SmokinwithWilly

Yep. We don't even know if Icky will ever play again. Hard to build around a guy that could easily have just had a career ending injury.

It all depends on what damage was found and how well the surgery takes. I think trust is going to be a huge factor. As someone who's had multiple knee injuries, it takes a while to feel safe doing everything without that splinter of doubt in the back of your mind again. I can't imagine what that would feel like for a NFL players.

I'm not an NFL scout obviously, but to me, his side to side footwork looks clunky. Instead of the quick, short step, almost glide like movement that you see from the true elites like Ogdon, it looks like he plants and anchors as he moves with each step. He can be heavy footed. He has the size and mass to do that and it might work for him against bull rushers, but the quick edge guys I think will present a problem. Watch game videos of Proctor vs guys like Ogdon, Joe Thomas, Tyron Smith, or Trent Williams, and just watch from the knees down. It's pretty interesting the difference in the way they move their feet. I'm not saying he won't be able to improve it, I just think that could be part of what gives some of that doubt. It does to me.

I suspect he'll get an opportunity at tackle and end up getting pushed inside to guard. That much weight it's just hard on your knees constantly having to go side to side and plant and leverage. Kind of reminds me of Mekhi Bechton. Huge guy, 360 lbs, knee injuries, and I'm sure his weight played a part in them. Just a risk I wouldn't want to take at 19.

I honestly wouldn't mind taking them both. We need bodies and depth at the C/G position is certainly something we haven't had in a very long time.

I don't see the lateral quickness there to handle speed rushers. He could surprise, but I am very suspect of Bama players at certain positions. Top draft classes every year playing against inferior talent. The gap closes too much when they reach the NFL.

I don't believe in hiring coaches that don't get an interview request from another team but it is what it is.

Measurements only take you so far. I remember Rhule passing on Slater because of arm length even though his film against elite college edge rushers was dominant. He said might be a guard here, right after being named an all pro LT. Obviously you want longer arms, but Proctor is right, you can't ignore the film.

2nd preseason

I'd be happy making millions just to sit on the bench.

I agree with that. Moving 1 or 2 spots up, ok, depending on the cost. Moving to 1 from 9, nope. Moving to 1 from 20, I don't even want to know what that would cost. Cheap rookie contracts are the only way to really be competitive. You have to hit on your picks at impact positions to have a chance for a deep playoff run year after year. Bills and the WR group are a perfect example. Elite QB, no one to catch it.

Brissett's stats, 280.5 YPG, 1.96 TPG, and .67 IPG, averaged out to 16 games would have been 4488 yards, 31 TDs, 11 Ints. He also had a higher YPA and completion %. You can't just dismiss stats like that and say that they don't count, because they do. That's good QB play, regardless of what the team record is. A QB that did that during the season could have competed with Bryce in camp. You think if Bryce missed is game and Brissett comes in and does that, Bryce is getting his job back? Ain't happening. And if you think it is, you're the one who's dreaming, not me.

Dalton did have decent numbers that game but he was under immense pressure in Seattle in the rain. If I remember correctly, Zavala gave up 14 QB pressures that game alone. That's inexcusable and the position certainly needed to be addressed. But just think of what we could have done with a center like Frazier, JPJ, Linderbaum, or Humphrey. I realize Dan didn't have the opportunity to draft all these guys. But having a stud in the shortest route to the QB calling protections for the other guys, that's how you build for any QB to run an offense. I'm an offensive line guy. It's my favorite group on the field. I call it fat man ballet. It's a combination of quick feet, balance, bend, strength, reflexes and pure grit. Center is your core leadership on the field, tackles are a combination of finesse and strength, and guards, they're angry dudes that get to have way too much fun hitting people.

I'm ok with doing it if it's the final piece to going all in, as long as you're legitimately in a position to do so. Rams trading 2 1sts and a 2nd for Burns when they desperately needed an edge rusher to be a top contender for a Lombardi. Not a fan, but I get it. Rings are more important than picks, but they were missing one or 2 pieces to be dominant on both sides of the ball. Trading 2 1sts for Parsons when GB wasn't on the verge of greatness, an overpay in my estimation.