Quote:
Originally Posted by offiss
Bugel has proven he knows what to do with talent, and how does anyone know if there is a problem right now with our starters? But we defiently have a problem with thier backups, and a lot of that stems from the fact that somehow we believe that you can draft quality linemen in rd's 5 through 7, we have thrown away to many early round draft picks where that depth could have been built, so we are left with players who have size but no ability to perform at the NFL level. Bugel just coaches them he doesn't draft them, it's not his fault.
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First off, you are right...it's not Bugels fault we don't have depth at the O-line, it's the NFLPA's fault for instituting free agency. You can't do what Gibbs and Buges did in the 80's anymore, which is stock starter quality backup talent on your team by throwing money around and putting a guy on the practice squad who would be a starter elsewhere. Today, quality players will get paid like quality players and the salary cap means you have one of two choices...1) Stock really good starters and mediocre back-ups ala the Redskins, or 2) Stock better than average but not great starters, and better than average back-ups, ala the Patriots and Eagles. Obviously the second option worked for the Pats, (and only the pats), but it's not the strategy employed here, nor most teams in the league. Now, if I were given the choice of a single position I would splurge on, it would't be WR's as the skins have done, I would not have picked up ARE, and instead picked up two quality G/Ts instead. Of course I don't own the team, nor do I have three rings to my credit, so take that for what it's worth.
Second point is that when guys refer to the "Hogs" you have to remember that these guys were considered huge for their day, but would probably be the lightest line in the league by today's standards. Grimm and Butz were barely cracking 300 lbs, and no where near the 360 that Dockery played at last year. Of course Defensive Tackles back then were only 320, not 400lbs. The Refrigerator Perry was only in the low 330's and was considered a giant. Just to keep the perspective in line.