We Have SOME Clarification On The OL?

[mgteich]

Are folks really afraid that another team would pick up Brown if he were waived?

 

[mgteich]

BOTTOM LINE
We have an OK set of starters (thanks to Vrabel)
We will have the backups chosen by the 2nd best set of OL coaches that we have ever had, and I think one of the best in the NFL)

 

[n1997y]

Both Strange and Wallace can backup at both OG roster spots. That seems a good thing to me.

Agreed. But 203 was reading some meaning into Strange not repping at LG and overlooking the fact that he was repping at RG. Thats the whole problem with simplistic conclusions early in train8ng camp.

Even Ian has overlooked related consequences, like here where he suggests coaches might be looking at Strange’s ability to play both sides as a factor in a future decision, then in the next sentence suggests the decision is already made:

Cole Strange got more work in on Monday behind Mike Onwenu at right guard, which has been the case in recent practices. Perhaps the goal is to see if he can handle the versatility on both sides, possibly giving him an opportunity as Vrabel and the coaching staff continue trying to figure out thier depth chart. … Caedan Wallace seems to have locked in the backup spot behind rookie Jared Wilson, who has stepped into Strange’s spot at left guard and continues to hold it down after being elevated into the top spot in recent weeks.

 

[Wozzy]

And now he isn't. Cry more.

Up until yesterday he was… but you know something the rest of us don’t.

 

[Wozzy]

So, your choice with regard to transitioning to Vrabel's guys is to keep an injured Sow instead of Strange. I'm not a buyer. Sow's best chance to have a future in the NFL is for him to be on the Practice Squad.
=========
We can have 3 IOL backups if we wish. WALLACE seems a lock at this point. We can have one or two more. I would choose STRANGE and either ROBINSON or BROWN (if BRADBURY is really as limited as he has looked so far). IMO, there are much better uses of a 10th OL spot than Sow. I would rather have a 5th OT or carry only 9 OL's than have Sow on the 53.

No, Sow returned to practice a few days ago. If he is healthy he should be the first backup, he has some flexibility to play guard or tackle.

They also need a backup to play center and guard, I’d prefer Strange but he might push his way out of town.

 

[203Pat]

Offends me? Dude, this is an Internet message board.

JAG is a Bill Parcells' term to indicate a player who is easily replaceable. A starter, Strange or any other starter, can be replaced but there will most likely be a dropoff in performance (unless the starter is horrible) so starters are most likely not "easily replaceable". "Easily replaceable" are the guys that are swapped in and out with very little change in performance. Parcells defined the term. You are using the term incorrectly. @mgteich is using it incorrectly as well.

Well to me he is easily replaceable. That is the part you're missing. I think he is (was) average so it really isnt that hard to replicate average production. I won't pretend to be Dante Scarneccia but there didn't seem to be much difference in performance last season at LG with the string of nobodies to the year prior with Strange. Take it for what it's worth since it is PFF but Michael Jordan had a slightly higher overall grade than Cole Strange.

 

[203Pat]

Up until yesterday he was… but you know something the rest of us don’t.

He wasn't. He hasn't been for weeks. You at least used to have some semblance of a clue. What happened?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Seems like a starting 5 of Campbell/Wilson/Bradbury/Onwenu/Moses is emerging with Bryant as a swing tackle and Ben Brown as a backup center doing the most to seize backup jobs. So that's 7 spots.

That leaves Robinson, Sow, Strange, Wallace, Lowe fighting for 2, MAYBE 3 spots. And considering the premium on LTs I'm not sure how super anxious they'd be to cut Lowe so he probably has the inside track to one of those spots. Strange is a FA after the year whereas those other guys have longer shelf lives here if they do pan out so natural preference would be for those other guys over him.

If Strange can't beat out Ben Brown as the clear cut backup center, I think his days might be numbered. And some might say backup center isn't needed because Wilson could slide over, but I think as a rookie if they're starting him at LG they'll probably prefer letting him fully practice there vs. needing to split his focus over 2 spots.

 

[Wozzy]

He wasn't. He hasn't been for weeks. You at least used to have some semblance of a clue. What happened?

 

[VrabelJr]

I will never understand the "he started games so he can't be a JAG" argument. There are plenty of players on every single team every single year who start games for teams who are JAGs. Strange started (and was drafted) in 2022 because Bill bungled the guard position and had to fill a hole he created. Then the next year Bill took 3 IOL in the middle of the draft which wasn't exactly a vote of confidence in Strange.

I don’t think Strange was a bad player. I think he was thoroughly average. He struggled against good defensive linemen and held his own against average ones. He certainly wasn't worthy of a first round pick because he was just a guy. Now he is just a guy coming off a major injury which barely even makes him roster worthy.

Strange was grading top 10 for run blocking the season he got hurt and that was playing with an injury.

 

[rkarp1]

He wasn't. He hasn't been for weeks. You at least used to have some semblance of a clue. What happened?

I have not seen a single mention of Sow for a while now.
From what I have seen so far regarding todays practice, no mention of Sow.

 

[mgteich]

Strange was grading top 10 for run blocking the season he got hurt and that was playing with an injury.

Of course, the issue is how effective he is now, after the injuries.

 

[rkarp1]

Strange was grading top 10 for run blocking the season he got hurt and that was playing with an injury.

that is not true

 

[rkarp1]

I have not seen a single mention of Sow for a while now.
From what I have seen so far regarding todays practice, no mention of Sow.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Sow was back today and ran with the 3's behind Onwenu and STrange at RG

 

[upstater1]

I dont think things are as cut-and-dried as suggested here. I know it's late, but I'm not convinced that Center and Left Guard are locked in stone. I know Wilson is going to start, but would not be surprised at all to see Ben Brown at Center or Strange at LG with Wilson moving to Center.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I dont think things are as cut-and-dried as suggested here. I know it's late, but I'm not convinced that Center and Left Guard are locked in stone. I know Wilson is going to start, but would not be surprised at all to see Ben Brown at Center or Strange at LG with Wilson moving to Center.

They are giving Bradbury every opportunity to start and he's been uneven. We'll see how C plays out

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Strange at LG with Wilson moving to Center

Let's hope. But I am questioning if Strange will ever fully recover.

 

[captain stone]

Both Strange and Wallace can backup at both OG roster spots. That seems a good thing to me.

Does Strange69 look like a Right Guard to you?

And Wallace just plain ol' sucks at Left Guard. Absolutely ****ing Sucks.

 

[captain stone]

I dont think things are as cut-and-dried as suggested here. I know it's late, but I'm not convinced that Center and Left Guard are locked in stone. I know Wilson is going to start, but would not be surprised at all to see Ben Brown at Center or Strange at LG with Wilson moving to Center.

If Bradbury continues to underwhelm, then they're gonna need to give Wilson some more reps at Center, and fast.

 

[mgteich]

If Bradbury continues to underwhelm, then they're gonna need to give Wilson some more reps at Center, and fast.

That is true if the coaches are comfortable with Strange starting at LG. They should be.

I suspect that Brown is our 6th IOL
Wilson, Bradbury, Onwenu
Strange, Brown, Wallace
IR or PS: Sow, Robinson, Robinson

Who are your 6 IOL's?