Interior OL was definitely a weakness, but so was OT. Todd Wade played about the worst I've seen him play since he was a rookie, and Wade Smith WAS a rookie and looked like it...and he cost us games.
Smith MIGHT be better next year, I think it would be folly to actually count on it. But Todd Wade let blitzers and defensive ends blow right by him on their way to the quarterback.
One option I'm all for is signing Chad Clifton and letting him man the LT spot while Wade Smith continues to get his feet wet by playing at RT where the pressure is less. He has the leg drive and lower body strength to play RT and he is supposed to be building up his upper body strength considerably more this offseason so he should be fine there. A lot of people dismiss his ability to play RT but I'm telling you it is not strange for LTs in college to play RT in the pros at all, and at least one AFC GM said specifically that Wade Smith will be a good player some day and that had he drafted him he would have had him play RT for a few years then switch over.
I think you sign Clifton, you ensure better pass protection at both Tackle positions. You sign a Tait, you don't assure better pass protection at any tackle position. Sign Meadows, and you probably get better pass protection at RT, but no guarantees at Left.
, either way, it's nice to have you aboard bro. :up:
