State of the offensive line | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

State of the offensive line

F

Finfan4life1325

Practice Squad
Joined
Jul 29, 2011
Messages
139
Reaction score
0
I've seen a ton of negative post regarding the line, and how RT will be running for his life again this year. I don't see it. We added a pro bowl LT in Branden Albert, a great pulling guard in Shelly Smith, we still have our pro bowl center in Mike Pouncey, a steal in the third round in Billy Turner, and probably the best natural right tackle in the draft in Juwan James. Not only did we lack talent on our o line last year, but we were deficient in scheme fit. Our guards couldn't pull, and our tackles couldn't block. I for one am excited to see this line become a strength which will only open up things for Wallace, Hartline, Landry, etc. You have to love the additions of Moreno, Landry, and the revamped O line. RT will go 4000 yards, 30 plus TDs, 15 picks.... write that down. It's a good time to be a fins fan, and I am for one elated. Fins up!
 
I think this line has potential. It is certainly better at one spot, LT. Is Smith better than Incognito? I don't know. But now you add two rookies to the mix and even if they are very talented and physical there's going to be some ups and downs. I envision this season's O line as one that flashes greatness, with a lot of uneven play as people learn the NFL and each other. IMHO it's good enough for Miami to be a playoff team.
 
Mudder1310 said:
I think this line has potential. It is certainly better at one spot, LT. Is Smith better than Incognito? I don't know. But now you add two rookies to the mix and even if they are very talented and physical there's going to be some ups and downs. I envision this season's O line as one that flashes greatness, with a lot of uneven play as people learn the NFL and each other. IMHO it's good enough for Miami to be a playoff team.
Click to expand...

AT WHAT?? Not attacking teammates, maybe, but if you are speaking of playing OG that comment is laughable. Shelly Smith graded out worse at pass blocking than any guard on our team from last year, even worse than Dallas Thomas. Smith was not brought in to start unless Hickey is the beneficiary of a Ryan Tannehill life insurance policy.

OP starts off talking about how our OL is going to be better at protecting the QB then tries to prove it by telling how good our new OGs can pull?? They best learn to pass block or all they are going to be pulling is the stretcher with their QB on it.

Our LT got a lot better, just by default, our RT last year started out bad and turned into a solid player by the end of the year, I see James following that exact path, I can call that a wash. The center is still the same guy, but both guard positions are at best huge question marks. John Jerry would be a significant upgrade to what we have now and he wasn't much.

If we roll with what we have now and don't bring in someone off the street, we will still be in the top 5 in the league in sacks. If Shelly finds his way into the starting lineup we will surpass last seasons sack total.
 
i don't see how anyone could say our OT's aren't a step up from last season. guard is a question mark, but i prefer unproven talent to proven mediocrity.
 
Well, right now it's a lot better than having a bunch of lunch-tray throwing snakes or knuckleheaded bullies on our line.
 
KTOWNFINFAN said:
AT WHAT?? Not attacking teammates, maybe, but if you are speaking of playing OG that comment is laughable. Shelly Smith graded out worse at pass blocking than any guard on our team from last year, even worse than Dallas Thomas. Smith was not brought in to start unless Hickey is the beneficiary of a Ryan Tannehill life insurance policy.

OP starts off talking about how our OL is going to be better at protecting the QB then tries to prove it by telling how good our new OGs can pull?? They best learn to pass block or all they are going to be pulling is the stretcher with their QB on it.

Our LT got a lot better, just by default, our RT last year started out bad and turned into a solid player by the end of the year, I see James following that exact path, I can call that a wash. The center is still the same guy, but both guard positions are at best huge question marks. John Jerry would be a significant upgrade to what we have now and he wasn't much.

If we roll with what we have now and don't bring in someone off the street, we will still be in the top 5 in the league in sacks. If Shelly finds his way into the starting lineup we will surpass last seasons sack total.
Click to expand...

Wow..
 
There are several free agent guards that are available that could be brought in. Even if is just as an insurance policy I would bring one of them in.
 
No I don't think RT will be running for his life but I do think our running backs will: behind the LOS. I think we're going to have more problems with run blocking than pass blocking. I find it highly unlikely that we'll approach last year's sack total but I know I won't have any Fins' backs on my fantasy football draft board as a #1, #2, or #3 RB. Maybe I'll draft Miller as a RB 4.
 
I don't agree with your post, but this is a good line:

"Smith was not brought in to start unless Hickey is the beneficiary of a Ryan Tannehill life insurance policy."
 
Finfan4life1325 said:
I've seen a ton of negative post regarding the line, and how RT will be running for his life again this year. I don't see it. We added a pro bowl LT in Branden Albert, a great pulling guard in Shelly Smith, we still have our pro bowl center in Mike Pouncey, a steal in the third round in Billy Turner, and probably the best natural right tackle in the draft in Juwan James. Not only did we lack talent on our o line last year, but we were deficient in scheme fit. Our guards couldn't pull, and our tackles couldn't block. I for one am excited to see this line become a strength which will only open up things for Wallace, Hartline, Landry, etc. You have to love the additions of Moreno, Landry, and the revamped O line. RT will go 4000 yards, 30 plus TDs, 15 picks.... write that down. It's a good time to be a fins fan, and I am for one elated. Fins up!
Click to expand...

You have no idea how anyone on the OL will play, other than Pouncey and Albert (IF he stays healthy), no one does. How does reality become negativity?
 
Really? Shelly smith was playing in a non ZBS scheme. He will start. You don't think Pouncey and James/Albert will help cover on his pass pro? FYI.... You can't revamp a line in a year? See the Bears.... Wasn't their starting RT a Fifth round pick? Lol..... Oh and they had two rookies on the right side!
 
Finfan4life1325 said:
Really? Shelly smith was playing in a non ZBS scheme. He will start. You don't think Pouncey and James/Albert will help cover on his pass pro? FYI.... You can't revamp a line in a year? See the Bears.... Wasn't their starting RT a Fifth round pick? Lol..... Oh and they had two rookies on the right side!
Click to expand...

Hard to believe anyone is still bringing up Da Bears starting two rookies as a good thing. As mentioned, Mills gave up 0nly 3 sack but, 13 hits, and 62 hurries, while being rated #76 of 76 OT's in the NFL, a la Columbo. He gave up just a bit less than hal the hurries of out entire team. Long was the #20 pick, had more bad than good games, and finished the year a little below average on the pass and run.

Bears ranked #29 in pass protect. We were #16.

Da Bears won 8 games, missing the playoffs, as did we. In both cases, the 8 wins were in spite of the OL's, NOT because of them.
 
You want to know the state of the offensive line? It's exactly the same as it was lat year until the new guys are on the field and prove otherwise. Do I think it has improved on paper? Yes. I will not buy into until I actually see them preform.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom