Offensive line thread

[Monster]

I think Kalil is more about injury problems then ablity, but at this point you can't count on him being healthy. They have not been major and he soldiers on through them, but changes his effectiveness.

I agree. I'd take a chance on him being healthy for the right price on basically a 1 year deal if I couldn't find an obvious upgrade but yeah it seems time to move on. He turns 28 in July so it's not like he is a young guy with a ton of years left...most likely. Jake Long may or may not be done and he is what 31?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Joe Thomas is apparently available for a 2nd. Hopefully that is the case next summer otherwise sell the farm to get Cam Robinson out of Alabama. LT needs to be sorted out this summer or it will be an epic failure on Spielman's part. Having a shitty and banged up line with this year's first round pick benched and last year's playing part time is infuriating. I don't know what it is, but Spielman just doesn't want to spend a high pick on a lineman.

[Monster]

Joe Thomas is apparently available for a 2nd. Hopefully that is the case next summer otherwise sell the farm to get Cam Robinson out of Alabama. LT needs to be sorted out this summer or it will be an epic failure on Spielman's part. Having a shitty and banged up line with this year's first round pick benched and last year's playing part time is infuriating. I don't know what it is, but Spielman just doesn't want to spend a high pick on a lineman.

If a 2nd rounder is all it will take to get joe thomas he better pack some bags and call his realtor. I'm not buying that they will accept that offer.

[Monster]

I am watching the game tonight and they mentioned that the Bronco's oline has struggled despite spending some money on their Tackles. On cue Okung had a holding penalty. Clady who Denver traded after signing Okung looks to have had issues being healthy with the Jets. Obviously it wouldnt be hard to have an upgrade over what the team seems to have now but are any of the top offseason options at OT playing really well? I assume some are but we could have ended up where we're are right now even if they had gone a different direction. Just something to think about I guess is all I am saying.

Okung with another hold bringing back another 1st down.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I'm having a difficult time faulting Spielman for his handling of the offensive line. After he signed his two free agents, it looked like we were going to have the deepest offensive line in the league. But you couldn't even make up the slew of injuries and other events that has decimated the line. Gone, or unable to play, are Sullivan, Loadholt, Kalil, Harris, Smith, and Boone and Fusco have missed time with injuries. It's impossible to manage successfully through a situation like that.

[bleedspeed]

I am not putting it all on Spielman. Some if it goes on the coaching. We have the worst tackles in the league. The thing I do fault Speilman for is not finding a possible 2017 LT if Kalil doesn' twork out. If the plan was Clemmings we have our answer that he won't work. I think most TE's can pass block better then him.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I am not putting it all on Spielman. Some if it goes on the coaching. We have the worst tackles in the league. The thing I do fault Speilman for is not finding a possible 2017 LT if Kalil doesn' twork out. If the plan was Clemmings we have our answer that he won't work. I think most TE's can pass block better then him.

Fair point, Bleed. I think I would have used a pick on a LT as insurance if Kalil went down. In Spileman's defense, Kalil had never missed a game before this year. And we might not have the elite defense we have now if he hadn't drafted so many defensive stats.

Sure looks bleak now. Couldn't determine if Jake Long was a LT or a matador on the few plays he was in. Looks like he is toast.

[Monster]

I am not putting it all on Spielman. Some if it goes on the coaching. We have the worst tackles in the league. The thing I do fault Speilman for is not finding a possible 2017 LT if Kalil doesn' twork out. If the plan was Clemmings we have our answer that he won't work. I think most TE's can pass block better then him.

Fair point, Bleed. I think I would have used a pick on a LT as insurance if Kalil went down. In Spileman's defense, Kalil had never missed a game before this year. And we might not have the elite defense we have now if he hadn't drafted so many defensive stats.

Sure looks bleak now. Couldn't determine if Jake Long was a LT or a matador on the few plays he was in. Looks like he is toast.

I'm watching the Scott Van Pelt show and Reddick is making some interesting points. HE says that defensive lineman are just flat out physically ahead of offensive lineman. HE said that what makes it even more significant is there are fewer reps offensive lineman can get and its a rep position. He says that offensive lineman tend to be guys that weren't athletic enough to be on the other side of the ball but really obviously the pass rushers on the edge are freak athletes some easily running 4.5 40s etc. I thought it was a worthwhile and interesting perspective.

As for the Vikings coaching particularly the oline coaching it seemed like under Davidson the line individually would have some guys that would grade out good, but the line never really played all that well as a unit. I was hoping adding Sparano would be a top line coach and both develop guys and get the line to play together. It probably wasn't going to come together right away but now he is in miracle working mode working with young guys signing a vet off the street and no real help in sight. Can they get whoever is gonna play best at the oline positions and then get guys on the same page? What 5 man offensive line group has played the most snaps together so far? It takes time to get everyone working as a unit and right now we don't even know who is going to be playing at the tackle positions next week much less week 12 or a playoff game even if there are no more injuries. That's tough it may sound like excuses but its also a legit reality

[bleedspeed]

Fair point, Bleed. I think I would have used a pick on a LT as insurance if Kalil went down. In Spileman's defense, Kalil had never missed a game before this year. And we might not have the elite defense we have now if he hadn't drafted so many defensive stats.

Problem is nobody from this draft outside Kearse has seen the field much. I think it was less about injury then planning for 2017 and not being totally f'd at one of the most important positions in the game.

I think Beavers was supposed to be the guy they could coach up this year and he would be a player, but after preaseason I think he is a bust.

The bad - PPF had him as the 2nd most overrated player in the draft.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-10-most-overrated-2016-nfl-draft-prospects/

2. Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan
I'll let the grades do the talking on this one:

Category Grade Rank (Out of 227)
Run Block -14.6 220
Pass Block -31.4 226
Overall -46 226
The chances of molding those numbers into an NFL-level player seems nearly impossible.

The good - NFL Draft says he has all the tools. Seems a lot like a less stellar version of Clemmings.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/willie-beavers?id=2555208

Beavers is very athletic with the feet to play left tackle, but has the talent and traits to play all over the offensive line with more technique work. While he clearly has some power and twitch in his hips, he could use a year in an NFL weight room to strengthen his core and upper body. Beavers is an eventual NFL starter who is likely to be targeted by teams who covet tackles who can excel in space.

[bleedspeed]

I think the point is that this team is not going to get any worse at this point. I would look at what you have and start by putting your faith in Sparano for better or worse. I would put your best player at LT and second best at RT. The only player I wouldn't touch is Berger. I think a Long-Sirles-Berger-Fusco-Boone line might be the best we can come up with. I think Long looked good in practice to get in the game as much as he did, but just was not up to game speed. I really hope it was that rather then him getting nicked up already.