Offensive Line Discussion

[wu-dai clan]

Didn’t TT pay Butler after one good Int in PO.

TT is getting smarter, finally.

Oh no. Donald Butler...the worst case.

There was this onside kick. Butler was out there on the "hands" team. Rather than recover the kick, Donald kicked the ball back towards the kicking team, like he was playing soccer. I swear it was intentional. Oh no.

[like54ninjas]

By Ken Belson

• Jan. 26, 2020, 12:00 p.m. ET

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The series of events that made Russell Okung, an offensive tackle with the Los Angeles Chargers, realize he needed to force change in the N.F.L. began in July, when he became short of breath during an off-season practice.

He went to the sideline but still struggled to breathe. He drove home. His wife insisted he see a doctor.

The next morning at the hospital, a test revealed blood clots in his lungs and left leg. Consulting with doctors, Okung learned that people like him — 300-pound linemen who absorb a lot of hits — often get these clots, and that he’d be lucky to play again.

When Okung told the Chargers about his condition, the team put him on the non-football injury list, which could have allowed the team to slash his multimillion-dollar salary.

“I felt like I was being punished,” he said. “In what other profession do you go to your employer with whom you signed a contract, and promised to honor that contract, and have some lethal, life-threatening ailment, and the response is to cut your pay?”

Okung recovered from the scare and returned to the field in November. After lengthy talks with the Chargers, he received his full salary. But the episode drove home to Okung, a 10-year veteran, how vulnerable N.F.L. players are.

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Now, as Super Bowl week begins in South Florida, the prospect of a turbulent year ahead looms, with a potential labor impasse once again threatening the world’s most prosperous sports league. Okung is plotting to make negotiations as confrontational as possible.

Already a member of the executive committee of the N.F.L. Players Association, Okung plans to run for union president to replace Eric Winston, who must step down in March because he is no longer an active roster. More broadly though, Okung’s life-changing diagnosis has spurred him to want to create a far more aggressive union, to disrupt the status quo and reverse what he sees as years of concessions, even if this leads to a lockout or a strike when the collective bargaining agreement expires after next season.

He wants to fight for a greater share of the league’s revenue, and redefine what owners share with the players. He is seeking better health care and bigger pensions for retired players. Okung said the union needs more power to audit the league’s finances and a stronger arbitration system. He wants to overhaul the wage scale and even review the current union structure.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/sports/nfl-okung.html

[jamrock]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/sports/nfl-okung.html

So he plans on being active next season

[powderblueboy]

Top 10? Jeremiah has Becton as the top O-lineman in the WHOLE DRAFT! Look:

image.png

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-qbs-in-top-15

i think Becton is a gamble: i've noticed his feet planted a few times, needing to go sideways, as defenders go around him.

i'd much prefer thomas...and would hope becton goes first

[wu-dai clan]

So he plans on being active next season

Exactly.
As projected by the woodeye Scouting Bureau.
Trenchers take note.
Draftniks adjust mocks accordingly.
:smile:

[ghost]

Player at the second most important position on a football team, offensive tackle, has blood clots and is planning on returning. The front office's response should be to draft this man's replacement, when Okung is PUP in August 2020.

That CANNOT happen again. That is UNACCEPTABLE.

OT Andrew Thomas/Georgia

[like54ninjas]

Exactly.
As projected by the woodeye Scouting Bureau.
Trenchers take note.
Draftniks adjust mocks accordingly.
:smile:

Key word.....”plans”. Russell can plan on but the Chargers best not.
My latest “Off season GM plan/prognostications/dream” coming later today.

[like54ninjas]

Player at the second most important position on a football team, offensive tackle, has blood clots and is planning on returning. The front office's response should be to draft this man's replacement, when Okung is PUP in August 2020.

That CANNOT happen again. That is UNACCEPTABLE.

OT Andrew Jones/Georgia

A. Thomas*

[wu-dai clan]

As Jonah Tuls of The Draft Network reported earlier today,
upon close examination of Senior Bowl practices,
three Centers shined brightly.

Lloyd Cushenberry III. LSU.
Keith Ismael. SDSU.
Matt Hennessey. TEMPLE.

Okung's return, medical issues managed by modern medicine, means that our area of concern is Center, and more specifically, Mike Pouncey's neck. Pouncey's leadership would be invaluable.

The fix for the Oline will be a midround value pick at C. It will be one of the above or Cesar Ruiz. MICHIGAN.

[Topcat]

Player at the second most important position on a football team, offensive tackle, has blood clots and is planning on returning. The front office's response should be to draft this man's replacement, when Okung is PUP in August 2020.

That CANNOT happen again. That is UNACCEPTABLE.

OT Andrew Jones/Georgia

Agree...Okung's situation is just too iffy...OT at #6...

[Boltnut]

The next morning at the hospital, a test revealed blood clots in his lungs and left leg. Consulting with doctors, Okung learned that people like him — 300-pound linemen who absorb a lot of hits — often get these clots, and that he’d be lucky to play again.

When Okung told the Chargers about his condition, the team put him on the non-football injury list, which could have allowed the team to slash his multimillion-dollar salary.

So let's get this straight... 1) Okung was lucky to play again. 2) Chargers, in typical fashion, responded by trying to save themselves money 3) Okung plans on being NFL Players President. 4) NLF Players President has to be on a roster. 5) Okung can be cut and save the Chargers #13.5 million against the cap. 6) The Chargers will be in a position to draft this disgruntled, medically-compromised, $16 million dollar part-time/short-termed player with the #6 pick...?

Am I missing anything...?

[wu-dai clan]

There exists a false sense of urgency.

Okung will retire for medical reasons,
besides the Chargers will cut him anyway.

This is about predicting what will happen.

The Chargers, IMHO, will retain Okung, bypass the tempting OTs at the top of this draft,
and address other needs @ #6.

Should a quality Olineman be available @ #37 and/or #71, the Chargers will consider picking them.

You really should sip on some chamomile.