How important is the Left Tackle? (or. why we should trade Jake Long) | Page 2 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

How important is the Left Tackle? (or. why we should trade Jake Long)

No need to trade him but think long and hard before we give him a huge extension eating up a significant chunk of our cap!
 
The two best left tackles in the NFL are on the Browns and Dolphins. There's your answer.
 
If you trade Long for a 1st and 3rd, this is what you get: You'd have to use your 1st round pick to replace him, as 3rd round picks become starters only 1/3 of the time, historically. Even if you used that 1st round pick, there's no guarantee that he'd be 1/2 has good as Long is, and you'd still have to pay that guy a ton because he'd be a 1st round pick. You just don't get ahead trading him, IMO.
 
Good article/argument. By most people's replies on here, I'm guessing they didn't actually read it.

I would argue that I still don't think we should be trading away our best players. Just because they don't create Superbowl champions, doesn't mean that LT isn't important. Also, this FO has clearly shown that they are not interested in trades for big players, only draft picks. We have plenty of draft picks at this point. It's up to the FO to pick good prospects. Losing one of our best players for a few more draft picks or even a skill position seems like a wash at best.
 
Doctor Phibes said:
LT is the 2nd most important position in football.

A distant 2nd of course. People who blindly mention Joe Thomas, Clady etc (or even Jake Long) need to consider who has been playing QB for these teams
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No LT is not the second most important position and this article clearly points out the teams winning the Superbowl are doing it without a Elite LT.
 
Give NE that Elite LT, named Jake Long. And they win the SB the last 2 failed attempts against the NYG.
 
DolfanDuBbZ~ said:
Give NE that Elite LT, named Jake Long. And they win the SB the last 2 failed attempts against the NYG.
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That's probably true. Then watch them turn that elite LT into 3 1st round and 8 2nd round picks.
 
I'll take a franchise QB, solid center and average guards and tackles over an elite LT, average center and no QB.
 
i think about it this way...we are not going to pay him more next year and so we are probably going to lose him unless we throw the franchise on him...

Once again, he is already the highest paid person on this team and i think the highest paid tackle in football (thanks bill) but he will want more money...

why not gets something out of him rather than losing him...
 
Dmarino110 said:
i think about it this way...we are not going to pay him more next year and so we are probably going to lose him unless we throw the franchise on him...

Once again, he is already the highest paid person on this team and i think the highest paid tackle in football (thanks bill) but he will want more money...

why not gets something out of him rather than losing him...
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They won't lose him. They can franchise him and save money doing that.
 
oasis said:
That's probably true. Then watch them turn that elite LT into 3 1st round and 8 2nd round picks.
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Tom Brady wouldn't let that happen. JPP would have been a pedestrian in the last SB.
 
flynryan15 said:
No LT is not the second most important position and this article clearly points out the teams winning the Superbowl are doing it without a Elite LT.
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Well certainly the second most important on offense

Simple logic really

As long as QBs are so important the next most important player is the player who has his back

There is a reason why left tackle prospects are getting so heavily drafted in the first round these past few years
 
I've made this point for years. It's not a revelation.

The left tackle position isn't even the most important position on the offensive line, much less on the offense. The center position has become more important because he's the guy making line calls and adjusting protections to keep up with the infiltration of multiple and/or "hybrid" defenses.

You don't need an elite player at left tackle to win. You need an elite quarterback to win.

All you need at left tackle is serviceable... a guy that's not a complete turnstile. A guy who doesn't give up the post leg to the inside and provide a pass rusher the shortest path to the quarterback. It's the first thing you look for when evaluating offensive tackles. If a guy is giving up the inside, shut the tape off and move on to another. He's no good.

I just talked about this in the draft forum yesterday in regards to the importance in the quality of pass protection by your interior 3 lineman. Elite quarterbacks will step up into the pocket every time to avoid the pressure given up by the tackles on the perimeter. All you need is a guy who can get into his kickslide adequately, and have some arm length to run speed rushers upfield... the quarterback who understands how to manage the pocket will step up and make this rush null and void.

However, if your interior 3 offensive lineman are allowing pressure up the middle, there is no pocket to step up into. Quarterbacks can't deal with pressure up the middle because it gets them off their landmark.

A left tackle is only worth whatever the quarterback that he's protecting is worth. Whoever the left tackle is that's protecting an elite quarterback is automatically more valuable than Joe Thomas or Jake Long protecting Chad Henne, Matt Moore, or Colt McCoy. Teams are getting more value at the left tackle position for a fraction of the price.

I've said it numerous times... Miami giving Jake Long another mega contract is a mistake.
 
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