Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
First of all...if one really wants to know how far the Cardinals have come in challenging for the NFC West title, consider this. When comparing the Cardinals' starters to the Seahawks'...the Cardinals are only stronger and more talented at five positions: WR (Boldin), WR (Fitzgerald), RDE (Berry), SLB (Dansby) and SS (Wilson). Call Edge and Shaun a tie...although an argument can be made that Shaun Alexander is the best and most productive back in the NFL right now.
Talent and production-wise the Seahawks are stronger at QB, FB, LT, LG, C, RG, RT, DT, DT, LDE, WLB, MLB, LCB, RCB and FS.
Think the Cardinals have some catching up to do?
It all starts with the offensive line...doesn't it?
Yet, why is Dennis Green continuing to twiddle his thumbs?
Mind boggling, isn't it?
Yeah, hiring Steve Loney to coach the unit was smart...finally. But, is Green realistic to think that Loney can turn below average linemen into stalwarts?
Adding G Milford Brown helps...but one has to wonder why the Texans, who have just as significant o-line problems as the Cardinals...why they would so easily part with Brown. The answer? He's been shaky in pass protection.
Hopefully, Loney can bring the best out of Brown. I believe he will.
But, what about the rest of the line?
Reggie Wells? Wells said he was playing well when he got hurt. What games was he watching? Yes, Wells is a pretty solid pass protector. But, as a guard (with his lack of girth and point of attack strength) he does virtually nothing for the running game.
Is Wells a center? Maybe. But, his lack of interior strength should cost him there too.
Is Wells a tackle? I believe he is. He has the agility, athleticism and footwork to be a solid tackle...and he has the strength and arm punch to muscle defensive ends in both the run and the passing games.
The Cardinals still don't really know what they have in Wells...but they should know he's not a good starting guard. Under these circumstances, unless Steve Loney is convinced Wells will be his starting center or right tackle...the team shouldn't match the Bills' 5/$17M offer. Take the 6th rounder.
Elton Brown shows some solid potential at guard...and looks to be the part physically, although he's not a strong at the point of attack as his body mass suggests. His strength is in his suprising ability to get out on his pulls and track defenders down in space. Hopefully, he's been working the weights fast and furiously this off-season. His pass protection needs serious work as well. He's a sucker for rip and swim moves as he's prone to losing his base and balance when countering for swims and rips. Steve Loney will teach Brown to stay solid in his base by sitting down more strongly and keeping his arms tighter to his frame.
Will Elton Brown be a starter this year? Right now that's questionable.
What about Alex Stepanovich? This guy, first and foremost, has to get healthy. Secondly, he's got to learn technique...he's prone to lunging and coming out of his stance too soon. If he ever learns to get off the ball and roll his hips into his blocks, he could make some noise. Otherwise, he's just a body in there.
Nick Leckey is a more solid technician at the center position. He's a smart and fiesty competitor...and he understands leverege. He's undersized...and is too small to play guard. But, he showed enough at center last year to make me believe that he has a future there. He may never be an All-Pro...but his solid play can anchor and galvanize the line, particularly in pass protection. The pass protection was stronger with him at center last year. His snaps were crisper and line was getting off the snaps in greater unison.
Leonard Davis is a solid left tackle...when he's not jumping the snap. He's strong in pass protection and can swallow up defensive ends...but, in run blocking, he's outquicked on the edge and often doesn't know what to do when his man skirts around him. Hopefully, Loney will teach him to react quicker, punch and toss squirmy DEs aside and get downfield faster. What's tantalizing is that Davis could be rooting out DTs with regular success from the guard position...made all the more tantalizing when no guard on the team can. Adding Milford Brown may take some of this sting away...but until the Cardinals add another guard who actually can run block on the interior...the thought of Davis manhandling a DT will be difficult to ignore...especially if Edge is getting smashed on the handoffs the way Emmitt, Marcel and JJ have been these past two years.
Oliver Ross was supposed to be a right tackle with a mean streak. Did anyone see anything remotely mean about him last year? He played just as soft as Anthony Clement...only Clement was a much better pass protector. Ross isn't athletic enough to play RT consistently well in the NFL. He's a leaner and is easy to tilt...which disrupts his feet and his balance and the next thing one knows his man has blown by him. There was nothing about his play last year that would suggest he should ever play another snap at RT for the Cardinals.
Can Loney coach Ross up? Will we see a different Ross?
There has been talk on the board about shifting Ross to guard. At his salary and at this point in his career, such a shift may be a waste of time.
Dennis Green seems to think that adding Milford Brown and drafting an o-lineman will do the trick. Last year he thought the same thing after he added Oliver Ross...Ross and a draft pick...that'll do it.
Ross wasn't exactly a proven commodity. And is it wise to count on rookies?
Milford Brown isn't a proven commodity.
What gives?
How and why Dennis Green doesn't have a more aggressive plan to upgrade the talent on this o-line is about as mind boggling...well, as keeping Reggie "Why Run Hard...I Might Get Hurt" Swinton.
Talent and production-wise the Seahawks are stronger at QB, FB, LT, LG, C, RG, RT, DT, DT, LDE, WLB, MLB, LCB, RCB and FS.
Think the Cardinals have some catching up to do?
It all starts with the offensive line...doesn't it?
Yet, why is Dennis Green continuing to twiddle his thumbs?
Mind boggling, isn't it?
Yeah, hiring Steve Loney to coach the unit was smart...finally. But, is Green realistic to think that Loney can turn below average linemen into stalwarts?
Adding G Milford Brown helps...but one has to wonder why the Texans, who have just as significant o-line problems as the Cardinals...why they would so easily part with Brown. The answer? He's been shaky in pass protection.
Hopefully, Loney can bring the best out of Brown. I believe he will.
But, what about the rest of the line?
Reggie Wells? Wells said he was playing well when he got hurt. What games was he watching? Yes, Wells is a pretty solid pass protector. But, as a guard (with his lack of girth and point of attack strength) he does virtually nothing for the running game.
Is Wells a center? Maybe. But, his lack of interior strength should cost him there too.
Is Wells a tackle? I believe he is. He has the agility, athleticism and footwork to be a solid tackle...and he has the strength and arm punch to muscle defensive ends in both the run and the passing games.
The Cardinals still don't really know what they have in Wells...but they should know he's not a good starting guard. Under these circumstances, unless Steve Loney is convinced Wells will be his starting center or right tackle...the team shouldn't match the Bills' 5/$17M offer. Take the 6th rounder.
Elton Brown shows some solid potential at guard...and looks to be the part physically, although he's not a strong at the point of attack as his body mass suggests. His strength is in his suprising ability to get out on his pulls and track defenders down in space. Hopefully, he's been working the weights fast and furiously this off-season. His pass protection needs serious work as well. He's a sucker for rip and swim moves as he's prone to losing his base and balance when countering for swims and rips. Steve Loney will teach Brown to stay solid in his base by sitting down more strongly and keeping his arms tighter to his frame.
Will Elton Brown be a starter this year? Right now that's questionable.
What about Alex Stepanovich? This guy, first and foremost, has to get healthy. Secondly, he's got to learn technique...he's prone to lunging and coming out of his stance too soon. If he ever learns to get off the ball and roll his hips into his blocks, he could make some noise. Otherwise, he's just a body in there.
Nick Leckey is a more solid technician at the center position. He's a smart and fiesty competitor...and he understands leverege. He's undersized...and is too small to play guard. But, he showed enough at center last year to make me believe that he has a future there. He may never be an All-Pro...but his solid play can anchor and galvanize the line, particularly in pass protection. The pass protection was stronger with him at center last year. His snaps were crisper and line was getting off the snaps in greater unison.
Leonard Davis is a solid left tackle...when he's not jumping the snap. He's strong in pass protection and can swallow up defensive ends...but, in run blocking, he's outquicked on the edge and often doesn't know what to do when his man skirts around him. Hopefully, Loney will teach him to react quicker, punch and toss squirmy DEs aside and get downfield faster. What's tantalizing is that Davis could be rooting out DTs with regular success from the guard position...made all the more tantalizing when no guard on the team can. Adding Milford Brown may take some of this sting away...but until the Cardinals add another guard who actually can run block on the interior...the thought of Davis manhandling a DT will be difficult to ignore...especially if Edge is getting smashed on the handoffs the way Emmitt, Marcel and JJ have been these past two years.
Oliver Ross was supposed to be a right tackle with a mean streak. Did anyone see anything remotely mean about him last year? He played just as soft as Anthony Clement...only Clement was a much better pass protector. Ross isn't athletic enough to play RT consistently well in the NFL. He's a leaner and is easy to tilt...which disrupts his feet and his balance and the next thing one knows his man has blown by him. There was nothing about his play last year that would suggest he should ever play another snap at RT for the Cardinals.
Can Loney coach Ross up? Will we see a different Ross?
There has been talk on the board about shifting Ross to guard. At his salary and at this point in his career, such a shift may be a waste of time.
Dennis Green seems to think that adding Milford Brown and drafting an o-lineman will do the trick. Last year he thought the same thing after he added Oliver Ross...Ross and a draft pick...that'll do it.
Ross wasn't exactly a proven commodity. And is it wise to count on rookies?
Milford Brown isn't a proven commodity.
What gives?
How and why Dennis Green doesn't have a more aggressive plan to upgrade the talent on this o-line is about as mind boggling...well, as keeping Reggie "Why Run Hard...I Might Get Hurt" Swinton.
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