Sports Buzz: Offensive Tackles

[Pat-London]

The guard play was perhaps worse than the tackles last year. It is just as much of a need.

Absolutely agree and I would go further [as I've mentioned before], that this is more of a priority than OT's. The biggest gap with the offense from last year was a running game. If you can't control the middle, you can't run anywhere. With ZBS - it starts with the Centre and works out ... in my humble opinion.

Control the ground game then you can take advantage of an athletic quarterback... hmmm... that sounds familiar.

It also has an impact on pass protection and in particular for the backs and centre. I saw too many times where the back(s) had their decision making influenced and therefore slowed, by the guards being beaten early. This re routed the backs in their scheme and as a result put them a negative position. Same goes, albeit a lesser extent for the Centre.

The combination play between G's and the C in ZBS has a greater sense of communication requirements than G's and T's [again in my opinion]. So my first preference would be to target some experienced and heavy in the butt [can't believe I just said that] Guards... keep in mind, that we are not only doing the personnel selection for our own scheme needs, but... very importantly, we need to be able to match up well with the strengths of our regular opponents, i.e our division Foes, and Jets/Bills particularly have very strong DL's and in particular the interior players are very very good.

 

[D0lphan72]

Collins-Beadles-Pouncey-Jackson-Hurst

 

[Travis34]

I'd love to nab Monroe or Collins and still be able to draft Martin, play him anywhere we need. That easy

 

[So Be]

Absolutely agree and I would go further [as I've mentioned before], that this is more of a priority than OT's. The biggest gap with the offense from last year was a running game. If you can't control the middle, you can't run anywhere. With ZBS - it starts with the Centre and works out ... in my humble opinion.

Control the ground game then you can take advantage of an athletic quarterback... hmmm... that sounds familiar.

It also has an impact on pass protection and in particular for the backs and centre. I saw too many times where the back(s) had their decision making influenced and therefore slowed, by the guards being beaten early. This re routed the backs in their scheme and as a result put them a negative position. Same goes, albeit a lesser extent for the Centre.

The combination play between G's and the C in ZBS has a greater sense of communication requirements than G's and T's [again in my opinion]. So my first preference would be to target some experienced and heavy in the butt [can't believe I just said that] Guards... keep in mind, that we are not only doing the personnel selection for our own scheme needs, but... very importantly, we need to be able to match up well with the strengths of our regular opponents, i.e our division Foes, and Jets/Bills particularly have very strong DL's and in particular the interior players are very very good.

Good post, and agreed. Pouncey had an off year vs the run, Jerry has always been a liability on the run, Cog is a telephone booth blocker who does not fit, and Brenner was not strong enough.

IF we can run some this year, it makes play action legit, and RT is VG at it, it gives the defenders pass rush second thoughts on pinning their ears back, and makes life much easier for Tannehill.

Your thoughts on our RB's, after the OL can block some, and who you like to be added? I have Blount and a rookie as additions.

 

[Pat-London]

Your thoughts on our RB's, after the OL can block some, and who you like to be added? I have Blount and a rookie as additions.

Thanks.

Re RB's. I've had a serious man crush on Tre Mason since the '12 college season. Great vision, footwork in the hole is decisive and powerful, and very importantly... quick, he has the power to break tackles/drag tacklers, in large part due to great forward body lean and powerful leg drive and one thing that standout out for me is his ability to pick and drive his legs when in the tackle. I'd be more than excited if we went 2nd round here with Mason. Some may view as a reach and look to get him in the 3rd. But I see this kid as the potential to be a rookie stud - again, of the OL has been significantly upgraded.

As for Blount - interesting, don't think he'll get out of NE - they've lost a lot of offensive talent lately and he showed down the stretch he got them over the hump in some games - I wouldn't be opposed to him being considered but he'd want No1 back money.

Not sure if he's a free agent but Jon Dwyer out of Pitt is another kid I'm high on and with his experience/success in the wish/wing bone at FB at Ga Tech translates well to good quick feet and vision. Plus I think he's the power back we hoped Daniel Thomas was going to be - and strike me down for the next comment, but I still think Thomas has some value - behind a better OL.

 

[So Be]

We NEED 2 OT's, 2 OG's, and 2 DT's. How this all shakes out in FA, to start, is anyone's guess. I have to bring back going DT at #19 because pickings are slim, and we can get a top quality one in the first but, not likely in the second.

The OL is much deeper in this year's draft, and I wait until the second round for one.

 

[So Be]

Thanks.

Re RB's. I've had a serious man crush on Tre Mason since the '12 college season. Great vision, footwork in the hole is decisive and powerful, and very importantly... quick, he has the power to break tackles/drag tacklers, in large part due to great forward body lean and powerful leg drive and one thing that standout out for me is his ability to pick and drive his legs when in the tackle. I'd be more than excited if we went 2nd round here with Mason. Some may view as a reach and look to get him in the 3rd. But I see this kid as the potential to be a rookie stud - again, of the OL has been significantly upgraded.

As for Blount - interesting, don't think he'll get out of NE - they've lost a lot of offensive talent lately and he showed down the stretch he got them over the hump in some games - I wouldn't be opposed to him being considered but he'd want No1 back money.

Not sure if he's a free agent but Jon Dwyer out of Pitt is another kid I'm high on and with his experience/success in the wish/wing bone at FB at Ga Tech translates well to good quick feet and vision. Plus I think he's the power back we hoped Daniel Thomas was going to be - and strike me down for the next comment, but I still think Thomas has some value - behind a better OL.

You and I are the President, Vice President, and the only members of the DT Fan Club. lol

I may want Blount as much to hurt the Pats as to help us but, if he is reasonable, would be a good addition, and has a connection with Hickey from TB. I liked the fact that he can block, in giving up no pressures at all in 40 pass block attempts. Being a receiver is a different story.

 

[mega-fin-love]

We NEED 2 OT's, 2 OG's, and 2 DT's. How this all shakes out in FA, to start, is anyone's guess. I have to bring back going DT at #19 because pickings are slim, and we can get a top quality one in the first but, not likely in the second.

The OL is much deeper in this year's draft, and I wait until the second round for one.

Must respectfully disagree my friend. The d-line is no where near the catastrophe that our o-line is. When you basically need to fill an entire o-line in one year... waiting till the second round is not an option imo. Assuming we sign one of our DT's, I don't see the d-line being a big need.

 

[So Be]

Must respectfully disagree my friend. The d-line is no where near the catastrophe that our o-line is. When you basically need to fill an entire o-line in one year... waiting till the second round is not an option imo. Assuming we sign one of our DT's, I don't see the d-line being a big need.

And if Hickey chooses not to re-sign one of our DT's, we are left with Odrick, who is a FA after this year, and nothing. I do not see the difference in need.

 

[123phins]

These are the two options i like most:

Albert-Martin-Pouncey-Asamoah-Moses/Hurst
or
Albert-Yankey/Jackson-Pouncey-Asamoah-Martin

What i have read on here many fans like Collins for LT but i find it hard to believe after such a disastrous year on the OL they go with a guy who has only started half a season. I prefer the injury risk over the experience risk

 

[hoops]

if miami signs one of our free agent dts we only need one dt...if we sign none we need 2...pretty simple...ideally you get a 2 deep rotation of quality interchangeable pieces but miami has bigger fish to fry this offseason...is dt really a need...just depends on what happens at the position in free agency and with our own

i foresee only one returning so yeah to me it's a need...a need to have someone able to step in in case of injury and give you snaps...miami will probably roll with wake odrick vernon and jordan on passing downs anyways as the front 4 in 2014 to get more bang for their jordan buck and let vernon work on slower footed and laterally interior olinemen

so i'm sure they feel like dt while a need is down the list a bit...they have their 2 deep rotation at de already set...no need there

 

[123phins]

For DT i have mixed Feelings. I think if they sign either Starks or Solia they go with who ever that is, Odrick, Francis and a Later pick(6th or 7th). If they dont get either i see them drafting a guy in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Ordick-Starks/Solia-Francis would be a pretty good DL and adding a rookie anywhere in the draft would help the depth and make a strong rotation. I would bet they get 1 of their own resigned but if they dont then there is where you would get depth issues.

 

[mega-fin-love]

And if Hickey chooses not to re-sign one of our DT's, we are left with Odrick, who is a FA after this year, and nothing. I do not see the difference in need.

There are 5 starting positions on the o-line. We need to fill either 4 or all 5 of those positions. The d-line only has 4 starting positions and we might not need to fill any of them. RECAP: o-line needs 4 or 5 new starters, d-line needs 0 or 1 new starters.........How the hell is that the same?

 

[hoops]

i'd bet they want to develop francis but they are not depending on him...if they liked him that much they would have never cut him at final cuts and exposed him last year...so him being here doesn't make me think he's a part of the plan yet...unless he shows some serious development in offseason camps etc

 

[123phins]

i'd bet they want to develop francis but they are not depending on him...if they liked him that much they would have never cut him at final cuts and exposed him last year...so him being here doesn't make me think he's a part of the plan yet...unless he shows some serious development in offseason camps etc

I dont think they will rely on him, at best he is 3rd man in the rotation. He was cut for the practice squad so they could develop him and seeing as he was picked right back up once they could they do see a spot for him. They had great depth last year to start so they had to cut him. They had Ordick, Starks, Solia, and Vaugh Martin to start last year so him being cut was just because they had alot of talent already at DT