Rivers Talk

[Xenos]

Fluker was just re-signed by Seattle. PFF said he had a career year in Seattle. Allowing 9 pressures in 10 games. In fact PFF floated the idea of us bringing him back this offseason. I guess my point is that even Fluker has become better after leaving the Bolts. I have often questioned our ability to develop OL. Its a concern for me.


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Fluker went to a scheme that fit him. Meyers and Lynn seemed to want guys that can pull and move to the next level well, which I don't think is Fluker's best trait.

Additionally, I don't know if it's just coaching. We had three different OL coach since Fluker in 2013: Joe D, Davidson, and now Meyers. Sometimes players just need a change of scenery. Kind of like what happened with Josh Lambo.

I like to think that consistency at coaching will help. This is only Meyer's third year after all.

[Xenos]

I see other teams go from bad offensive lines to good offensive lines in one year. It just never happens with the Bolts. It seems like we are doomed to mediocrity there.

What are you talking about? We've had it happened before. Just no consistency from year to year is the problem. 2003 to 2004, 2005 to 2006, 2012 to 2013. I would argue that 2016 to 2017 and 2018 were both good (just not near the levels of the other examples).

[Xenos]

Why did they give up on Pulley as a backup? They preferred a career practice squad guy in Toner. It never made sense - Pulley being young, unless there were personal issues.

Technically, Pulley got beat out by both Pouncey and Quesenberry (5th round pick). Both Toner and Pulley were young UDFA.

[Steve]

I wouldn't necessarily knock Pulley for not beating out Pouncey. Pouncey beat him out, but he is a former (and current) pro bowl caliber C. Quesenberry and Pulley weren't going to beat Pouncey out last year.

So the battle was between them. I didn't think Pulley played all that well in TC, although he got a lot of snaps at OG. He played there as a rookie, taking some snaps from Franklin, but clearly, I don't think he was that comfortable there. I got the impression that some staff wanted to keep him, but then not playing well in TC, after a poor season before and you better not get too comfortable.

As far as coaching goes, it takes time for coaches to get settled in too. They are learning just like players do. I heard Mike Munchak (former HOF OL for Oilers, and former OL coach for Tenn (HC there too), Pitt and now Oak) tell a story that he felt like he was pretty set to coach OL after playing for a bunch of years. Then was getting ready for TC, and he realized he knew nothing about how to coach OL. He could tell an individual about a specific thing, how to do this technique, that technique, how to study film, .. but as far as putting it together and running the meeting room, and how to specifically talk to guys, know when to yell..... all the different things a coach needs to do, he had no clue how to put the package together. It takes time.

Now, I get that. However, it will be his 3rd year. If we have our players getting beat because they are outmatched, and simply getting whipped because we haven't given him good enough players, then he should get a pass. But that isn't what has been happening. The C and LG have been struggling to pick up stunts and blitzes. He needs to get that fixed. If Feeney and Pouncey can't get it done, move on to someone else. If it is not being able to recognize where they are coming from, work more in the film room, or on the communication on passing them off. It is the OL job to figure it out, correct it and move on to the next thing. If he can't do that, then we need someone who can.

[dmac_bolt]

Fluker went to a scheme that fit him. Meyers and Lynn seemed to want guys that can pull and move to the next level well, which I don't think is Fluker's best trait.

Additionally, I don't know if it's just coaching. We had three different OL coach since Fluker in 2013: Joe D, Davidson, and now Meyers. Sometimes players just need a change of scenery. Kind of like what happened with Josh Lambo.

I like to think that consistency at coaching will help. This is only Meyer's third year after all.

except Lambo was already kicking just fine on the day we cut him. a tragically bad decision that cost the team the playoffs and possibly more.

[Xenos]

except Lambo was already kicking just fine on the day we cut him. a tragically bad decision that cost the team the playoffs and possibly more.

Was he kicking just fine in preseason that year? All I know based on the last two regular seasons was that he was a subpar kicker with us.
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[Xenos]

I wouldn't necessarily knock Pulley for not beating out Pouncey. Pouncey beat him out, but he is a former (and current) pro bowl caliber C. Quesenberry and Pulley weren't going to beat Pouncey out last year.

So the battle was between them. I didn't think Pulley played all that well in TC, although he got a lot of snaps at OG. He played there as a rookie, taking some snaps from Franklin, but clearly, I don't think he was that comfortable there. I got the impression that some staff wanted to keep him, but then not playing well in TC, after a poor season before and you better not get too comfortable.

As far as coaching goes, it takes time for coaches to get settled in too. They are learning just like players do. I heard Mike Munchak (former HOF OL for Oilers, and former OL coach for Tenn (HC there too), Pitt and now Oak) tell a story that he felt like he was pretty set to coach OL after playing for a bunch of years. Then was getting ready for TC, and he realized he knew nothing about how to coach OL. He could tell an individual about a specific thing, how to do this technique, that technique, how to study film, .. but as far as putting it together and running the meeting room, and how to specifically talk to guys, know when to yell..... all the different things a coach needs to do, he had no clue how to put the package together. It takes time.

Now, I get that. However, it will be his 3rd year. If we have our players getting beat because they are outmatched, and simply getting whipped because we haven't given him good enough players, then he should get a pass. But that isn't what has been happening. The C and LG have been struggling to pick up stunts and blitzes. He needs to get that fixed. If Feeney and Pouncey can't get it done, move on to someone else. If it is not being able to recognize where they are coming from, work more in the film room, or on the communication on passing them off. It is the OL job to figure it out, correct it and move on to the next thing. If he can't do that, then we need someone who can.

The weird thing is that I don't remember Feeney having the same problems in 2017. And the problem didn't seem to get bad until the last four games of the season. So my suspicions about the struggles seem to be related to Pouncey more than Feeney. It could be that he did wear down like Lynn said. Not sure if this was an issue with him in Miami or not though.

As for Mike Munchak, looks like he figured it out and is now the 2nd best OL coach after Scar. Let's hope for our sake that he doesn't work his magic with the Broncos.

[Steve]

The weird thing is that I don't remember Feeney having the same problems in 2017. And the problem didn't seem to get bad until the last four games of the season. So my suspicions about the struggles seem to be related to Pouncey more than Feeney. It could be that he did wear down like Lynn said. Not sure if this was an issue with him in Miami or not though.

As for Mike Munchak, looks like he figured it out and is now the 2nd best OL coach after Scar. Let's hope for our sake that he doesn't work his magic with the Broncos.

That's the thing about the NFL, teams find players weaknesses and try to exploit them. Then players need to improve their game and counter it. It usually takes about 4 games for teams to pick up on issues a player has. Sometimes longer. Once they do, the film is available for everyone to see. But just like minor league players in baseball, if you can't adjust, it runs you out of the game pretty quick. Feeney is going through the same sort of thing that countless NFL linemen face. Many just get more time before they are thrown in the lineup to develop their fundamentals.

As for Meyers, I think this is the time he needs to either step up and shine, or start looking for a new line of work. Every coach learns how to deal with things. Sometimes it is in college, sometimes in the pro's. Everyone goes through the learning curve. Meyer has done it a couple of times now, so now is the time to take what he has learned and put it all together, just like Feeney.

[Xenos]

That's the thing about the NFL, teams find players weaknesses and try to exploit them. Then players need to improve their game and counter it. It usually takes about 4 games for teams to pick up on issues a player has. Sometimes longer. Once they do, the film is available for everyone to see. But just like minor league players in baseball, if you can't adjust, it runs you out of the game pretty quick. Feeney is going through the same sort of thing that countless NFL linemen face. Many just get more time before they are thrown in the lineup to develop their fundamentals.

As for Meyers, I think this is the time he needs to either step up and shine, or start looking for a new line of work. Every coach learns how to deal with things. Sometimes it is in college, sometimes in the pro's. Everyone goes through the learning curve. Meyer has done it a couple of times now, so now is the time to take what he has learned and put it all together, just like Feeney.

I agree. Three years is a good amount of time. Long enough to build consistency and see what he truly has.

[Steve]

I agree. Three years is a good amount of time. Long enough to build consistency and see what he truly has.

Meyers has done some good things with our OL. I am not necessarily trying to totally knock the guy. Last year it didn't look like we were going to be all that great on the OL, and for a while it looked like he had worked some magic, and done some first-rate turd polishing. Then the wheels came off the cart later on, and they were more of the players some people thought prior to the season.

We have had some good and bad out of the younger players. That is where any OL coaches have to earn their money (any position coaches really). Finding and developing young OL. If our young OL can make significant improvement, then we have found our OL coach. If not then it is time to start looking around to see if there are some better options.

[Formula 21]

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed franchise quarterback Carson Wentz to a four-year extension through the 2024 season, the team announced Thursday.

The extension is for $128 million and includes guarantees of over $107 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and it can escalate to a max of $144 million. Wentz's total deal is now six years for $154 million and can grow to a max of $170 million.

[Boltjolt]

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed franchise quarterback Carson Wentz to a four-year extension through the 2024 season, the team announced Thursday.

The extension is for $128 million and includes guarantees of over $107 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and it can escalate to a max of $144 million. Wentz's total deal is now six years for $154 million and can grow to a max of $170 million.

That's a lot of dough for a 12 games a season QB.