Jake Long gets clean bill of health from Dr. James Andrews

Run blocking sure but his pass blocking step leaves a lot to be desired.
Slow feet and stiff hips are the reasons why he gets beat by these young speed rushers.
His health has no bearing. Jake is over priced and over rated.

 

disagree Nez, Jake has an amazing kick slide, combined with how fast he is off the Snap, best in the league..

Kick slide is excellent bro,not sure what your seeing there.

 

Cannot recall whom, but one of the former player, current analysts on NFLN, maybe Shaun O'Hara, said Long has the quickest first step kick slide in the game today among LTs.

 

TBH, I'd think Dr. Andrews would have given Hugo Chavez a clean bill of health a week ago if you asked him.

 

Wrong. He sprained his MCL last year near the end of preseason (it was on hard knocks), in 2011 he didn't play in a single preseason game and started the preseason on the PUP as he was still recovering from surgery. Those are facts. What you wrote is something else.

 

If that were the case then I would see the Dolphins giving the man whatever he wants considering the supposed the clean bill of health.
That's not going to happen. So what is the problem?
I would love to see the gage process on these sorts of things. Maybe it is just an announcer talking out his *** .

 

Well, I guess that means I'm talking out my *** cause I agree with him, or he agrees with me, either way, He does have a great, fast as hell kickslide Nez..

I can show you posts from years ago where I target that amazing part of his game..I would talk about how I wouldn't even watch the game, just because of how good Jake was to watch.

 

The Pats didn't get to where they are paying linman onscene amounts of money. They draft well , they trade , they get more picks, and they draft well again. Unless Jake wants to sign an incentive ladden contract I just don't see it happening. His last two yrs where just not that good. He has to know that. I give him credit for playing through the pain , guy is definitely a warrior, but there are just too many questions for the money he's asking.

 

I'm less concerned with if Jake is healthy now, or his skill level as a LT when healthy - as I am his ability to be healthy through the length of another contract.

He's a good player, and he is probably healthy - but can he stay that way? Lots of injuries the last few years, is he prone to these sorts of things?

 

So now people don't recover from minor sprains? Jake Long, the league's only player to never EVER recover from minor injuries.

This is getting ridiculous. No one is acknowledging the change from Henning's offense to Dabbol/Sherman. How can such a monumental change fly under the radar when evaluating this guy's play?

 

Strawman. When did I say anything about his recovery, or deny a change in play style? Just man up and admit you were mistaken about him starting the last two seasons healthy.

 

Sorry, obtaining a minor knee sprain on August 27th does not rule out him being healthy in the beginning of the season. And beginning of the season can range from week 1- week 8 which was September 9th - October 28th.

So, Jake Long wasn't healthy anytime from 2 weeks - 10 weeks past his minor MCL sprain? I disagree. Which is why I said he was healthy in the beginning of 2012.

He obtained an injury that takes 1-3 weeks to recover from. Week 1 was 2 weeks after injury. At absolute worst, he should've been fully healthy starting in week 2 against the Raiders.

I fail to see where I'm wrong here (Although I may have been wrong about being fully healthy at the start of 2011). And either way it doesn't change my stance that injuries are being used to justify his drop in play when the biggest factor (Change in OC/offensive system) is being swept under the rug.

 

You fail to see where you were wrong right before you concede that you were wrong? Start is a pretty specific moment in time; I see that you want to redefine it as 1/2 of the regular season. And recovered enough to play, which is what those recovery times you mention are for, is far from recovered enough to not have impact on play.

 

But even if I was wrong and he had a nagging injury in the FIRST week of the season, that does not change my stance. (I said beginning of the season. I never used the term Start)

Because those nagging injuries should've been recovered within the first few weeks of the season, which would've made him 100% or at least as close to 100% as a player can be in the NFL.

Jake Long should not get a pass because he suffered a minor MCL sprain 2 weeks before the 2012 season started. That's my point. That is not why he performed the way he did. IMO, he performed the way he did because that's about as good as he is in a non-Dan Henning offense. Which is above average.

Do you disagree with this? Do you think his play in 2011 and 2012 dropped solely because of injuries? Do you think it had anything to do with the change in offensive systems and the fact that he was asked to do more alone?

 

In 2012 I do(kind of), 2011 was different, then I think was due to injuries and the quality of the play of his teammates. But, I think that injuries some impact on his play in 2012. I thought he did much better shortly after the beginning of the season as he healed some. He needs his knees with the way he plays pass protection. The new system clearly led to miscommunications and blown assignments in addition to poor technique at times. I also kind of feel like he was so good earlier in his career that mistakes were blown out of proportion as they were highlighted much more than they would have been otherwise, which is fair considering the money he was making. I think he is absolutely still a top 10 LT and should be paid as such. The real question is what is that worth?

 

Yes. As someone who's firm did the taxes for a MLB player whose named rhymed with Fall Bunerko, it's a nightmare.

Although with half of your games (or more) in a tax free state, we're talking hundreds of thousands if not millions saved.

 

I don't agree that Jake ever had great lateral quickness when it came to pass blocking. In fact, that is why some argued that he should be a RT. I didn't agree with that assessment b/c I felt he was fast enough (barely) but was able to compensate with his long arms. But the last two years I saw him get beat by pure speed where his long arms weren't enough to compensate for his lessened speed. IMO that is all about the knee and back issues. I don't know if it's a good bet that he'll ever have that speed again. In fact I would be more inclined to believe that while Long may be a better LT this season, that Martin might be the better LT the subsequent years. I find it easier to believe that Martin will get stronger than that Long will solve the back and knee issues. I don't know the specifics of those back and knee issues, but those are two areas I get very leery of when I hear of a lineman having issues there. My perception is that more often than not the lineman doesn't last too long at a high level. I also think that the quick passing game has made the Ts less important. OTOH if the target is Wallace and they want to throw him long passes then the T play becomes more important.

 

I thought Long also had a back issue at one point?

 

Sad that were just letting him walk.

 

I'd give him two years with easy to reach incentives that, if met, make him a 100 grand better paid than Joe Thomas.

By that point he'll be pushing 30, still in time for another big contract somewhere, and Martin "should" have grown into the role.

No way I ask Martin to protect our franchise player's blind side just yet. Not a chance.

 

I would pay Long miles before I paid Hartline or Sean Smith a dime

 

I remember timing him versus several other tackles including Walter Jones. I timed how long it took to get to their third step in a normal kick slide, not the one featured in shotgun or quick set, as those are a little different. Walter Jones was the best, Joe Thomas was second and Long was third. The only one below 1 second was Walter Jones, other wise both Thomas and Long were a little over a second IIRC roughly 1.07 seconds.

 

The issue he is very cognizant of being beaten around the edge, so he's been giving up inside a bit. Also, being quick, when he gets tall - like when he had his knee injury and back means he will be off balance. When healthy and able to sit more, he is very effective. The issue is when you're battling a back and a knee it limits your flexibility which again puts you off a little.

Some of it technique, yes, some of it is injury and honestly some of it is him getting to about 320 lbs rather than the 307 lbs he came into the league at. All are factors IMO.

 

I know we talk a lot about the abundance of LTs in the draft and FA but has anyone actually broke it down and looked at who would want him, has the cap space and doesn't have a high pick to draft a cheaper option.

Who are we really going against, the bears?

 

Chicago and San Diego have the need and are buried later in the draft. I'm sure both would be thrilled to land him, but I'm not sure what their caps are like.

 

They are not " just letting him walk " They made an offer which is fair in their minds and Jake refused it and wants to see if he can get paid better. That part I no problem with either side.

We all have to realize, nothng is forever. Losing Jake Long is going to hurt and if anyone seriously thinks Martin can replace Long they are sorrily mistaken. This is no different then a break up between a couple that at one time was sitting on top of the world and due to circumstances beyond either parties control, the situation/relationship deteriorated.

I have just about accepted Big Jake will not be a Dolphin much longer. If he goes I will sadly miss him. The kid did nothing wrong, the injuries just mounted and he had no control over it. We were a good football team when Jake was Jake. I would IMO, take an injured Jake over a healthy Martin any day of the week. None of us have any control over the money situation. I do not blame the team for being cautious and not wanting to take a chance and throw big bucks at him. I do not blame Jake for wanting to look around and see what kind of money he will be offered.

Like I sad, its sad but I still love the guy and completely understand the teams stance in this situation. If it was any other team in the NFL I think they would do the same thing the Dolphins are doing.