Ye Evolution of the OL has Begunst

[L-TownCat]

3 hours ago, Black&BlueBubba said:

I love Moton.  But you can draft 12 RT’s every year in the draft and barely find 3 LT’s.  I want to keep Moton.  But not for LT pay. 
 

Yes I may regret this statement. 

Far too reasonable to regret.  You do not pay out of position.  If he’s not Orlando Pace or Anthony Munoz, he doesn’t get that pay.  Plus, RT...  is not LT.

[Panthero]

5 hours ago, Black&BlueBubba said:

I love Moton.  But you can draft 12 RT’s every year in the draft and barely find 3 LT’s.  I want to keep Moton.  But not for LT pay. 
 

Yes I may regret this statement. 

Could not agree more. However, i do think he should get top RT pay. 

If he wants LT pay, go prove it and play at LT for a year. 

[bythenbrs]

4 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

The level of dumb homerism in this thread with zero knowledge behind it is amazing.

It’s called optimism.  Like Cicada, it emerges from hibernation every year around draft time, but only lives until game three of the regular season when reality kills it.  They’re harmless.   

Edited May 9, 2021 by bythenbrs

[Mr. Scot]

10 hours ago, ClawOn said:

How is the offensive line being discussed without @Mr. Scot?

He had a busy day, but will probably chime in later.

[Ja Rhule]

11 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

I puked in my mouth a little bit.

[Peon Awesome]

15 minutes ago, stbugs said:

If we had taken Smith instead of taking a LS, I think we had some solid potential to work with and a better chance.

I don’t get why all of a sudden Moton is being shown the door. If Moton and Paradis are gone, the piece we have left over aren’t close to a good OL unless miraculously every player lives up to their potential.

Every year FAs get more money. That’s why we had a bargain for Cam for a few years and that’s why Dallas had to pay Dak so much and why Rodgers is being such a baby. Paying Moton top tackle is deserved and very easily affordable given the amount we are paying the other guys, especially if Paradis is gone.

Boggles my mind that people cry about OL every single year, even 2015 when we actually had a top 2 to 5 ranked OL, yet we seem satisfied with a 3rd rounder, 6th rounder and UDFA surrounding to cast off vets. Erving and Elflein aren’t anchors like when we had Norwell, Ryan and Turner anchoring the middle. Not even close.

I don't see how drafting another G with our compensatory 6th would've made that much of a difference. We can only start 2 Gs. Between Miller, who was solid on the line last year, Daley, Elflein, Brown and Moore, not to mention Erving who has played a lot of snaps at G and Christensen, who some project to start at G before eventually kicking out to LT, where would Smith get an opportunity to bolster this line? I really think the disappointment about passing Smith is overblown. We already took one G who dropped for one reason or another in the 6th. We decided Brown was a better prospect than Smith. At a certain point throwing all your eggs in one basket has diminishing returns. There's a very real chance Smith wouldn't have survived to the 53.

I completely agree that talk of not resigning Moton is foolish. Tackle is where we have our biggest question marks. I'm actually fine with the rest of the line. I suspect our plan is to utilize Scott and Erving as temporary plugs at LT (whoever wins the camp competition) while grooming Christensen to take over either before the end of the year or start of 2022. And if he isn't showing any potential to make the leap, we're back to figuring out a solution in the 2022 offseason. But hopefully he does.

[bigdog10]

Every year we do this thing where we worry about making someone a top paid position player and then in two years we look foolish as the cap continues to balloon. You pay good players. We should have done it with Bradberry and we had better do it with Moton. 

[KatsAzz]

14 hours ago, ClawOn said:

How is the offensive line being discussed without @Mr. Scot?

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, bigdog10 said:

Every year we do this thing where we worry about making someone a top paid position player and then in two years we look foolish as the cap continues to balloon. You pay good players. We should have done it with Bradberry and we had better do it with Moton. 

You have to look at it in contract cycles.  They overlap.  There are times when you can't afford to pay 3-4 players a third of the cap. That point was mentioned in the beginning, and every team loses a good player regularly.   If you look at it as one player, one contract, sure--you're right. 

Marty would extend and offer guaranteed money to reduce the cap--kicking the can down the road--and you can do that for a while. He would brag, "We have the highest paid RBs and C and LB in the NFL."--all players he drafted.  I thought, "Yes we do, Mr. Negotiator."  Then people bitch in free agency when we are going after PS players.  So I get it, but if you look at it like "We should pay Moton." Should we?  Whose future contract are we sacrificing?  It is more like:  Moton, DJ Moore, Burns, Darnold.  pick 3. 

If I am Moore, for example, and I see Moton getting paid more than any other RT in the league and most LTs, what do I think? 

A:  I want to get paid like an elite player too, even though I am not.

B: I Iike Moton, so I will play for less than I am worth.  Let me call Burns and tell him to do the same.

Edited May 9, 2021 by MHS831

[BlitzMonster]

4 hours ago, stbugs said:

Smith was a day 2 prospect if not for the medical concern.

I agree that Smith was tantalizing.  But his medical concerns were a huge uncertainty.  Blood clots are a very serious problem.   Who knows, maybe Carolina's physicians red flagged him ? 

In any case, if we drafted Smith then UDFA David Moore isn't here.  And I'm quite high on Moore.  I think there's a good chance he could stick on the practice squad this season and full roster next year.  

 

[Basbear]

17 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

I puked in my mouth a little bit.

 

6 hours ago, stbugs said:

If we had taken Smith instead of taking a LS, I think we had some solid potential to work with and a better chance.

I don’t get why all of a sudden Moton is being shown the door. If Moton and Paradis are gone, the piece we have left over aren’t close to a good OL unless miraculously every player lives up to their potential.

Every year FAs get more money. That’s why we had a bargain for Cam for a few years and that’s why Dallas had to pay Dak so much and why Rodgers is being such a baby. Paying Moton top tackle is deserved and very easily affordable given the amount we are paying the other guys, especially if Paradis is gone.

Boggles my mind that people cry about OL every single year, even 2015 when we actually had a top 2 to 5 ranked OL, yet we seem satisfied with a 3rd rounder, 6th rounder and UDFA surrounding to cast off vets. Erving and Elflein aren’t anchors like when we had Norwell, Ryan and Turner anchoring the middle. Not even close.

Kungfu I believe you thought the 2020 OL was going to be ranked in the 30s, I predicted they would be mid-pack(alone as a remember).....and for the most part they did. Im not ready to make any sort claim with this current group, maybe after preseason games. Still the right side should be fine, as long as Moton is healthy. LG should be filled form big pool of able players. LT is where my HUGE questions are, still they *should be able to field 4 out 5 with at least average NFL players. That one is the big one tho. For me its TBD, need to see live game and real reports. 

St I can not disagree with adding Smith over a Long Safety....... as Ive said using draft picks on any STers is against my religion. If Im not ready to call 2021, no chance Im ready to call 2022. Moton seems to be the key, honestly to both seasons. Just the reports are he wants top LT money, thats a hard pass for me. Tag him again for a bargain and either play it out or trade him. 20+ million for ANY non-QB is a hard check to sign for me. Be like Dbrown wanting top DE money, tag and wait it out another year.....see if the agent comes down to earth...

Far as the 3 OLmen form the draft, I really reallly like the OGs Brown and Moore. This year maybe a red-shirt for both or one maybe starting mid-season. Could be the 2022 starters, just how well they adapt to Rhule/NFL/defenders. Both are strong and I do believe each will be out to prove a point. Christensen is unknown to me, dont hate him or have a solid opinion. I do have far more questions about him- he was 24 years, 4 years older than Sewell and most of his competition. 19 years old vs 24 there is a huge gap in everything, you should be dominating. My other big issue is his level of competition, I do not think any of the players he blocked(maybe one) will be drafted to in the NFL. He was never tested at all, well that is about to change and how he reacts to getting beat like a drum will determine if hes able to be a Wharton or Little type of player. Personally dont see him able to fill the LT spot, better fit as a OG(sight chance at RT), but he could prove that wrong.... 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Basbear

[Basbear]

22 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Honestly, I liked Moore and Smith better than Brown in terms of NFL potential. I don’t see why we couldn’t have kept both Smith and Moore easily. We have so many throwaway guys on the roster right now it’s not funny.

I definitely get the medical concern but I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see him starting for KC. I still feel like OL is still the biggest concern we have. If we don’t keep Moton we have a big question mark at all 5 spots.

I too was screaming for Smith, especially late rounds. I do understand if your 3 doctors all come up with the same conclusion- Pass. I did read up some about him, seems he did not practice with teammates much at all during the week. He was on blood liners most of his career and that does make injuries more risky. One concussion and your career could be over, G little had about 3 in a short time frame. He is going to get injured, blood flow is the key to healing. He is going to need to constant monitoring and one simple injury hes in danger. I know Bill Billcheat cut my guy Kevin Love cause he had diabetes. Love attacked it and got it under control and had a solid NFL after leaving them.  

Here is another tidbit about me- in the 7th I wanted a LB, bad. I didnt research much of the players after top 80 or so. But I did lots of mocks and one familiar name was still available. Jonathan Cooper was one of those LB/DE Reddick like players, team captain at OSU and put out great tape/stats. DRAFT HIM FINSEESER YOU COWARD!!! Turns out he has a heart issue and he going to miss some time(rookie camp otas etc). 

Edited May 9, 2021 by Basbear

[Jackie Lee]

57 minutes ago, BlitzMonster said:

I agree that Smith was tantalizing.  But his medical concerns were a huge uncertainty.  Blood clots are a very serious problem.   Who knows, maybe Carolina's physicians red flagged him ? 

In any case, if we drafted Smith then UDFA David Moore isn't here.  And I'm quite high on Moore.  I think there's a good chance he could stick on the practice squad this season and full roster next year.  

 

Unless he looks bad at camp (which I doubt) I wouldn't risk Moore to the practice squad, someone will sign him. Maybe inactive for a while before someone gets injured which usually takes 2 games with us. 

[BlitzMonster]

10 minutes ago, Jackie Lee said:

Unless he looks bad at camp (which I doubt) I wouldn't risk Moore to the practice squad, someone will sign him. Maybe inactive for a while before someone gets injured which usually takes 2 games with us. 

Moore is a small school guy who's 2020 season was canceled.  So he's probably not NFL ready for a while.  I doubt a team will be willing to put him on the active roster if he's not likely to play right away.  

A few other G with his draft rating were also UDFA.  So it's not like Moore is something unique.