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My Predicted Training Camp/Pre-Season Battles, Part IV (OL)

Silverphin

Silverphin

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My Predicted Training Camp/Pre-Season Battles, Part V (OL)

Last time, it was Tight Ends. (http://www.finheaven.com/boardvb2/showthread.php?t=143056). Now it is time for the mess I had to eventually get to: The offensive line.

Over the last few years, our offensive was suspect. Our Offensive Lineman was Tony Wise. And our coach was Dave Wannstedt. While many people bash both Wannstedt and Rick Speilman, I do not fault the latter. It was Speilman's fault that we saw offensive linemen named St. Clair.

I mean, we all know St. Clair, right? The one that made the admirable Brian Griese look like the bust he isn't? Yeah, that one. Rick Speilman, when he wasn't hog tied, actually did us a favor in the 2004 draft. He drafted two lineman (Converted Tackle Vernon Carey and Guard Rex Hadnot) that became starters in 2005 and one (Tone Pape) that might be depth.

Now we have 17 offensive lineman vying for eleven spots. So I'm going to break this down position by position.

Tackle

Locks to make the team: L.J. Shelton, Anthony Alabi (due to his status as a commited long term project), Vernon Carey,

The Battlers: Damion McIntosh, Mike Pearson, Tony Pape, Orrin Thompson

Damion McIntosh vs. Mike Pearson vs. Tony Pape vs. Orrin Thompson

My Analysis: Damion McIntosh, last year, was like a bridge over a river. Not as spectacular-looking as the Seven Mile Bridge, but solid. He has two things over Mike Pearson. For one, Damion McIntosh has enough chemistry with the O-line that there is a small chance he could compete for the starting job at left tackle (But seeing as L.J. Shelton is the intended to be the starter at Left Tackle, that is highly unlikely). Secondly, D.Mac, at the very least, is more durable than Mike Pearson since Pearson has had many bouts of the injury bug. Mike Pearson could probably challenge D. Mac. But only if he can prove that he can stay healthy. Tony Pape, in my opinion, has a snowball's chance in the Miami sun. Orrin Thompson may of had a shot, but he spent all of his time in NFL Europe on Injured Reserve.

My predicted winner: Damion McIntosh

Winner gets: Primary Back-Up spot to starting tackles.

Losers get: Trip to Free agency/Practice Squad

Guards

Locks to make the team: Rex Hadnot, Jeno James, Joe 'Holy' Toledo, C.J. Brooks, Joe Berger

My analysis: Okay guys, I know what you're thinking: That's all the guards on the roster. Going by the format last year, where we had two centers, five guards and four tackles. Seeing as we only have five guards, all of them will make it barring claim off of waivers during the cuts.

One might think if there was a signing, Joe Berger would be the odd man out. But don't count him out. Even though he did mess up on the one play he was on the field, we should all know by now that we shouldn't judge a player off of one play.

Center

Locks to make the team: There are none, unless you want to count Rex Hadnot.

Battlers: All of them.

Seth McKinney vs. Wade Smith vs. Chris McNeil vs. Dominic Furio

My analysis: While Seth McKinney and Wade Smith have the edge, being here longer than Chris McNeil and Dominic Furio, all four of them are on pretty much even ground. Wade Smith spent last year on injured reserve, Seth McKinney, while solid, had some problems with penalties, Chris McNeil is an undrafted free agent, and Dominic Furio spent most of his three years on the Eagles' practice squad. And we all know what happened with the last Eagle we signed off of their practice squad.

My predicted winner: I have none. Let Saban and Houck handle that.

Winner gets: Starting center job.

Second place gets: back-up center job

Loser gets: Do you even have to ask?
 
That's a decent take, Silver. Where do you see Carey at? Many see him at RG, but Carey's better at pass pro than DMac and DMac is a better run blocker ...so I don't get that. Vern is also an inch taller, if that means much.

I'm thinking along similar lines, no pun intended...

LT: Shelton vs. Pearson (IF Mike is healthy and can stay that way)
LG: James
C: Hadnot vs. McKinney vs. Smith
RG: DMac or Carey vs. Hadnot (if McKinney or Smith surprises)
RT: DMac vs. Carey (loser competes at RG) vs. Pearson (see above)

If Pearson is healthy, they could really put together something good.
 
Silverphin said:
Last time, it was Tight Ends. (http://www.finheaven.com/boardvb2/showthread.php?t=143056). Now it is time for the mess I had to eventually get to: The offensive line.

Over the last few years, our offensive was suspect. Our Offensive Lineman was Tony Wise. And our coach was Dave Wannstedt. While many people bash both Wannstedt and Rick Speilman, I do not fault the latter. It was Speilman's fault that we saw offensive linemen named St. Clair.

I mean, we all know St. Clair, right? The one that made the admirable Brian Griese look like the bust he isn't? Yeah, that one. Rick Speilman, when he wasn't hog tied, actually did us a favor in the 2004 draft. He drafted two lineman (Converted Tackle Vernon Carey and Guard Rex Hadnot) that became starters in 2005 and one (Tone Pape) that might be depth.

Now we have 17 offensive lineman vying for eleven spots. So I'm going to break this down position by position.

Tackle

Locks to make the team: L.J. Shelton, Anthony Alabi (due to his status as a commited long term project), Vernon Carey,

The Battlers: Damion McIntosh, Mike Pearson, Tony Pape, Orrin Thompson

Damion McIntosh vs. Mike Pearson vs. Tony Pape vs. Orrin Thompson

My Analysis: Damion McIntosh, last year, was like a bridge over a river. Not as spectacular-looking as the Seven Mile Bridge, but solid. He has two things over Mike Pearson. For one, Damion McIntosh has enough chemistry with the O-line that there is a small chance he could compete for the starting job at left tackle (But seeing as L.J. Shelton is the intended to be the starter at Left Tackle, that is highly unlikely). Secondly, D.Mac, at the very least, is more durable than Mike Pearson since Pearson has had many bouts of the injury bug. Mike Pearson could probably challenge D. Mac. But only if he can prove that he can stay healthy. Tony Pape, in my opinion, has a snowball's chance in the Miami sun. Orrin Thompson may of had a shot, but he spent all of his time in NFL Europe on Injured Reserve.

My predicted winner: Damion McIntosh

Winner gets: Primary Back-Up spot to starting tackles.

Losers get: Trip to Free agency/Practice Squad

Guards

Locks to make the team: Rex Hadnot, Jeno James, Joe 'Holy' Toledo, C.J. Brooks, Joe Berger

My analysis: Okay guys, I know what you're thinking: That's all the guards on the roster. Going by the format last year, where we had two centers, five guards and four tackles. Seeing as we only have five guards, all of them will make it barring claim off of waivers during the cuts.

One might think if there was a signing, Joe Berger would be the odd man out. But don't count him out. Even though he did mess up on the one play he was on the field, we should all know by now that we shouldn't judge a player off of one play.

Center

Locks to make the team: There are none, unless you want to count Rex Hadnot.

Battlers: All of them.

Seth McKinney vs. Wade Smith vs. Chris McNeil vs. Dominic Furio

My analysis: While Seth McKinney and Wade Smith have the edge, being here longer than Chris McNeil and Dominic Furio, all four of them are on pretty much even ground. Wade Smith spent last year on injured reserve, Seth McKinney, while solid, had some problems with penalties, Chris McNeil is an undrafted free agent, and Dominic Furio spent most of his three years on the Eagles' practice squad. And we all know what happened with the last Eagle we signed off of their practice squad.

My predicted winner: I have none. Let Saban and Houck handle that.

Winner gets: Starting center job.

Second place gets: back-up center job

Loser gets: Do you even have to ask?
Click to expand...

Didn't McNeil leave camp already?
 
Geforce said:
Didn't McNeil leave camp already?
Click to expand...

KFFL may have been wrong on this one. While it was said he did quit, he wasn't removed from the official website's roster when Furio was added, nor was he put on the Did Not Report list. Not only that, there was not talk of Furio replacing McNeil at camp nor any official reported by any of Miami's major sources. Until it is officially reported, I'm assuming he is in camp.
 
DorsalPhin said:
That's a decent take, Silver. Where do you see Carey at? Many see him at RG, but Carey's better at pass pro than DMac and DMac is a better run blocker ...so I don't get that. Vern is also an inch taller, if that means much.

I'm thinking along similar lines, no pun intended...

LT: Shelton vs. Pearson (IF Mike is healthy and can stay that way)
LG: James
C: Hadnot vs. McKinney vs. Smith
RG: DMac or Carey vs. Hadnot (if McKinney or Smith surprises)
RT: DMac vs. Carey (loser competes at RG) vs. Pearson (see above)

If Pearson is healthy, they could really put together something good.
Click to expand...

To tell the truth? I either see this O-line (From LT to RT)

L.J. Shelton
Jeno James
Seth McKinney
Rex Hadnot
Vernon Carey

Or....:

L.J. Shelton
Jeno James
Rex Hadnot
One of our centers, except for Seth McKinney
Vernon Carey
 
Silverphin said:
To tell the truth? I either see this O-line (From LT to RT)

L.J. Shelton
Jeno James
Seth McKinney
Rex Hadnot
Vernon Carey

Or....:

L.J. Shelton
Jeno James
Rex Hadnot
One of our centers, except for Seth McKinney
Vernon Carey
Click to expand...

I think the first option is probably what we would go with if the season started today. However, I think that this could be the other option:

Shelton
James
Hadnot
Carey
McIntosh/Pearson/Alabi
 
Some comments:

OT - Shelton / Carey - Locks.

There is no way that Alabi is a "lock." This is a classic case of media-hype - hoping for that "gem" in the rough who will finally be another Richmond Webb. That's not to say Alabi may not develop to become a very good OT. But, too often fans read an article talking about a player with all the ingredients to become a solid starter - and then he disappears.

Alabi has a very good chance to make the team. But, unless he continues to improve (and no one on this board really knows how good he has been, since no one has really seen him play to any ability), he can easily be cut.

McIntosh has a good shot b/c he has some experience and that will help if they have an injury during TC.

At center - it's one of the more "open" positions on the line - but McKinney clearly has the edge and he played better in the 2nd half last year. Perhaps coaching and experience are paying off for him. Part of the "equation" here will depend on whether someone plays well enough at OG to convince the coaches to move Hadnot to center.

If that doesn't happen, I think the starters will be:

LT - Shelton
LG - James
C - McKinney
RG - Hadnot
RT - Carey

Toledo will have a very good shot at making the team and if he is completely healthy - will be a good addition. He could push enough to become a starter, or he could barely make the team. That's the way it is with rookies who are drafted on the 2nd day - there's just no two ways about it.
 
I see 3 possibilities:

LT Shelton
LG James
C Mcinney
RG Hadnot
RT Carey

or

LT Shelton
LG James
C Hadnot
RG Carey
RT Pearson/McIntosh/Alabi

or (my wish)

LT Shelton
LG James
C Hadnot
RG Toledo
RT Carey
 
Don't think we'll carry 11 OL, at most 10 OL with 3 QB, 5 RB/FB, 3 TE, 5 WR, 9 DL, 6 LB, 9 DB, 1 K, 1 P, 1 LS

My first 9 OL:

LT Shelton, RT Carey, backup OT McIntosh
LG James, RG Hadnot, backup OG Berger
C McKinney, (backup C Hadnot)
2 draft picks: OT Alabi, G/T Toledo

Battle for #10 OL spot: OG Brooks, C Smith, C Furio
Or maybe keep only 9 OL and keep an extra WR, RB, DB, or LB.
 
Da 'Fins said:
Some comments:

OT - Shelton / Carey - Locks.

There is no way that Alabi is a "lock." This is a classic case of media-hype - hoping for that "gem" in the rough who will finally be another Richmond Webb. That's not to say Alabi may not develop to become a very good OT. But, too often fans read an article talking about a player with all the ingredients to become a solid starter - and then he disappears.

Alabi has a very good chance to make the team. But, unless he continues to improve (and no one on this board really knows how good he has been, since no one has really seen him play to any ability), he can easily be cut.

McIntosh has a good shot b/c he has some experience and that will help if they have an injury during TC.

At center - it's one of the more "open" positions on the line - but McKinney clearly has the edge and he played better in the 2nd half last year. Perhaps coaching and experience are paying off for him. Part of the "equation" here will depend on whether someone plays well enough at OG to convince the coaches to move Hadnot to center.

If that doesn't happen, I think the starters will be:

LT - Shelton
LG - James
C - McKinney
RG - Hadnot
RT - Carey

Toledo will have a very good shot at making the team and if he is completely healthy - will be a good addition. He could push enough to become a starter, or he could barely make the team. That's the way it is with rookies who are drafted on the 2nd day - there's just no two ways about it.
Click to expand...

That's the thing: I'm assuming he is improving at the same rate he was last year. Last year, there had been a few articles here and there saying that Alabi is improving at a commedable pace. If that is still the case, then there is no way he doesn't make the team.
 
I don't see Saban cutting a 5th round pick in his 2nd year (Alabi), tho' it's not impossible. They just spent a 4th on Toledo, so he makes the roster as well.

Looks like there's some agreement on the position battles overall, tho'.

Don't count out Mike Pearson vs. Shelton at Left Tackle IF (big "if") he gets back to 100% and can maintain. He's the "X" factor that could create a positive domino effect down the line. We'll see.
 
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