Offensive line is killing this team (1 Viewer)

[3ParStillDriver]

I just don't have enough faith in Dennis Allen as head coach to say "fixing this position will help solve the teams problems". Our depth has been declining in play since he took over as head coach. Our starters have been declining in play since he took over as head coach (secondary and Kamara being an exception).

If its not one thing, its another. We fix one thing and then a few other things become the problem. The trend of success has been steadily falling since he took over as head coach all around.

I just don't think grabbing a good guard will solve our problems.

I mean look at our Oline really. Fuaga is a rookie that's being doing well. Penning as been progressing and is honestly better then half the starters in the league (maybe?). So our tackles are not an issue. McCoy is one of the best centers in the league. Ruiz is not awful by any stretch of the imagination. That leaves 1 guard. You mean to tell me, you can't scheme and gameplan around 1 below average Olineman? There are 31 other teams in this league, and I'm willing to bet many of the top half teams have 1 Olineman starter underperforming and also have Olineman injuries, missing games and are able to find success with a backup.

We're just talking about fixing a small symptom of the disease. Even if you take the best guard in the draft or free agency, the trend arrow is still pointing down.

 

[RJS]

OL depth usually consists of one veteran that can play multiple positions, and a few good drafted studs/developmental guys.

We had a swing player in James Hurst abruptly retire, along with Ramczyk, which would probably have Penning sitting, and we have drafted busts and disappointments like Salvideri and Young (we probably should have drafted a couple more in later rounds over the years also to compete and help fortify, btw, so that is our own personnel decision-makers’ fault).

There’s your missing depth right there. Add in a missing injured all-pro center with a major drop off to his backup, along with decent but not great play by two first round picks in the lineup, one that missed significant time with injury, and now you have your recipe for an epic o-line disaster.

It’s not the accounting ledger spreadsheet’s fault…it’s been a combination of misfortune and personnel decision misfires.

Losing McCoy specifically was the biggest issue though. That’s such an important position, and virtually no team has a dedicated great center just ready to step in to pick up the slack midstream.

They thought they signed their interior swing player in Lucas Patrick. Throughout OTA's and heading into training camp, Saldeveri was listed as the starter at LG. Unfortunately, due to injuries and then performance he was unable to keep the job over Patrick. That's a big part of the dominoes that fell creating a mess.

You are absolutely right that Saldeveri not stepping up and winning that job really hurt the plan.

 

[St. Geezy]

They thought they signed their interior swing player in Lucas Patrick. Throughout OTA's and heading into training camp, Saldeveri was listed as the starter at LG. Unfortunately, due to injuries and then performance he was unable to keep the job over Patrick. That's a big part of the dominoes that fell creating a mess.

You are absolutely right that Saldeveri not stepping up and winning that job really hurt the plan.

Great point.

Something else I’ll add to this is something I said yesterday…anytime you have too much depth on the field at once, it will almost always make you suddenly feel like your depth is bad.

Depth pieces are intended to be guys that fill in here and there alongside starters that mask their deficiencies. We played games this year where we were missing our entire OL interior; not many teams are surviving that.

 

[kcirdor]

many of us were not happy we were spending our money on an End with a sputtering motor, we wanted to spend as much as we could on Oline depth because we knew we were one injury away from doom. Then we got 3 injuries on Mount Doom.

 

[Super]

That's a big part of the dominoes that fell creating a mess.

 

[platinumvinnyv]

Great point.

Something else I’ll add to this is something I said yesterday…anytime you have too much depth on the field at once, it will almost always make you suddenly feel like your depth is bad.

Depth pieces are intended to be guys that fill in here and there alongside starters that mask their deficiencies. We played games this year where we were missing our entire OL interior; not many teams are surviving that.

It's crazy how many people dont realize this, we can replace the owner, coach, gm. If you go into a game with multiple 2 and 3rd string OL its going be trouble in the NFL and you are getting the same result no matter whos at the helm. Add the fact you are missing your QB, WR's and TE/X factor its going to be a disaster which is what we are seeing every sunday

 

[SaintswonSBXLIV]

What is the prognosis for McCoy?

I think he will be back after the bye.

 

[tpayne12no]

I think the loss of McCoy can't be underestimated. Patrick and Ruiz are serviceable, but their deficiencies are masked by playing next to McCoy. Ruiz's natural position is Center, and you can see better play from him when he's had to fill in. I really hope this ends the decision to draft players then move them to other positions.

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

My prediction: It will be similar to last year. Come back and win games, DA comes back. Rinse, lather repeat. Mirror image of last year.

 

[Clintonrebel]

My prediction: It will be similar to last year. Come back and win games, DA comes back. Rinse, lather repeat. Mirror image of last year.

You may be right. Except this time, we may be too far back for the late games to matter. Basically, we win the next two, or its over. And it will be hard to rally the troops if we are 3 or 4 games back after the half way point. Alternatively, win the next two and if some guys get healthy, we may see last year all over again, which is the worst of all worlds unless we win the division. 9-8 with no playoff appearance is the absolute worst outcome imaginable.

 

[Super]

As much as I like to reminisce about the good ol bad days and that I can laugh (and drink) thru being really bad, long term mediocrity scares the crap out of me. Nothing would be more frustrating.

 

[meily]

We signed Lucas Patrick and drafted Fuaga and brought in a brand new offensive staff and scheme. We absolutely tried the best we could while we also were trying to fix the cap. That's why we didn't spend big in free agency. The OL is not bad, it's injured. Once we get McCoy back, it'll be decent.

The offensive line was a concern all off-season which is why we started taking fliers on guys like Lucas Patrick and other remaining lineman who had familiarity in the line scheme, but make no mistake these guys were not fixes but band aids.