Props to the O-line

I'm on the fence with this Colon/Pouncey/Legersky - Foster/DeCastro - Adams/Gilbert situations.

1) I'm not sold on Colon getting much better, especially at agility down field. The dude is fat and probably moves better laterally and backward than forward with said agility. Plus there is always his penalties and salary when we have cap issues. That being said, if he comes a little cheaper he is def keep-able.

2) We all love Pouncey at C, but if we are going to wait for Colon to get better at guard, imagine the ceiling in that spot with Pouncey.

3) I love the combo of G-Pouncey / C-Legursky next to each other. We know Pouncey is better in his natural C position and Legs is not good enough to be a guard, but good at C with a slight drop from Pouncey. So do we save (waste?) a back up spot for a single position player like Legs or just shuffle the deck and maybe become more bolstered with the re-tool? I think this is above all our pay grades and need to let the professional coaches sort this one out for the betterment of the team and trust them here.

4) This issue with Decastro and Foster is really confusing me right up there with the #3 question above. Who gets this spot next year? Can either player move successfully to the left (and/or knock Colon off the squad) as well as they play the right? Is it really that different of a position? I know it's Ben's blind side but the angle is so less severe than at T. Which ever one starts it seems we have a second back-up who is really a single position guy no matter who gets the nod unless Colon is gone and one moves over there and the level probably stays the same for a while or till they get all comfy.

5) Adams and Gilbert, which one is better? Seems like choosing the lesser of two evils at the most important position(s) correct? Or, once AGAIN, one high draft pick guy gets the starting nod while the other backs him up. Can we financially do this? At least these guys can "play" the other side (well, ...more like, have experience) and the 2nd option is a really a very good #2 in the grand scheme of things.

I can't remember having this great of a set of "problems" on the o-line ever. If we can retain them all, plus Beechum and Starks we have an embarrassment of starters and back-ups. The real dilemma is getting the correct winning formula.

What a difference a year makes!!!

 

The only reasoncolon is pulling is because foster is even slower.

As I said in a previous thread, if you take a look at the build of the drafted o line in recent years we are getting smaller. We are officially getting away from power running by way of the offensive line. The last ggood line we had was when faneca was here. That line was not the best pass blocking line. This o line will be in a zone blocking scheme is 2 years. With the athletism that we are trying to gain on the o line, it would be stupid not to.

Colon will be the only "monster" left on the o line. Colon will have everything pulled or trapped to his side.
This o line will be dominant in 2 years. With Ben in the back half of his career an that makes me very excited.

From,
The Steel City

 

Colon may never be as fast as pouncey, that's ok since speed is not a dominating apsect of a high quality OG. Colon is fast enough. We may be 12 games into the season but remember Colon hasn't played in two years due to injurys and is at a new position. He's doing well and next year barring any injurys I expect him to be even better. And no, Colon didn't lose his job @ RT because he wasn't as good as a soft rookie. An injury placed that rookie there and he kept getting better as the season progressed and the following camp the Glowing OL need was at LG and Colon was able to solidify that spot showing his versatility. When he played RT he played well and now he's manning at totally different line position after a two layoff and is doing well there. Is there room for improvement? Yes. I believe he'll make those improvements.

Let's remember Max took over for a injuryed Marvin Smith who never returned. Max struggled some at LT got injuryed, replaced and released, and became our saving grace when he returned a couple years back, remember how our OL instantly improved with his return. He ended up injurying his ACL last year and its a near miracle he returned as quickly as he did. I think it still inhibits him some and once again next year he should be at top form.


When Kemo became our starter after big red left I knew a droppoff in talent @ LG had occurred. Kemo was a strong run blocker and pretty good at pulling also. He was just a head case and everyone knew it. He never improved there. Colon is just as strong a run blocker as kemo and a little better pass blocker. He's not the head case Kemo was even though he is an agressive ( nastly) OL.

Every knows the OL is key to a run game but lets not forget about the RBs themselves. Our former 1st rd RB star is benched, he dances instead of running. Our current RB Corp consist of 2 undrafted FA and neither one of them has speed or is elusive. That's why we are 24th in rushing yds per game. That's why we run up the middle, our backs are power backs, not speed backs.

By the way, I think Pouncey did an outstanding job at LG considering it was his 1st time. I don't think he'll ever be as good of a LG as he would be as a Center.

Cajun-

 

Ok if we draft a guard or keep Colon as our starter next year, that leaves Legs as the back up. What do we do with him? Since he seems to be a good starting center does that leave us with the potential for a higher draft pick if we trade him?

I like Legs (including his name) but if he could help us at another spot by trading him (Lets say to move up for a safety) then I would say do it. I'd rather get a return for him instead of him riding the pine. That said I don't know what he would bring as far as trade bait but I think it's nice to have this problem either way.

 

yes speed ,agility,footwork is a high priority for a high quality guard. we will have to agree to disagree cajun my friend. on nearly everything you typed.

all i can say is when camp started we had the best stable of RB's in the league. a new passion for running the ball with this new OC. so, it's the RB's fault we don't run outside? what about batch and rainey? they are not power backs. they can get outside. mendy can get outside. i'll tell ya why, colon can't get outside before the RB gets there. they talked about it in the preseason. it hasen't gotten better. that takes away part of our playbook. remember how we were going to run screens to the backs and throw to them more? colon can't get out there in front of the play, short side or long.

foster struggles at this too. don't think he doesn't, but he's better than colon at several other things. that will be for another day though. colon is a guy overtop of him, straight on mualer. that's what he does. yes he's strong. he's a stump. he'd be best off if he could play center. they tried that though. they have always had trouble finding where to put him. footwork. speed of footwork. getting outside his box. thats why.

faneca was a mobile guard. same as he was at LSU. he was a trapping, turn it upfield and lead blocking G. it's because of good, fast feet. that was a high quality guard. he slowed down later here, but it was footwork that made red the player he was. you never heard about that spot for the first 7-8 years he was there. everyone knew it was taken care of. he even had the feet to move to LT for awhile when we needed it. it could be so much better.

 

Props to the O-Line. Their play has been getting increasingly better. I'm glad there's such argument about who to put in, at which positions. Having a group of good lineman is preferrable to the situation we've had the last few seasons!

 

I would say quickness along agility and footwork are great aspects. I would say Pouncey is our best OL with these traits and I'll say Faneca was a special OL. In todays NFL you just can't have it all. Again it nice in an emergency we can move him and insert Legs and keep moving. Or move Colon back to RT in an emergency. Flexibility is key.

I'm still impressed with Beechum. He made mistakes but what a debut.

About our RBs, yes we were excited, we thought mendy would return to a 1200yd feature back with Dwyer and Redman giving him a rest. Batch turned out to be only good at picking up the blitzing LBer and Rainey is so light one hit or even partial hit and he's down.

We need another feature RB if Mendy doesn't improve the last two games. Next year our OL will be Starks-Colon-Pouncey-DD-Adams/Gilbert. Back-ups are Legs Foster Adams/Gilbert Beechum and whoever. To me its a good OL with solid back-ups able to win Superbowls with.

Cajun-