Trade Cole Strange to a Team That Runs A lot of Outside Zone

[Huckleberry1]

The issue with trading Strange is that he remains, as of now, our best option.

Since Vrabel took over, Strange was declared to be competing for center, then re-auditioned at LG, them re-emerged as the top candidate to start at LG? What does this mean? It means that we tried to upgrade at LG, couldn't, so we pivoted to C. We auditioned Sow, Robinson and Robinson at LG, and fell back to Strange. He is clearly the best option on the team today.

May a better option become available after camp cuts? Not likely. In this case, there is zero benefit to downgrading at the position you ID'ed as most crucial for improvement.

I never said guard was the most important position to improve, you must be thinking of someone else. I said it wasn’t the priority other positions were.

 

[rkarp1]

We have lots of possible backups at RG. Sow looked good as a rookie. L. Robinson look OK as a backup RG and as a good run-blocker. Even Wallace looks like he could be a backup at RG if needed.
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OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE IS AT LEFT GUARD
We don't know whether Strange can play. Of course, if he is healthy, some think that means that we should trade him. ROFL
Sow looked good as a rookie RIGHT guard. He played well as a LG in college, but has shown nothing so far as an NFL LG.
Neither Robinson has shown that they are good enough to be a starter or backup at LG. Brown may be a better choice than either.
Could Durant be good enough to make the 53 as a LG? It seems unlikely. He was a good pickup to possibly make the PS.
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THE MOST LIKELY
choice with our current players is having Strange and Sow as our LG's, with either one as a starter. If both are healthy, that might be an OK situation for this year.

However, it seems quite likely that we will sign a veteran LG in camp or even after the season starts.

just curious. where does the Sidy Sow was injured last season come from?
yes, he had an ankle injury in the preseason and missed the first 3 games. game 4, he played every offensive snap (64) and 3 ST snaps.
games 5 thru 11 he then played 0, 8, 41, 1, 4, 6, 7, 20, 3, 1, 0 offensive snaps. many of those snaps were at FB/jumbo set, but he was active and playing ST.

 

[p8ryts]

Somebody has to play fullback.

I will be shocked if its Bell.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I will be shocked if its Bell.

They brought in 3 UDFA’s who play specific roles that MacDaniels loves to use in his offense. Chism, who plays the Welker/Edelman slot role, LAN Larison, who plays the role Rex Burkhead/ Danny Woodhead played in the backfield, and Lampe, who plays the James Develin role of lead blocker and QB protector. Lampe will cost Bell his place on the roster. I expect all 3 to make the final 53.

 

[Wozzy]

I will be shocked if it’s Bell.

I see Bell or the kid from Alabama.

 

[Wozzy]

They brought in 3 UDFA’s who play specific roles that MacDaniels loves to use in his offense. Chism, who plays the Welker/Edelman slot role, LAN Larison, who plays the role Rex Burkhead/ Danny Woodhead played in the backfield, and Lampe, who plays the James Develin role of lead blocker and QB protector. Lampe will cost Bell his place on the roster. I expect all 3 to make the final 53.

Every year they bring in 7-10 UDFA’s, nobody is promised anything.

Lampe’s school had him listed as a TE, he’s also a poor athlete. He’s no lock.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I see Bell or the kid from Alabama.

I think they want to use a FB (as do I desperately) but won't if they think the players currently slated to be in camp can't cut it.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Dippre has some interesting measurables:

 

[VJCPatriot]

Many have done in it at that position. It may be the position that a rookie starts the most, including late round picks.
If we didn’t have an entrenched starter, I think he would stand a very good chance of starting week 1.

Entrenched starter? Bradbury has proven nothing with this team yet. His team let him get to free agency because he has obvious weaknesses. Is it likely Bradbury wins the job because he has more experience in the league? Yes, but I would hardly call him an entrenched starter. That would presume he has done something to earn expectations to start and he hasn’t yet. Let’s see how they look in training camp first.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Dippre has some interesting measurables:

lol comparing dippre to a future HOFer in Gronk is just unfair. It ain’t even close.

 

[p8ryts]

lol comparing dippre to a future HOFer in Gronk is just unfair. It ain’t even close.

As improbable as it may seem, never say never.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Dippre has some interesting measurables:

That is interesting. With those measurables how did he go undrafted? I know he didn't have big numbers but so what? Figure at least a 6th rounder?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Somebody has to play fullback.

Agreed. What does that have to do with Bell?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

just curious. where does the Sidy Sow was injured last season come from?
yes, he had an ankle injury in the preseason and missed the first 3 games. game 4, he played every offensive snap (64) and 3 ST snaps.
games 5 thru 11 he then played 0, 8, 41, 1, 4, 6, 7, 20, 3, 1, 0 offensive snaps. many of those snaps were at FB/jumbo set, but he was active and playing ST.

High ankle sprains can be worse than a broken bone. Look at Duggar last year, Mayo kept playing him but he should have gone on IR. Duggar had surgery for his high ankle sprain after the season. With last year's staff there is no way to know what was going on. I agree - what happened to Sow last year. All we can say is let's wait and see what happens this year with a new, competent, objective minded coaching staff.

 

[jdlboot14]

Man, it's been slow around here. Can't wait for TC.

Dippre is a far cry from Gronk, but he's not that far off from a prototype TE like Henry. He's got similar measurables, and seems extremely tough, dependable hands, and a good blocker. He'd be a better roster spot IMO than Lampe, because we need a developing TE behind Henry & Hooper - who are both getting old, and could miss some time this year. Bell is not an all-around TE.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think they want to use a FB (as do I desperately) but won't if they think the players currently slated to be in camp can't cut it.

I agree, but I think Lampe will fill the role.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Man, it's been slow around here. Can't wait for TC.

Dippre is a far cry from Gronk, but he's not that far off from a prototype TE like Henry. He's got similar measurables, and seems extremely tough, dependable hands, and a good blocker. He'd be a better roster spot IMO than Lampe, because we need a developing TE behind Henry & Hooper - who are both getting old, and could miss some time this year. Bell is not an all-around TE.

I would keep a lead blocking FB over a 3rd string TE.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

lol comparing dippre to a future HOFer in Gronk is just unfair. It ain’t even close.

Not suggesting he is Gronk reincarnate. Just pointing out that for an undrafted TE that likely doesn't even make the roster, he has interesting measurables. Could be a blocking TE/FB maybe, starting out on the PS for now.

 

[Ring 6]

Entrenched starter? Bradbury has proven nothing with this team yet. His team let him get to free agency because he has obvious weaknesses. Is it likely Bradbury wins the job because he has more experience in the league? Yes, but I would hardly call him an entrenched starter. That would presume he has done something to earn expectations to start and he hasn’t yet. Let’s see how they look in training camp first.

Quibbling over semantics? Is it his job? Did they give him a contract equivalent to a starter? Does he have a lot of NFL experiences? Is he in the vicinity of his prime?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Not suggesting he is Gronk reincarnate. Just pointing out that for an undrafted TE that likely doesn't even make the roster, he has interesting measurables. Could be a blocking TE/FB maybe, starting out on the PS for now.

I think Dippre will head to the practice squad, and he could well be the replacement for Hooper next season. Which is exactly the way you want the practice squad to work, as you give them a red shirt year, get the young replacement, and clear some cap space at the same time. If they chose to release him Lampe could make it to the practice squad as well, but I think both Chism and Larison would be gone for good if they released them. Ultimately I have Lampe, Larison, and Chism making the .53, which would be really impressive UDFA haul if they work out.