Icognito could be moving to RG if Steinbach proves 100% healthy, plus more notes

[spiketex]

That's not how I came out on my film evaluation of his 2010 games. It was disturbing how powerless he was in straight ahead blocking situations. I don't think he's been worthy of pro bowls in quite some time, to be honest. He's very mobile. Very tall. He has pro bowl caliber hand quickness and understanding of angles, understanding of offense. He zone blocks well. He pulls even better.

But when you get right down to it that position can come down to people moving and he rarely did the moving, and often played the role of the moved. In pass pro he couldn't anchor against players that could drive and keep their feet moving, using counters. His quarterback essentially had to be on an egg timer. If you don't get that ball out in 3.0 seconds, you're on the ground, because Steinbach allowed his man to go right through him and take the quickest path to the quarterback. That was consistent. It's why Pro Football Focus gave him terrible grades, consistently. Also in run blocking when you have to dig a defensive lineman out of a hole, you better do it, and you better not get knocked back. You can't be the guy releasing out to the linebacker level every play. He was not reliable when dealing with defensive linemen in run blocking. Another reason Pro Football Focus gave him rough grades. Part of the issue is Steinbach is so tall, and there's not much bend left in him, so he has a tough time with pad level.

I'll take Artis Hicks, for now. I also took a look at his 2010 tape. Straight ahead blocking is not an issue. He has more power than Steinbach. He's also athletically gifted for his size, and he gets out to the second level on zone plays. His biggest area of deficiency really is his pulling, which is very poor. But how much is a zone running team going to ask their right guard to pull? Richie Incognito has been a decent puller for the Dolphins. Do they really need two pullers when it doesn't represent that much of what they do? The last time I tallied how many times a pulling guard was used during a Texas A&M game, I counted I believe around 15% of run plays.

Thanks for taking the time to look at how both have played in more recent times. Steinbach has the much better reputation with the perennial Pro Bowl appearances but if he can't handle the straight ahead blocking, then he is best placed as a backup. Interesting to note that Philbin was Steinbach's O-line coach at college and he credits Joe with teaching him best practices. Maybe Philbin sees Steinbach as a good O-line role model for the talented young guys like Jonathon Martin and Pouncey.

 

[ckparrothead]

I think so, it's one of the first things Joe Philbin said about Steinbach when he signed, that he's a great locker room guy.

I notice that in his press conferences Joe Philbin keeps consistently talking about how he has to soothe Steinbach on why he's not already jumping right in feet first. Eric is supremely confident that when all is said and done he's easily one of the best five players. Philbin keeps having to say to him, dude, you didn't even play football last year, and you're coming off significant back and knee injuries. Chillax.

I think Eric Steinbach is destined to be disappointed.

Incidentally, Pro Football Reference doesn't have Eric Steinbach being selected for a single Pro Bowl...the closest he came was 2008 when he was a first alternate. He was a #33 overall pick...not quite the 1st round, just outside of it.

 

[Dr. Phin]

Why? He's better than both of them at this point. He was pretty solid last year.

Being better than the other fodder we had on the line last year is not a glowing endorsement. Incoginito is plodding and is poor in space. He is always slow to the point and tries to always uses lunging cut blocks because he isn't there in time. I think he will be even worse in a zone blocking scheme.

---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:20 PM ----------

Steinbach has to prove he's better than Hicks and with him having taken a year off football, I'm not sure I see that happening. I also don't like screwing with chemistry unnecessarily. You've had Jake Long and Richie Incognito working side by side for three years . You've had Long, Incognito and Pouncey working side-by-side-by-side for two off seasons and a full regular season. Why screw with that?

It's not like moving Richie Incognito to Right Guard is going to be some magic key that unlocks dump trucks of awesomeness. He's going to be the same player, just on a different side, only now without as much chemistry.

If Steinbach were a significantly better player than Hicks, or significantly younger and full of promise, I could see that. Neither is the case. Both are one-year rentals, and they both have serious weaknesses.

How much chemistry is there really going to be since they are moving to a zone blocking scheme?

 

[SQuinn17]

Being better than the other fodder we had on the line last year is not a glowing endorsement. Incoginito is plodding and is poor in space. He is always slow to the point and tries to always uses lunging cut blocks because he isn't there in time. I think he will be even worse in a zone blocking scheme.

---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:20 PM ----------



How much chemistry is there really going to be since they are moving to a zone blocking scheme?

Richie is a plodding (like you said) road grading, mean as hell lineman. We're going to need him considering a guy who barely played last year is going to be our #1 wide out. I hate to break it to you but we're going to be running the ball a lot this year. Loll at thinking a guy who didn't even play last year and another journeyman is better than he is right now. Hes one of the best lineman we have as of right now. Get real!

 

[Dr. Phin]

Richie is a plodding (like you said) road grading, mean as hell lineman. We're going to need him considering a guy who barely played last year is going to be our #1 wide out. I hate to break it to you but we're going to be running the ball a lot this year. Loll at thinking a guy who didn't even play last year and another journeyman is better than he is right now. Hes one I the best lineman we have as of right now. Get real!

What? You think we are going to be running more than we did under Sparano? I sure as hell hope not. And as you even agreed, he is slow and plodding...how well is that going to work out in a zone blocking scheme where mobility is a necessity?

If he is one of the best lineman we have, we are screwed. I was hoping that with the changes in the line that he would be the weak link...which I think he will be this year (except for possibly Martin getting run over on bull rushes...)

 

[dolpns13]

I've got a better idea...bench his ass and let Hicks and Steinbach start...

Bench Incognito?

 

[Hayden Fox]

I always thought Incognito was a better at RG.

 

[72 silky]

All I know is....if the coaching staff feels that it's the best move for the team then that's all that matters. All of us can play GM and coach but at the end of the day none of us are on philbins or Irelands level when it comes to football. We need to let them do their job and evaluate their decisions at years end

 

[luduporcu]

There have been calls for Incognito to play RG since he got here. I like this move

You're forgetting your history. INCOGNITO WAS INDEED ready to play RG. But injuries at the G position changed that. INCOGNITO played LG to accommodate JERRY, who had never played anywhere but on the right side.

 

[Dr. Phin]

All I know is....if the coaching staff feels that it's the best move for the team then that's all that matters. All of us can play GM and coach but at the end of the day none of us are on philbins or Irelands level when it comes to football. We need to let them do their job and evaluate their decisions at years end

Thanks for the insight...I will remember that anytime you have an opinion...

 

[72 silky]

Oh I'm sorry did I attack your opinion. And when was I ever not entitiled to have one of my own.

 

[Dr. Phin]

Oh I'm sorry did I attack your opinion. And when was I ever not entitiled to have one of my own.

The "FO knows more than you" crap is a cop-out. Your on a forum. If we thought they knew best, this place wouldn't exist.

 

[Wildbill3]

Oh I'm sorry did I attack your opinion. And when was I ever not entitiled to have one of my own.

You have got to learn to cover your Cheerios around here lest you find they are soggy with more than milk.

 

[72 silky]

The "FO knows more than you" crap is a cop-out. Your on a forum. If we thought they knew best, this place wouldn't exist.

Oh please your saying the front office knows less the the average person on here? This forum exists so fans can talk about their favourite team and get their team related news in one place.

 

[rent this space]

You're forgetting your history. INCOGNITO WAS INDEED ready to play RG. But injuries at the G position changed that. INCOGNITO played LG to accommodate JERRY, who had never played anywhere but on the right side.

I did not remember that, I just think Incognito is better suited to the right side. if Steinbach is plays well enough to start and is better on the left, why not have both guys at their more natural positions?