Right Guard, Right Tackle, or Left Tackle: Which Is Top Priority?

I'm not sure the answer will be known until the end of season, when they should have a better understanding of what they've got with guys like Martin, Yeatman and Watkins. Perhaps one (or more) of them show they can ably hold the position down in the future. Perhaps none of them will amount to much. Depending on who, if any, step up I'd go looking for the other positions. I'd look to sign one free agent, and then I'd seriously consider using more than half of our draft picks on offensive linemen.

 

RT, although I would entertain the thought of a solid LT and Martin back to RT, anything that involves Clabo not being on this roster ASAP. It really makes me wonder what Clabo vs Wake looks like during practice.

 

Which? Yes.

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2014 Free Agent OLinemen:

Pos Player FA Status Previous Team Current Team
OT Branden Albert UFA Kansas City Chiefs Free Agent
OT Eben Britton! UFA Chicago Bears Free Agent
OT Rashad Butler UFA Cleveland Browns Free Agent
OT Tyson Clabo UFA Miami Dolphins Free Agent
OT Chris Clark UFA Denver Broncos Free Agent
OT David Diehl UFA New York Giants Free Agent
OT Jason Fox UFA Detroit Lions Free Agent
OT Breno Giacomini UFA Seattle Seahawks Free Agent
OT Ryan Harris UFA Houston Texans Free Agent
OT Austin Howard UFA New York Jets Free Agent
OT Winston Justice UFA Denver Broncos Free Agent
OT Jeff Linkenbach UFA Indianapolis Colts Free Agent
OT Jamon Meredith UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers Free Agent
OT Michael Oher UFA Baltimore Ravens Free Agent
OT Mike Otto UFA Tennessee Titans Free Agent
OT Jonathan Scott UFA Chicago Bears Free Agent
OT Will Svitek UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
OT Jared Veldheer UFA Oakland Raiders Free Agent
OT Eric Winston UFA Arizona Cardinals Free Agent
C Tim Barnes UFA St. Louis Rams Free Agent
OG Kevin Boothe UFA New York Giants Free Agent
OG Willie Colon UFA (Cut) New York Jets Free Agent
C Evan Dietrich-Smith UFA Green Bay Packers Free Agent
C Dylan Gandy UFA Detroit Lions Free Agent
C Jonathan Goodwin UFA San Francisco 49ers Free Agent
OG Richie Incognito UFA Miami Dolphins Free Agent - Rated at +7 by PFF - https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/10/09/ranking-the-2013-offensive-lines-first-quarter/2/
C Patrick Mannelly UFA Chicago Bears Free Agent
C Don Muhlbach UFA Detroit Lions Free Agent
OG Richard Ohrnberger UFA San Diego Chargers Free Agent
OG Alex Parsons RFA Oakland Raiders Free Agent
C Dominic Raiola UFA Detroit Lions Free Agent
OG Chad Rinehart UFA San Diego Chargers Free Agent
OG Matt Slauson UFA Chicago Bears Free Agent
OG Wade Smith UFA Houston Texans Free Agent
OG Chris Spencer UFA Tennessee Titans Free Agent
C Fernando Velasco UFA Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agent
OG Brian Waters UFA Dallas Cowboys Free Agent
OG Danny Watkins UFA Miami Dolphins Free Agent
OG Chris Williams UFA St. Louis Rams Free Agent
OL Jim Cordle RFA New York Giants Free Agent
OL Brian De La Puente UFA New Orleans Saints Free Agent
OL Joe Reitz ERFA Indianapolis Colts Free Agent

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=All&y=2014#ixzz2hFuWu9ss

Be nice if we could steal Howard from the stej to replace Clabo... he's their only real stud on that line with a +6.7 rating by PFF - https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/10/09/ranking-the-2013-offensive-lines-first-quarter/2/

 

This makes sense to me. He's solid enough that he's worth paying as long as it's not too much.

 

I agree. That list as a whole is pretty underwhelming. I would like to see Richie retained and doing it during the season should be cheaper than waiting until free agency.

 

Jared Veldheer could be an interesting situation to follow.

The Raiders drafted Menelik Watson and he'll be coming back probably this week. He might temporarily play right tackle to get his feet wet until Tony Pashos can come back, but then again Pashos may come back this week as well. That would leave Watson playing left tackle...Jared Veldheer's spot.

Menelik Watson is a very talented player. What if he plays left tackle really well for the remainder of the year? Will the Raiders focus on keeping Veldheer and moving Watson to right tackle? That would probably make a lot of sense and they probably drafted Watson with right tackle in mind for him long term. But that doesn't mean it will happen that way. If Watson kills it they could get away with a cheap option at left tackle instead of paying Veldheer a lot of money. So you never really know.

I would consider Jared Veldheer a priority over Branden Albert. But since that situation is so questionable, it might behoove the team to just focus on Albert and be ready for a change of plans if something happens to where you think you can get Veldheer.

One situation that could play into that a little bit would be Austin Howard. I think Tony Sparano who is the Raiders' offensive line coach loves Howard. If the Jets look like they're going to let Howard get away then you could see the Raiders begin preparations to allow Veldheer to leave and make Watson the left tackle while Howard takes right tackle.

 

The group of interior OLs set to be free agents is pretty mean.

Based on what I know, I would be interested in some further study on Kevin Boothe, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Matt Slauson and Chad Rinehart. I have a feeling Slauson could be a little sought-after but not so much so that he's real expensive, and he could be a good fit.

 

Looks like Cogs would be a top priority if we are going to try to improve this line in the off season. He is a more than capable offensive lineman and I would hate to be looking for another offensive lineman when we have so many needs there already. We could conceivably find an answer for right guard on our current roster sometime this season but we may have to move Martin to Right Tackle during the off season unless there is a definite improvement this year. I still have hope that they can work out some problems this season in order to save our season and our quarterback,

 

I agree about Martin. It is far too premature to call him a bust. Remember Duane Brown.
I don't think Jerry is ever going to fit well as a run blocker in a zone scheme, and it was not what he was drafted for. I sure hope they give Watkins a chance, so we can see if he is worth keeping and going with for an extended time.

Yeah, that pic brings back memories. I just happened to stumble upon it one day in my meanderings around the web.

 

if they quit insisting that Tannehill stay in the pocket & allow him to roll out, an immediate upgrade at rg would facilitate the running game & help open receivers down field. might get away with Garner moving to rg & Jerry to rt in the short-run. wouldn't completely give up on Thomas. if we acquired a proven bull or top draft choice at LT, he could return to rt. what might be the first & best move is a new OL-Coach for 2014.

 

I would dumb as much money as it took to get the top O-line scout/s in the NFL and give him complete control of who we draft at that position.

 

Michael Oher Hhm

 

The distribution of the votes in this poll suggests that the readership at this site feels that all 3 positions are a top priority.

 

Ill always go with the guy coming from the QBs blindside, LT, and J. Martin sucks. But we do need guards and a RT too. Our OL is embarrassing outside of Pouncey pretty much.

 

Yes.

 

Jon Asamoah

 

I don't think looking at it in this way is the right approach. You have to weigh in what the available options are and at what cost. Who is on the draft board in which round and where you have that player graded. Who is available in FA and for what price. Its more complex then just saying postion x is the weakest position on the line. It might even be worth moving Incognito if there is someone available who can play left guard.

However I think if equal options were available for upgrade and the team only had enough resources for one of them. I would choose to upgrade the LT so that at least you have one reliable side to count on and leaves you the ability to scheme around the right side by leaving a guy in to pick up missed blocks, roll RT out to the left to avoid pressure, run the ball to the right. It at least allows you to attack one side of the field with some level of proficiency that they currently lack.

 

coaching, coaching & coaching, along with a more flexible/protective adjustments in the offensive scheme & game plans

could any of these ideas be part the week-six fix?

1) let Tannehill roll out & pass. use a QB draw now & then... use a safety valve out of the backfield... Marcus Thigpen comes to mind
2) employ TE's to bolster the OL more often or simply use extra offensive linesmen now & then
3) find the most mobile athletic linesmen (not in the starting line-up) & convert him to fullback
4) insert Nate Garner at RG (or give Danny Watson a shot at the start) while moving Jerry to RT
5) stick with the running game... there has to be balance in the attack to keep defenses guessing

got to protect RT or start Moore until we can provide reasonable protection. the chances of him becoming damaged goods with 77 sacks on the season are probable... just not worth the loss of a franchise in-the-making QB in pursuit of play-off bragging rights



my personal expectation is a fix in game six. I believe Tannehill has the potential to lead us into decade-long predominance of the AFC & turn this franchise into a perennial contender in the NFL if he doesn't become road-kill before his third season

at this point in time I do not think there can be found a viable answer outside our roster

 

I think our left tackle is serviceable & will grow into the position. if he doesn't cut it, we can use him on the other side of the line.

 

For now you keep Martin at LT (frankly I think he'd be a poor player at the other spots). Clabo's injury woes have really sapped him off his effectiveness.

For now it's about replacing the right side. There was a discussion we had years ago about whether Jake Long could play LT and I said that the performance shows that he can and the athletic numbers support that. From what I've seen of Jerry at tackle he could play RT if you gave him enough time to get back to his proper position. He was ok there a few years ago.

For now try Danny Watkins and RG and experiment with Jerry at RT where his long arms natural size can overwhelm DEs. I guarantee you John Jerry would not get run over by his guy at RT and I doubt he's any slower than Clabo is right now.

 

I agree on Martin. He needs another season to either sink or swim before he gets discarded and the right side is where the majority of the issues are. Jerry must be replaced at RG. What injuries to Clabo are you referring to? I hadn't heard he was injured.

 

His injuries over the years I think have slowed him. One thing to take out of their statement to Clabo is that they're giving him time to turn it around. Opening up a spot by cutting Marvin Austin might be a move to replace John Jerry, with Allen Barbre.

 

Right guard for sure. We need to atleast create a pocket for tannehill to step up into. Atleast with solid guards and crappy tackles we can hae the speed rushers rush up the field while tannehill steps up in the pocket, taking them out of the play

 

Absolutely. A dominating interior line makes so-so tackles look good. Remember 1972.

 

This is easy.... YES !

 

RT is priority number 1, RG is priority number 2.