Concerns about Levi?

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I'm sure this has already been discussed, but i have yet to see a thread concerning Levi Brown's inconsistency. As most of you probably know, Levi Brown gave up the most sacks of any LT last year and had the 3rd most sacks given up by any linemen. He plays good for the most part, but he seems to always have mental lapses in every game, as if he's confused on his assignment(s). I understand that we throw 70% of the time, and playing tackle isn't exactly easy, but other teams threw as much if not more than we did last year, but gave up less sacks. So my question is....Do you think Levi Brown is the long term solution, and if so, are you happy with his development?

 

[Jetstream Green]

but don't other teams at least give some additional support to help the OL block on passing downs with something called a blocking TE lol

 

[Unsterblich856]

I think you mean most sacks given up by a RT.

It's hard to say if he is the long term solution. He has the tools to succeed. Inconsistency is the killer. I don't know if he can be coached out of it. So far I am not ecstatic over his development. I feel we should've traded down and got more picks since I am sure teams would be willing to trade up for Adrian Peterson. Because of being a top 5 selection he is getting great money despite not playing to his potential.

but don't other teams at least give some additional support to help the OL block on passing downs with something called a blocking TE lol

Some teams may have a crazy notion that TEs can be used in the passing game .

 

[Jetstream Green]

I heard about those strange teams which actually think a TE can be used in a passing game...it is such a shocking idea that we where even able to capitalize on a pass to our TE Spach in the playoffs since who would expect such a thing. Heck, those funny Falcons where so effected by that shocking play they too think a TE can affect the passing game and went and traded for Gonzales. What the hell are these teams thinking? You can't use a TE in the passing game

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I think you mean most sacks given up by a RT.

It's hard to say if he is the long term solution. He has the tools to succeed. Inconsistency is the killer. I don't know if he can be coached out of it. So far I am not ecstatic over his development. I feel we should've traded down and got more picks since I am sure teams would be willing to trade up for Adrian Peterson. Because of being a top 5 selection he is getting great money despite not playing to his potential.


Some teams may have a crazy notion that TEs can be used in the passing game .

Oops, Brown is a RT, sorry about that...lol.

It shouldn't be a TE's responsibility to help out Levi's assignments, he should be able to block a DE by himself, otherwise he's just collateral. I could understand if he had 2 rushers on his side, but when its man to man, there is no reason why he would need TE help, unless the coaches feel he cant block by himself. Brown has had the luxury of being coached by Russ, but his development seems to be very periodic, and somewhat concerning. There were several rookies last year that fared much much better than Levi, so his progress, to me, is the most concerning aspect of his game, and he has not lived up to his draft position.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Some teams may have a crazy notion that TEs can be used in the passing game .

can you please forward that to Tressel,Jim at THE Ohio State University Football Office, Columbus, Ohio

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Personally, I have no problems with Levi Brown.

If the expectations of Top 10 1st round players is to be pro bowlers, then Brown is under performing.


But if you throw draft position out the window, Brown is a solid tackle. I have no problem with any tackle that is solid at the position. They are hard to find in the NFL.

 

[Pariah]

It shouldn't be a TE's responsibility to help out Levi's assignments, he should be able to block a DE by himself, otherwise he's just collateral.

Leaving a TE in to block happens all the time in the NFL.

 

[joeshmo]

But if you throw draft position out the window, Brown is a solid tackle. I have no problem with any tackle that is solid at the position. They are hard to find in the NFL.

You can honestly say the RT that gives up the most sacks in a season is SOLID? (please dont bring up the amount of times we passed the ball because I have already shown he is still top 5 worst based on pass attempts in past threads) A guy who is inconcsisent as a run blocker and doesnt show a mean streak at it consistently, is SOLID?

He did play better in the playoffs, which gives me hope for the future but the guy has never without a doubt in my mind been SOLID consistently, YET.

 

[Totally_Red]

One of Levi's problems IMO is not playing to the whistle. Kurt took a boatload of hits because Levi doesn't hold his blocks long enough. I'm not convinced he'll ever be more than an average NFL tackle.

He is what he is.

When he is matched against good defensive ends he is going to struggle. When matched against average defensive ends he'll be ok.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

You can honestly say the RT that gives up the most sacks in a season is SOLID? (please dont bring up the amount of times we passed the ball because I have already shown he is still top 5 worst based on pass attempts in past threads) A guy who is inconcsisent as a run blocker and doesnt show a mean streak at it consistently, is SOLID?

He did play better in the playoffs, which gives me hope for the future but the guy has never without a doubt in my mind been SOLID consistently, YET.

I can see your opinion, and understand it. But I don't agree.

Solid without a doubt at least in my mind.

Until there is someone competing for his position, Levi Brown is playing well enough to be the Cardinals RT, at least in the coaches minds.

 

[Stout]

I can see your opinion, and understand it. But I don't agree.

Solid without a doubt at least in my mind.

Until there is someone competing for his position, Levi Brown is playing well enough to be the Cardinals RT, at least in the coaches minds.

I'm not trying to denigrate your opinion, but can you answer the points that Joe made? I hadn't thought about this, but Joe knows his stuff, and if Levi had poor numbers of sacks given up per pass attempt, then I have to wonder.

 

[Mulli]

I'm not trying to denigrate your opinion, but can you answer the points that Joe made? I hadn't thought about this, but Joe knows his stuff, and if Levi had poor numbers of sacks given up per pass attempt, then I have to wonder.

And if Joe says Levi was average in the playoffs, that translates to Levi kicking butt in the playoffs.



kidding

 

[SuperSpck]

Levi struggled badly in the regular season, but offensive balance brought growth.

Levi struggles painfully against speed rushers. It may be physical inability to drop quickly in pass pro, it may be scheme responsibility, or a combination of the two. He's next to Deuce, a guy with tremendous heart and a nasty disposition, but plays wild often.

If you put a more stable RG with Levi or a more experienced RT with Deuce and I believe these negatives get minimalized quickly. Having them next to each other means growing pains.

Keep in mind there's the 3rd year "bulb" to wait for.
I took an extensive look at those two guys at the end of the year and came away with the impression that Levi's close to getting his game crisp.

Giving up sacks doesn't mean he's a turnstile, it means he's got work to do.
Someone mentioned playing to the whistle. That's a big one, everyone knows that Warner goes through spells where he waits for the play, and that ball isn't always going to be out in 3.
He's got to work on his footspeed. He's so focused on getting outside as fast as he can that he goes to wide in his base and that lack of balance sets him up for all kinds of bad stuff.

His up the field and horizontal movement is impressive, but limited in application. He's got enough of the tools to be fine, but it's gonna take work to get there.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Keep in mind there's the 3rd year "bulb" to wait for.

Thank you.

I think with the immediate success of guys like Thomas and Clady we want someone to come in and dominate right away.

Lets see if there is improvement this year before we go crazy.

We can throw up as many stats and blocking VORP numbers (I know that baseball but I was being toungue in cheek) as much as we want but the reality is this. Our 1st string QB played all season and we had the #2 passing offense in the NFL.

He must be doing something right.

 

[lauraw]

I have quite afew concerns about Levi, then I see him mash a player; so yeah consistency. This could be a breakout year for him as well.

 

[Shane]

Based on his performance in the four playoff games I am very confident he can hold that position down for a long long time!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I'm not trying to denigrate your opinion, but can you answer the points that Joe made? I hadn't thought about this, but Joe knows his stuff, and if Levi had poor numbers of sacks given up per pass attempt, then I have to wonder.

- Why he gives up so many sacks?

We pass a lot. We pass in a spread formation without TE or RB help a lot. He is going into his third year at the position, so he is still in the standard NFL "improving phase".

AND if we really want to get into it, the teams we played last year had some good pass rushers as well.

- To answer questions about inconsistant running ?

He lines up next to Deuve Lutui, and the whispers/rumors/rumblings is that Duece is the weak link. What happens if Brandon Keith comes in and we all of a sudden start running the football better to his side. Not to mention there is not one single Cardinals offensive linemen that you could say was consistent in the running game last year. So, we are just single-ing out Brown form some reason.

- As for in general, why do I disagree with Joe ?

You can talk to me about stats, rankings, this, and that.......He was the starting RT (all 16 games + playoffs) for the NFC CHAMPION Arizona Cardinals. The offense was unstoppable at times, and the team was under 3 minutes away from being Superbowl champions.

Like it or not, Levi Brown was a part of that team.

Thus, why I would call him a solid RT, and I think he will continue to improve.

Furthermore, if Levi Brown was a weak link. If Levi Brown was one of the worse tackles in the NFL. Then why would Whiz keep him in ? Whiz, time and time, and time again replaces players who perform poorly. He creates competition at each position regardless.

If Brown sucks then someone will, or already should have come in and taken his position.

This is all my two bit opinion, of course.

 

[Dayman]

Levi may never be an elite pass blocker, but he has the skills to be a very good run blocker. The addition of Beanie should make those skills more evident.

 

[perivolaki]

Thank you.

I think with the immediate success of guys like Thomas and Clady we want someone to come in and dominate right away.

I agree. Offensive lineman can take several years. Remember what we were saying about Wells a few years ago.

Add me to the group that thinks that LB could be aided greatly by a focus on the run game.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Leaving a TE in to block happens all the time in the NFL.

I realize that, but that's usually when the line is so bad they need an extra blocker, or it's for blitz pick-up. Tackles should be able to hold their assignments by themselves, especially when its 1 vs 1. Also, you can't really blame Deuce Lutui for Levi's sacks, it's not his fault that pass rusher's run right by Levi as if he's not even there. If it was an internal rush, then the blame could be placed on both Deuce and Levi, but when Levi is getting beat on the outside, which is usually the case, that has absolutely nothing to do with Deuce. Sure, Levi may have played good in the playoff's, but why hasn't he played consistently throughout the regular season...

 

[Matt L]

I agree. Offensive lineman can take several years. Remember what we were saying about Wells a few years ago.

Add me to the group that thinks that LB could be aided greatly by a focus on the run game.

What were we saying about Wells a few years ago?

 

[Mulli]

What were we saying about Wells a few years ago?

he was terrible.

 

[Matt L]

and now what are we saying?

Is he average?
better than average?
below average?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

and now what are we saying?

Is he average?
better than average?
below average?

He's a team captain and now our most consistent Olineman.

The previous posts are referencing how many fans used to rail on him as a "turnstile" and the weak link until we found out how much the team really valued him by matching his rights a couple years and ago and then Grimm grading him out the best lineman the past couple years. And its easy to see his improvement the last 2 years.

So the point is sometimes Olineman (Jason Peters for one) take time to develop into consistent stablizing forces when many fans want them to come in and dominate right away.