http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/43265/179/2013-offensive-line-rankings A dose of reality perhaps...........please forgive me. If the national media is correct the Dolphins will have the worst RB's and the 29th ranked OL in the league next year. If that really happens the results would be catastrophic. I don't for one minute believe the Dolphins brass are caught up in all the recent hype, nor do I believe they are nearly as confident in Jonathan Martin and the boys as they make out. I mean really, what do you expect them to say publicly?? Something like, we have been extremely negligent in acquiring OL talent and we are very worried........Not bloody likely. The Oakland Raiders are switching from zone to a power blocking scheme. It could just be a match made in heaven. The Raiders are probably sick of hearing about how they got fleeced by the Dolphins in the 1st round trade up deal. They might just be open to a deal that favors their side a little. Principal Player ........LT Jared Veldheer....http://www.sharapovasthigh.com/2013/03/raiders-left-tackle-jared-veldheer.html Veldheer for those unfamiliar is 6'8" 320 and is a freak athlete. The internet is full of stories about him. If there is anyone out there that thinks Veldheer would come at any kind of discount, let me just say, you are out of your ever-lovin mind. Veldheer is on his way to many Pro-Bowls,All Pro status, and perhaps even the HOF when it is all over. This kid played college ball at Hillsdale, and then was forced to play center his first year because the Raiders have been severely mismanaged lately. If you take out two bad games last year Veldheer would have been ranked a top 5 LT and achieved all pro staus. Like I said the Raiders are switching to a power blocking scheme. The Dolphins have three OL that are experienced in that scheme and are better suited for it. John Jerry,Richie Incognito, and Nate Garner. I doubt the Raiders would be interested in Garner and a deal with Oakland may have to include Koa Misi. Raiders are weak at LB. But multiple player trades never happen........well, they do, but are very rare, and they are not illegal, just really complicated. Realistically, probably fewer players and more draft picks may be involved. However, the Raiders OG's are crap. IMO, none of these guys would be that big of a loss. Jonathan Martin,John Jerry,Richie Incognito, or Koa Misi. Don't get me wrong about Misi. He is a good OLB, but if the Dolphins are going to play more hybrid sets and Jordan is going to see time at OLB, then OK. Then, there is the other issue. Misi has had a legal issue but he also has struggled with clinical depression all through his college years. He is in a contract year and it may be better if he moves on. Misi is from northern California and he has family and friends there. It will still cost draft picks to land Veldheer even with a multiple player deal. His ceiling is as high as the heavens. I'm not saying specific picks because all people do is fight over it. One guy says waaayyyy too much and another guy says nowhere near enough and it is always all over the place. So it's a win,win,win all over the place. Raiders can dramatically improve their 30th ranked OL with players that fit their system and don't cost much.( I'd expect the Dolphins to cover as much of Incognito's 2013 salary as the league allows, seeing as how the Raiders are broke. That is another issue. Raiders have ongoing cap issues and it wouldn't be easy for them to sign or franchise Veldheer next year. So, I propose the Dolphins trade for Veldheer, let Samuda,Lance Louis, and Dallas Thomas compete at LG, and sign Brandon Moore to play RG. Dolphins will need to be extremely diligent in finding competition for Yeatman at swing tackle. I don't share most people's optimism there. Brandon Moore started free agency as PFF's highest ranking OG and he remains unsigned. He wants to play with a winner. With the addition of Clabo and Veldheer I don't doubt he would now sign with the Dolphins. So, the Raiders dramatically improve from their 30th ranking and improve at LB and acquire picks; all good. Dolphins now have an OL that will start four very legitimate Pro Bowl contenders. A line that could, with luck, be a top five elite OL, and result in the Dolphins being in the playoffs. If they stay healthy, and gel early, at least there would the reasonable chance of a top ranked offense. You have to admit that on paper anyway this OL.....LT Jared Veldheer...LGThomas/Louis/Samuda.....C Pouncey RG...Brandon Moore...RT Tyson Clabo ; looks a lot better than Martin,Incognito,Pouncey,Jerry,Clabo. Daniel Thomas could even average 5 ypc with this OL. Yes, Veldheer will probably command elite money in 2014 and it would probably cost us one of our DT's but I think it might be the plan to let one go anyway. Odrick should be ready to play every down at the 3 or 5-technique in 2014. Thoughts.........
Why do people Crap on Incognito so much? Iggy has been so solid and he has more attitude then whole NFL lines put together! Love the guy.
Hmm, pro bowl LG and top 5 Center, so of course our OL will be "near rock bottom" "If" Louis is ready to go, what then? Why would it not be logical that Martin will improve with a full year as a professional? Since Gruden looked like he swallowed a frog on draft day when we took Jordan over Johnson , this has been the meme. Small wonder I don't pay much attention to the NFL media.
We're rated lower than the Bears, who had tragic line play last year, who don't have a ProBowl Guard or Pouncey, and who lost their best lineman to us in Louis....says it all about that article really.
Finally, it's like the reverse bizarro kiss of death. Mark my words, the offensive line will be all universe.
This is horse **** like the RB article was. The ONLY potential problem on our oline is at LT. In fact, if our line shakes out with Ritchie, Pouncey, Louis & Clabo, (with Dallas Thomas & John Jerry as back ups) you'd have to put that 4/5 of the line waaaaaaay up the list towards the stellar category. If Martin improves to average, we have to be in the discussion for one of the best lines in league.
Well, there is no doubt the success of this team, once again, rests on the performance of several of it's OL. We should be used to that by now. The writer of the article looks at last year and assumes that we've created this big whole because Long is gone and he was, by reputation, our best OL. The fallacy is that he wasn't our best OL last year...that distinction goes to Pouncey. Long hasn't been the same guy as he was the first 3 yrs of this career due to nagging injuries....will he be healthy enough to be that Jake, St. L. will have to wait and see. But this OL, under the assumption Long couldn't shake the injury bug, wouldn't be any better than last year and we were not very good last year... Additionally, you can't 'whiff' on a guy that simply wanted a change...it was HIS choice to leave as the money was about the same, per media outlets... Move Martin to LT, where everyone is saying he played so poorly at for four games last season. He did, but here is a college LT that was moved to RT in the NFL who is arguably more comfortable on the left side. Then due to Long's injuries, is pushed back over there late in the season...So, he didn't play like an all pro at LT under those circumstances.... The kids natural position is on the left side. He's improved his strength over this offseason and will have the advantage of not being a rookie, bulked up some and the entire offseason as a LT. RI is not our answer at LG...his natural position is on the right side, but he was the best option we had for a couple of years at that position. He isn't exactly a fit for the ZBS since is biggest weakness is getting to the second level. That makes him a candidate for replacement. Doesn't mean he's a bad player and will likely be one of our top 6 or 7 options along the OL. Maybe he'll even stay where he's at and be in the top 5, but we don't know that.... Louis fits the ZBS that this regime utilizes (even tho admittedly we didn't run that scheme 100% of the time last year, but likely that is due to the personnel we had than scheme preferences. On the outside, Louis is an upgrade to what JJ was last year but the caveat is his injury last year... JJ on the other hand, while inconsistent and immature so far in his career, may have woken up to being a pro. The reports are that he's showing signs of being the guy we want him to be... Clabo is slated at RT, is adept to the scheme and our best option at RT. I don't know that he'll be better than Martin would have been on the right side with another year of preparation, but he should shore up that big hole we had at OT from the time Jake left... I think this group of guys grades out to be better than LAST year's OL. There is no way it can be quantified against other teams as this group will not have worked together at all. We could have as many as 4 positions manned differently than last year. There are questions...but how these writers can project the effectiveness of our OL without the even seeing the guys, when man for man, each position is as good or better is beyond me...
And you could then cue the entire chorus and symphonic accompaniment all performing the entire libretto of the "We Spend Too Much on the Line Anvil Chorus" for the next several years, ad nauseum!
Now, what would ever give you that idea? Obviously, yes. I usually have several around. They are very good about reminding me not to feel overly self-important!
To say our O-Line is rock bottom and bad is off the mark. Pouncey im expecting to make Pro-Bowl this season, Incognito was in Hawaii this yr, Clabo is solid. Theres 3 players right there who will play well. Dallas Thomas was drafted high and expected to slot right in. We also have Lance Louis who was the Bears best O-Lineman. We have improved this O-Line from last season imo. And that is the O-Line that got Bush some serious yardage last season remember! Yeah we lost Long who didnt play great the last 2 seasons. No huge loss. I think the media are actually nit picking because the Martin thing is getting blown up. They are trying to find a weakness with the Phins squad right now. O-Line is apparently an easy target. Easy? Nope, just shows how we have improved the team as a whole this off-season. O-Line wont be a big weakness. Only thing that unit has to do is play together and gel. On paper we are better there. FACT.
I'm surprised Heath Evans hasn't ranted on NFLN to remind us just how crappy our whole team is and that we have done nothing to make any upgrades. He endorses the OP LOLOL
The reason the media is in an uproar is because ever since Long opted to sign with St L, there's been a litany of OTs prancing in and out of Davie, suggesting that they less than excited about Martin at the LT spot. True or not I don't really know, but that is the perception... * Thomas is expected to slot right in ?? Where'd you hear that ? The guy is a project and is certainly not set at any spot on the OL... * No Huge loss ?? Is this the same Jake Long that used to be on our team ?? That was a huge loss, injury or not. He's been injured and hasn't been the same guy we drafted the last two years, but he was head and shoulders the best OT, even with the injuries on this team. Martin may very well adjust back to the left side and we'll be ok, but the team obviously wanted Long to stay on...that was pretty well known, so calling him less than a huge loss is not what the staff was thinking...
Back away from the ledge my man. I spend about 3 seconds worrying about pre-season rankings. They literally mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. The first 3 games tell all, then I start worrying. I'm truly excited about this year. Some things worry me, and not everything is peachy, but if Tannehill improves that's all that matters. QB is that important.
What else is he supposed to do? There is no news! Might as well worry about something meaningless than nothing. So much nothing. Stupid offseason.
yea I did and laughed from start to finish. he was really trying to make his point seem valid, such effort to validate such hatred lol
He is probably still pi$$ed off at the Dolphins for releasing him midway through the 2005 season. That could taint his view more than just a little bit when trying to be an 'objective' analyst. I really haven't heard very much positive from him at all concerning the Dolphins. Even anything slightly positive is slanted so as to 'expose' the weakness the team is trying to overcome, or the mistake they made in that particular move, yada, yada, yada!
did you hear his tirade on NFLN during the draft when he was asked about the D Jordan pick? wow he used that time to slam everything the4 Phins did and he was practically yelling... I remember thinking while he was doing that "they are gonna let let him be so biased and emotional?" oh well if the Dolphins are at all successful this year that will suffice for me At least Willie McGinist thinks we have had a good off season and I'll take his view over an obviously slanted Heath Evens any day.
Silva is going on the main presumption that Martin is going to suck at LT. Its an article by Evan Silva, perhaps one of the most contraversial writers in sports. Not knocking Silva because he ranked our Oline low. But I am knocking Silva because he is one of the worst in the business. What gets his name up there all the time is the people that actually respond to his shII&^t write ups. IMO, Martin is not going to be any worse then what we had to endure with Jake Last season. IMO we now actually have a good Right side to our offensve line, one that had been lacking for a few years now. I was down on Martin but now believe he will be just fine. Maybe not all pro but good enough, like many other teams have at LT, to protect our QB.
Reality ? Really, You evidently have not read much of Evan Siva's crap. Go back a few years and see some of his dribble. But you are entitled to your opinion but there are not going to be any trades made.
Thing is, the way NFL defenses attack offenses now is not via base with your LT vs their best passrusher, they flop DE's, they send ILB's up the middle, they blitz Db's, so even if Martin is poor this year one is looking at a 5% or even 8% less performance vs the "best in the business" type of LT When I did the math on what that means it came out to..2 more pressures per game over 16 games RG actually is responsible for allowing more effective pressure then LT is, followed by RT. Centers when allowing pressure leads to the worst Qb performance but they rarely allow pressures. This is why RT (Clabo) and RG (Louis) matter more this season then Martin. But NFL media being what it is..they are still envisioning LT streaking around the LT and crushing Qb's so you'd better spend a lot to keep that from happening.
What's interesting about all this is our line has potential to be its best in years if Martin takes the next step and either Louis is healthy or Jerry takes the next step, too, all of which are feasible. I think the best competition is the 2009 unit prior to Grove & Smiley hitting injuries.
