With the announcement that Demetrius Bell is set to visit the Packers later this week, (and possibly the Skins as well), my hopes of our front office going all-in to fix our O-line took a big hit today. I no longer believe that the FO/HC have any real interest in signing Bell. That is a shame, because we had the opportunity to really make our OL into something very special, and do it relatively cheaply by most standards today.
I had salivated over a line of Bell-LT, Colledge-LG, Sendlein-C, Snyder-RG, and Levi Brown-RT. I figured Batiste and Bridges to compete for the remaining OT backup slot, and hoped for DeCastro to fall to us at #13. I no longer believe that the FO intends to sign Bell, and the way DeCastro has climbed in many scouts and anylists's surveys lately, I no longer believe DeCastro will be available at #13.
I now believe that our FO will start an OL consisting of Brown-LT, Colledge-LG, Sendlein-C, Snyder-RG, and Batiste and Bridges competing for RT, with the loser as the OT-backup. I believe that they feel they can sign Lutui to back-up the Guards, and that Barthalomew will back-up Sendlein. I believe that this strategy is flawed, as Lutui might just get selected by the 9'rs, and give them, not only a decent RG, but our line-calls as well.
Sadly, this is exactly the kind of thinking that led to us not taking a #2 WR in free agency or the draft last year. More sadly, I don't believe that either Blackmon or Riley will be available to them this year, and once again, they seem to have let the decent ones get signed before they acted in free agency.
Some might say that the Cards covet Johnathon Martin at LT. If that is true, it has become pretty clear to most that he is not ready to step into the fray this year. Most analysts believe he is neither strong enough or athletic enough to play OT in the pros. Some even believe he has no desire to work to get better than he has been all along, (not exactly what you would want to see in a prospective long-term replacement at LT on one's OL). Sure, Lott could make him stronger and quicker. He can't make him meaner, and is not likely to be able to give him the desire and dedication it takes to play in this league.
I now see us taking Luke Keuchley, ILB, with the #13 pick. I believe he will be there for us, and I also believe he would be BPA at that pick, and that he would make our inside linebacking corps, (Washington & Keuchley), a very formidable one for years to come. I believe that our O/L will be only slightly better than last year, (due to Levi's performance in his last 9 games at LT), in which he seems to have finally had the light come on. I believe that Snyder will only be marginally better than Lutui would have at RG, and that is even questionable. One thing about Snyder is certain however, (no one will out work him), which is something Deuce did not bring to the table, (no pun intendelookd).
