NFL reported TD was scouting several O-Linemans during the Senoir Bowl

[Beef]

(01-27-2011 06:54 AM)FullMetalFalcon23 Wrote:  

Are we talking about the same guy?

LOL, that's awesome how similar they are. But no, this....

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(01-27-2011 09:24 AM)Beef Wrote:  LOL, that's awesome how similar they are. But no, this....

Yeah I had seen that. I'm excited about seeing him on the field, sounds like we're gonna see a new identity develop for the Falcons OLine

[g-dawg]

(01-27-2011 08:03 AM)ggp Wrote:  Why are you so sure that we will franchise Clabo? Don't get me wrong, we all agree that he has worked hard and made himself into a great RT. The question is whether TD will pony up the money. It seems that he has been preparing for a gradual overhaul of the OL. The rumors of us looking at OT's is certainly suspicious.

I don't know that Joe is privy to inside info. - probably not - but I think its out there that he is related to one of the offensive coaches. So "Joe knows"

[g-dawg]

I think the Falcons should do the following with the offensive line:

1) Re-sign Tyson Clabo (RT)
2) Draft a starting caliber Left Tackle in 1st/2nd round
3) Move Sam Baker to Right Guard
4) Start Mike Johnson at Left Guard
5) Let both Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock go
6) Start letting Joe Hawley be primary back-up at both guard positions and center (start at center in 2012)
7) Draft Offensive Guard in rounds 5-7

Starters:
LT - Derrick Sherod/Gabe Carmini/James Carpenter
LG - Mike Johnson
OC - Todd McClure
RG - Sam Baker
RT - Tyson Clabo

Back-ups:
LT - Sam Baker
LG - Joe Hawley
OC - Joe Hawley
RG - Jose Valdez
RT - Garrett Reynolds

Many will say that this is "too much change" in one off-season. Like our defense though, our offensive line is really a little overrated. Matt Ryan throws so many short passes and is so good at throwing the ball away that the offensive line stats are deceiving - Matt rarely has enough time to throw the ball down the field like other upper echelon QBs do. We keep three starters but move one to his more natural position(Sam Baker - RT). We instantly become a better pass blocking team with somebody like Derrick Sherod who is a "natural" pass blocker at Left Tackle. I think Baker/Johnson will be better run blockers than Dahl/Blalock - although I grant you that this "remains to be seen".

Its a little radical but - like you guys have said - Dimitroff has been preparing for this....We do need to keep our most talented offensive lineman in Tyson Clabo though.

[g-dawg]

nice read, evo +1 for you - who wrote the article?

[ggp]

(01-27-2011 10:49 AM)g-dawg Wrote:  I don't know that Joe is privy to inside info. - probably not - but I think its out there that he is related to one of the offensive coaches. So "Joe knows"

Thanks, I didn't know about the connection.

[ggp]

G-Dawg, I can follow your thought process. Well put. Keep in mind that Valdez is also a serious candidate for one of the Guard positions.

If Baker is moved inside, I would think that his best spot would be at LG. His lateral quickness would come in handy when defenses overload the blind side with blitzes.

Personally, I think that Baker will remain at LT next season. In the meantime, TD may want to start getting a successor ready. For that reason, it would make sense to take advantage of the depth at OT this draft and take one in the second round. If Gilbert, Carpenter or Cannon are available, I would not hesitate to grab one. In that way, we have a successor to Baker in place and also acquire insurance for the possible loss of Clabo.

[JOEinPHX]

(01-27-2011 08:03 AM)ggp Wrote:  Why are you so sure that we will franchise Clabo? Don't get me wrong, we all agree that he has worked hard and made himself into a great RT. The question is whether TD will pony up the money. It seems that he has been preparing for a gradual overhaul of the OL. The rumors of us looking at OT's is certainly suspicious.

Re this and some of the following posts, it's informed speculation rather than inside info. I might have been over the top saying 'bank on it', but Clabo will get a new contract from somebody and I don't doubt that it will be franchise-tag type money. So TD has to either pony up or face the loss of his best tackle and what could be wholesale changes on the line with heavy reliance on unproven guys. I think he pony's up. And the franchise tag only carries a one-year term, so he also buys time to assess his options and continue to evaluate/develop OL talent already on the roster. I think any interest the FO is showing in rookie offensive linemen is legitimate, but not necessarily anything more than due diligence. I'd be surprised (though not stunned) if they went OL in the first.

[JOEinPHX]

(01-27-2011 11:24 AM)ggp Wrote:  G-Dawg, I can follow your thought process. Well put. Keep in mind that Valdez is also a serious candidate for one of the Guard positions.

If Baker is moved inside, I would think that his best spot would be at LG. His lateral quickness would come in handy when defenses overload the blind side with blitzes.

Personally, I think that Baker will remain at LT next season. In the meantime, TD may want to start getting a successor ready. For that reason, it would make sense to take advantage of the depth at OT this draft and take one in the second round. If Gilbert, Carpenter or Cannon are available, I would not hesitate to grab one. In that way, we have a successor to Baker in place and also acquire insurance for the possible loss of Clabo.

This is a distinct possibility, but I'd still see Clabo getting tagged. That buys a year to ease the transitions and multiplies the possible combinations if the line is reshuffled.

[Jesus]

What makes people so sure that Baker is being moved. I understand a handful of fans dislike him but that doesn't make decisions for the front office. At no point during his tenure with the Falcons has he ever played either guard position, nor does it appear he has been trained for the position, though I understand they want their linemen to be able to move around the line.

Why exactly is it a better idea to start an unproven rookie LT over a three year starter that the coaching staff is very high on?