Offensive Line and Depth

[Lotus]

You would think that Walker would be too expensive but it would be cool if we could nab him.

What the heck is going on in Buffalo? OC cut one week, starting LT cut the next, all on the season's eve.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Lotus

You would think that Walker would be too expensive but it would be cool if we could nab him.

What the heck is going on in Buffalo? OC cut one week, starting LT cut the next, all on the season's eve.

And people here are all up in arms about us not carrying a 3rd QB or letting an undrafted rookie DT let go.

[T.O.Killa]

I heard from Mark Sckelereath, that Walker gave the word journey man a bad name.

[JoeRedskin]

I started a similar thread in April of last year: http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-l...ts-review.html

As a recap, at that time, our line and depth was as follows:
Starters: Jansen, Thomas, Rabach, Kendall, Samuels
Backups: Heyer, Todd Wade, Jason Fabini, OL Justin Geisinger, G/T Chad Rhinehardt, T Devin Clark

There were some other names but they disappeared. Pre-2008, I said we would need to replace at least two starters in the next year or two. It appears it will be more like 4 - Heyer for Jansen, Rhinehardt for Thomas, Montgomery for Rabach, Dockery for Kendall, Samuels.

It seems to me, that none of the replacements or projected replacements actually constitutes a real upgrade over the guy they replaced. Rather, more of a stopgap or "we got nobody better". Further, other than Heyer and Rhinehart, we didn't havent developed anyone in years and last year's projected depth couldn't make it through preseason this year (<ahem> Devin Clark).

I am hopeful that the master plan has a short terrm plan for upgrades, but right now it appears we are doomed to a mediocre line for the next several years.

[Trample the Elderly]

If the line holds up, I'll credit Buges with making shine-olla out of . . . .

[T.O.Killa]

Heyer is an upgrade over Jansen.
Dockery is an upgrade over Kendall
Rienhart is a much better player that has shown he can start for Thomas
Thomas is much healthier, than he has been in a while.
Mike Williams still has a ways to go, but I think he will be a great back up for us.
Montgomery looks like a big improvement over Giesinger.
ED Williams looks like he would be a better option this year then Rienhart was last year.
Batiste looks like they just got very confused, I would rather have Fabini, or Brigdes.

All, in all, I think we are much improved.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by T.O.Killa

Heyer is an upgrade over Jansen.
Dockery is an upgrade over Kendall
Rienhart is a much better player that has shown he can start for Thomas
Thomas is much healthier, than he has been in a while.
Mike Williams still has a ways to go, but I think he will be a great back up for us.
Montgomery looks like a big improvement over Giesinger.
ED Williams looks like he would be a better option this year then Rienhart was last year.
Batiste looks like they just got very confused, I would rather have Fabini, or Brigdes.

All, in all, I think we are much improved.

Is Heyer an improvement over Jansen in his prime? Maybe, the jury is out on that one. As for Rhinehart, Thomas in his prime was a damn good guard - maybe Rhinehart will be as good as Thomas and that would be fine. Montgomery seems to me to be about the same as Rabach - maybe. Again, Kendall was a damn good guard for us, Dockery may be as good but I don't think he is an upgrade except that he is younger.

Obviously, these guys are upgrades over the players on the wrong side of 30, but are they as good as the guys they are replacing when those guys were playing well? At his best Jansen was borderline pro-bowl, same for Thomas - I just don't see that in the future of either Heyer, Rhinehart or Dockery. As for the back up depth, I see your point. I think this year's backup's are an upgrade over last year's, but, really, is that saying very much?

[T.O.Killa]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Is Heyer an improvement over Jansen in his prime? Maybe, the jury is out on that one. As for Rhinehart, Thomas in his prime was a damn good guard - maybe Rhinehart will be as good as Thomas and that would be fine. Montgomery seems to me to be about the same as Rabach - maybe. Again, Kendall was a damn good guard for us, Dockery may be as good but I don't think he is an upgrade except that he is younger.

Obviously, these guys are upgrades over the players on the wrong side of 30, but are they as good as the guys they are replacing when those guys were playing well? At his best Jansen was borderline pro-bowl, same for Thomas - I just don't see that in the future of either Heyer, Rhinehart or Dockery. As for the back up depth, I see your point. I think this year's backup's are an upgrade over last year's, but, really, is that saying very much?

I was strictly speaking of last year. Jansen was a beast before he tore his Achilles tendon.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by T.O.Killa

Heyer is an upgrade over Jansen.
Dockery is an upgrade over Kendall
Rienhart is a much better player that has shown he can start for Thomas
Thomas is much healthier, than he has been in a while.
Mike Williams still has a ways to go, but I think he will be a great back up for us.
Montgomery looks like a big improvement over Giesinger.
ED Williams looks like he would be a better option this year then Rienhart was last year.
Batiste looks like they just got very confused, I would rather have Fabini, or Brigdes.

All, in all, I think we are much improved.

All good points but only the first two really translate into improvement this season, and that assumes Heyer stays healthy for a season (something he hasn't done) and becomes a more effective run-blocker. But yeah clearly Dock is an upgrade over Kendall.

I just keep coming back to the thought only RG is a position we can afford to substitute at this point, and even then a healthy Thomas is superior to the kid Rinehart. Injury anywhere else on the line really puts us in a tough, tough position and I can't help hating it.

The other oline issue that bothers me now is how much cap room we "blew" cutting Jansen. I mean at this point Jansen is better than Williams. So start Heyer as Zorn wishes and keep JJ as a backup (Williams to practice squad?), then at least we've got the cap room to do something if there's a major injury. Today we've got almost no wiggle room...ugh

[ChickenMonkey]

Eight-year veteran offensive tackle Langston Walker just got released by Buffallo....

[ChickenMonkey]

Cardinals released OL Elton Brown and sigened Jeremy Bridges!!!! What was the FO thinking.....

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by ChickenMonkey

Cardinals released OL Elton Brown and sigened Jeremy Bridges!!!! What was the FO thinking.....

I think the FO was thinking this:
1) Bridges is a fine guard but struggled as a tackle and we need a tackle
2) what Bridges would give us is only marginally better than what we would get from our younger guys and we need to give the younger guys playing time

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I think the FO was thinking this:
1) Bridges is a fine guard but struggled as a tackle and we need a tackle
2) what Bridges would give us is only marginally better than what we would get from our younger guys and we need to give the younger guys playing time

I think that is spot on.

[ChickenMonkey]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I think the FO was thinking this:
1) Bridges is a fine guard but struggled as a tackle and we need a tackle
2) what Bridges would give us is only marginally better than what we would get from our younger guys and we need to give the younger guys playing time

Im just wondering how many sack does that equate to? Bridges has been a starter and seen live bullets, the only BU we have with experience at tackle is 4yrs from playing a snap!!!!Young is all good but, experience is priceless...

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by ChickenMonkey

Im just wondering how many sack does that equate to? Bridges has been a starter and seen live bullets, the only BU we have with experience at tackle is 4yrs from playing a snap!!!!Young is all good but, experience is priceless...

Well, you are correct. We will witness the young bucks making mistakes for sure. But that is how they grow up. Otherwise we are an old and fragile OL like the Cowboys. The Cowboys have 5 geriatrics and nothing behind them on the OL. At least we have some promising young bucks.