McIntosh - If he returns healthy is a very good player. He can play guard or tackle. He is probably best suited at RT. Some have suggested that his footwork is only adequate making him a little weak on pass protection, therefore a could be a good RG. He was slated to be our RT, until they found out about his injury. Once he returns, if St. Clair and Carey are struggling, they can put him in at RT. More than likely, if he returns after the 6th week, (assuming he is on the PUP), then he will backup on the line this year to allow him to continue to rehab his ankle and see how things develop in 2005. He may be expendable or he may challenge for a spot. I think when healthy, he is one of our top 5 guys...but we seem to be loaded at RT/RG tweeners.
St. Clair - They then signed St. Clair and told him he would be the leading candidate for the RT spot. St. Clair had some problems at RT with the Rams, but the reasons were that he took all the reps in practice as b/u center and guard...then because of injuries late in camp, he was thrown in at RT....He progressed each game and was much better by the end of the year. This is why RS signed him. He was pretty much relegated to OL backup (across the board) when the Rams signed Turley. St. Clair's biggest problem is that he is versatile enough to back up and that may be where RS would like to have him, once McI returns. St. Clair's strength is probably inside.
Carey and St. Clair will fight it out for the RT spot. If Carey develops well there, St. Clair would be best suited to move to RG, giving us a solid line with at least a whole-season experienced starter at RG, C, LG, LT. this is based on the idea that Whitley and Jerman have little game experience.
Carey is the question. If he doesn't develop well at RT in the pros, he would make a terrific RG. If the team wants to press the issue with Carey and expect him to be our RT of the future, they could leave St. Clair there this year, have Carey back him up and start Jerman or Whitley at RG. They have both looked good. Jerman started once or twice last year.
Seth started 3 games, but played in most every game either at RG or center. Part of the reason he did not take the C job from Ruddy, was that he was needed as a G, once Dixon went down and for depth. Of course, we all know he had some problems with the line calls, but that would have been an issue that worked out quickly if he had been thrown in as the starter at C instead of bounced around.
Yates will probably end up as our b/u C and G. He can fill in at all three positions. Pape may make the roster as a b/u G/T. We'll have to see more of him for now and Hadnot is probably headed for the practice squad. They have potential, but need more time. Goodspeed could sneak a roster spot while McI is on PUP or perhaps Hadnot, if he develps faster than expected.
