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Offensive Line

prostock101

prostock101

Mr. Big
Been gone from here for awhile but I've been back lurking since the lockout ended.

I'm curious about what the troops here think about the O Line play going into this season. It seems that the O Line was a subject of anquish for a lot of years and now there's not even a silent fart of complaint about it.

Everyone happy or is there room to improve? Do we have enough depth to last a season? And before I get ripped for even asking, I know it's a great offense, leading rusher, etc. I just wondered what others thought on the subject.
 
Blocked for the league leader and Matt Schaub throwing another umpteen thousand yards. Bringing every starter back healthy. Depth includes guys like Butler, Caldwell and Shelley Smith.

Soooo.....no. haha....not many complaints these days.

I can't even believe how much better Meyers is without Studdard's weight bringing him down. Like....I had no idea it was even possible for 1 OL to black hole a line like that. Not one guy is thought of as a road grader OR a human wall...and yet? The results speak loudly, like I said, made Foster a name and kept a low level athlete pretty clean all year.

Anyone willing to go so far as calling the unit a strength?
 
TimeKiller said:
Blocked for the league leader and Matt Schaub throwing another umpteen thousand yards. Bringing every starter back healthy. Depth includes guys like Butler, Caldwell and Shelley Smith.

Soooo.....no. haha....not many complaints these days.

I can't even believe how much better Meyers is without Studdard's weight bringing him down. Like....I had no idea it was even possible for 1 OL to black hole a line like that. Not one guy is thought of as a road grader OR a human wall...and yet? The results speak loudly, like I said, made Foster a name and kept a low level athlete pretty clean all year.

Anyone willing to go so far as calling the unit a strength?
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^this^. SMith at LG has made the line better especially Myers who is great calling plays in this ZBS game plan. Schaub threw for over 4,000 yds I believe. We should again be near the top in points scroed and reduce greatly points allowed = playoffs. I would eventually see depth being add but not in 2012 draft. I'm intrigued by Shelley Smith OG and LT Cole Pemberton who should have time to train.
 
My big thing a couple of years ago was that we had to improve the interior of the line. I thought that would include losing Myers and Brisiel.

I was wrong. Wade Smith replacing Pitts upgraded the interior of that line and brought everything together without having to replace Myers or Brisiel. I think Caldwell is pushing for the RG spot now and will probably be an upgrade over Brisiel. And I wouldn't be surprised if Shelly Smith started pushing for time, too.

So, I don't have a lot of complaints right now. I think every spot on the line could be improved. But as a unit, I think the group works OK.
 
Inside, I think Briesel still has issues.... with consistency, not ability. If Cardwell wins the spot, it will be because of consistency.

I think Casey Studdard is a road grader... I like his play in the ZBS run game.

Not very bright though. Wade Smith is much better.

Rashard Butler, Shelly Smith, Brisiel/Cardwell.. I don't see Studdard staying around for much longer. We just signed him, I know.. But I don't think we're going into the season with two back-up guards.

We do however, have big problems at both tackle spots. In pass protection, they're not helping Matt nearly enough. Brown has big problems with agile speed rushers. Yeah, that Freeney guy & guys like him. He favors the inside, because he can't get back if a fast quick twitch guy double backs inside.. or spins back inside. So he gives up a lot on the outside & get's beat that way.

Winston has problems. Maybe that is due to the Cardwell/Brisiel merri-go-round going on next to him, I don't know. But he struggled last year in pass pro.
 
thunderkyss said:
Inside, I think Briesel still has issues.... with consistency, not ability. If Cardwell wins the spot, it will be because of consistency.

I think Casey Studdard is a road grader... I like his play in the ZBS run game.

Not very bright though. Wade Smith is much better.

Rashard Butler, Shelly Smith, Brisiel/Cardwell.. I don't see Studdard staying around for much longer. We just signed him, I know.. But I don't think we're going into the season with two back-up guards.

We do however, have big problems at both tackle spots. In pass protection, they're not helping Matt nearly enough. Brown has big problems with agile speed rushers. Yeah, that Freeney guy & guys like him. He favors the inside, because he can't get back if a fast quick twitch guy double backs inside.. or spins back inside. So he gives up a lot on the outside & get's beat that way.

Winston has problems. Maybe that is due to the Cardwell/Brisiel merri-go-round going on next to him, I don't know. But he struggled last year in pass pro.
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Excellent response and exactly what I was noodlin'. I really felt that Brown and Winston struggled a bit in pass D last year. Here's hoping they both improve in that area.
 
We had the leagues leading Passer one year and then the leagues leading rusher the next year. I'm cool with that
 
Just would like to give props to the unheralded stars of last night's game versus the Saints, the offensive line. They were terrific.

After a mediocre performance against the Jets, I was concerned. And while the Saints defense will never be mistaken for Rex Ryan's crew, they do have a couple of wide bodies in the middle in Shaun Rogers and Sedrick Ellis. Myers, Brisiel, and Wade Smith handled them with ease. When they're controlling the LOS, this offense is unstoppable. Keep up the good work, guys.
 
Of particular note, and should not be overlooked, Myers stood Rogers up on the first goal line TD.

Not that long striding Arian Foster TD, the other one from the 2 yard line.
 
I think the biggest weaknesses on the OL are both tackles. They could be upgraded, but are very servicable and I like the idea that we are getting some continuity there. It's a far, far cry from the 1st 7 or 8 or so years of the teams existence.
 
You know what, I was mad when we let Pitts go....but R Smith has definitely made the right decision. Overlooked as everyone barks at him about other things, but this may have been his best FA pickup.
Look for McClain to post an article about this considering he gets his info from this board and other places. Would be a good read.
 
DocBar said:
I think the biggest weaknesses on the OL are both tackles. They could be upgraded, but are very servicable and I like the idea that we are getting some continuity there. It's a far, far cry from the 1st 7 or 8 or so years of the teams existence.
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I agree, but we should still remember Schaub was among the least QBs sacked in 2010.
 
thunderkyss said:
I agree, but we should still remember Schaub was among the least QBs sacked in 2010.
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Oh yeah, I'm not slamming them by any means, just saying they are adequate in pass pro, not elite. If we get the D figured out this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see OL taken early next draft.
 
thunderkyss said:
Inside, I think Briesel still has issues.... with consistency, not ability. If Cardwell wins the spot, it will be because of consistency.

I think Casey Studdard is a road grader... I like his play in the ZBS run game.

Not very bright though. Wade Smith is much better.

Rashard Butler, Shelly Smith, Brisiel/Cardwell.. I don't see Studdard staying around for much longer. We just signed him, I know.. But I don't think we're going into the season with two back-up guards.

We do however, have big problems at both tackle spots. In pass protection, they're not helping Matt nearly enough. Brown has big problems with agile speed rushers. Yeah, that Freeney guy & guys like him. He favors the inside, because he can't get back if a fast quick twitch guy double backs inside.. or spins back inside. So he gives up a lot on the outside & get's beat that way.

Winston has problems. Maybe that is due to the Cardwell/Brisiel merri-go-round going on next to him, I don't know. But he struggled last year in pass pro.
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gary said:
I would like to see Caldwell take the starting spot and never look back.
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With Caldwell having suffered a high ankle sprain, he could be out anywhere from 3-6 weeks.......not necessarily in strong form which may not come for months.

Studdard had surgery Friday on what was originally called a high ankle sprain. For surgery to have been necessary, he had to have had severely torn ankle ligaments and/or a fracture. They haven't announced if they expect him back this year or not. But I would look for other jerseys to wear out there for games.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
With Caldwell having suffered a high ankle sprain, he could be out anywhere from 3-6 weeks.......not necessarily in strong form which may not come for months.

Studdard had surgery Friday on what was originally called a high ankle sprain. For surgery to have been necessary, he had to have had severely torn ankle ligaments and/or a fracture. They haven't announced if they expect him back this year or not. But I would look for other jerseys to wear out there for games.
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Kubiak said that Studdard is likely gone for the year...
(on an update on G Kasey Studdard) “Yeah I’m sorry I haven’t talked to y’all because (Friday’s) practice was closed, but Kasey (Studdard) did have surgery on Friday, yesterday. I talked to him after surgery. He’s doing well. Matter fact I think he actually came home this evening. I’ll find out when I leave here. Actually Kasey’s gonna, it looks like he will not play this year. I don’t know. We’ll see, but he did have surgery and he’s well on his way to recovery.”
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ObsiWan said:
Kubiak said that Studdard is likely gone for the year...
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(on an update on G Kasey Studdard) “Yeah I’m sorry I haven’t talked to y’all because (Friday’s) practice was closed, but Kasey (Studdard) did have surgery on Friday, yesterday. I talked to him after surgery. He’s doing well. Matter fact I think he actually came home this evening. I’ll find out when I leave here. Actually Kasey’s gonna, it looks like he will not play this year. I don’t know. We’ll see, but he did have surgery and he’s well on his way to recovery.”
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:toropalm:
 
With Studdard most likely out for the season and Caldwell out for several weeks, that leaves only Shelley Smith as a backup OG. Unless they are planning to move Cody Wallace to OG, I think we will see them bring in a FA or two in the short term or maybe wait until teams start making their cuts. Anybody know who's out there as far as OG's that might be available?
 
The OL is like a cornerback .... the less you hear their names called , the better.

They have looked real good ....


:wild:

.
 
So has anyone paid any attention to Shelley Smith this preseason, is he playing any good? He looked good last year in preseason but I haven't seen him this year.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
We’ll see, but he did have surgery and he’s well on his way to recovery.”
:toropalm:
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I saw that too. Weird.
I suppose he could have meant that Kasey was well on his way to recovering from whatever anesthetic he was given and no longer required hospitalization.

but yeah, that was a weird remark
 
ObsiWan said:
I saw that too. Weird.
I suppose he could have meant that Kasey was well on his way to recovering from whatever anesthetic he was given and no longer required hospitalization.

but yeah, that was a weird remark
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Maybe he had a mole or wart removed.....
 
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