The Future maybe now for the O-line

[The Falcon Jedi]

(05-20-2011 02:46 PM)Beef Wrote:  Just opinion or you have something to back this up?

Valdez continues to make the PS for a reason. Also, next to Reynolds, Valdez is the 2nd biggest dude on the team. He's gigantic. If they are able to put some muscle on the kid and teach him some technique, he could be a freaking beast. At TC's last year when he and Reynolds were standing next to each other, I was in awe. Together with helmets and pads on they are like a 7 foot tall 8 foot wide wall. Just enormous.

You are basing your opinion completely on his gigantic size. That means nothing. The fact that he is a practice-squad body does mean something. We didnt acquire him to be a regular on the practice squad.

He is too much upper-body, and skinny legs. Any legitimate DLineman can truck a top-heavy guy like that. He cant maintain ground with the way he is built.

[The Falcon Jedi]

Im more optimistic about Will Sviteck.

[phocis850]

(05-20-2011 05:42 PM)Falcons_Guru Wrote:  Hey Hey. Look at me! Big Fan of the blog, first time I've posted though.

I've always been a big believer in the idea that the system is as important as the player. This is especially true of the non-skill positions. A good coach will recognize the limitations of his players (o-line) and devise a scheme to take advantage of their skills and minimize their limitations. With our O-line, several players were liabilities under Petrino's zone blocking system but have come to life under MS. Throw in a power running game, a short and intermediate (i.e. quick pass) offense and all of a sudden your O-line looks fantastic. As a former center myself (in my high school glory days), it was always nice hearing a run play or a short pass. I knew my assignment, it was easy, and it was short (block for 1-2 seconds). Same for the Falcons now.
Back in the Vick days, they had no idea where Vick was behind them or how long he would hold onto the ball. That makes blocking very difficult. Because our offensive approach is "simple" smash mouth football with a little West-Coast, our O-line has a relatively simple job (compared to other more complex blocking schemes like the ones the Pats or Eagles have). That's why I feel we can plug just about any healthy O-lineman in there and get decent production.

I think it is likely we will let most or all of our O-lineman go via FA. I would hate to see them go, but I feel our backups are cheap, capable, and ready and we could definitely spend the money more wisely elsewhere (like an impact DE). But, if I had to pick one, I'd put my money on TD trying to keep Blalock first and foremost.

Welcome and great first post.