Jake66
Practice Squad
I completely agree with Glazer's assessment of the O-Line. The blocking schemes were ridiculous last year. They did more Reach-blocking than any team I've ever seen in the NFL. That type of blocking is almost impossible against big/fast DT's. That's why our interior O-Line looked worse than expected last year.
James was much more efficient in Carolina b/c their blocking scheme called for more drive-blocking (i.e. blocking down on the DL witha beneficial angle) and pulling/trapping back against the odd man. McKinney does have the tools to be a good Center (he has unbelievably quick feet for a Center), but he's not big enough to stop a big DT when he has to reach block - and not many C's in the NFL can make that block (i.e. Mawae can't do it against the Buffalo DT's), but they're not asked to do it often, so they don't look as bad. Tim Ruddy was great at it b/c he had a little more size than McKinney, great first-step quickness and also had ridiculous upper-body strength. Ruddy was one of the most underrated Centers in the NFL during his prime.
James was much more efficient in Carolina b/c their blocking scheme called for more drive-blocking (i.e. blocking down on the DL witha beneficial angle) and pulling/trapping back against the odd man. McKinney does have the tools to be a good Center (he has unbelievably quick feet for a Center), but he's not big enough to stop a big DT when he has to reach block - and not many C's in the NFL can make that block (i.e. Mawae can't do it against the Buffalo DT's), but they're not asked to do it often, so they don't look as bad. Tim Ruddy was great at it b/c he had a little more size than McKinney, great first-step quickness and also had ridiculous upper-body strength. Ruddy was one of the most underrated Centers in the NFL during his prime.