Eric Winston close to a deal

[Buckybird]

I've seen alot of teams use the Center to pull. In fact, Pittsburgh centers are always very mobile and Arians has that Steelers background.

True

 

[Quinn McCollum]

[URL="https://twitter.com/kentsomers"]Kent Somers ‏@kentsomershttps://twitter.com/kentsomers/status/360251455220887553 [/URL]#AZCardinals weren't impressed with Eric Winston this spring. Price decreased and/or they aren't as high on their OTs as they were

 

[SECTION 11]

Do not pay this guy one penny more than Levi Brown. You've got to be kidding.

 

[Quinn McCollum]

Found this to be interesting also


Mike Florio adds that the deal (Winston to Cards) could be completed within “the next 24 hours.” The Cardinals’ tackles were shoddy at best last season, and there have been recent reports that LT Levi Brown’s play in the spring left a lot to be desired. The Cardinals prefer incumbent RT Bobby Massie inside at guard. Winston would start at right tackle, with Nate Potter pushing Brown for the left tackle job.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBC Sports

 

[Chopper0080]

At this point I think most would agree that since we arent' spending the money on anything else, we might as well take a flier on Winston. I am not a big fan, but at this point I am willing to throw some mud on the wall and see what sticks.

Personally, I have a tough time seeing how this detracts from Massie. He was the best offensive line player we had at the end of last year and you would hope he is getting better. He is athletic, and will find a starting spot on the line. IMO, signing Winston is more likley to move Massie to the LT spot than to the bench. With Massie, Potter, Watford and Cooper it seems the Cardinals are moving to a more athletic line which could be a good thing.

 

[kerouac9]

At this point I think most would agree that since we arent' spending the money on anything else, we might as well take a flier on Winston. I am not a big fan, but at this point I am willing to throw some mud on the wall and see what sticks.

Personally, I have a tough time seeing how this detracts from Massie. He was the best offensive line player we had at the end of last year and you would hope he is getting better. He is athletic, and will find a starting spot on the line. IMO, signing Winston is more likley to move Massie to the LT spot than to the bench. With Massie, Potter, Watford and Cooper it seems the Cardinals are moving to a more athletic line which could be a good thing.

My concern is that if Massie COULD play LT, why didn't he play it for a terrible Ole Miss program? Did he have someone better in front of him, a la Tyron Smith and Brandon Albert?

Did we not learn from the Levi Brown Experience that it's not as easy as you think to move from the right side of the line to the left?

 

[Quinn McCollum]

My concern is that if Massie COULD play LT, why didn't he play it for a terrible Ole Miss program? Did he have someone better in front of him, a la Tyron Smith and Brandon Albert?

Did we not learn from the Levi Brown Experience that it's not as easy as you think to move from the right side of the line to the left?

To go even fether back. Why did he not play LT in high school. Massie has been a RT on every level of Football up to this point.

Bradley Sowell was Ole miss LT for 3 years why Massie was RT for 2 of those 3. Sowell went undrafted in the 2012 draft and was an UDFA pick of the Buccaneers put did not make the team. Was latter signed by the Colts. Massie did not have anyone special blocking him from LT.

 

[THESMEL]

cool

 

[Totally_Red]

While I don't believe for a minute that Eric Winston is an all-pro right tackle, I love the fact that Steve Keim and Bruce Arians are going all out to WIN NOW. At worst, Winston provides depth at right tackle. We've known all along that B.A. was acclimating Nate Potter at right tackle and Bobby Massey at left tackle during the spring.

You have to believe they aren't throwing a boat-load of money at either WInston or John Abraham. Both are stop-gap answers until SK has the chance to rebuild a severly depleted roster. This is the best I've felt about the Cardinals since 2009 despite a very tough division.

I love it!

 

[cardpa]

My concern is that if Massie COULD play LT, why didn't he play it for a terrible Ole Miss program? Did he have someone better in front of him, a la Tyron Smith and Brandon Albert?

Did we not learn from the Levi Brown Experience that it's not as easy as you think to move from the right side of the line to the left?[/QUOTE]

Brown was the starting LT for PSU for 3 years so its not like he never played LT before he got to the pro level.

 

[HotSauce]

Good veteran pickup. Winston is a good run blocking ZBS RT only type. My only concern, with him, however, is pass protection in this offense. Per stats.com he's given up 13.5 sacks the past couple of seasons in what basically amounts to a couple of run first offenses that didn't have the deeper drops and longer routes planning to be run here.

BTW, someone mentioned that Cooper has his best film at center, but I recall reading a couple pre-draft articles that stated the exact opposite. As a junior, he really struggled there and the team was forced to move him back to guard.

 

[az jam]

Good to have depth for our offensive line especially at the tackle position.

 

[JeffGollin]

Some Things to Consider

1. Our most overriding concern had to be stability at the LT position.

2. According to a post on another thread, Levi's rehab is behind schedule and he has another leg injury on top of that.

3. If the CW is accurate, both Massie and Winston are good RT's, so if either moves to LT, we'll still be OK at RT.

4. Potter still remains a high-potential project who may or may not be ready.

5. I don't think we mess with Cooper at center except to gradually develop as a long range option. We slot him in at LG and let 'er rip.

Therefore, what I'd expect to see is a free-for-all at LT with the best guy starting at LT and one of the runners-up starting at RT.

This could buy Levi some extra time to get healthy, re-learn his RT assignments and add some versatility at both guard positions - making him our #1 swing lineman.

Bottom line - I don't see anything pre-ordained here. I think the coaches will give these issues a chance to work themselves out on their own in practice and during preseason play.

 

[GuernseyCard]

My concern is that if Massie COULD play LT, why didn't he play it for a terrible Ole Miss program? Did he have someone better in front of him, a la Tyron Smith and Brandon Albert?

Did we not learn from the Levi Brown Experience that it's not as easy as you think to move from the right side of the line to the left?[/quote]

While #75 had some experience at LT in College, couldn't agree more. I think some are taking the cross training while Brown has been re-habbing a bit too seriously. I would think that someone like Colledge may be under a bit more threat by the possibility that the loser in the R-tackle sweepstakes is moved inside.

 

[cardpa]

1. Our most overriding concern had to be stability at the LT position.

2. According to a post on another thread, Levi's rehab is behind schedule and he has another leg injury on top of that.

3. If the CW is accurate, both Massie and Winston are good RT's, so if either moves to LT, we'll still be OK at RT.

4. Potter still remains a high-potential project who may or may not be ready.

5. I don't think we mess with Cooper at center except to gradually develop as a long range option. We slot him in at LG and let 'er rip.

Therefore, what I'd expect to see is a free-for-all at LT with the best guy starting at LT and one of the runners-up starting at RT.

This could buy Levi some extra time to get healthy, re-learn his RT assignments and add some versatility at both guard positions - making him our #1 swing lineman.

Bottom line - I don't see anything pre-ordained here. I think the coaches will give these issues a chance to work themselves out on their own in practice and during preseason play.

I agree with your assessment Jeff. I don't think there is any way Cooper plays Center. The best tackle who shows the most will start at LT. the second best ends up at RT.

I suspect next draft we see a center taken at some point and if no one really stands out at LT we see a stud LT in the first round.