that as a rookie. That's just a normal career arc. So considering the relatively low ceiling people have for his career, and "discounting" back to factor in that he likely takes some time to progress to that, I'm expecting a below average LT next year.

Strange, so far in his career, has been below average. Some might argue average.

Bradbury had one good year that MIN paid him for, but otherwise he's been below average up to average, hence their decision to move on.

Onwenu at his best has looked like a budding pro bowler. At his worst he's been just average. I'd expect closer to the former this year based on it really being a contract year and him having us having a more cohesive blocking and overall offensive scheme.

Moses has been above average to good but he's old. I'd expect him to be getting worse each year at his age, so I'm thinking he'll be average to maybe a bit above this year.


Overall, it's mostly an average at best unit IMO. It won't be good, but it will be good enough that we aren't playing with one hand behind our back like we were for most of last year. Still a weak unit and very underwhelming relative to what they've invested in it (Campbell a #4 pick, Strange a recent 1st rounder, Onwenu one of the highest paid at his position, Moses a decent-sized free agent contract).

You could be right, but optimistically Onwenu and Strange are due for rebounds (above avg), Moses will be solid with Wallace emerging in relief (avg), Bradbury is better than last year (avg), and Campbell will be a force from wk 1 (above avg).

 

[Triumph]

he’s unfortunately missed a lot valuable off season time for two years in a row

Looking like a Bust.

Mcvay was right. Laughing at BB when he pick Strange that high in the draft.

 

[Ring 6]

This is how I see the OL right now
Starters are set.
Campbell Strange Bradbury Onwenu Moses
this is a huge improvement over last year, and when you add Marone as OL coach I see this as going from a major liability to average or even better.

Depth
OT
Wallace and Lowe
-we have to give Wallace an opportunity to develop. He was a legit 3rd rounder. I despise Lowe but having a T4 with 1000+ starter snaps isn’t awful.

IOL
I suppose LRobndon also deserves a chance to have a year to develop
None else in this group belongs on an NFL roster except Schweitzer who is a made of glass fossil
I would imagine one of the flotsam and person that is behind there could turn out to be a capable #6 IOL so we need to add a G on day 3 or find a veteran out there who can be first IOL off the bench.

I am very impressed how Vrabel has methodically filled almost all of the holes on the roster and what’s left is drafting a WR tonight then filling in depth at G, RB, DT, EDGE, CB

 

[Ring 6]

What happened to Sidy Sow last year?

He stinks. Guys who barely belong on practice squads beat him out.

 

[Ring 6]

he’s unfortunately missed a lot valuable off season time for two years in a row

Only 1 off season.

 

[Ring 6]

I agree they have better depth. The guys who started last year are backups now. That's better depth. If there are injuries, they're better equipped to handle that now.

I still stand by my evaluations and would call them realistic more than pessimistic. Your statement that I was pessimistic on every one is obviously wrong too if you reread what I wrote about Onwenu where I forecasted he'd play closer to his best than his worst. Is it really pessimistic to think that Moses will be getting worse each year he plays from here on out in his late 30s? It's not like I said he was going to suck, just have some decline. And is it pessimistic to say that Campbell's rookie year is going to be worse than whatever his overall career ends up in anticipation that he gets better over time up to his peak/prime like most players do?

The guys who started last year are even bad backups.

 

[captain stone]

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.

No.

 

[Real fan 02]

Suck suck suck and suck.
We can and must do better.

Unexplainable-Sow
Decent depth- brown
Rookie and Rookie last season...

 

[Real fan 02]

No.

There the cap'n...

 

[rkarp1]

health. scheme. coaching. offseason strength program.
that alone should help improve Wallace, Robinson, Brown, Sow.
I thought Lowe made some noticeable strides last season from the season prior.
should be significant improvement from last year. so many injuries last year, the OL never had the chance to play the top 5 all together and healthy.

 

[NashuaPats]

Suck suck suck and suck.
We can and must do better.

Improved coaching is going to make a world of a difference… I hope.

 

[Family]

This is how I see the OL right now
Starters are set.
Campbell Strange Bradbury Onwenu Moses
this is a huge improvement over last year, and when you add Marone as OL coach I see this as going from a major liability to average or even better.

Depth
OT
Wallace and Lowe
-we have to give Wallace an opportunity to develop. He was a legit 3rd rounder. I despise Lowe but having a T4 with 1000+ starter snaps isn’t awful.

IOL
I suppose LRobndon also deserves a chance to have a year to develop
None else in this group belongs on an NFL roster except Schweitzer who is a made of glass fossil
I would imagine one of the flotsam and person that is behind there could turn out to be a capable #6 IOL so we need to add a G on day 3 or find a veteran out there who can be first IOL off the bench.

I am very impressed how Vrabel has methodically filled almost all of the holes on the roster and what’s left is drafting a WR tonight then filling in depth at G, RB, DT, EDGE, CB

I still hold hope for Sidney Sow.

I have no idea what last year was about, but Sow was a highly drafted guard who had a decent rookie year.

Sow seemed to have injuries last year. It's not impossible that a different guy shows up at camp because he did suck.

 

[Ring 6]

I still hold hope for Sidney Sow.

I have no idea what last year was about, but Sow was a highly drafted guard who had a decent rookie year.

Sow seemed to have injuries last year. It's not impossible that a different guy shows up at camp because he did suck.

I thought Sow was bad as a rookie and couldn’t beat out some terrible players last year. I’ve never been impressed.