previously posted this as a thread. don't remember which forum, might have been this one.
However, I think the information is appropriate in the context of evaluating our new center in the greater scheme of the offensive line:
Long-Smiley-Grove-Thomas-Care
the Orca-Five
I believe by the end of the 2009 season our Offensive Line will be recognized as one of the best in the NFL & is destined to enter the books with the likes of the RedSkin's infamous Hogs.
why?
A) Bill Parcells is the power House of the trenches. wherever he has established a team, he has assembled powerful Offensive & Defensive Lines.
(B) Our Head Coach is an Offensive Line Coach. He made his bones @ both the university level & in the NFL as a premier Offensive Lines Coach. Tony knows the Offensive line.
(C) The firing of Maser & hiring of Guglielmo. Coach G. was the Assistant Lines Coach for what is arguably the top Offensive Line in the NFL, the NYGiants. They will be coached up exceeding all expectation.
(D) there exists a template to build upon: 1. size & strength 2. character (they like leaders, especially team captains) 3. history: they trace them from their HS days playing football. 4. Consistency, love of game, team players that buy into a system & a willingness to work hard & through injuries.
(E) the front line has been assembled after diligent research. the home work was done. the Orca-5 have earned the stamp of approval of the Trifecta. Both Ireland & Sprano talk with great enthusiasm about what the Orca-5 will present to the league in 2009. With the obvious support of the Silent One behind it all.
won't go into great detail here I'd have to write an article not present a thread to do them justice. However, much is his on record & has already been written if you want to make the time to do some research.
LT- Jake Long: 6'7" 320lbs; #1 draft of 08;started & finished every game; a Rookie ProBowler @ the most important position on the offensive line
LG-Justin Smiley: 6'3" 310lbs; 2nd rd. draft choice (first in the top six offensive lines men picked in the 2004 draft) six year veteran with SF, top drawer acquisition, a dominate linesman
C-Jake Grove-6'4" 310lbs; high second rd. choice by Raiders; prestigious collegian record. elect an All-American as Center. many,many accolades,honors etc.: was on target by Bill Parcells to draft when he was with the Cowboys;as a Pro "...notched a POA winning percentage of 90.6% while allowing backs to gain 6.2 yards per attempt behind his blocks. And Grove didn’t need a lot of help either. The ex Raider went one on one with defenders 67.5% of the time in 2008, far more frequently then either Matt Birk (39.9%) or Jason Brown (60.3%)."
RT-Donald Thomas- 6'4 310lbs;has been described as a diamond in the rough, the strongest human being on the Dolphin football team, plays through pain & injury, mean & takes personal joy in finishing blocks; Thomas has been compared to the young Keith Sims; a 6ed rd. choice, considered "a find", started LG as a Rookie & totally dominated the position up to the time of his (now healed) foot injury.
RT-Vernon Carey ( the other Bookend) 6''5" 350 lbs; first round choice. the PancakeMonster is already an elite tackle in the NFL; nasty, big & strong, a sauvy veteran, plays the run particularly well.
we also sport an excellent bench going into the season that will not only back-up but provide some competition fro starting positions
I suspect we might pick up a center in the draft for future development, but the Offensive Line is basically established. ( we picked up Quinn on the after market of the draft)
the Orca- 5 will eat a defense alive:up:
:up::up:
