The change last year that I was happiest about, and that I thought could be the most significant difference of all the movement that happened, was the change of guard in the coaching positions. Joe Schad at the PBP has a look at Tunsil and James under new coach J. Washburn. I hope that the improvement is due to the coach, and I hope we've got more improvement to look forward to. Getting the right coaching staff is one of the biggest pieces to the puzzle and I felt last year's additions were a move in the right direction. "DAVIE − Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James are first-round picks, and they looked like it on Sunday. Tunsil and James are supposed to be dominant bookend tackles, and they were on Sunday. They were physical, they were technique-sound and they completely controlled feared Bears pass-rusher Khalil Mack. Mack tried Tunsil 10 times and James 11 and came up empty. Total protection for Brock Osweiler. So, how’d they do it? Interestingly, both Tunsil and James credited first-year offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn, who is building off the teachings of former offensive line coach Chris Foerster. Tunsil conceded his confidence actually wavered last season, after Foerster was let go during the season for off-field transgressions. “We were going through all that adversity,” Tunsil said. “Changing coaches, it went down a little bit. But as a group our confidence is very high right now. I hope we keep it that way. James feels his technique is being sharpened by Washburn. Against Mack, James anchored with balance, power, aggressiveness and strong hands. “I feel like balance is probably the biggest thing,” James said. “That’s part of what coach Wash wants us to go. And things we learned with Foerster is going out there and getting in front of a guy. Use your athleticism to do that. When you’re kicking back and waiting for a guy, that builds momentum for them, to do a move or come with more power. But if you can go out and get in front of them and make them react, then you react off of them, then that can help a lot...”"
"Interestingly, both Tunsil and James credited first-year offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn, who is building off the teachings of former offensive line coach Chris Foerster." Maybe this is the start of a solid Offensive Line. Something I don't think we've had in many moons.
