Offenisve Line Chatter

[Crossbones]

Looking at what going on it seems to me the Raiders are pretty much going with what we have on the OL...Newberry notwithstanding. The thinking might be that the players we have are alright with some better coaching and scheme changes.

I'm not sure I buy all that but it sure looks like that what's happening in Alameda.

Clearly the Raiders weren't going to cough up $50 million for a guard or a tackle for that matter. Can't blame them I guess. Probably wasn't even an option anyway based on these players wanting to get on a winner right away. But then I don't know that for sure. For sure the teams who wanted them moved quickly and opened up the check book.

What's everybody think about the OL mess?

On another matter (hijacking my own thread) looks like Ken Hamlin won't be re-signed in Seattle. He'd look good at SS for the Raiders moving Huff to FS. Even though Hamlin is listed as a FS he has and can play SS.

 

[Jack's sore libido]

I think our starting lineup is going to wind up being:

LT Sims
LG Grove
C RYAN KALIL
RG Boothe
RT Gallery

I hate the Sims looks like the guy, and part of me wonders if we shouldn't just draft Joe Thomas and Ryan Kalil in the first two rounds and go with Walter/Moss/Porter/Curry/Jordan at the skill positions.

Then I remember the last time Oakland had high picks in a drafted loaded with skill players and took two linemen in the first two rounds.

People praised the picks for being prudent, but the players have been busts.

 

[BigTron]

We might have a shot a Blaylock to be our starting LG of the future in round two.

 

[Freakshow]

What's everybody think about the OL mess?

On another matter (hijacking my own thread) looks like Ken Hamlin won't be re-signed in Seattle. He'd look good at SS for the Raiders moving Huff to FS. Even though Hamlin is listed as a FS he has and can play SS.

I think we'll definitely stick with the majority of lineman we had last year. If Newberry can go I think he'll start at center. My guess is this:

LT Sims (With Tony Ugoh waiting in the wings)
LG McQuistin
C Newberry
RG Boothe
RT Gallery

That's a line I could get behind, particularly with the new zone-blocking scheme in place, a better offensive approach, and a couple years of experience for the youngsters.

I LOVE Hamlin. He'd look sweet roaming our secondary. Dude's still in his prime and recovered amazingly well from his near-death bar incident. Washington and Asomuga at the corners with Huff and Hamlin would make me very happy.

 

[Banter]

Sims will get abused this year at LT. Merriman, Wimbley, Jason Taylor, Mark Anderson, Jared Allen and Freeney all coming off that side. The better the pass rusher the worst Sims plays. Sims can shutout the mediocre to average guys but the good ones torch him.

 

[Madturk]

Thus the rationale for signing two big blocking TE's to chip block the rush ends. I like Jack's scenario sans Grove at LG. Maybe we can bring that Mulitalo cat in. Can't Chris Morris play a little guard too?

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Honestly, I don't know why Hulsey never got a real shot to play. The one preseason game he started, he was waaaaay better than Grove ever was. And that was playing a brand new position.

 

[Crossbones]

That's a line I could get behind, particularly with the new zone-blocking scheme in place, a better offensive approach, and a couple years of experience for the youngsters.

I'm just wondering what magic is going to happen to get these guys to gel. Zone blocking? We tried that two season's ago and most of us yelled our heads off. I hope coaching is the difference or we're gonna be a sorry bunch by mid season.

I LOVE Hamlin. He'd look sweet roaming our secondary. Dude's still in his prime and recovered amazingly well from his near-death bar incident. Washington and Asomuga at the corners with Huff and Hamlin would make me very happy.

I agree. I'd replace Stu with Hamlin in a heart beat. I really think he can play SS and let Huff move to center field and make some plays back there.

Sims will get abused this year at LT. Merriman, Wimbley, Jason Taylor, Mark Anderson, Jared Allen and Freeney all coming off that side. The better the pass rusher the worst Sims plays. Sims can shutout the mediocre to average guys but the good ones torch him.

We may rue the day we went with Sims at LT. The AFCW is loaded with guys who come off the edge to rush the passer. Don't even remind me of SB XXXVII.

Honestly, I don't know why Hulsey never got a real shot to play. The one preseason game he started, he was waaaaay better than Grove ever was. And that was playing a brand new position.

Kinda pisses me off. Hulsey played damn good in the preseason and even in the games he got in during the regular season. But for some reason which we probably are aware of he never got a real shot. I suppose there must be a good reason but from what I saw it makes me wonder.


The multi-quote feature rock.

 

[hawaiianboy]

What I'd like to see:

LT: Robert Gallery
LG: Zach Piller (FA)
C: Jake Grove
RG: Kevin Boothe
RT: William 'Tre" Thomas (aquired from Philly for Lamont Jordan)

Thomas can flip flop with Gallery if necessary and McQuistan can back up Thomas at RT for a year or so till he's stronger and ready to step in..


What I think we'll see:

LT: Sims
LG: McQuistan
C: Grove
RG: Boothe
RT: Gallery

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Way too early to tell and if we do draft a first day lineman (Kalil, Staley, etc) it will completely shake things up.

I've been saying it for years, but the offensive line camp battle will be most interesting....

 

[Crossbones]

What I think we'll see:

LT: Sims
LG: McQuistan
C: Grove
RG: Boothe
RT: Gallery

And if this happens you see what kind of improvement?

Has Walter got his life insurance paid up in full?

Way too early to tell and if we do draft a first day lineman (Kalil, Staley, etc) it will completely shake things up.

I've been saying it for years, but the offensive line camp battle will be most interesting....

I'm just wondering what kind of improvement we should expect from virtually the same group of players? Is the coaching going to make that much difference to see some sort of magical turnaround?

I don't want my new QB (Quinn) hurt before he gets his feet wet.

 

[Madturk]

Way too early to tell and if we do draft a first day lineman (Kalil, Staley, etc) it will completely shake things up.

I've been saying it for years, but the offensive line camp battle will be most interesting....

I hope that's the case because I'm not that all comfortable with that starting 5 going into next season.

 

[Chris_77]

We may rue the day we went with Sims at LT. The AFCW is loaded with guys who come off the edge to rush the passer. Don't even remind me of SB XXXVII.

He really can't be any worse than Gallery... can he?

 

[hawaiianboy]

And if this happens you see what kind of improvement?

Well, to the optimist side of things, an area blocking scheme is alot more user friendly than a lead step man scheme, and more along the likes of what Grove and Gallery excelled in at college... A bad scheme fit can often make a good player look bad, as we saw with Warren Sapp in the 34... Fitting the players skillset to a better fitting scheme is a step in the right direction...

To the plus, Kiffen is known to move both the QB and the pocket around to aliviate pressure and offset blitz packages... and he fully believes in getting the backs out into pass patterns... All things we didn't really do last season to help the O-line out... In addition, USC played a 34 defense so we should be better at dealing with that particular '06 problem area....


To the pessimist side, I could think of reasons why every one of those projected starters could easily bomb... There isn't a 'gimmee' in the bunch as far as being an effective starter... I bitched all last offseason about bringing in talent at tackle and getting rid of Sims salary as well as that slug Langston... Joe Thomas aside, this years draftable OT talent doesn't match up with last years deep class IMO... There's also virtually nothing in free agency as far as good tackles go, and after the high ticket guys like Steinbach and Deilman, no real difference makers at guard either IMO...

Barring a trade we're basically stuck with what we have at tackle at least... I just don't see guys like Ugoh, Staley, Free etc as being ready in the first year players much less ready by day 1 guys...


Yeah I would like to add a vet like Tra Thomas in the mix, but even though there's no rhyme or reason to it, I don't feel the same impending doom that I felt last year when I was sure Sims would look bad as a guard and Langston was in trouble... Yes I think Sims is going to have problems with the elite speed rushers should we have to use him at LT, but I have a certain level of confidence this year in our staffs ability to make adaptions to the game plan as far as play design and hot reads to help offset things like that...

The guy I actually think may pleasantly surprise in this scheme is McQuistan... Once the dust settles, I could see Gallery at LT and McQ at RT on opening day...

 

[Langlier]

honestly... i think the players are ok... if we can get a good system in place thats when we will see our OL improve.

 

[007]

Newberry will start.

Lets not forget the guy is was a Pro Bowler and is a very smart and fiesty lineman...

I see it going down:

LT: Gallery (All the movement talk was already proven false...Its an open competition for the LT spot)
LG: Sims/Grove
C : Newberry/Grove
RG: Boothe/Grove
RT: McQ/FA (Hoping for Rosenthal out of Minny)

 

[GRaider]

Honestly, I don't know why Hulsey never got a real shot to play. The one preseason game he started, he was waaaaay better than Grove ever was. And that was playing a brand new position.

I agree. Hulsey showed me more than Grove did. I am surprised we haven't attempted to resign him.

 

[Limee]

The offensive line is still a huge question mark to me. If Sims is back at LT then we know he is good enough except when facing top level pass rushers`when he does require help. Gallery looked more solid at RT than he did last year. Boothe had a decent rookie season, but McQuistan and Grove have really struggled. Newberry could well struggle to make it through the season in one piece.

I would certainly like to see at least one more free agent, even if it is just bringing in some lower level players for some competition. Is the Falcons guard Lehr still available. If not then I would be very happy to see us pick up a lineman in the second or third round. Kalil, Ugoh, Staley or Free would give us another athletic lineman who could probably fit nicely into this scheme. Kalil may be the only one who could come straight in and start. We shouln't let the fact that Gallery and Grove haven't developed the way we hoped stop us from drafting more prospects who could help us get back on track.

 

[NIPS]

The more I hate to see it, I just dont see the Raiders taking an OT in rd 2, But I'm still hoping that if Staley is there that they do themselves a big favor and take the guy, I'm looking at our depth at guard and it aint good. Someone like Blalock or Beekman or maybe we can somehow move up in rd2 and take that Rameirez kid


LT - Slaughter---Sims--- Joe Staley
LG - Corey Hulsey --- McQuistan
C - Newberry - Grove - Treu
RG - Boothe - Badger
RT - Gallery -


Here would be my starting OL

Joe Staley - LT
Sims - LG
Newberry - C
Boothe - RG
Gallery - RT

 

[poptart]

If Newberry is the only new blood on the O-Line, we blow.
It's questionable whether he'll even be able to hold up.

Beyond that question mark, what we have are a bunch of guys we ... hope ... will play a LOT better.
Is our hope reality-based ... ?

What I saw last season was THE worst bunch of horseshit up front I have ever seen.

Yeah, shuffle 'em around some more.
That's the ticket.