Playoff teams draft O-line in Rounds 1-2!

[beeps]

Originally Posted by topcat4477

What I'm saying is you increase your team's chances of having a solid o-line by drafting in rounds 1-2. And teams that do this increase their chances of going to the playoffs.

I was messin' with you. You certainly have a better chance of drafting a quality player higher than getting lucky late. Still, good teams usually will hit late from time to time as you will rarely be able to afford 4-5 first and second rounders on your oline. A great blindside tackle and center usually can help you cover up some of the warts at other positions on the line. these guys at least should be drafted close to NFL ready imo. Which genarelly means early in the draft.

[Strife9878]

Going into the 2011 season we had the left side of our OL locked up, and had holes in a lot of places. The right side was suspect true, but we weren't going to get an upgrade over Clary.

Then the injuries took place... I don't think any team in the NFL can lose a starting LT and LG in there prime of career contracts and expect to be great. It would be different if they were a bit older, and the decline would have been forseeable... but there was no way to anticipate a grand mol seizure and neck injury would send our line into shambles.

In the offseason, we locked up the pieces that made our line competitive and that roll of the dice failed. All things consiered but hindsight... we had no choice. There weren't any available options and with the veteran team we have we couldn't wait for a rookie to become great.

Now we do need to look into OL... We need upgrades at LT (unless Gaither bounces back... and the medical staff knows if this is laziness after being paid or a real injury), LG, and RT. Hopefully we have our future center waiting in the wings... But who knows?

I agree that we need some OL. I know nothing about college ball but needs on this team defiantly has OL at the top of the list... But with the overall age of the team, I wouldn't mind hitting the Fa for that if there are any available... but I don't know much beyond what I have read in Kemp's FA preview thread. (A great read btw)

[muffindonut72]

Originally Posted by pacstud22

This.

I clicked with interest, left with

I think we all know AJ hasn't drafted a lineman other than McNeill in the first two rounds.

I think we all know the O-line is in shambles.

Some think the O-line has created the Rivers mess.

So, draft fat dudes? OK, sign me up.

Signed,
Creator of "Draft Pouncey Bandwagon".

I think we may just be able to get a good one or two this year.

What is you opinion on that? Who do you think is at fault?

[Strife9878]

Originally Posted by muffindonut72

What is you opinion on that? Who do you think is at fault?

I know I am not the one you asked that question but it has to be at least a factor.
Putting Rivers in a situation where he has to be a mobile QB is a horrible mismanagement of his skills. He isn't a fast man and we have known that for years.
I often hear the cliché "Getting into a rhythm" and the rhythm Rivers is in has to be something like make a read, see option A is covered and run for his life because someone on the line got beat. Obviously a QB needs to be aware of pressure and adjust but when your OL is playing like high scholars consistently then of course there is going to be time spent checking rushers that he would prefer to spend checking DBs.
With that said even when given time he is making horrible decisions, and using bad mechanics when the good ones are available. Regardless of any circumstance he can't expect to make those throws...

Still. a pocket passer needs to be aware of when he is pressured... problem is with the way our OL is it is probably more accurate to say Rivers needs to be aware of when he isn't pressured While he is never going to throw anyone else under the buss because that isn't the kind of man he is... It is a huge problem when the OL is getting mauled. The Philip Rivers collapse is a team effort… he isn’t 100% to blame but he isn’t entirely a victim either.

[Al "T.D." Bundy]

Originally Posted by muffindonut72

What is you opinion on that? Who do you think is at fault?

Not to speak for Pac, but when you look at last year and how Rivers got it together right when Gaither started playing, the connection is clear.

I think that's what most people are basing that conclusion off. Certainly Harris is a huge drop off. I remember reading in the pre-season and first game or two how we were going to expect to see McMichael parked on Harris's left side to help him out. Without analyzed every play, not sure how often that's actually occurred, or how effective it's been.

Whether or not these conclusions are legitimate I'll let others decide.

[chargertom]

Don't most players taken in the first and second round usually do well?

Isn't that why they're taken in the first and second?

Why would 1st and 2nd round Olinemen playing well be a surprise?

[pacstud22]

Originally Posted by muffindonut72

What is you opinion on that? Who do you think is at fault?

D) All of the Above

[JMelHo]

Well I want to say I hope AJ Smith gets fired and it is true he doesn't draft O line early. But the Rams and Bears are also prime examples of how drafting O line early and failing can happen. But Rivers looks to be taking the same pounding so I guess there is no difference.

[Time4aRing]

It'd be one thing if you went through say last year's playoff teams or this year's projected playoff teams and listed how where they have drafted their starting OL, and compared it to say, the bottom 5 teams. Your point would be easier to identify then. Or even average round for each teams 5 starters and then list them by their standings.

[Kemp17]

2011 Giants:

-Left Tackle: Beatty, 2nd round
-Left Guard: Boothe, 6th round
-Center: Baas, 2nd round
-Right Guard: Snee, 2nd round
-Right Tackle: Diehl 5th round

2010 Packers:

-Left Tackle: Newhouse, 5th round
-Left Guard: Lang, 4th round
-Center: Wells, 7th round
-Right Guard: Sitton, 4th round
-Right Tackle: Bulaga, 1st round

2009 Saints:

-Left Tackle: Bushrod, 4th round
-Left Guard: Nicks, 5th round
-Center: Goodwin, 5th round
-Right Guard: Evans, 4th round
-Right Tackle: Stinchcomb, 2nd round

2008 Steelers:

-Left Tackle: Starks, 3rd round
-Left Guard: Kemoeatu, 6th round
-Center: Hartwig, 6th round
-Right Guard: Essex, 3rd round
-Right Tackle: Colon, 4th round

2007 Giants:

-Left Tackle: Diehl, 5th round
-Left Guard: Seubert, Undrafted
-Center: O'Hara, Undrafted
-Right Guard: Snee, 2nd round
-Right Tackle: McKenzie, 3rd round

2006 Colts:

-Left Tackle: Glenn, 1st round
-Left Guard: Scott, 5th round
-Center: Saturday, Undrafted
-Right Guard:Lilja, Undrafted
-Right Tackle: Diem, 4th round

So over the last 6 seasons, the superbowl winning teams' average at each position:

-Left tackle: 3rd round
-Left guard: 6th round
-Center: 6th round
-Right Guard: 3rd round
-Right Tackle: 3rd round

So, uhhh... apparently not.