Bolts (yawn) going with what they have?

[Steve]

Again, I don't disagree with Watt's best position being C, just that if you follow what McCoy has always said, you pretty much have to play the best 5 guys. I understand that the way that they can get around that is to target an OG, but I don't see a FA OG out there that can step in and really be an upgrade. You can bring in someone who has flaws, but what is the point to trade one porkchop for another? To me, Wisniewski is the best OL sitll out there

The one really interesting thing that could come to pass is if Cameron Erving is someone we like. The guy can play every OL position, giving us the versatility that coach D likes.

[QSmokey]

Well you seem to have plenty of time to jack around here but not enough time to deal with a reasoned and data-based argument.

You're a zero.

If you do say so yourself...Yuba.

[QSmokey]

Well, when you have people talking about which June cuts we are going to sign to make this team better I can't seem to get out of my head the fact that a few years ago teams were signing our cuts. I just find it amusing to see how fans change their perspective given their notions of the state of the team. I have always said that winning the SB, not just getting back to the playoffs, should be the goal and this team isn't moving towards the former and is really borderline on the latter. This year we are likely to be the same as we have been the last 4 years, hovering around the .500 mark. Not good enough to win the big prize in February and not bad enough to win the big prize in April.

You responded to yourself.

[SDFan]

Again, I don't disagree with Watt's best position being C, just that if you follow what McCoy has always said, you pretty much have to play the best 5 guys. I understand that the way that they can get around that is to target an OG, but I don't see a FA OG out there that can step in and really be an upgrade. You can bring in someone who has flaws, but what is the point to trade one porkchop for another? To me, Wisniewski is the best OL sitll out there

The one really interesting thing that could come to pass is if Cameron Erving is someone we like. The guy can play every OL position, giving us the versatility that coach D likes.

What I don't get; How is it Watt never played Center before learning last year if that was his best natural position all along? I think the flexibility thing is great to cover for injuries and such, but I'd prefer our "best 5" being guys we start guys in their natural positions and only shuffle around in a pinch. Wasn't Watt playing LG most his college career and Franklin on the Right side before being moved to LG out of necessity by Denver? I'm thinking we'd be better off pairing Fluker and Franklin on the Right side (benching/cutting Troutman in the process- instant upgrade there), moving Watt to LG and then only needing to find the best Center we can going into TC. Robinson looked pretty good at times and he's signed, so let him compete with whomever else they bring in at C. If Legusrky and Ohrn are healed and signable, they could push Robinson and any draft pick we may take.

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

If you do say so yourself...Yuba.

Well in the absence of any counter-arguments or -evidence, I do.

My dad always cautioned me about getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed man...

[QSmokey]

Well in the absence of any counter-arguments or -evidence, I do.

My dad always cautioned me about getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed man...

And I can see the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

[KNSD]

Considering how AJ left things, that's not an unreasonable place to be right now IMO. We still have a lot of developing talent we're waiting on, so like most teams in the league we're trying to catch lightning in a bottle with judicious FA signings added in each offseason. Here's hoping for a healthy season ahead!

We're going into the third season here. Time for this regime to step up and go far into the playoffs. IMO we're almost there - if we can stay healthy.

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

And I can see the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

click.

[oneinchpunch]

Ive been crazy busy here for awhile.

It's good to see see the new Yuba is alive and well. A poster turned into his own worst enemy.

[Steve]

What I don't get; How is it Watt never played Center before learning last year if that was his best natural position all along? I think the flexibility thing is great to cover for injuries and such, but I'd prefer our "best 5" being guys we start guys in their natural positions and only shuffle around in a pinch. Wasn't Watt playing LG most his college career and Franklin on the Right side before being moved to LG out of necessity by Denver? I'm thinking we'd be better off pairing Fluker and Franklin on the Right side (benching/cutting Troutman in the process- instant upgrade there), moving Watt to LG and then only needing to find the best Center we can going into TC. Robinson looked pretty good at times and he's signed, so let him compete with whomever else they bring in at C. If Legusrky and Ohrn are healed and signable, they could push Robinson and any draft pick we may take.

Again, I still say based mostly on his footwork, and his leverage, Watt's best spot is probably C. A lot of college players end up not playing in their natural spots, especially the interior OL. You can hide a sub-caliber player at C, so the better guys often get put at OG, while some other guy plays C with 2 better players at C. A team like ND can always find someone OK to fill in as the 5th OL. Watt on the other hand can do either, and was a top interior OL, so playing him at OG makes more sense, especially with their ability to put him next to Zach Martin and get one really good side. The big issue Watt has had is making the line calls, IMHO. He had a tough time identifying fronts and often put himself in position to make blocks he wasn't ready (or couldn't) make.

Before everyone gets too down on Porkchop, I think he has had some moments. HE doesn't get enough credit that he played OK at his 2nd year. I think he has struggled some because he is a more natural power blocker and his footwork is much better on the left side then right. And right now, he is still the 2nd best OG we have (behind Franklin).

I know Coach D loves the flexibility thing, but at some point, younger players do need to master the skill set, and footwork is about as important as any part of being an OL as there is. Since it completely reverses when you switch sides, it is not a trivial exercise to pick up the switch in sides. I do agree, that OL need to learn the footwork on both sides, but I think allowing some of the younger ones the chance to pick up a position 1st is probably going to accelerate their development.

If we are going to target a player in the draft, the only 1st round prospect I really like is Cameron Erving (FSU). I like that he has played at a very high level at LT and C, and that is a combination that you NEVER see. HE could easily be a player who could play all 5 OL spots, and be pretty decent at all of them. He may also be the only 1st round OL who I think can start right off the bat. Most of the OT have horrible technique problems, and slowish feet to boot. I know that getting a RT to move Fluker inside is a popular idea, but I don't see a lot of options. Most of them just are playing too far forward and can be bull rushed. They had enough power and can move around some, so they aren't bad long term, just they need some cleanup.

There is the usual sort of inside RG and C types kicking around, just not the kind of players you want in the 1st round. But historically, you can find guys who can start later in the draft, as long as they play inside.

[QSmokey]

Ive been crazy busy here for awhile.

It's good to see see the new Yuba is alive and well. A poster turned into his own worst enemy.

[richpjr]

Every time I read a thread like this, it's always amusing that random posters on a forum (and I include myself in this) know better than the coaching staff and front office about which players should be signed/drafted, which should be starting and where they should play. It's almost as if some think that the team deliberately handicaps itself with poor choices, rather thank doing what they best think puts the team in position to succeed. I get that they are human and make mistakes too, but if they think that Watt should be our starting center, well, why wouldn't they know best? There are trade offs - who is on the roster, who is available and what they will cost, and are other position needs more pressing. But it's amusing that we know more than the team does.