New Front Page Article: O-Line Analysis

[Mitch]

Check out Reggie Wells' block on Aaron Kampman! Of course, Wells was where he should be: at RT. Read and react, my good friends!

Thanks,

Mitch

 

[SuperSpck]

Good write up Mitch (again). I tend to agree with your proposed line up. In the past I've said in Green I trust. Weeeell, I suppose it's my natural jack-assery that'll have my saying in Whiz/Grimm I trust.

Please, please let me be right this time.

 

[Mitch]

Thanks SuperSpck: I trust Whiz & Co. too...just not sold on Wells at guard, nor am I sold on Levi Brown as a rookie protecting ML's blindside.

 

[Second Deck]

I am a believer that Levie will be a better pro than Joe Thomas. I would guess Levi will be the stater game one unless he misses camp then we are in trouble out the gate. We know what Ross can do and it is not good.

 

[az1965]

Good analysis. And I agree with your proposed line. Logically it makes sense. I really hope Whiz and Grimm know what they are doing but saying that the coaches know what they are doing is not always correct as they can get too obssessed with what they believe.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

By the way, how sexy is the new frontpage? Am I right?

 

[Mitch]

Good analysis. And I agree with your proposed line. Logically it makes sense. I really hope Whiz and Grimm know what they are doing but saying that the coaches know what they are doing is not always correct as they can get too obssessed with what they believe.

Good point, az1965. The thing is...the pass blocking in Pittsburgh has not been stellar, especially from their mauler-type tackles...last year their pass blocking was atrocious. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?

 

[az1965]

By the way, how sexy is the new frontpage? Am I right?

Very nice!

I'm especially glad to lose that gray letters on white background that put a strain on my eyes.

 

[BigRedRage]

the blog section should be wider

 

[Mike Olbinski]

the blog section should be wider

It's pretty wide already...and those columns will get filled up in awhile with crap, so we'll need the space.

 

[kerouac9]

I think the new frontpage looks great. The only real problem I have is that the "Forums" button is so far to the right. Isn't that why most of us come here? Is the Chat section really so active?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I think the new frontpage looks great. The only real problem I have is that the "Forums" button is so far to the right. Isn't that why most of us come here? Is the Chat section really so active?

You're totally right...I actually was annoyed it was over to the right so far. I'll try to change it...the other links are generated by the Blog itself, so I had to add in the forum one on my own, hence why it's right.

 

[BigRedRage]

It's pretty wide already...and those columns will get filled up in awhile with crap, so we'll need the space.

coo, jmho

 

[kerouac9]

You're totally right...I actually was annoyed it was over to the right so far. I'll try to change it...the other links are generated by the Blog itself, so I had to add in the forum one on my own, hence why it's right.

It's really not that big a deal. I have a link directly to the forum on my home computer. But when I'm elsewhere and checking in, it's kind of hard to find the forum button. But I manage to get there. I wonder if it would even be as big a deal if the buttons were just in the same order as the ones at the top of the screen inside the forum (I'm looking at them up at the top of my page right now).

I think a complicating factor is that when you run over the buttons and they turn orange, it's difficult to read what they sat because the gray is low-contrast against the orange. I have no idea what you would do to fix that, except maybe turn the text blue or something...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

It's really not that big a deal. I have a link directly to the forum on my home computer. But when I'm elsewhere and checking in, it's kind of hard to find the forum button. But I manage to get there. I wonder if it would even be as big a deal if the buttons were just in the same order as the ones at the top of the screen inside the forum (I'm looking at them up at the top of my page right now).

I think a complicating factor is that when you run over the buttons and they turn orange, it's difficult to read what they sat because the gray is low-contrast against the orange. I have no idea what you would do to fix that, except maybe turn the text blue or something...

All excellent ideas, which I wanted to get to, especially the order up top, and the color.

One other thing though...when you say "everyone is here for the forums anyways"...well, that is true...from the forums, but we are trying to promote the site on the blog side as well...and grow it in that direction at the same time.

 

[kerouac9]

All excellent ideas, which I wanted to get to, especially the order up top, and the color.

One other thing though...when you say "everyone is here for the forums anyways"...well, that is true...from the forums, but we are trying to promote the site on the blog side as well...and grow it in that direction at the same time.

Absolutely. I love the front page and the blogs. All I'm saying is that I'm not really sure anyone's here for the chat, except during drafts and on game days, and the "about" button is probably the least used of all. One of the best improvements to this board in the past 6 months or so has been the attention paid to the front page. That deserves a sincere , especially because I think that it attracts broader attention to the site.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Absolutely. I love the front page and the blogs. All I'm saying is that I'm not really sure anyone's here for the chat, except during drafts and on game days, and the "about" button is probably the least used of all. One of the best improvements to this board in the past 6 months or so has been the attention paid to the front page. That deserves a sincere , especially because I think that it attracts broader attention to the site.

Okay, fixed the links on the frontpage...at least, the order. Colors will be later.

 

[Harry]

"If that is truly the case, then it would seem that the best answer is to switch Reggie Wells back to right tackle…have Levi Brown return to left tackle…and slide Mike Gandy down to left guard to join Al Johnson at center and Deuce Lutui at right guard."


I agree this is the best line possible for a balanced attack. Luckily the Cards' schedule includes some teams with pass rushing issues.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

If that is truly the case, then it would seem that the best answer is to switch Reggie Wells back to right tackle…have Levi Brown return to left tackle…and slide Mike Gandy down to left guard to join Al Johnson at center and Deuce Lutui at right guard. There is really no other combination that makes sense…Oliver Ross has proven throughout his career, and particularly over the past two years with the Cardinals, that he is a human turnstyle at tackle…having Levi Brown try to protect Matt Leinart’s blindside as a rookie playing a new position may be far too unrealistic and will likely put Brown under immense pressure. Can the coaches learn right now what the Bills’ coaches realized about Mike Gandy last year, that he’s far better suited to play guard?

Mitch,

These are all good points and I hope that we don't tank this season trying fit square pegs in round holes as you put it .. the lineup you propose is one I would like to see also ..

I really don't see Wells being able to stop big DTs on the pass rush .. he has struggled with this in the past which is why DG moved him to RT ..

Oliver "turnstyle" Ross is just that .. can't see how he improves overnight ..

Gandy is a guard, not a tackle ...

I think Johnson will be okay and will be a big help in the center of the line ..

Lots of ???s this year for the Oline .. again ... if it works then Whis will look like a genius .. but if he fails its back to square one again ...

 

[Harry]

I agree, Wells is not a great solution, but he is the best solution available.

 

[BigRedArk]

"If that is truly the case, then it would seem that the best answer is to switch Reggie Wells back to right tackle…have Levi Brown return to left tackle…and slide Mike Gandy down to left guard to join Al Johnson at center and Deuce Lutui at right guard."


I agree this is the best line possible for a balanced attack. Luckily the Cards' schedule includes some teams with pass rushing issues.

I agree. This sounds like the best lineup.

 

[slanidrac16]

I just hope we settle on the starting 5 by the start of the season. The way I see it ,I don't think we will be faced with any gaping holes due to injuries. Experience and depth on the roster may not produce any All Pro's but we will be able to start 5 journeyman o-linemen. Say what you want about Mike Gandy , but his experience alone has to make him head and shoulders better that Fred Wakefield.

 

[kerouac9]

I just hope we settle on the starting 5 by the start of the season. The way I see it ,I don't think we will be faced with any gaping holes due to injuries. Experience and depth on the roster may not produce any All Pro's but we will be able to start 5 journeyman o-linemen. Say what you want about Mike Gandy , but his experience alone has to make him head and shoulders better that Fred Wakefield.

Fred Wakefield was never the starting tackle in Week 1. Mike Gandy is. Mike Gandy is probably about as good/talented as Oliver Ross, and we all know how that worked out.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Fred Wakefield was never the starting tackle in Week 1. Mike Gandy is. Mike Gandy is probably about as good/talented as Oliver Ross, and we all know how that worked out.

The scary thing is Gandy and Ross may very well be the starters in week 1. It all depends on how long Brown holds out. I think people are giving way too much credit to this OL and Russ Grimm. I like Grimm alot but, talentwise, this line may rank as the worst in the NFL. Is there one player you would consider even ranking in the top half of the NFL at their respective positions. The answer is a flat out ,no way. Lutui and Brown may eventually get to that level but, as of now, they are unproven commodities. The proven commodities, Gandy, Ross, Wells, and Johnson are all in the bottom third in the NFL. Hell, Gandy and Wells can easily be ranked the worst starting left side OL in the entire league.And, i'm sure, if Ross starts, that they will be the worst starting tackle tandem in the league. Grimm better be a miracle worker because, if not, Edge and Leinart are in for a world of hurt this year.