It All Starts Up Front

[XLIX]

9-8. Missed the playoffs.

Cool.

We weren't talking about the team, we were talking about the offense. Nice try moving the goalposts but everyone here can read your post and see you were talknig about their offense.

Their defense sucks (hence the medicore record) but they had one of the best offenses in football despite the fact that, by your own admission they have "no offensive line."

 

[TommyD4207]

We weren't talking about the team, we were talking about the offense. Nice try moving the goalposts but everyone here can read your post and see you were talknig about their offense.

Their defense sucks (hence the medicore record) but they had one of the best offenses in football despite - and these are your words here - the fact that they "have a full compliment of skill player weapons, and no offensive line."

Yes, and they were 9-8. They also have a top safety in Vonn Bell, and a top 5 pass rusher in Hendrickson, and possibly the best nickel corner in the game in Mike Hilton.

9-8. You need more than skill guys. Unless you're cool with 9-8 and missing the playoffs.

They lost to the Patriots week 1, that retched team, why? Couldn't protect, couldn't run the ball, couldn't stop that high-school-level offense from running on them.

 

[JohnJH]

kick andrews to guard? or maybe run strange out for one more year at LG, then kick him to center, after David Andrews retires / doesn't get resigned?

I don't know my friend. Your guess is as good as mine. There's a real chance that Andrews decides to hang up his cleats during training camp, or maybe not make it past week 3 of the regular season. IF Strange can stay healthy and learn to be a starting caliber Center (maybe even a solid to upper tier one), as he has the size and athletic ability to be, then we we still need a young and promising one in the draft (or one in FA if they feel they can kick Strange back out to LG).

Having a solid if not better Center is, as you know, crucial to a successful OL. Center, and LT and RT is what we need to address this off-season. We may be good if not better on the inside with the Starting Center and Backup Center taken care of. We know from his previous statements that Vrabel knows that a strong OL and DL is crucial to success (especially when you have THE QB and a nice #1 CB in Gonzo helps). It's going to be a hopefully interesting (in the best possible way) off-season Pape.

 

[Pape]

I don't know my friend. There's a real chance that Andrews decides to hang up his cleats during training camp, or maybe not make it past week 3 of the regular season. IF Strange can stay healthy and learn to be a starting caliber Center (maybe even a solid to upper tier one), as he has the size and athletic ability to be, then we we still need a young and promising one in the draft (or one in FA if they feel they can kick Strange back out to LG).

Having a solid if not better Center is, as you know, crucial to a successful OL. Center, and LT and RT is what we need to address this off-season. We may be good if not better on the inside with the Starting Center and Backup Center taken care of. We know from his previous statements that Vrabel knows that a strong OL and DL is crucial to success (especially when you have THE QB and a nice #1 CB in Gonzo helps). It's going to be a hopefully interesting (in the best possible way) off-season Pape.

he tore his rotator cuff... hardly a career ending injury... until he says otherwise, i think hes coming back

 

[Pape]

i don't think Andrews is ready by the time camp ends; i am not 100% convinced he'll be back at all

over a rotator cuff? oy vey

 

[JohnJH]

he tore his rotator cuff... hardly a career ending injury... until he says otherwise, i think hes coming back

It's not the injury so much, it's that even if he has one full season left, we need a solid young Center not only as a backup, but who can be our starting Center of the future. He may very well play next season and even at a high level. I love the Dude, we just need to be ready for his departure, however it happens.

 

[Pape]

It's not the injury so much, it's that even if he has one full season left, we need a solid young Center not only as a backup, but who can be our starting Center of the future. He may very well play next season and even at a high level. I love the Dude, we just need to be ready for his departure, however it happens.

And the current understudy, who was also injured this year, would be Jake Andrews...

 

[dliverey44]

The Eagle's domination points to a key lesson - it all starts up front. Four DL guys each capable of winning one-on-one, and a massive OL that gives your QB time to throw and allows you to run the ball. Obviously the Eagles didn't run much, but the threat of the run still played a big part in the game.

So my plea - forget the fancy divas for the WR room, and use the draft to strengthen the OL and DL. There are a lot of great edge players in the draft.

So we need two tackles, and if Barmore comes back (and he is apparently in training) then two more on the DL to go with White. So four new players could transform the team - add one mid-level WR and you actually have a team that will win a decent number of games, especially now we have a full suite of competent coaches.

Anyone disagree?

Agree completely, but I would also add 2 LBs to the list. Our current LBs do not fit well with the Defense they ran in Tennessee.

 

[mgteich]

It is very easy to talk about how "it all starts up front" when you have a great QB, an all-world RB, and 2 great WR's.

I will discuss this when we have an OL that averages over 6'6" and over 340 pounds.

 

[mgteich]

It's not the injury so much, it's that even if he has one full season left, we need a solid young Center not only as a backup, but who can be our starting Center of the future. He may very well play next season and even at a high level. I love the Dude, we just need to be ready for his departure, however it happens.

Many here think that Strange will be extended and be the center for the next 3-4 years.

I tend to agree that we need to develop a center. Perhaps Jake is that guy.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Can’t fix everything in one season. If Andrews and Strange are both healthy the there is your 3 interior guys with Onwenu. Have to focus on the two T positions.

I think Andrew’s is toast. I wouldn’t count on him. Move Strange to Center, get 2 tackles in free agency, and move Onwenu back to OG.

 

[JohnJH]

Many here think that Strange will be extended and be the center for the next 3-4 years.

I tend to agree that we need to develop a center. Perhaps Jake is that guy.

It's not impossible. Andrews was an UDFA. I trust that Vrabel/Marrone will figure it out and who they deem as OL that they want to keep and can work with.

 

[JohnJH]

And the current understudy, who was also injured this year, would be Jake Andrews...

He'll certainly get evaluated by Vrabel/Marrone as to whether or not he (and any of the other OL Players), are worth keeping and can be developed.

 

[yukon cornelius]

And great QB, WRs, and RBs always make their o-lines look better.

Howd that work out last night?

 

[yukon cornelius]

over a rotator cuff? oy vey

He already had this cuff repaired, and this time it didnt tear off the bone.....either the tendon blew up or the tendon tore at the muscle attachment, so they tried an experimental surgery that entailed placing an artificial sheath over the repair

His return is very much in doubt

 

[XLIX]

Howd that work out last night?

The team with the better RB's and WR's won so I say it worked out pretty good.

 

[yukon cornelius]

The team with the better RB's and WR's won so I say it worked out pretty good.

Lol

The team with the better lines controlled the game from the onset

0 blitzes, rushed 4, and had 6 sacks and how many pressures? Forced 2 INTS, forced a fumble, rushed mahomes into multiple bad throws......all while Hurts set up shop in the pocket

Swap offensive and defensive lines, and the score is even more lopsided in KCs favor

 

[yukon cornelius]

Teams with mediocre QBs and few superstar skill players have won.....never seen teams with bad fronts win

 

[TheRainMaker]

Watch the NFL look at this game and start to model their team after Philly. Build the OL with a overpowering ground game and an old school D-line with massive DT's.

With that said, do you see the Eagles being a force next season or will SF, Detroit bounce back and give them trouble?

 

[Aussie Patriot]

he tore his rotator cuff... hardly a career ending injury... until he says otherwise, i think hes coming back

He has said a couple of times in interviews he wants to come back.