The future of our OL...
by jallred350 on Nov 18, 2009 12:32 PM MST
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PrintWhat do you guys see as the future of our OL. I'd like to see:
1) A first round OT taken in next year's draft. We have to upgrade at at least one of the tackle spots and if I had to choose I'd rather it was Gandy that was demoted. He is getting older and just gets abused by the higher quality DE's around the league.
2) Stick with Brown at RT (or maybe move him to LT if Leinart becomes the QB). I know he has been pretty bad most of the time, but I think he fits what our coaching staff wants to do offensively down the road. Even coming out of college, he was touted as a very good run blocker, which is what you want in a non-blindside tackle. He is not a very good pass protector, but if we are going to be more run oriented, we can maybe give him more help than our tackles currently get.
3) I think Sendlein is a pretty good center. To me, center is the most mentally taxing position on the line. As he gains more experience, I feel he will continue to be a middle of the road NFL center, which is probably good enough if we are going to continue spending good money elsewhere.
4) I guess I don't know much about Herman Johnson's development at this point, but I'd like to see him get reps somewhere next year. If he makes it as a tackle, then ammend #1 to drafting a guard. To me, he would make a great road grating guard.
I have to admit that OL analysis is not my strong suit, but I have been thinking about this topic a lot lately and was hoping others could fill in the holes in my plan. To me, OL improvement has to be a priority in the off season, especially if we are moving more towards a more balanced offensive attack. What do you guys think and what would you like to see done to improve?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.
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so many options and variables......
Things I’m sure of……
- Brandon Keith will start somewhere in 2010. Might be at LT, RT or even RG but he’ll be among the starting 5.
- Gandy will not be a here in 2010. He’s been a great fill-in guy but this is the last year of his deal and we’ve got other contract concerns.
- Lyle Sendlien will be the starting center for the next six to ten years.
- An early round pick will be used on a tackle. Might be a first round pick but it’ll be one of the first three.
That’s about all I’m sure of. I think it’s too early to think that Herman Johnson will be in the mix for playing time next season but he’s sort of a wild card.
If I had to guess the starting five when camp opened next fall I’d say…..(from left to right)….Keith, Wells, Sendlien, Lutui and Brown.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
I'd like that line up
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
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This
The only thing I am unsure of is the Sendlein statement. I can see it, but I think he also needs to finish the year improved from ’08 (which does seem to be happening).
I’m also not sure whether or not they’ll have the confidence to put Keith at LT or move Brown over — not that I really expect either to lock down the position.
Don't forget Keith
He’s had a few years to learn which is what Whiz likes. He’s a huge lineman and I think having him at tackle would be an upgrade over Gandy.
Wells is our best offensive lineman.
I agree that Lyle will start next 5+ years. I could see him developing into a Jeff Saturday type center.
Lutui isn’t great at one thing but doesn’t struggle with one major thing either.
Levi has had his problems, but maybe with more experience he’ll get better.
I do like Herman Johnson but I think Whiz will want him to wait and develop too.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
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The House
My guess is that Johnson is the heir apparent at the left guard position. Reggie Wells is in his 7th season and has had a pretty tough year. Johnson played left guard in college. I’m not as high on Sendlein as others. He is not a real good run blocker. He gets pushed around by the bigger, stronger nose guards one on one. I agree that Gandy will probably be the first to be replaced. He’s in his ninth year and isn’t having a great season so far. It remains to be seen if Keith can handle the tackle position. I would expect the Cards to draft offensive line pretty high next year if someone of good value is available.
one thing to remember about centers
is that very few centers in this league can handle “true” nose tackles. Guys like Casey Hampton, Jamal Williams and several other 320+ pound anchors simply can’t be blocked by one man, especially a 305 pound center.
The inherent problem with centers is that against 4-3 defenses their primary job is to combo block and get to the second level. In this scenario their ability to move in space is valued much more than their ability to man up and just power drive someone out of the hole. Against 3-4 defenses though, they’ve got arguably the biggest, baddest guy on the defense lining up directly over them and it’s supposed to be their job to control him. Almost every center in the league isn’t equipped to handle a guys like that in a one on one situation.
Sendlein isn’t great but he’s serviceable and he’s young enough that he’s going to improve.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Good points.
To me these are great arguments for sticking with Sendlein. Experience will only make him better and he’s already decent enough IMO.
2010 OL
In the Whiz era there has been a rather predictable pattern. A year or two prior to a player being lost to FA the Cards draft one or two players to develop as replacements. They may fill in blanks with one or two key FA but mostly they replace players though home-grown replacements. That said, how does that play out in the OL in 2010?
Keith and L. Brown will be the starting tackles even if they draft a tackle in the early rounds, (which makes sense to me but I can easily see why they might wait and look for a bargain in the middle rounds that they could develop.) My impression is that they will move L. Brown over to LT and have Keith at RT.
Sendlein will stay at Center. I also am not overly enamored with Sendlein but he is playing better this year than last and there are not any impressive centers in the draft or FA that seem like an obvious upgrade over Sendlein. He is serviceable.
Lutui at RG (an uncapped year will extend his time with the Cards, a caped year and he can investigate the open market. If Lutui is lost to FA then Johnson will likely be here) and R. Wells at LT.
Bridges could likely be resigned as the utility guy unless Johnson shows some versatility in camp next year. Otherwise H. Johnson will spend 2010 inactive unless injury. I think they will eventually move him into one of the two guard positions which is where I think is his strongest position.
MBN
Next
season should change. Gandy should be leaving. I give him credit for doing what he has but with too many penalties and missed/poor blocks someone new will step in. I have never been impressed with Lutui. Sendlein has been doing better this year but is still a bit raw. I think we see from left to right Keith, Wells, Sendlein, Johnson, Brown. Maybe draft a new OT or OG to follow behind Wells or for depth across the line. People still say priority is to draft a LT and a C but the guys that are here are ready to go. The OT draft class looks great with the first few picks but after that most will need to be heavily trained for the NFL. Someone like Selvish Capers or Mike Tepper is a good later round pick. (I am not going to argue with anyone about the talent on these two guys. Just saying they would be there to select along with many others.) There isn’t a top C in the draft to walk in and replace Sendlein. Could see a 7-FA pick if be needed on the C.
I think you're right about some things
Sendlein seems to be doing better this year, and I haven’t heard anything good about the C’s coming up in the draft so it seems likely he’ll stick around.
I’m not so sure that the guys here are ready to go. Keith will definitely have had enough time, but I don’t see House supplanting anyone next year. If we don’t draft a starting T, I’ll be a little surprised. If the plan is to start Keith or House, an experienced free agent seems like a definite — or at least retaining Bridges.
As for the late picks, I can see us picking up a C for depth, but even more likely think that we take a G. Both Wells and Lutui come up the following year, and while we drafted that 7th rounder this year, it seems like he’s pretty far away from contributing… but there is a lot of time left before we’ll need him to, so we’ll see.
maybe we could make a trade with oakland for Jemarcus Russel. That's why he sucks at QB cuz he's actually a Tackle
oakland just played him in the wrong position
by CardsDefense on Nov 19, 2009 12:27 PM MST reply actions 4 recs
Nice one
Russell is terrible.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
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the new nfldraft.com
Says we pick 18th and in the first 3rounds of the draft we go t t g 2 tackles and a guard before we draft lb that is just crazy he has the giants and colts in the super bowl
The Devil Birds just got cha
by DaCards on Nov 21, 2009 6:49 PM MST via mobile reply actions
if we're picking 18th then we didn't even make the playoffs
Credibility = ZERO
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
yeah that's BS
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
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