Building an OL

[countryboi]

i know everyone hates Bell but now that Gross has retired there is no way Bell is not coming back. I dont see anyway we go into next season with two new tackles. now what you could see is nate chandler moving to tackle

[Kuech the Sneak]

Hoping we can sign either Collins, saffold or Howard in free agency so we can have a starter at one tackle position going into the draft. I'm hoping we can get hurst and Jackson in the second and third rounds

LT-Collins

LG-Silatolu

C-Kalil

RG-Chandler/Jackson

RT-Bell/Hurst

[carolina-chuck]

Well I think you would have to consider Bell an obvious starter considering Gross is retired.  I know the coaching staff was high on Williams and he was the starter at RG until injury.  We really need him to stay healthy this year.  Kug who knows...they drafted him high, but who knows if he can even play he's essentially a rookie but at least he's got a leg up on terminology, scheme, and the weight training. He's been around an NFL team so he has a better idea of what he's up against .  I might be missing it but I don't see Chandler on your list.  If Wharton retires I look for Williams or Chandler to grab that spot...god willing Kugbila pans out. So minus the LT we're looking at Silatolu, Kalil, Chandler/Williams, and Bell.  Silatolu is an upgrade from Wharton.  I hope Wharton comes back for depth purposes however.  We're really not that far away as people think on the Oline.  We need some depth and we need to sign a veteran LT, we have some depth in Bruce Campbell. Wouldn't be surprised to see him penciled in on the right side and Bell moved to left.  I wouldn't waste money/time/1st round pick on a rookie LT at 28 unless he's a sure fire starter that can start for 10 years which isn't usually the case at that draft spot unless you're talking about a guard or center

 

I would be intrigued however if Antonio Richardson knees got cleared.  Since his draft status is dropping, he truthfully might be worth picking up for the future if he has to rehab for a year.   Probably could trade up and get him in the 3rd.  That would be a steal, and would really set us up in the future at tackle.  I know a lot of beat writers and draft analyst are projecting him as an RT in the NFL, but when he's in form he's a legit left tackle.  He reminds me of Andre Smith from Cincinnati.  He caught of a lot of criticism for going to the combine out of shape, yet here he is now one of the better LTs in the league who just started 16 games for a playoff team that has Andy Dalton.

 

You read my mind. Byron Bell isnt going anywhere anymore. His spot was just solidify when Gross retired. Chandler could very well also hold onto his RG position, but we could use an upgrade there (John Jerry?).

 

The only two names that are projected to be available at 28 that I would seriously take are: Zack Martin and Cyrus Kouandjio. You would almost have to take Martin if he was there. No way Gman would pass him up with a hole that big at the LT spot. I expect our medical staff to take a hard, hard, very hard look on Kouandjio's knee. If they believe that it's not as big a serious issue as it seem, we almost have to take him if he's there. The talent is there with CK.

 

"NO" to Morgan Moses, Tiny Richardson (knee), Mewhort, etc.

 

[Kuech the Sneak]

You read my mind. Byron Bell isnt going anywhere anymore. His spot was just solidify when Gross retired. Chandler could very well also hold onto his RG position, but we could use an upgrade there (John Jerry?).

The only two names that are projected to be available at 28 that I would seriously take are: Zack Martin and Cyrus Kouandjio. You would almost have to take Martin if he was there. No way Gman would pass him up with a hole that big at the LT spot. I expect our medical staff to take a hard, hard, very hard look on Kouandjio's knee. If they believe that it's not as big a serious issue as it seem, we almost have to take him if he's there. The talent is there with CK.

"NO" to Morgan Moses, Tiny Richardson (knee), Mewhort, etc.

Zack Martin would be great at 28

[TheRed]

Keep Bell around, but we shouldn't simply settle just because we think we have to. Bring in competition.

[FuaMeOnce]

amini played LT in college right? maybe they are grooming him to step up and play LT now that Gross is gone...

 

 

just a thought. 

 

That's silly, too damn silly.

[AceMan]

I'm thinking....

 

LT -  Draft pick / Oher (FA)

LG - Silatolu

C - Kalil

RG - Chandler/Kugbila/etc.

RT - Oher (FA) / Draft Pick

[Udogg]

 Silatolu is an upgrade from Wharton.

 

No he is not.  Silatolu was bad at LG.  People keep forgetting this.  They see a play where he makes a great run block and think OMG he is a beast.  On the other hand they ignore where he completely whiffs on pass blocking.   Our line play got immediately better when Wharton replaced him.  Maybe at RG he would be better.

 

To be clear, Silatolu has not been consistent in anyway shape or form.  He went from really bad, to just ok bad his rookie season and everyone gave him a pass because he improved so much.  He is very inconsistent and the left side of our line improved dramatically when he was out.   He should play at RG because he is perhaps better than Chandler especially in run blocking.

[TheMaulClaw]

You read my mind. Byron Bell isnt going anywhere anymore. His spot was just solidify when Gross retired. Chandler could very well also hold onto his RG position, but we could use an upgrade there (John Jerry?).

 

The only two names that are projected to be available at 28 that I would seriously take are: Zack Martin and Cyrus Kouandjio. You would almost have to take Martin if he was there. No way Gman would pass him up with a hole that big at the LT spot. I expect our medical staff to take a hard, hard, very hard look on Kouandjio's knee. If they believe that it's not as big a serious issue as it seem, we almost have to take him if he's there. The talent is there with CK.

 

"NO" to Morgan Moses, Tiny Richardson (knee), Mewhort, etc.

 

I agree with everything you said minus Tiny Richardson.  There is a reason he played left tackle and James played RT at Tennessee.  If James was better he would have been the LT.

 

Obviously if his knees are jacked up to the extent that it inhibits the rest of his career there's no point, but if he can hold down Clowney on bad knees....imagine what a year of rehab would do.  I know Clowney sort of folded it in this past season because of injury risk.  But he did a hell of a job on Clowney the season before too....and that was Clowney's best year of collegiate football.  If anything he would give us what Otah gave us when he was healthy at RT.  Damn how we all wish Otah would have worked out.

[Ruff]

amini played LT in college right? maybe they are grooming him to step up and play LT now that Gross is gone...

 

 

just a thought. 

 

Sadly, his game doesn't translate to that of a tackle. He's more of a power run blocker, a guy who overwhelms his opposite with size and strength, allowing him to win off the line of scrimmage (when he does win). LTs need to be athletic, know how to bend and how to recover, and have to have light feet. That isn't Amini.

[TheMaulClaw]

No he is not.  Silatolu was bad at LG.  People keep forgetting this.  They see a play where he makes a great run block and think OMG he is a beast.  On the other hand they ignore where he completely whiffs on pass blocking.   Our line play got immediately better when Wharton replaced him.  Maybe at RG he would be better.

 

To be clear, Silatolu has not been consistent in anyway shape or form.  He went from really bad, to just ok bad his rookie season and everyone gave him a pass because he improved so much.  He is very inconsistent and the left side of our line improved dramatically when he was out.   He should play at RG because he is perhaps better than Chandler especially in run blocking.

Better run blocker and athlete.  You're judging a guy that's a physical freak that came from a small college in his rookie year.  Silatolu was going to have a hell of year last year until he got hurt.  You don't remember the well documented epic battles he had with Star in training camp?  This will be his 3rd year in an NFL system.  Wharton might have more veteran tricks....but the only reason Wharton was brought back was because of Amini's injury. 

 

You might be right.....the coaching staff seems to disagree with you though.  

[Kuech the Sneak]

Better run blocker and athlete. You're judging a guy that's a physical freak that came from a small college in his rookie year. Silatolu was going to have a hell of year last year until he got hurt. You don't remember the well documented epic battles he had with Star in training camp? This will be his 3rd year in an NFL system. Wharton might have more veteran tricks....but the only reason Wharton was brought back was because of Amini's injury.

You might be right.....the coaching staff seems to disagree with you though.

Amini was bad his rookie year but steadily improved to a good player at the end of the year. And he was on pace to have a great year this year, really unfortunate injury, I don't know what the other poster is talking about

[TheMaulClaw]

No he is not.  Silatolu was bad at LG.  People keep forgetting this.  They see a play where he makes a great run block and think OMG he is a beast.  On the other hand they ignore where he completely whiffs on pass blocking.   Our line play got immediately better when Wharton replaced him.  Maybe at RG he would be better.

 

To be clear, Silatolu has not been consistent in anyway shape or form.  He went from really bad, to just ok bad his rookie season and everyone gave him a pass because he improved so much.  He is very inconsistent and the left side of our line improved dramatically when he was out.   He should play at RG because he is perhaps better than Chandler especially in run blocking.

 

 

Like I said the guy was a rookie coming from a small college that flashed great potential.  You can't put all pro expectations on an NFL lineman like that his rookie year.  All Amini needed was reps, confidence in the scheme, and adjustment to the speed of the game.  Bottom line.....our run game is a whole lot better with him in the line up.

 

Travelle (go gamecocks) was better in his prime, but not now.

[@bonafidebanter]

Weird how difficult it is to find 5 good fat guy