A fat guy is a fat guy to me

[desertdawg]

Big bully bastards. Numerous linemen in the NFL get bumped around from spot to spot. I understand that certain techiniques, sizes, quicknesses, can suit a player to a certain role more than others. I understand most are better off blocking from either the right or left side, they same way we prefer planting our feet in a left or right foot forward position when we want to stand tall. But there are some guys that just in general move mutha scrubbas out the way, and some guys give up a minimal amount of ground up with in a 2 - 7 second period. The guys around the center are crucial for any type of run game, and the guys blocking out on the outside tend to have to hold folks off while the QB drops back so there's that. They all have to do the same thing on the same plays be it pass or run, but then you get into the good stuff like when the fat guys move around for a screen, sweep, or sliding over to help out someone getting worked.

Whiz and Grimm made me learn more about the O-line (along with the good people at ASFN) more than any other Cardinals coaching staff I can remember, because it has never been that bad. If these guys all look like legit NFL lineman this next year, than the position will become more and more a regular position type thing that I never used to worry so much about. I understand some of our guys improved during the course of the last season, but I'm attributing that to just straight up NFL experience. Just give me fast fat guys that aren't injury prone, and put them on the side they work best. Don't make a great left handed batter bat righty, and Carson might make it through the season.

This is just a hippie thinking out loud, I aint an O-line guy at all. A lot of folks are far more knowledgable on the chubby chasing. But just give me a bad ass...right? If you want a ballanced attack you gotta have diverse lineman that are good at both, the run and the pass protection.

 

[BACH]

Big bully bastards. Numerous linemen in the NFL get bumped around from spot to spot. I understand that certain techiniques, sizes, quicknesses, can suit a player to a certain role more than others. I understand most are better off blocking from either the right or left side, they same way we prefer planting our feet in a left or right foot forward position when we want to stand tall. But there are some guys that just in general move mutha scrubbas out the way, and some guys give up a minimal amount of ground up with in a 2 - 7 second period. The guys around the center are crucial for any type of run game, and the guys blocking out on the outside tend to have to hold folks off while the QB drops back so there's that. They all have to do the same thing on the same plays be it pass or run, but then you get into the good stuff like when the fat guys move around for a screen, sweep, or sliding over to help out someone getting worked.

Whiz and Grimm made me learn more about the O-line (along with the good people at ASFN) more than any other Cardinals coaching staff I can remember, because it has never been that bad. If these guys all look like legit NFL lineman this next year, than the position will become more and more a regular position type thing that I never used to worry so much about. I understand some of our guys improved during the course of the last season, but I'm attributing that to just straight up NFL experience. Just give me fast fat guys that aren't injury prone, and put them on the side they work best. Don't make a great left handed batter bat righty, and Carson might make it through the season.

This is just a hippie thinking out loud, I aint an O-line guy at all. A lot of folks are far more knowledgable on the chubby chasing. But just give me a bad ass...right? If you want a ballanced attack you gotta have diverse lineman that are good at both, the run and the pass protection.

I think you're simplifying it

General thoughts on O-line:
In principle, all O-linemen could play all positions, but there are somewhat different physical attributes needed for the different positions. It should also be noted that playing OL requires lots of analytics and making adjustments on the field, which is why O-linemen are (in general) among the smartest on a team (highest wonderlic scorers).

Tackles - Taller, leaner guys with quick feet and long reach.
Guards - Shorter and "rounder" Mauler types with a low center of gravity.
C - Also shorter type, but better mobility and technique needed.

These are very general descriptions, that could all change with the scheme. Zone-blocking requires ultra quick interior linemen (and therefore usually smaller).

The biggest problem under Whiz/Grimm has IMO not been the players but the coaching. I have never seen such stubborn approach to scheme and playcalling as the last coaching regime, and it seems that Whiz never made any adjustments in the scheme to fit the players on the roster. The offense was terribly unbalanced quick passing offense - never allowing the O-line to get into a rhytm in the running game or helping the tackles on the called normal passing plays. This worked when Kurt was here and had Fitz, Boldin and Breaston to throw to, but the O-line scheme remained practical unchanged with Skelton and lesser WRs and it put the O-line in a terrible position.

 

[desertdawg]

I think you're simplifying it

General thoughts on O-line:
In principle, all O-linemen could play all positions, but there are somewhat different physical attributes needed for the different positions. It should also be noted that playing OL requires lots of analytics and making adjustments on the field, which is why O-linemen are (in general) among the smartest on a team (highest wonderlic scorers).

Tackles - Taller, leaner guys with quick feet and long reach.
Guards - Shorter and "rounder" Mauler types with a low center of gravity.
C - Also shorter type, but better mobility and technique needed.

These are very general descriptions, that could all change with the scheme. Zone-blocking requires ultra quick interior linemen (and therefore usually smaller).

The biggest problem under Whiz/Grimm has IMO not been the players but the coaching. I have never seen such stubborn approach to scheme and playcalling as the last coaching regime, and it seems that Whiz never made any adjustments in the scheme to fit the players on the roster. The offense was terribly unbalanced quick passing offense - never allowing the O-line to get into a rhytm in the running game or helping the tackles on the called normal passing plays. This worked when Kurt was here and had Fitz, Boldin and Breaston to throw to, but the O-line scheme remained practical unchanged with Skelton and lesser WRs and it put the O-line in a terrible position.

Good stuff vato. I tried to simplify to show my understanding, or lack of. I also notice lineman that go to teams that excel, only to have new HCs/ coaching staffs come in and want something completely different. The schemes and gameplans are very diverse these days, so when folks think about simplified thoughts on O-line guys, some good ones get left around. It's a trip being from a horrible O-line team watching all this talent float around though. This new staff has a big dilema on their hands, deciding what was Grimm and who is workable.

 

[desertdawg]

I think you're simplifying it

General thoughts on O-line:
In principle, all O-linemen could play all positions, but there are somewhat different physical attributes needed for the different positions. It should also be noted that playing OL requires lots of analytics and making adjustments on the field, which is why O-linemen are (in general) among the smartest on a team (highest wonderlic scorers).

Tackles - Taller, leaner guys with quick feet and long reach.
Guards - Shorter and "rounder" Mauler types with a low center of gravity.
C - Also shorter type, but better mobility and technique needed.

These are very general descriptions, that could all change with the scheme. Zone-blocking requires ultra quick interior linemen (and therefore usually smaller).

The biggest problem under Whiz/Grimm has IMO not been the players but the coaching. I have never seen such stubborn approach to scheme and playcalling as the last coaching regime, and it seems that Whiz never made any adjustments in the scheme to fit the players on the roster. The offense was terribly unbalanced quick passing offense - never allowing the O-line to get into a rhytm in the running game or helping the tackles on the called normal passing plays. This worked when Kurt was here and had Fitz, Boldin and Breaston to throw to, but the O-line scheme remained practical unchanged with Skelton and lesser WRs and it put the O-line in a terrible position.

Another thing that intriged me about your post was the Wonderlic scores. Is there any way to add up the different ( main starters ) NFL offensive line's scores and see how their team's placed? I know some teams seem smarter than others.

 

[JeffGollin]

Another hard to gauge factor - the nagging injuries component.

OL is less sexy than the skilled positions and injuries less apparent "because nobody really cares about whether a lineman has a strained pec or can only run a 5.35 instead of a 5.1."

I have no facts to support this but I have to wonder out loud whether a couple of our FA veteran guards who were well-respected before they came here may have underperformed because they were playing hurt. (They sure looked it).

 

[desertdawg]

"Give me fatness, and give me Liberty."....Carson Palmer

 

[Gaddabout]

Linemen aren't really fat guys anymore.

 

[desertdawg]

Linemen aren't really fat guys anymore.

True that. I'm glad we got one though.

 

[O]

When Desertdawg talks about big fatties, football players aren't the first thing that pops into my mind.

 

[desertdawg]

When Desertdawg talks about big fatties, football players aren't the first thing that pops into my mind.

Totally understandable.