After all these additions is our line good enough? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

After all these additions is our line good enough?

uk_dolfan

uk_dolfan

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We spent a fortune in picks and free agent dough and my question is do we have a good line? or an ok one? Is it even average?

Heres my projection

LT- Albert - ehh not who I wanted, maybe my 3rd choice at best, but hes solid (would need to be for his wage) don't think he is great in the running game and injury is a big concern.
LG- Turner - oh boy is he raw, but he is also strong and aggressive. IMO he is a LG and frankly we should really try not to have 2 rookies on any side of Pouncey, especially early in the season.
C- Pouncey, Stud, has been a pro bowl level player for years. No concerns bar the possible suspension - garner will do fine here anyway.
RG- Smith/Thomas - Smith is an awful awful pass protector, maybe he can rapdily improve this - I hope so (I liked the signing btw) and Thomas was a travesty at LT- but the guys a guard and could be at least decent at RG
RT- James - didn't like how high we took him, but a good player, not amazing against the run and as a rookie will have his issues but will be better than Clabo

backup
- Garner - cant play LT, solid at the other positions, I would start him at RG but he can never ever stay healthy when he is starting which is a shame
- Brenner - solid guard or center depth, could end up developing into a starter.
- Assorted other scrubs and rookies


My view - eeeehhh its ok, has upside down the road perhaps but its not a good line, right now. Could be average this year though with some good coaching and luck with injury - which would still be a big improvement over last season.

My main concern- Albert has a record of missing 2-4 games a year and I don't see a solid backup on the roster - garner and brenner cant play LT, James has always played RT and even if he was capable of playing LT we need him at RT and Turner is raw as hell and could have plenty of issues with life as a rookie guard never mind a left tackle.

Wildcard: Shelley Smith - good player, liked the signing a lot but don't think he will start. He has hardly ever started for his last two teams and despite interest from multiple teams we signed him to a very low contract this summer - which indicates to me that he is not a locked in starter. He is a great run blocker who I think will certainly be brought in for short distance and obviously running plays. But unless he dramatically improves as a pass blocker I do not have him pencilled in as a starter at this point.


Suggested solutions:

Id go out today and add Mckinnie and Wade Smith - old vets, past their prime however this will at least offer depth and whilst I was certainly not a Mckinnie fan last season I have no issues with him as Alberts (and arguably James) backup. Smith is just a solid NFL Vet who has played in our coaches system for years, good backup at either guard or could even start at RG.
 
Yea if Albert goes down not sure what they would do.Theres not s great back up lt on the roster.Id like to seem the bring in a veteran guard as well. The thought of 2 unproven guards starting is scary. Sign a vet like wade smith or colledge( dont think i spelled it right).If the young guys win the jobs great but we need some insurance in case they suck.The line has potential hopefully it will come together
 
The biggest improvement over last year is the OL coach Benton. If he had been the coach last year, we would have had at least an average line. No concerns about the 2014 O line here, those guys will be fine.
 
Yeah I wouldn't mind us getting Travelle Wharton and plug him in at RG
 
I feel 10 times better than I did at this point last year. With 2 Pro Bowlers, 3 1st round draft picks, a great blocking RB who can also catch as a dump off, and Landry as a QB friendly WR.....

By mid season, I expect this to be one of our stronger units and half the sacks of last season.
 
Lets see, we have a better O-line coach, a much better left tackle, a decent up and comer at guard in Smith and a good center in Pouncey. We added James to man the right tackle spot and will have a lot of competition for one of the guard spots. There's no doubt our o-line should be much improved over last season. The biggest question mark is right guard and who will emerge.
 
I think it's also important to note that we SEEM to have some young guys with actual potential now. Even if they struggle, they're learning and gaining experience. Hopefully they can utilize that.
 
I don't think we need an all-star offensive line to accomplish what we all want to accomplish this season, making the playoffs. We were right there last year, and I don't think the old offensive line excuse is going to work for anyone in 2014. The line was a problem, we addressed it, and now we need to win, and continue to build around some of the younger guys on it.
 
As long as these guys can all stay healthy through camp, I think the line will be very good. They need a LOT of time together to feel comfortable as a whole. If that happens, I think our offense can be great this year!
 
I am less than enamored with your plan and have no confidence in your analysis.
 
Good breakdown.

Bottom line is we don't know what we have. I said this a couple months ago, that our OL is priority obviously, but during the season if our O line struggle then nobody's going to care who we added to the line, we're all just going to be sick of continual O line problems and wish we had a TE for the red zone, or a RB to make 3rd downs. But we likely did the right thing. James was not only needed badly, but the best fit on the right side. we got lucky, so freaking luck that Landry was still there in the second, it makes it all balance out....if Landry can be a playmaker.

Best case scenario: The O line is effective in both the run and pass, and the addition of supporting players who can help out to block (Moreno, Landry) make a difference. Lazor uses Moreno's flexibility, and JJ's scheme fit, to include more plays from the WCO. Lazor successfully spreads the defense enough to allow space for Lamar Miller and Moreno to run through for chuck yardage. The short yardage running game is not a total disaster somehow.

Worst case scenario: The O line is porous, and we continue to be unable to run the ball because of the line problems and because Moreno is an average back, and because Lamar Miller is useless and because we have no deep threat. Play action continues not to work because the running game is dead in the water.

Yes, he blocks, too!
landrytot2-1.jpg
 
I think pass-blocking will decent.

I still question whether or not we can run block.
 
Work in progress...

Do I feel better at this point compared to last year..Yes, but not by much....

Still rolling with three unknowns though at least 2 positions are filled with prover guys who play at a high level
 
Most of the additions have been brought in with one thing in mind, blocking. RB, TE, as well as OL, so I look for a vast improvement over last year as well as a more up tempo offense.
 
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