LG Decision = Most Important on Offense

[Mitch]

When the Cardinals think about the LG position---what they have to be thinking is that they want and need their most physically imposing offensive lineman at that spot.

It all starts with being able to block Justin Smith, Brandon Mebane and Michael Brockers.

Even Jonathan Cooper as a rookie was going to have his issues with those three.

Now that Cooper is out---and on the bright side a broken fibula is much better to recover from than an ACL or other ligament issues---the Cardinals need to take their most physical player and insert him at LG.

If this is the top criterion---we can rule out the following players:

Chilo Rachal---Justin Smith would whip up on him as he did in practice every day at SF.

Daryn Colledge---Smith has owned him and Colledge is hurting and could well be close to being washed up. Great guy, but he's not a physical NFC West type of guard.

Paul Fanaika---RG suits him, LG is a different animal.

Earl Watford---now he's got the physical prowess, but is far too green at this point.

Senio Kelemete---see Fanaika.

It boils down to two---the two most physical offensive linemen on the roster:

Eric Winston---played some guard in the past and may be just what this team needs at that key spot. Plus, Bobby Massie is without a doubt one of the best 5 offensive linemen on the team.

Levi Brown---he's a load physically and would pose a problem for Smith, Mebane and Brockers in tight spaces. He could lay a pounding on those DTs.

One could argue, but can they pull and handle quick switches on stunts?

Not as well as Cooper---but just as well if not better than Rachal, Colledge, etc.

But---if the Cardinals can't block Smith, Mebane and Brockers head up, they aren't going to be able to beat those rivals. This is the most important thing and a real key to any chances the Cardinals have in challenging in the NFC West.

 

[PJ1]

Interesting proposals on replacing Cooper. I like having Massie in there at RT with Winston moving to guard if in fact he can play there. What I see the team doing is moving Colledge back to LG and Fanaika will start at RG.

I agree with you that Colledge is not the answer as he is part of the problem, not the solution.

 

[Duckjake]

I know the conventional wisdom is teams don't like to do two moves but I'd go with the experience at the position. Colledge goes back to LG where he has played for 2 seasons and Fanaika takes over at RG where he has played throughout camp.

The experience factor of course leaves out Brown and Massie.

The Winston idea is intriguing because he played some at RG last season for KC I think. Colledge goes back to LG, Winston moves over one spot and Massie comes back to RT. I could live with that.

And then I'd line up DC Jefferson at TE on the left side every play to help Levi. Offensive line problems solved.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Thanks for some different options you threw out. Thinking out side the box.

Whatever they do it will require time to the Oline to gel.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

This all translates to two words: So Screwed!

 

[ap11]

hey Mitch
Good thoughts as usual. When has Winston played guard? Massie should be ok at RT as he seemed to play well during the final 8 games last year.

 

[Shane]

It doesn't matter the OL sucks. Its going to continue to suck. We will suck!

 

[HotSauce]

I believe that Winston would be a speed bump on the way to the QB at LG. They need to leave him at RT. I say see what Massie can do at LG.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Not suggesting Rachal, but given that he played right guard in SF, I don't think Smith was beating up on him every day. In the end, Colledge because he's spent his career there and is familiar with Levi.

 

[GuernseyCard]

It doesn't matter the OL sucks. Its going to continue to suck. We will suck!

There are levels of suckatude.

 

[JeffGollin]

It's a League requirement that we still have to play the games, so we're going to have to assess our options, pull the trigger on any decision and try to turn a lemon or two into lemon-aide.

Onward.

 

[Seandonic]

It doesn't matter the OL sucks. Its going to continue to suck. We will suck!

Yep

 

[TJ]

Winston is a RT through and through. He won't be relocated. The only out-of-left field move that could be made (and it's a long shot) would be Massie to guard. Truthfully, I don't see it.

I believe any situation would involve Colledge moving back to LG as he has the most experience in that position, which leaves RG open competition. BA loves him some Fanaika, so I believe he wins the job unless he blows it against Denver. Rachal is hot garbage and Kelemente is inexperienced.

That being said, our Week 1 starting O-Line, like it or not, will probably be:

Brown-Colledge-Sendlein-Fanaika-Winston

BTW--does anyone else feel the wind taken from their sails this morning??

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't think there is a "good" move to be made in this situation. One of the things that made Cooper our best offensive linemen is that he was different from anything else we had on our roster. Nothing really has changed to this point.

Brown-Colledge-Sendlein-Fanaika-Winston and another top 10 draft pick awaits us.

 

[Alan]

What's Snyder up to these days? *ducks*

 

[Duckjake]

What's Snyder up to these days? *ducks*

San Francisco took him back. It's really weird as it seems these teams loan us their players so they can clear up some salary cap room or make them appreciate how good they had it before leaving or something.

 

[JeffGollin]

BTW--does anyone else feel the wind taken from their sails this morning??

Of course. But then, too, the preseason is full of overreaction (both negative and positive).

We weren't as good as some of us thought. We probably aren't that bad.

But we did suck badly enough to be very very concerned. Now we'll get to see how BA and SK handle adversity.

Expectations have a way of coming back to bite you on the ass. Frankly, I'd just as soon stay away from the prognostication business, let the game come to me and enjoy what figures to be a very bumpy ride.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

But we did suck badly enough to be very very concerned.

Now we'll get to see how BA and SK handle adversity.

Looking forward to see how they handle it. This is key here for BA to turn this around after all the talk he has been doing.

Good coaches rebound from tough situations. We'll see.

He needs to do a lot of this ....

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The Panthers, desperate for offensive line help, brought back one of their most trusted blockers of the last decade, announcing that they signed Travelle Wharton.

Wharton has 99 career starts at guard and tackle, most of them with the Panthers.

Why aren't we bringing someone like this that has experience? He was injured last year but we need help.

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