Although Hudson Houck has done a wonderful job with this line, I still think we need at least one more upgrade to become a dominant line. We need a big, mean nasty bulldozer to set the stage and help the line become a bunch of street thugs that runs over teams.
Max Jean-Gilles is one of the best I've seen in recent memory. A consistent mauler who eats defensive linemen for lunch. A man with an attitude. If we could pick him up, it may set off an interesting chain effect. If McKinney leaves via free agency (I think he will), we move Hadnot to center. Hadnot was an excellent center/guard in college and gives us a bulldozer in the middle. Something I feel we have needed since the great Dwight Stephenson played center. Ruddy and McKinney were/are simply too soft.
I think between McIntosh, Carey and maybe Alabi we will be alright at the tackle position. Carey seems to be suited for LT because he is a good pass blocker and fair run blocker. McIntosh is just the opposite. He seems better suited for RT. So maybe next year's line could look like this:
LT - Vernon Carey
LG - Jeno James
C - Rex Hadnot
RG - Max Jean-Gilles
RT - Damion McIntosh
This lineup makes sense to me. Carey is being paid LT dollars. McIntosh is a great run blocker, combined with Jean-Gilles, Ronnie would be good for at least 1500 yards next year. Hadnot would also give us a push up the middle we haven't had in years.
Maybe we trade down (for draft picks), pick up Jean-Gilles, and solidify the line. There will be a lot of good LB's and DB's we can pick up later in the draft. We get a WR and CB via free agency. As far as QB - you roll the dice and let Mueller figure that one out. They're hard to find.
Max Jean-Gilles is one of the best I've seen in recent memory. A consistent mauler who eats defensive linemen for lunch. A man with an attitude. If we could pick him up, it may set off an interesting chain effect. If McKinney leaves via free agency (I think he will), we move Hadnot to center. Hadnot was an excellent center/guard in college and gives us a bulldozer in the middle. Something I feel we have needed since the great Dwight Stephenson played center. Ruddy and McKinney were/are simply too soft.
I think between McIntosh, Carey and maybe Alabi we will be alright at the tackle position. Carey seems to be suited for LT because he is a good pass blocker and fair run blocker. McIntosh is just the opposite. He seems better suited for RT. So maybe next year's line could look like this:
LT - Vernon Carey
LG - Jeno James
C - Rex Hadnot
RG - Max Jean-Gilles
RT - Damion McIntosh
This lineup makes sense to me. Carey is being paid LT dollars. McIntosh is a great run blocker, combined with Jean-Gilles, Ronnie would be good for at least 1500 yards next year. Hadnot would also give us a push up the middle we haven't had in years.
Maybe we trade down (for draft picks), pick up Jean-Gilles, and solidify the line. There will be a lot of good LB's and DB's we can pick up later in the draft. We get a WR and CB via free agency. As far as QB - you roll the dice and let Mueller figure that one out. They're hard to find.
