Reading the LG tea leaves

[MHS831]

Based on recent acquisitions and comments, it looks as though we are going to have a competition at LG.  Here are the players:

Jeremiah Sirles: Provides depth at G and RT.  He is entering the prime of his career, and the point at which OL tend to start stepping up.  He has approximately 15 NFL starts.

Amini Silatolu:  Has experience and is in his prime, fwiw.  In fairness to RR’s favorite son-- in 2017, Silatolu is not that smart and they (for whatever reason) played him at T for a while.  He was also forced to play RG.  Silatolu is used to sucking at LG, so that may have confused him.

Taylor Moton:  In college, was reported to be a better G than T.  Moton is smart and powerful.  He has to be the front runner here.  Moton is also hungry, willing to play any position on the LOS.  Saving him to play LT post Ryan is stupid, and I think RR was told that by Norv.

Tyler Larsen:  Rivera mentioned that Larsen was in  the competition to play LG.  He has experience and should be OK there.  I have not heard the same about Van Roten.

Prediction:  Moton starts at LG, Sirles is the first reserve at both G spots.  Larsen is the third G at both spots, backup center.  Not sure where that leaves  Van Roten.  I do not see us drafting a G.  Maybe a T, maybe a C, both late.  Considering the needs we have at skill positions, I think this is smart.

[run-run-pass-punt]

5 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Amini Silatolu:   In fairness to RR’s favorite son-- in 2017, Silatolu is not that smart

 

No wonder Ron feels a kinship.

[LinvilleGorge]

It's going to be Moton. We'll look to possibly add OG depth in the later rounds unless there's an absolute steal available earlier. Center is the far more likely early pick IMO.

[manu4t]

Moton will get the nod.

Hopefully we see as little of Silatolu as possible.

If Price slides far enough down the Board in the second or high third rds (meaning we trade up to grab him if he does fall to the high third) due to his pectoral year at the Combine I think we grab him as Kalil’s replacement at C, Larsen was ok in fill in duty for him but may not be the answer long term.

[MHS831]

20 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's going to be Moton. We'll look to possibly add OG depth in the later rounds unless there's an absolute steal available earlier. Center is the far more likely early pick IMO.

I think so.  I am guessing we draft a C at some point in this year's draft.  A T is possible. However, it is starting to look as if we go WR, S, CB, RB on days one and two.  Maybe TE instead of CB, depending how good they feel about Cockrell/Bradberry.

[Cyberjag]

As far as I know, the only two linemen on the roster who have ANY experience, college or pro, at LT are Kalil and Amini.  Moton was probably never going to be held for the LT position.

[stirs]

Connor Williams can play T and G now and can also play Center in time if need be

[MHS831]

13 minutes ago, manu4t said:

Moton will get the nod.

Hopefully we see as little of Silatolu as possible.

If Price slides far enough down the Board in the second or high third rds (meaning we trade up to grab him if he does fall to the high third) due to his pectoral year at the Combine I think we grab him as Kalil’s replacement at C, Larsen was ok in fill in duty for him but may not be the answer long term.

I think we may take our next C this year, only because we do not want a rookie C in 2019--but we really should not prioritize C now. They like Arkansas C Ragnow as well.  LSU's Clapp might be in play on day 3...

[t96]

It’ll be Moton or a rookie. I’m pretty damn sure we’ll take a G/C in the first 3 rounds. Very likely one will be BPA at one of our 4 picks and it’s an immediate and future need. Frank Ragnow fits the bill, as does Billy Price even in the first.

[AU-panther]

10 minutes ago, stirs said:

Connor Williams can play T and G now and can also play Center in time if need be

I've considered him for awhile now just because I think he could fill a need and there is a good chance he could be there at 24.

9 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I think we may take our next C this year, only because we do not want a rookie C in 2019--but we really should not prioritize C now. They like Arkansas C Ragnow as well.  LSU's Clapp might be in play on day 3...

A lot is going to depend on how they really feel about Matt Kalil.  Releasing him next year could free up considerable cap space but we don't seem to have a replacement on the roster at the moment.

 

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, Cyberjag said:

As far as I know, the only two linemen on the roster who have ANY experience, college or pro, at LT are Kalil and Amini.  Moton was probably never going to be held for the LT position.

About a month ago or more, they asked RR if he was going to move Moton to LG--he said, "Moton is a Tackle."

Now he is saying what we all thought when Norwell left.  Moton to G.

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, thomas96 said:

It’ll be Moton or a rookie. I’m pretty damn sure we’ll take a G/C in the first 3 rounds. Very likely one will be BPA at one of our 4 picks and it’s an immediate and future need. Frank Ragnow fits the bill, as does Billy Price even in the first.

Ragnow. 

I am starting to think #1 is a WR.  If we take a S and a RB on day 2, that leaves a spot.  I am guessing Ragnow might be there in the third.

A DE that falls into round 2 could throw a wrench in the spokes.

[panther4life]

Good post @MHS831. I understand your vantage point and you very well could be right about Moton starting at LG next year.

However, I have a differing perspective and don't think we can write LG out of the question for the 1st round. 

Looking at our departed starters in F.A, we already replaced Star and likely upgraded the CB position over Worley and at minimum Corn Elder will compete for the nickel job. Our biggest holes remain replacing the Production lost at G, Safety and RB. Of course we cut both Stewart and Coleman because they were underperforming so those needs were there even last year. Historically you're better off gambling until later rounds on those 2 positions unless you have a shot at an elite player. Lastly WR and DE could definitely use some competition as well. 

Looking at this years draft class we will be lucky to have our choice of 1-3 of these scenarios coming true.

• Picking the 1st WR
• Picking the 2nd o-lineman
• Picking the 3rd safety
• Picking the 3rd Corner 
• Picking the 3rd DE 
• Picking the 2nd RB 

The 2nd best offensive lineman (and be expected to start at LG next year) may be the best option we have at 24 and something I think has about as equal odds as any other position at 24 at this point.

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[The Huddler]

I know you guys are trying to be creative to make the titles of these threads better, but it just makes them worse ..