So with all the poo-pooing going around I thought I'd had a little bit of positive. I'm not giving stats- just giving three areas of focus to where our OL should be much better. Lets face it, it'll be tough to be worse. Anyway, here goes:
Coaching:
If you would like to defend the last 8 games of Mike Sherman go nuts. I don't. His play calling was predictable and made our offense one sided. Ryan Tannehill threw the ball way more than any 2nd year QB with little experience should, and the defenses knew it. They pinned their ears back and really laid into an already weak OL. Sherman couldn't even call/coach effective screens to alleviate that. So, enter Lazer. I think we are all hopeful that he will be more innovative, and make better use of players than Sherman. +1 here
Personnel:
Albert > Martina or McKinnie
Shelley > Cog (run especially...should be a big help)
Pouncey = Pouncey
Dallas Thomas? = Jerry
Draft Pick > Clabo
This looks, for now, to be what we can expect as the OL. I see 2 or 3 obvious improvements in players with maybe 1 downgrade. Better players will be a big help.
Distractions:
That bullygate crap will be done.
That's my $.02....seems like an up arrow to me.
I voted yes. But, we see the path to improvement differently.
Branden Albert, yes, faaaaaar better ... presuming he stays healthy, it's a huge upgrade at the most important position.
Shelley is very poor in pass protection. Incognito was a pro-bowler year before last, he was OK in pass protection last year, and excelled in run blocking. Even if we agree that Shelley can be an improvement in run blocking (which is by no means assured), the deficit in pass protection absolutely precludes him from LG. At best, he will be a RG on run downs and a liability in pass protection. He is not a starter, and a serious downgrade to Incognito. Hopefully we get Zack Martin, who could be an upgrade to Incognito ... but it's not Shelley Smith, he was one of the very worst pass protectors in the NFL last year, anda we're a pass-first offense.
Pouncey should be better actually. Improved learning, better talent around him. And most importantly, something to prove.
Dallas Thomas sucks. He was a disaster. He is an upgrade to no one. Believe me when I say that I have always been a John Jerry detractor, but at least he wasn't horrible at pass protection. He was bad, and even worse in run blocking, but Dallas Thomas is not an NFL player. He needs to fundamentally change himself and his technique and his training if he is to ever be a starter. We will replace Jerry, and I'm optimistic we can find that person in the draft or free agency, but Dallas Thomas is not the answer. It's like picking Pee Wee Herman to knock out Mike Tyson .... not ... gonna ... happen.
Tyson Clabo started horrifically (new word? Cool!). But, after Bryant McKinnie joined it was weird, but Clabo instantly got a lot better. Did he finally adjust to the ZBS? Or was it simply that help was slid to him instead of away from him to Martin's side? Or was it simply chemistry? Whatever, he was serviceable after McKinnie came. Will a draft pick be better? Dunno, maybe. Will we find a FA veteran who we can plug in like Eric Winston? Dunno, maybe. But, I'd say this one is still a question mark.
I'm basing improvement on 4 things:
1. Better coaching
2. MUCH improved LT
3. Pouncey with something to prove
4. Hight draft picks on OL.
