If the O-line is a disaster, look back to the offseason

[VanDolPhan]

by the way, what's the latest on Wade Smith?

Haven't heard much about him since he busted his arm.

I'm thinking next year we go with one of those stud LT's in the draft and trade up to grab a QB near the end of the first (package our #2, #4 that year and the #3 next year and that should do it since I still think we pick top 10 each round)

Hopefully there is a FA center out there the team can go after and that should improve the line immensely with Carey/Hadnot/FA center/James/Draft Pick LT

 

[inFINSible]

but that's just it.... the names on that list, almost to a man, are better than anything we've got -- besides perhaps Carey's potential...

Is that why they were all available?? Wasn't it because their original teams decided their talent wasn't worth their cost?

i agree that they could have tried some of these guys but, what percentage of upgrade would we have gotten when you factor in the cost?

 

[Philter25]

The player we should have gone after was Casey Rabach. I dont understand that. A good Center with Jeno and Rex at Guards would have been a good interior line. StClair played very well at RT last year... I dont know why StClair isnt seeing time at RT with Carey staying at LT this year.

As for Roth, I think he is a development player. We needed help on the Dline also. I think we just had tooo many holes to fill in 1 draft that year, you need to pick BPA at positions of need.

Kevin Carter essentially is a 2-3 year contract. By that time, Matt Roth should hopefully be our starting DE.

Offensively we need a C/RG.... basically whatever Hadnot doesnt play and an OT to play opposite of Carey. And of course a QB.

 

[Dphins4me]

If he averages that then it's more then the offensive line. Sammy Morris had a 4.0avg behind this line last year. The line is bad but it's better then last years at least. It's got better coaching and at least 'some' gelling going on there despite the preseason switching.

Yea, but lets remember he only did it in about 9 games.

 

[inFINSible]

It's apparent to me that the o-line was addressed with Houck and a one-year-contract player because the scheme last year was so horrible that it made evaluation iimpossible. The worst thing Saban could have done was pay big contracts to FA O-linemen, and then have them beaten out by players we already have. Then we'd be sitting there with tons of cap space going to waste.

You'll say they wouldn't have been beaten out but, the point is, the risk of that happening was unkown. There was no way to say with certainty that the players, and not the scheme, were the downfall of the o-line last year.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

It's apparent to me that the o-line was addressed with Houck and a one-year-contract player because the scheme last year was so horrible that it made evaluation iimpossible. The worst thing Saban could have done was pay big contracts to FA O-linemen, and then have them beaten out by players we already have. The we'd be sitting there with tons of cap space going to waste.

You'll say they wouldn't have been beaten out but, the point is, the risk of that happening was unkown. There was no way to say with certainty that the olayers were the downfall of the o-line last year.

coupled with the fact that the veteran on the line is Jeno James. They are all young players with potential. Time to see which ones can step up and which ones need to go home.

 

[LarryFinFan]

I think one of two things happened. Either Nick overestimated what Houck could do with this collection of third-stringers, or he has a 2-3 year plan and we won't really understand everything until the plan is realized. For instance, Alabi won't contribute anything this year, but Houck seems to be quite impressed with him, so 2-3 years down the road, we may have a dominant tackle. Combine that with Carey and Hadnot and we're in a lot better shape.

Saban impresses me as a pretty good chess player and I'm fairly certain that he has a grand scale plan. He probably also had the same question we all had...what kind of talent do we really have at QB (Feeley) and on the O-line. To Saban and Houck's credit, it appears they have done a wonderful job with Carey, especially when you compare Tony Wise's efforts from last year.

The truth is, this team had so many holes, Saban must have felt like a kitty with diarrhea in a litter box, he didn't know which pile to cover up first.

You have a point, but what bothers me is...If Saban and HH think that the OL problems can be fixed with coaching...then why are then moving guys around all over the place ?? The should have been able to figure who the best guys are by now...why not put them in place and see how they gel ??

If there is any critizism of HH in his handling of the OL it is that...He even said it himself, that "continuity makes a line better" ...Where is that continuity on our team...

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

You have a point, but what bothers me is...If Saban and HH think that the OL problems can be fixed with coaching...then why are then moving guys around all over the place ?? The should have been able to figure who the best guys are by now...why not put them in place and see how they gel ??

If there is any critizism of HH in his handling of the OL it is that...He even said it himself, that "continuity makes a line better" ...Where is that continuity on our team...

Maybe, just maybe they are only able to truely figure that out when lines are actually allowed to truely block.

 

[paskerbrandon]

I think we could actually have a decent line. By no means do I mean great, I just dont think that with the players we have we could be great. I believe that after week 2 or 3 we will start gelling and become and adequate line.

 

[DolfanCole]

It's apparent to me that the o-line was addressed with Houck and a one-year-contract player because the scheme last year was so horrible that it made evaluation iimpossible. The worst thing Saban could have done was pay big contracts to FA O-linemen, and then have them beaten out by players we already have. Then we'd be sitting there with tons of cap space going to waste.

You'll say they wouldn't have been beaten out but, the point is, the risk of that happening was unkown. There was no way to say with certainty that the players, and not the scheme, were the downfall of the o-line last year.

(see McDougle)

 

[Bill C]

Everyone in this thread is making great points. We had too many holes to fill for one off-season (FA and Draft) to solve. I do wish e had picked up a center because that was a glaring problem and still is.

I think Saban focused on the DL and LB this off-season so that he will have additional firepower next season via trades. I would expect QB and OL to be top priorities in the next draft (pending FA moves).

 

[Fineas]

It's apparent to me that the o-line was addressed with Houck and a one-year-contract player because the scheme last year was so horrible that it made evaluation iimpossible. The worst thing Saban could have done was pay big contracts to FA O-linemen, and then have them beaten out by players we already have. Then we'd be sitting there with tons of cap space going to waste.

You'll say they wouldn't have been beaten out but, the point is, the risk of that happening was unkown. There was no way to say with certainty that the players, and not the scheme, were the downfall of the o-line last year.

I sure hope that wasn't the reason, because if it was, Saban is a complete F@#$%ing loser. He didn't upgrade the talent because he was afraid the guys he brought in would be worse than the ones that were already here. He got total control of the team and a lot of money. He's got to evaluate the players and make the tough decisions. If he was afraid to do what he thought needed to be done because of fear of criticism, etc., then he he's got the coaching version of "trout eyes" and should never have been hired.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

I sure hope that wasn't the reason, because if it was, Saban is a complete F@#$%ing loser. He didn't upgrade the talent because he was afraid the guys he brought in would be worse than the ones that were already here. He got total control of the team and a lot of money. He's got to evaluate the players and make the tough decisions. If he was afraid to do what he thought needed to be done because of fear of criticism, etc., then he he's got the coaching version of "trout eyes" and should never have been hired.

well there is this funny thing called a salary cap. Brining in players with big contracts that have to ride the pine does not help the team. What this means is that teams cannot just bring in any and everyone willy nilly. Plus the fact that there are other teams that want these player.s

 

[inFINSible]

I sure hope that wasn't the reason, because if it was, Saban is a complete F@#$%ing loser. He didn't upgrade the talent because he was afraid the guys he brought in would be worse than the ones that were already here. He got total control of the team and a lot of money. He's got to evaluate the players and make the tough decisions. If he was afraid to do what he thought needed to be done because of fear of criticism, etc., then he he's got the coaching version of "trout eyes" and should never have been hired.

Dupree answered the question but, I never said that it was because of his fear of criticism. I don't even know how you got that out of what I wrote.:confused:

 

[LithoMan]

I think one of two things happened. Either Nick overestimated what Houck could do with this collection of third-stringers, or he has a 2-3 year plan and we won't really understand everything until the plan is realized. For instance, Alabi won't contribute anything this year, but Houck seems to be quite impressed with him, so 2-3 years down the road, we may have a dominant tackle. Combine that with Carey and Hadnot and we're in a lot better shape.

Saban impresses me as a pretty good chess player and I'm fairly certain that he has a grand scale plan. He probably also had the same question we all had...what kind of talent do we really have at QB (Feeley) and on the O-line. To Saban and Houck's credit, it appears they have done a wonderful job with Carey, especially when you compare Tony Wise's efforts from last year.

The truth is, this team had so many holes, Saban must have felt like a kitty with diarrhea in a litter box, he didn't know which pile to cover up first.

My friends and I have debated what happened in the draft. Best we can figure, is Spielman wanted to do one thing and Saban another. So, since Rick was f'n up the draft analysis, and Saban kneew it, Saban went with what he knew. Because he couldn't rely on Spielman. That is why I said Saban stuck to what he knew, and why I said we had a bad draft. Nobody cared to ever ask why I said those things. But, now since you all are asking why this and why that, I felt compelled to share.

After draft, Spielman fired, Mueller hired. What more proof do you need, Saban showed his rookie stripes. He did get some talented guys, but that is why all the replacement draftees. He knew D, and he stuck to D. He got good quality players, but nothing beneficial to this team this year.

He had to draft what he knew was good, even if it didnt fit the bill, all because we stuck with the JJ/Wanny era way to long. 03 should of been it. Look no further then Heizenga's dedication, for your answers. None of this reflects badly on Saban, but you must look past the face of things, and look deeper into what is really going on.