Osemele will start opening game, McKinnie in danger to make roster

**jonboy79** · 08-17-2012, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

How can you honestly include Matt Kalil though? He's not taken a snap in the NFL. He could bust out easily.

Tyron Smith? He was a RT last year who is being given a shot at LT. Oher was a damn good RT too his rookie year and when they moved him over to LT...well...we saw how that went.

Becuase I think he will be top 5 by the end of this year. I could be wrong but he looks as close to a guarantee as I have seen since Jake Long/Joe Thomas. He comes from a good program, has the bloodlines, and he pushed tyron Smith to the right, who as I mentioned came into the NFL and played RT at a very high level.

what I learned most about compiling 15 names is tha there aren't close to 15 good LT's in football. That's why players like Duane Brown get listed. Not because they are good, btu because they ar ebetter then the garbage trotted out by most teams.

**wickedsolo** · 08-17-2012, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by BcRaven

from Lobachevsky :
3. *Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, 6-5/305
Matthews is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews...

reply : Just wanted to comment about the Matthews family. Clay Sr. and Jr. NFL LBs, Bruce M. a long time Olineman for the Oilers, and now the possibility of his son Jake becoming the next in their NFL line of outstanding players. Talk about the apples not falling far from the tree... Bc

Jerry Rice Jr. is I believe #2 or #3 as a freshman receiver at UCLA and Barry Sanders Jr is at Stanford right now as the #2/#3 RB on the depth chart.

**wickedsolo** · 08-17-2012, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

Becuase I think he will be top 5 by the end of this year. I could be wrong but he looks as close to a guarantee as I have seen since Jake Long/Joe Thomas. He comes from a good program, has the bloodlines, and he pushed tyron Smith to the right, who as I mentioned came into the NFL and played RT at a very high level.

what I learned most about compiling 15 names is tha there aren't close to 15 good LT's in football. That's why players like Duane Brown get listed. Not because they are good, btu because they ar ebetter then the garbage trotted out by most teams.

Haha, there really isn't huh?

It kind of supports the notion that the LT or the idea of a premier LT isn't as important anymore. That's why I really think that come next year unless there is a specific person that drops to them in the draft that they really cannot live without, Oher will likely be moved back over to LT or whoever wins in a competition between Oher and KO will get the nod.

**lobachevsky** · 08-17-2012, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Jerry Rice Jr. is I believe #2 or #3 as a freshman receiver at UCLA and Barry Sanders Jr is at Stanford right now as the #2/#3 RB on the depth chart.

Cue entire stadium full of fans on their feet & chanting

D! N! A!
D! N! A!

**jonboy79** · 08-17-2012, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Haha, there really isn't huh?

It kind of supports the notion that the LT or the idea of a premier LT isn't as important anymore. That's why I really think that come next year unless there is a specific person that drops to them in the draft that they really cannot live without, Oher will likely be moved back over to LT or whoever wins in a competition between Oher and KO will get the nod.

I shudder to think.
Sure LT is not important when you have Drew Brees...
I sauppose eli is a fairly good comparative though.
I'm not suggesting trading up to reach, simply if they see the right guy at the right value point. they shouldn't hesitate to jump, it will be, to me, the biggest weakness for the team coming up to next years draft and should be treated as such. I don't see a legit FA option being available, and think they need to AT LEAST get a guy that can come in and compete with Oher.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 08-17-2012, 10:47 AM

Next years draft looks to be much deeper in some positions where there has been a severe lack of depth at over the years.

Safety, ILB, and interior OL look to be much deeper than we are used to.

**SugarRay52** · 08-17-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

I shudder to think.
Sure LT is not important when you have Drew Brees...
I sauppose eli is a fairly good comparative though.
I'm not suggesting trading up to reach, simply if they see the right guy at the right value point. they shouldn't hesitate to jump, it will be, to me, the biggest weakness for the team coming up to next years draft and should be treated as such. I don't see a legit FA option being available, and think they need to AT LEAST get a guy that can come in and compete with Oher.

I'll put it like this, if Joe Flacco takes his game to an elite level this year the Oline won't be as big of a problem. The Giants had a terrible Oline and poor running game for most of last year but Eli Manning overcame that. Elite QBs mask problem areas for the most part, I love Joe but if he's going to be elite he will have to make things better around him. He's having the best offseason and training camp of his career so he has a good chance to breakout.

**wickedsolo** · 08-17-2012, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by SugarRay52

I'll put it like this, if Joe Flacco takes his game to an elite level this year the Oline won't be as big of a problem. The Giants had a terrible Oline and poor running game for most of last year but Eli Manning overcame that. Elite QBs mask problem areas for the most part, I love Joe but if he's going to be elite he will have to make things better around him. He's having the best offseason and training camp of his career so he has a good chance to breakout.

It's not just on the QB though...a lot of it has to do with the offensive coordinator and the game plan.

*Cue the anti-Cam vs pro-Cam arguments...*

This isn't about whether or not Cam is or is not a good coordinator. This is simply a statement that a good game plan and a good coordinator knows how to play to the strengths of the team and game plan around weaknesses. The game plan should be looked at from a probability stance. For example, when playing Pittsburgh, if Michael Oher and Bryant McKinnie can nullify Lamarr Woodley and James Harrison 5 out of 9 plays where Joe is performing a 5-7 step drop, then there is a higher probability for a win because more points will be scored because those were deeper routes, which move the offense down the field quicker...etc etc etc.

Pittsburgh's OL has been banged up and pretty lackluster for years, the Giants had to shuffle their OL around last year big time, the Packers have had a lot of inconsistent faces on their OL and guys out of position (supposedly), The Saints have had a really strong interior OL and a really weak exterior OL...

Granted, those are all teams with elite QB's - no doubt - but their offensive coordinators also have game planned to the strengths of the team. They're letting their players dictate the offense and not the other way around. That's how it should be. Again, I'm NOT bashing Cam. If he continues to game plan and execute a game plan like we saw the 2nd half of the Arizona game last year or against the Patriots in the AFCCG, then having a premier LT won't really make much of a difference.

IMO, having a stout G-C-G combination is (not only easier to accommodate) significantly more important than having premier tackles because when the interior of your OL collapses, it is going to instantly flush the QB to the right or left and - odds are - right into the arms of a DE/LB or the feet/legs of his own teammate. Think about it, against the Patriots Mark Anderson and Rob Ninkovic (both good pass rushers) really weren't the main culprits for the pressure on Flacco. It was pretty much all Wilfork and their interior DL'men just pushing Birk, Grubbs, and Yanda around.

Would I love to see the Ravens get a Michael Roos or Andrew Whitworth at LT? You betcha...but I'd much rather see them get an interior combination of like Carl Nicks - Jon Goodwin - Jahari Evans. Or TJ Lang - Scott Wells - Josh Sitton.

**SugarRay52** · 08-17-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

It's not just on the QB though...a lot of it has to do with the offensive coordinator and the game plan.

*Cue the anti-Cam vs pro-Cam arguments...*

This isn't about whether or not Cam is or is not a good coordinator. This is simply a statement that a good game plan and a good coordinator knows how to play to the strengths of the team and game plan around weaknesses. The game plan should be looked at from a probability stance. For example, when playing Pittsburgh, if Michael Oher and Bryant McKinnie can nullify Lamarr Woodley and James Harrison 5 out of 9 plays where Joe is performing a 5-7 step drop, then there is a higher probability for a win because more points will be scored because those were deeper routes, which move the offense down the field quicker...etc etc etc.

Pittsburgh's OL has been banged up and pretty lackluster for years, the Giants had to shuffle their OL around last year big time, the Packers have had a lot of inconsistent faces on their OL and guys out of position (supposedly), The Saints have had a really strong interior OL and a really weak exterior OL...

Granted, those are all teams with elite QB's - no doubt - but their offensive coordinators also have game planned to the strengths of the team. They're letting their players dictate the offense and not the other way around. That's how it should be. Again, I'm NOT bashing Cam. If he continues to game plan and execute a game plan like we saw the 2nd half of the Arizona game last year or against the Patriots in the AFCCG, then having a premier LT won't really make much of a difference.

IMO, having a stout G-C-G combination is (not only easier to accommodate) significantly more important than having premier tackles because when the interior of your OL collapses, it is going to instantly flush the QB to the right or left and - odds are - right into the arms of a DE/LB or the feet/legs of his own teammate. Think about it, against the Patriots Mark Anderson and Rob Ninkovic (both good pass rushers) really weren't the main culprits for the pressure on Flacco. It was pretty much all Wilfork and their interior DL'men just pushing Birk, Grubbs, and Yanda around.

Would I love to see the Ravens get a Michael Roos or Andrew Whitworth at LT? You betcha...but I'd much rather see them get an interior combination of like Carl Nicks - Jon Goodwin - Jahari Evans. Or TJ Lang - Scott Wells - Josh Sitton.

The fact that they are running more no huddle this year tells me Cam is finally trying to offset any issues on offense. Harbaugh has stated since the beginning of the offseason that they will be building their offense around what Joe Flacco does best which will help the Oline. On another note if Joe hits free agency he will be worth at least $15mil a year according to Scout.com's Adam Caplan (per a twitter conversation between he and I). I just wanted to point that out just in case some people on here still think Joe wouldn't be worth much on the open market, 2013 QB group will be led by Flacco and Matt Schaub if both hit free agency.

**Benny8444** · 08-17-2012, 12:51 PM

THey should get a 3rd for grubbs I know there is a max of 3rd round comps but not a min. I cant think of any other big FA losses besides Mario Williams which will get houston a 3rd. I think last year the only 3rd rounder given out was to OAK for Nnandi.

**Benny8444** · 08-17-2012, 12:52 PM

JJ should get a 4th because of his contract and redding could get a 5th because of his contact and I expect the last to be a late 6th or early 7th depending on how well the safeties play as well as Mickinny

**leachisabeast** · 08-17-2012, 01:59 PM

KO is jacked up man, look at the shape this guy is in...

Then there's McKinnie...

Just saying...

**steelerhater** · 08-17-2012, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by SugarRay52

The fact that they are running more no huddle this year tells me Cam is finally trying to offset any issues on offense. Harbaugh has stated since the beginning of the offseason that they will be building their offense around what Joe Flacco does best which will help the Oline. On another note if Joe hits free agency he will be worth at least $15mil a year according to Scout.com's Adam Caplan (per a twitter conversation between he and I). I just wanted to point that out just in case some people on here still think Joe wouldn't be worth much on the open market, 2013 QB group will be led by Flacco and Matt Schaub if both hit free agency.

Remember, they've done this each of the last few off-seasons. The preseason games seemed to be pass, pass, pass. When the real games start, Cam goes back into fear mode.

**steelerhater** · 08-17-2012, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Haha, there really isn't huh?

It kind of supports the notion that the LT or the idea of a premier LT isn't as important anymore. That's why I really think that come next year unless there is a specific person that drops to them in the draft that they really cannot live without, Oher will likely be moved back over to LT or whoever wins in a competition between Oher and KO will get the nod.

Maybe not premiere, but you certainly need a servicable one. McKinnie is servicable, Oher is not.

**leachisabeast** · 08-17-2012, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

Remember, they've done this each of the last few off-seasons. The preseason games seemed to be pass, pass, pass. When the real games start, Cam goes back into fear mode.

Well that's not entirely true, there were games when we should have ran the ball a lot more which we ended up losing, and all we did was pass the ball in those games. There is a reason why we have won so many games when Ray Rice has touched the ball 20 times or more.

**steelerhater** · 08-17-2012, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Well that's not entirely true, there were games when we should have ran the ball a lot more which we ended up losing, and all we did was pass the ball in those games. There is a reason why we have won so many games when Ray Rice has touched the ball 20 times or more.

I'm not disputing that. I was just responding to people who think that what we see in preseason is what we're going to see during the season. Its not necessarily true.

**leachisabeast** · 08-17-2012, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

I'm not disputing that. I was just responding to people who think that what we see in preseason is what we're going to see during the season. Its not necessarily true.

Oh sorry miss understood you, I agree with you on that.

**Lee Van Cleef** · 08-18-2012, 03:39 PM

The aforementioned Levi Brown probably done for the season.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ry-on-triceps/

**Ravenswintitle** · 08-18-2012, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

Remember, they've done this each of the last few off-seasons. The preseason games seemed to be pass, pass, pass. When the real games start, Cam goes back into fear mode.

It's the style of offense Harbs wants to run. It's not about fear, he wants ball control, wear out the defense and have slow methodical drives. It's worked pretty damn well, just not yet SB well...