Falcons: What will TD do with the OL?

[Falconidae]

Agree with the OP that they sign a LT in FA, get one more year out of McClure and rely on in house players for the guard spot. Whatever they do though, the Oline should look better because the D won't automatically know what's coming from formation/personnel.

[Paprika Neck]

go after the best LT's in FA if you can't get one then you better pray svitek and baker stay healthy and the new coach makes up for all those lost practices and lack of talent.

[Jesus]

I remember that one play after halftime at AZ in the playoffs, when Dahl and Clabo both forgot to block and gave Turner the biggest hole of his career.

I think Baker was hurt much worse than led on and think the back surgery he had left him incapable of making the right turns with his body. He looked stiff out there. Maybe he bounces back next year, maybe not.

Getting a good LT will sure up the line just fine. There is no way we will find and afford three starters on the line who are good. Focus on LT and the other spots will work out.

For Turner to be effective he needs big holes. Once he gets though the first level he is so hard to bring down. Hopefully a change in philosophy along the line will fix that problem and holes will be aplenty.

(02-08-2012 08:47 AM)ggp Wrote:  Dahl was an experienced guard....that is about it. He was mediocre, at his best. He is still mediocre in St Louis. Of course, he and Clabo knew each other very well and learned to play in tandem. The same sort of symbiosis needs to be developed with our new RG. Clabo is a good RT. I am not worried about him.

TD's plan was for Johnson to assume the RG position. Johnson was struggling to distinguish himself from Reynolds in camp and the competition was over after the concussion. I am very concerned that Johnson simply is not good enough to start. Many OL's take several seasons to reach their peak (see Clabo, McClure and Dahl). Only time will tell. The question is whether TD feels confident about his young OL's.

The real shame, in all of this, is the career arch that Baker has taken. Baker's rookie season was a pleasant surprise. His abilities and attitude were heralded as ideal. There was a time that some fans viewed him as a future pro bowler! Today, I hear nothing good about him. His talent and work ethic are questioned. Hell, fans want him out ASAP. What is the behind-the-scenes story on this guy? How can a promising young talent from a football family go so wrong? Is he irrepairably injured? Has he gotten involved with drugs? He grew that stupid looking beard and seemed to disconnect from his profession. What the hell has happened to Baker?

[Radical]

Dahl was a very good RG, above average for sure. He was solid as a run blocker and above average as a pass blocker. The guy was the best RG and RT in the NFC West this year. He started out at RG, did well there, and then when they had to kick him out to RT do to injury, he didn't give up a sack in over 300 snaps, which only one or two other RTs pulled off.

His reputation and play are two very different things. You'd think he was some untalented lineman that was bad at pass blocking, and only got by with sheer nastiness as a run blocker. He's nasty, but he's better than people give him credit for. Him and Clabo are both very good lineman. It's a shame we couldn't keep him, Clabo, and Blalock. Funny enough, Blalock was actually the weakest out of the three this year. Clabo had a Pro Bowl caliber season, Dahl was exceptional filling in at RT, and Blalock was inconsistent.

Really though, we need to seriously upgrade at LT and RG.

[Jayhawk-Falcon2012]

Baker...dear god he needs to be cut. I really really hope TD can just let it go that Baker is at a point of no return.

I don't know why everyone wants to resign McClure, I can understand his vet experience but don't Blalock/Clabo provide that now? Like another pointed out, and i noticed it as well, McClure gets pushed around. I think if we want to fix the line thats an area we need to look at too.

Blalock and Clabo are both in good position and have continued to show they are assets to the line. Keep'em.

Overall:

LT - Sign best FA at the pos.
C - either let the backup take over and be confident he'll step up/Sign another C (best available)
RG - NFL Draft.

Might be a little unrealistic but I feel you fix the Line. A lot of other areas of the Offense will be fixed because of it (time for matt to throw, development of the routes, Screens, etc...)

[ggp]

(02-08-2012 05:15 PM)Radical Wrote:  Dahl was a very good RG, above average for sure. He was solid as a run blocker and above average as a pass blocker. The guy was the best RG and RT in the NFC West this year. He started out at RG, did well there, and then when they had to kick him out to RT do to injury, he didn't give up a sack in over 300 snaps, which only one or two other RTs pulled off.

His reputation and play are two very different things. You'd think he was some untalented lineman that was bad at pass blocking, and only got by with sheer nastiness as a run blocker. He's nasty, but he's better than people give him credit for. Him and Clabo are both very good lineman. It's a shame we couldn't keep him, Clabo, and Blalock. Funny enough, Blalock was actually the weakest out of the three this year. Clabo had a Pro Bowl caliber season, Dahl was exceptional filling in at RT, and Blalock was inconsistent.

Really though, we need to seriously upgrade at LT and RG.

Come on man. I have not reviewed the stats, nor did I bother to watch a Ram game. Having said that, do you really think that the Rams attempted many passes? My suspicion is that the Rams mixed a few quick short passes with a whole lot of running. That sort of mixture makes for few sacks and a lot of losses. In that situation, stats are for shit.

Dahl is mediocre and nothing more. I don't miss him and I am certainly glad that TD did not award him with a ridiculous contract. Let me put it this way: we can draft a better OG in the second round of this draft.

[ggp]

(02-08-2012 05:52 PM)Jayhawk-Falcon2012 Wrote:  Baker...dear god he needs to be cut. I really really hope TD can just let it go that Baker is at a point of no return.

I don't know why everyone wants to resign McClure, I can understand his vet experience but don't Blalock/Clabo provide that now? Like another pointed out, and i noticed it as well, McClure gets pushed around. I think if we want to fix the line thats an area we need to look at too.

Blalock and Clabo are both in good position and have continued to show they are assets to the line. Keep'em.

Overall:

LT - Sign best FA at the pos.
C - either let the backup take over and be confident he'll step up/Sign another C (best available)
RG - NFL Draft.

Might be a little unrealistic but I feel you fix the Line. A lot of other areas of the Offense will be fixed because of it (time for matt to throw, development of the routes, Screens, etc...)

You are right. McClure gets pushed around in the rush offense. But, he is smart, savvy and would be a great teacher to a new OG. Hawley is almost ready and if pushed, can take over at OC. But, I'd want McClure one more season to keep Ryan as clean as possible.

RE-sign the Mud Duck.

[Radical]

(02-08-2012 07:29 PM)ggp Wrote:  Come on man. I have not reviewed the stats, nor did I bother to watch a Ram game. Having said that, do you really think that the Rams attempted many passes? My suspicion is that the Rams mixed a few quick short passes with a whole lot of running. That sort of mixture makes for few sacks and a lot of losses. In that situation, stats are for shit.

Dahl is mediocre and nothing more. I don't miss him and I am certainly glad that TD did not award him with a ridiculous contract. Let me put it this way: we can draft a better OG in the second round of this draft.

PFF man, best in the business. 300+ snaps at RT without a single sack given up in impressive no matter what the situation.

[Paprika Neck]

(02-07-2012 07:42 PM)Beef Wrote:  So only ONE new person and we stick with the uncertain potential revolving door at RG?

I don't think that's likely. They said specifically that the OL will look different next year. McClure may not allow a lot of sacks or pressure to get by him, but he sure does contribute a ton to the quick collapse of the pocket on passing downs and he's weak at pushing forward the LOS on running downs. I don't like him as our anchor. I think his stats are deceiving and he's actually a weakness.

LT is an absolute must to replace. OC and RG need improvement as well. I think we draft 1 of those and get the other 2 in FA.

mike johnson is a stud the concussion early on really set him back further because of the shortened training camp.