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2008 O-Linemen

A

alphajoker

Veteran
Well, now that draft is complete, which offensive linemen do you think will be starting in the season opener? I feel confident that Pitts, Winston and Myers will be starting, but what about RG and LT? I think Studdard can replace Weary at RG, plus Weary is coming off a knee injury, which may keep him at less than 100%. But the big question is will Duane Brown beat out Salaam for the LT spot? Regardless, I think our OL has a chance to be...dare I say it...one of the best in the league. Especially with the addition of Gibbs, which was probably one of the most underrated moves made this whole off-season. What are your guys thoughts?
 
A long shot Wild Card is if Spencer passes his tests and is presumed healthy in training camp...he will be ready to make a charge to get back into the starting lineup. RG of course.
 
Honestly, I would like to see Brisiel have a spot somewhere in the starting line up. He was one of our best back ups last season.
 
It's almost crazy to even say it out loud, but really - I agree we could potentially have one of the best O-lines in the league. I feel like we shouldn't even talk about this for fear of something terrible happening, LOL.
 
DiehardChris said:
It's almost crazy to even say it out loud, but really - I agree we could potentially have one of the best O-lines in the league. I feel like we shouldn't even talk about this for fear of something terrible happening, LOL.
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Heh. Maybe, hopefully Gibbs can work some sort of soul-selling magic.

My thoughts on the 2008 O-line for game 1:

LT: Salaam
LG: Pitts
C: Meyers
RG: Brisiel
RT: Winston

I think you might be able to replace Salaam with Brown by the end of the year (God I hope).
 
Salaam will get the respect start in pre-season but Brown will be auditioning. If he shows akin to Spencer in 2006 then he will be starter day 1. Jack up with assignments and start the season on spot duty. JMO but if Spencer is healthy he is RG. Prediction--Pitts has a much better year with a competent C next to him. He really gets vapor lock of the cranial cavity when he thinks he needs to make up for the guy next to him.
 
allstars said:
Do you have any particular comments in mind, or just how he likes the kid in general?
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Heard him on the radio and someone asked him about easing Brown into the line-up. Kubiak said something to the affect of not having time to wait on guys. In todays game they need big time production from young guys off jump street. Said Salaam will be there helping him mature. Again, to me it sounded like he meant helping him mature as in being a support system.

To me it sounded like Duane Brown was expected to be the starter from day one.

Take my post fwiw.
 
Thats a pretty tough position to start at day one esp for a guy thats new to the position in the first place. If kubes and gibbs put him out there I'll def trust their decision but I'm pretty sure he'd be better off with a gradual entry
 
I'm pretty sure Levi Brown, Tony Ugoh, Charles Spencer (pre-injury), D'Brick, Marcus McNeil and countless others would have beem better off with gradual entries as well......but sometimes they're the best on the roster from day one.

We'll see.
 
DiehardChris said:
It's almost crazy to even say it out loud, but really - I agree we could potentially have one of the best O-lines in the league. I feel like we shouldn't even talk about this for fear of something terrible happening, LOL.
Click to expand...


We have to have a season where we aren't among the league leaders in IR players, right? Someday? Please?

If we can stay healthy, I really have a nagging feeling that this team could be something special. Probably still a year away, but you know, the 2001 Pats team wasn't stacked yet, either. Stranger things have happened.

Must stay healthy.
 
http://www.sportsradio610.com/The-Sports-Page-w--John-McClain---Anna-Megan-Raley/1616945

Go here and listen to the interview with Kubiak.

Please tell me it doesn't sound like it's Browns job to lose.

If it doesn't play when you hit the "play" button try listening to it on podcast. Pay attention to Gary's response when Mark ask him about "easing Brown into the line-up"....

Don't see how you listen to that and not get the impression that they are expecting him to start from day .
 
I think it's going to start off with:

RT: Winston
RG: Weary
C: Myers
LG: Pitts
LT: Salaam

But I think Brown starts by the end of the first quarter of the season. If Spencer is able to come back and isn't totally washed out, I expect him to get the RG position. And I think Brisiel is going to push for a starting job at that position but just not quite get it.

But I'm interested in seeing what they do with Frye.
 
TexMexVato said:
Regardless, I think our OL has a chance to be...dare I say it...one of the best in the league.
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One would hope, but as I understand, it typically takes more than one season for a great line to learn to work together effectively enough to get to a level where they are considered one of the best.

Arguements can be made, as I'm certain there are exceptions to the rule. I hope at the very least that we can find the OL get touted as exceptional.
 
RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Briesel/Weary
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Spencer/Studdard
LT: Brown/Salaam

I love this line!!! I can't lie though, I would still love it if we used a 2nd rounder next year on a Monster RG to line up next to Winston, release Weary, and have Briesel as a quality backup Guard. Spencer would be our backup Tackle, and you have one incredibly stout O-Line

RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Monster G/Briesel
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Studdard
LT: Brown/Spencer

Imagine the push to the Right we would have!!
 
Polo said:
http://www.sportsradio610.com/The-Sports-Page-w--John-McClain---Anna-Megan-Raley/1616945

Go here and listen to the interview with Kubiak.

Please tell me it doesn't sound like it's Browns job to lose.

If it doesn't play when you hit the "play" button try listening to it on podcast. Pay attention to Gary's response when Mark ask him about "easing Brown into the line-up"....

Don't see how you listen to that and not get the impression that they are expecting him to start from day .
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Kubes has a habit of "annointing" starters when they haven't earned it. I hope this is not the case here and, if it is, I hope he's right. I would rather they let Brown learn behind Salaam and ease him into the starting job after mid-season ......... if he's worthy of it.

:fans:
 
_superMario90_ said:
One would hope, but as I understand, it typically takes more than one season for a great line to learn to work together effectively enough to get to a level where they are considered one of the best.

Arguements can be made, as I'm certain there are exceptions to the rule. I hope at the very least that we can find the OL get touted as exceptional.
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Agreed ....... we can see the potential but, it will probably take 2-3 years as a unit to become one of the best.

:texflag:
 
Dallas_Texan said:
RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Briesel/Weary
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Spencer/Studdard
LT: Brown/Salaam

I love this line!!! I can't lie though, I would still love it if we used a 2nd rounder next year on a Monster RG to line up next to Winston, release Weary, and have Briesel as a quality backup Guard. Spencer would be our backup Tackle, and you have one incredibly stout O-Line
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I would say that we are in more dire need of a LG than a RG. If you watch tape of our later games last season, you'll notice that the right side of the line (Briesel and Winston, namely) were playing phenomenally. It was just hard to notice because Salaam, Pitts, and The Flan all played like freshly oiled turnstiles. Kubiak realizes that the left side was below average and that's why we've spent time rebuilding it this offseason. We've drafted an athletic guy to play LT and we've rid ourselves of the Flan...leaving the LG, logical o-line position to fill. Will we this season? Hard to say. However, if Spencer comes back ready to play...expect to see him at LG.
 
maddogmrb said:
Kubes has a habit of "annointing" starters when they haven't earned it.
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I think he does the right thing in "annointing" starters.

I really don't see any point in easing Duane into the starting line-up unless he's making mistakes that are getting his teammates killed..

Besides that, if you thought that Salaam was capable enough to get the start over a first rd. pick at that position then it was a wasted pick...Besides QB, if you're picking a player in the first round you should be expecting an immediate impact from that player...

If Spencer, a third rounder who played a lot of guard in college, was able to start by game one with Salaam on the roster, I'd expect the same from Brown...

I really don't see a high likelihood of him NOT starting the first game of pre-season...
 
Oh my if Spencer came back and picked up where he left off but at RG and Brown played at a similar level to Marcus Mcneil in his rookie season...

Our OL would be downright beastly!!!
 
Dallas_Texan said:
RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Briesel/Weary
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Spencer/Studdard
LT: Brown/Salaam

I love this line!!! I can't lie though, I would still love it if we used a 2nd rounder next year on a Monster RG to line up next to Winston, release Weary, and have Briesel as a quality backup Guard. Spencer would be our backup Tackle, and you have one incredibly stout O-Line

RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Monster G/Briesel
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Studdard
LT: Brown/Spencer

Imagine the push to the Right we would have!!
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I like where you are going here - especially with the projection of Spencer this season. Even if he were to lose a step, I think can still bring value and depth to this team and, once he gets a season of contact under his belt, who knows.

Keep in mind that Myers, Esligner and White all have versatility between C and G. If either Esligner (who has been highly touted) or White (who played pretty well last year prior to getting hurt and a guy the coaches are high on), come out and surprise, it could open up some ther options here.

Two random thoughts:
I think we are immediately better because (i) we will have an upgrade at Center and (ii) reliable depth - especially if Spencer can come back and contribute.
With a new coach, everything is up in the air. I agree that Winston and Myers are probably set at their positions, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some movement or new names based on what Gibbs sees in these guys and how they fit in what he wants to do.
 
LT- Brown, Salaam
LG- Spencer, Pitts, Studdard
C- Meyers, White, Bisiel
RG- Brisiel, Studdard
LT- Winston, Salaam, Butler
or
LT- Brown, Salaam
LG- Spencer, Pitts, Studdard
C- Meyers, White, Bisiel
RG- Brisiel, Studdard, Frye
LT- Winston, Salaam, Frye
or
LT- Brown, Salaam
LG- Pitts, Studdard
C- Meyers, White, Brisiel
RG- Brisiel, Studdard, Frye, White
RT- Winston, Salaam, Frye

The third option is the most likely to me. If I remeber correctly Kubiak only keeps about 9 OL on the roster. Regardless I dont think Weary makes the team, I kinda wonder if he cant take over LG spot so we can drop Pitts. I wonder if Spencer will make the team.. 350lb OL is not something you see in a ZBS often. Even if he loses weight and plays 325ish that is still big. It would really depend on how quick he is.
 
Dallas_Texan said:
RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Briesel/Weary
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Spencer/Studdard
LT: Brown/Salaam

I love this line!!! I can't lie though, I would still love it if we used a 2nd rounder next year on a Monster RG to line up next to Winston, release Weary, and have Briesel as a quality backup Guard. Spencer would be our backup Tackle, and you have one incredibly stout O-Line

RT: Winston/Spencer
RG: Monster G/Briesel
C: Myers/Eslinger/White
LG: Pitts/Studdard
LT: Brown/Spencer

Imagine the push to the Right we would have!!
Click to expand...

What about that guy Frye? I thought I heard some decent things about him
 
I think it's all gonna depend on Gibbs and how he gauges them not how we traditionally grade them. I think the big question marks are Frye, Studdard, Esslinger, Weary, and Spencer, and where do they end up, and how far down the depth chart. Weary has allways been a hard worker and really dependable, but he has also allways underachieved somewhat. Spencer is comming back from a major injury and will need at least 6 months of game conditioning to know where he's at. Esslinger is a total unknown factor becuase he really didnt get the playing time people expected in Denver. We should have a decent idea of the depth chart come pre-season game 3. If I had to guess I would say :

LT Brown/Salaam
LG Pitts/Brisiel
C Myers/white/Esslinger
RG Studdard/Weary
RT Winston/Spencer

I have Weary and Spencer in backup roles mainly based on getting back to gameday conditioning level. I think it's really gonna be Gibbs call though and we may all be way off come opening day.
 
infantrycak said:
Salaam will get the respect start in pre-season but Brown will be auditioning. If he shows akin to Spencer in 2006 then he will be starter day 1. Jack up with assignments and start the season on spot duty. JMO but if Spencer is healthy he is RG. Prediction--Pitts has a much better year with a competent C next to him. He really gets vapor lock of the cranial cavity when he thinks he needs to make up for the guy next to him.
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Agreed. On RG, I see Spencer if healthy then Weary, then Briesel and Studdard back up on the line as he has not really shown anything to bump a starter. As Kubes said, some quality players will not have a job by game 1.
 
threetoedpete said:
RT: Pitts
RG: pick'em
C: Myers
LG: Winston
LT: Brown
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What makes you think they move Winston from RT to LG? Do you think Pitts gets cut or that he's too slow for Gibbs' style of blocking? Winston was doing a decent job at RT, why move him?

Inquiring minds want to know.
 
maddogmrb said:
Kubes has a habit of "annointing" starters when they haven't earned it. I hope this is not the case here and, if it is, I hope he's right. I would rather they let Brown learn behind Salaam and ease him into the starting job after mid-season ......... if he's worthy of it.

:fans:
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I totally disagree. I think he's all about a fair and open competition. I think that impression comes from the incredible lack of talent that was here his first two preseasons. Simply, anyone drafted or picked up in FA was so clearly better than what we already had, the job was going to be theirs.

If you look at last off-season, Jacoby basically won a shared starting job with Kevin Walter before his injury.

Winston's rookie year, he was given a shot midseason at RT even though the staff thought he'd have to play guard. He won the job and stuck.

Travis Johnson won a starting job over Maddox last year as well.

Jason Simmons was a job as starting S last preseason- he was given that, though Glenn Earl's injury certainly helped.

Briesel won the RG job after the Weary injury over Studdard, even though Studdard was a Kubiak guy.
 
I do agree that the best way to learn is doing your craft . Brown will never learn sitting the bench so i am looking to see him if healthy start the year at his spot . I expect some difficulty here and there but this kid has faced some good rushing ends and done well . Also some of the other ol players will face a big learning curve implementing the full on gibbs style blocking so Brown will not be alone at the learning desk .
 
infantrycak said:
Salaam will get the respect start in pre-season but Brown will be auditioning. If he shows akin to Spencer in 2006 then he will be starter day 1. Jack up with assignments and start the season on spot duty. JMO but if Spencer is healthy he is RG. Prediction--Pitts has a much better year with a competent C next to him. He really gets vapor lock of the cranial cavity when he thinks he needs to make up for the guy next to him.
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Do you think a 340-350 pound lineman fits Gibbs plans for a guard?
 
Heath Shuler said:
Do you think a 340-350 pound lineman fits Gibbs plans for a guard?
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At 320-330 think of Spencer as a dansing bear. The guy had some very good feet and moves, but he had a hand punch that would stop a charging rihno. I suspect he won't ever get back to LT level, but he could be one heck of a "Destroyer of worlds" (ode to YTF) from a guard position.
 
Heath Shuler said:
Do you think a 340-350 pound lineman fits Gibbs plans for a guard?
Click to expand...

dalemurphy said:
If Spencer's healthy, he'll likely have a playing weight around 325 lbs. And yes, he's plenty athletic to play guard for Gibbs- if the knee is sound.
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edo783 said:
At 320-330 think of Spencer as a dansing bear. The guy had some very good feet and moves, but he had a hand punch that would stop a charging rihno. I suspect he won't ever get back to LT level, but he could be one heck of a "Destroyer of worlds" (ode to YTF) from a guard position.
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What those two guys said. I think folks have way, way overemphasized the size aspect of Gibbs' system. I think what he looks for are guys with good feet and a willingness/personality to get down field. Guys like Pitts and Spencer fit that mold.
 
edo783 said:
At 320-330 think of Spencer as a dansing bear. The guy had some very good feet and moves, but he had a hand punch that would stop a charging rihno. I suspect he won't ever get back to LT level, but he could be one heck of a "Destroyer of worlds" (ode to YTF) from a guard position.
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It has been so long since he played I look up his combine times:
Numbers:: At the Combine he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.32 seconds and did 30 reps in the 225-pound bench press.
http://nfldraft.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=1283&type=scoutingreport#scouting

I'm hopeful he can get on the field, but I'll believe it when I see it.
 
Hagar said:
Interesting twist, any particular reason you think this will be the line-up or is this for conversation sake?
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Winston is the only guy last year that consistantly knocked people in the second level in the dirt. I put that at LG. LG, that's where you want your most destructive weapon. Back side cuts, Erick will get there.
 
threetoedpete said:
Winston is the only guy last year that consistantly knocked people in the second level in the dirt. I put that at LG. LG, that's where you want your most destructive weapon. Back side cuts, Erick will get there.
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Seriously--put down the crack pipe. They are not moving Winston to LG.
 
I was thinking when Brown wins the LT spot, Salaam may go over to RT, meaning Winston could go inside.... That is if you want your 5 best OL on the field.
 
I really hope you guys are right about Spencer. Seeing him at guard between Myers and Winston would give us quite a fearsome line.
 
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