Is there something to this?

Is this a coincidence that when Gilbert was starting we had the worst running game in the league and ever since he got hurt and Adams has been starting the running game looks the best it has in years? I know there is a lot more to it but maybe that was a part that wasn't working but if he is ready to play do you put him in or do you leave Adams there?

 

It does make you think. Even though I personally don't think Gilbert is bad like some around here do.

Anyways...another big thing that has improved is Colon...the last 3-4 games he's been playing much better and hasn't gotten any penalties that kill big runs (or passes even). In the Eagles game when Mendy came back...he would have had another 50 yards or so running if not for Colon penalties. Plus the OL is gelling better now too.

So I think its a few things combined that have brought the running game to this point

 

i think it helped a ton. i mentioned doing this weeks ago in one of PWP's threads about just lining it up and running straight ahead. i got flamed for that, but oh well.

adams is a good run blocker and always has been. gilbert has been known as being soft, even back at Fla. adams has however gotten better in his pass protection also. gilbert was steadily being walked back into ben and our other linemen. it's not a myth.

foster is not given enough credit in the run game and pass game that he deserves this year. i think he is a slow starter but settles in every year, and has gotten better every year. again year 3 , it seems to click for guys. better player next to him equals better play too. i think adams stays and gets more reps for his eventual move to LT next year.

 

No, Gilbert should not be put back into the lineup. Why do some of you want to mess with a good thing? We're getting good pass protection and we're getting great run blocking, why would we our OL now? That makes no sense, and if Tomlin does in fact put Gilbert back in when he gets healthy, I'm going to lose my damn mind. Adams is a mauler in the run game, Gilbert is not. Gilbert should sit!

 

You lost your mind a long time ago it seems, hahah.

As a side note while I hate when players loose their jobs due to injury...all I care about is that both are ready to go next year or so...when they both are starting!

 

Post hoc ergo propter hoc in my opinion...however I do believe something "clicked" with the mentality of the line and they are finally imposing their will on the defense. I can only hope we keep this up, as it's great to see 100 yard backs performing week after week (regardless of who gets the start), and it should should take some pressure off of Ben and open up the intermediate passing game. Heath should have a field day running through the middle of defenses as long as we can keep this running game up.

I also would leave Adams in when Gilbert becomes healthy enough to play. This current line seems to play well together, and Adams should continue to improve in his pass blocking ability with more reps (i hope).

 

fast forward to next year. or maybe later? when you put gilbert back in do you move him to the left like they had planned before drafting adams? adams has looked very good on the right and is stronger run blocking than pass blocking, traditionally a right side trait.

 

I think the biggest reason for the improved O line play is simply the fact that they've managed to stay healthy (knock on wood). Its been what, 3 or 4 games without an injury on the line? The guys are getting time together, practice time, and are starting to gel nicely.

 

Funny and here everyone thought it was DeCastro we'd be raving about at this point. Adams is back to being a great steal in the draft again. Looks like both those guys have just got attitude and Colon is just bringing it this year!

 

gilbert will be the new swing back up , and i will sign staks back next year if we don't draft a stud left tackle

 

maybe decastro can play LT next year.

 

Gilbert might still be able to play LT. He'll never be a RT though, he's not good enough run blocking, but perhaps he might develop into a good pass blocker. Have Adams and Decastro on the right side of the line and we could be deadly in the running game, not that we haven't been lately anyway

 

I've seen Adams make several boneheaded whiffs in pass protection since filling in for Gilbert. I'm not positive, but I think he's allowed 3 or 4 sacks, including the sack/fumble that gave Cincy 7 points. He had a bad game in pass protection this week, albeit against tough competition. That said, it seems pretty clear to me that it's a matter of experience for him. He's already made huge leaps since preseason. Another leap like that and he'll be awesome. Plus, he's ahead of the curve in the running game. Very good there. And this guy can really move for a tackle; he's by far the most mobile OT we have. As he gains experience he'll be a great weapon on screens, draws, tosses, and the like. That's not something we've had since Marvel Smith. I think by this time next year Adams will be a very good all-around player.

Gilbert as a liability is the one I don't agree with. Not only is he a pretty good run blocker (but maybe not as good as Adams -- I have not compared them yet), but before his injury he hadn't given up a single sack all year and I believe had allowed very few pressures. I know he injured some of our guys, but that's more freak accident than anything. DJ's especially. That one came on a play where Marcus made a good block and his man kept pushing him long after the ball was gone. He was going backwards and tripped over someone on the ground and fell on Johnson. Not sure what he could do about that.

Anyway, I guess if Adams is playing great ball, you have to leave him in. But I think the jury's still out on if he's playing great ball. I think if Gilbert had been healthy last night, he would have played. Frankly, I think it depends how long he's out. The longer he's out, the better Adams gets, the better the chance he stays in. Any way you work it though, I'm pretty happy with our OT situation. I like Gilbert at RT, I love Adams as a prospect for either side, and old man Starks is playing the best ball of his career protecting Ben's blind side. And all three guys can play both sides! We've gone from hopeless to spoiled.

 

Lets not kid ourselves with Mike Adams or Gilbert, we have been down this road
far too many times and for far to long. They need lots of work to be competitive
in the NFl. What happens if DD is capable of coming back and where does Ramon Foster
play? WE STILL do not have NFL caliber tackles how do we fix this? It seems like the players we draft
are just not equipped to handle NFL type pass rushers? I maybe be with Mac daddy, Maybe DD could play LT?
Could it be explored? Has he ever played this position? He seems to be the only athletic option we have?

 

I think Adams has done a great job, a rookie going against established DE's will fail at times... but lets say the offense had 60 plays and he fails 5 times... thats a pretty good day

 

i want the best 5 athletes on the field. i want youth. we know what the older guys are about. most know how i feel about our left side and that hasen't changed.

foster has looked good at RG. i wouldn't mess with the right side.

 

i'd like .... new stud LT, DD,pouncey,foster,adams. 2013.

 

As I stated in another thread I think Colon and Foster are coming on strong,I expected Adams to be a very solid run blocker,I also think he can block better at LT...My OL for 2013 at this point is Adams,Colon,Pouncey,Decastro and Foster....Thhis would give us to good run blockers at the tackle spots and 2 good pullers at the Guard spots...

The Haley system is built around the run game with PA and Quick short passes,,,,this style excells the better you can run the ball.....It would be huge to be able to pull both directions and at which point we could see a lot of ACE Backfield sets....I expect to see a lot of that this year if we can ever get all 3 RB'S Healthy.....Haley spent a lot of time installing the Ace stuff ,I remember multiple days this was reported from camp...

So in a way we have a whole new Offense that no Team has seen yet,not many Teams have 3 Strong RB'S who can all Catch and who can all pick up the blitz...All 3 are a little different and people have them ranked differently ,but all will agree with the above and that type of O would cause Defenses fits esp. when you add in Miller and 2 fast WR'S......

The only way a Team could try and defend it is Man on the outside with a Single High Safety ....This would put Miller on the SS or the LB 1 on 1 with little to no Safety help and our RB'S on CB'S on flare and swing passes or against a LB on flat,curls,seam,dig,routes and things of that nature...

The bottom line is Teams would have to play in Base run stopping Defenses and we would have the ability to go 2,3,4, or even 5 WR and force a bad match up.....Not to mention throwing those smoke screens to Dwyer and Redman from time to time they would beat CB'S to death as the WR would block down on the LB who came out to cover the RB....