New York Giants @Giants 1m
The Giants have signed Offensive Lineman Charles Brown who last played for the Saints! Read more here: http://bit.ly/1pIFIFm
number. Neither a starter nor a complete disaster either.
"Brown's first season as the Saints' starting left tackle ended in ugly fashion. He was benched during the middle of a bad game against the St. Louis Rams and All-Pro pass-rusher Robert Quinn in Week 15.
Up until that point, Brown had been doing a decent job in the role -- some ups and downs, certainly, but nothing to the level of that Rams game. For the season, Brown was credited with either seven or eight sacks allowed (depending on the stat service). And he was flagged for a total of 10 holding or illegal use of hands penalties. " A balanced view - ( New Window )
He'll only be 27 to start the season and has starts at LT and RT with the Saints. A change of scenery may do him very good. I wouldn't count him out completely and I think it'll push Beatty when he's healthy.
Charles Brown had a better pass block rating (though not by much) than Beatty. Beatty is helped by a higher rating for Run Block by 2.2 and a higher penalty rating by 1.4.
Also for as bad as it looks, 5.4 of his overall rating of -9.2 came in one game against Robert Quinn, who did that to a lot of tackles last year.
JR checking off yet another box in roster composition. Our FO has done a really nice job shoring up the depth across the team. We've added players with tread still on the tires who have all had success to varying degrees. Only Beason of all those signed surmounts the 30 year age plateau and that barely. Currently we have only 6 players over 30 and two of those are kickers.
I really like the depth that they're adding to the line. Him and Jerry make for pretty decent backups. Add a draft pick into the mix and it looks even better.
Roman Oben @R_Oben 40s
@giantswfan @Patricia_Traina I like the Charles Brown signing. He's like a younger Sean Locklear & can resurrect his career w/ NYG
experienced depth is necessary. this allows them extra depth if beatty can't go, and allows them to draft a bit of a project as a developmental tackle behind these guys in the later rounds. i'm very pleased with this move.
That Brown and Jerry qualify as attempts to improve.
Good point, Hades. And indeed they ARE better than what we had last year, considering that Brewer proved that he couldn't play worth a damn.
But more depth and a bit more freedom to go in any direction in the early part of the draft, I suppose. Of course, if they don't draft both an OL and DL in the 1st 3 picks I'll likely be rip-shit.
Last year people bitched about depth because the Giants were using 2nd & 3rd depth chart players at C and G. Now they sign 2 guys in Brown & Jerry as likely backups and people still bitch.
week one. With Pugh moving to the LT. That is unless they draft a T in Round 1. Beatty is likely headed to PUP. And if not, Brown will likely be able to beat him out the gate.
that Beatty is somehow not going to be ready by training camp is completely ridiculous, and is getting really annoying. He broke his leg, clean break. Why all of a sudden is it harder for Beatty to recover from a broken leg than anyone else on planet earth?
Welker and Peterson were back from ACL tears faster than you think Beatty will be back from a broken leg.
Quote:
Giants left tackle Will Beatty went under the knife on New Year's Eve to repair a fractured tibia, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person requested anonymity in order to speak freely on the matter.
Beatty should be off his feet in a few weeks when he'll start a rehab process that will have him ready for the start of the 2014 season.
The encouraging news is that Beatty did not have any ligament damage following the hit in the team's season finale against the Redskins. He was originally ruled out of the game with a knee issue.
He will do a majority of his rehab at the team's facility in East Rutherford.
from Defenderdawg's articles this morning, the one describing how the Giants "stole" DRC from the Jets, described the process the Giants took in reaching out to UFA's. It said that at the beginning of the non-tampering period the Giants expressed interest in over half of the 400+ UFA's - and it said that it was every UFA they had a positive grade on.
This means that they had a positive grade on Brown (and obviously all the other UFA's they signed).
Robert Quinn had 19 sacks. Brown is an average OT but if he's just there for insurance and depth it isn't too bad. Much better than sending out James Brewer again.
of course both Brown and Beatty could fail. We still have the bottom of the roster guys like Goodin and Brewer and in all likelyhood add a guy with a chance to contribute in the draft. Looking to create competition. Some improvement must come from within.
That Brown and Jerry qualify as attempts to improve.
And yet the 49ers who have a good line, just traded for Martin from Miami. End of the day, you're supposed to add guys like this to your roster for depth, competition, and the occasionally break-out surprise like Booth...
RE: Can we just draft that jerk kid from Michigan already?
from Defenderdawg's articles this morning, the one describing how the Giants "stole" DRC from the Jets, described the process the Giants took in reaching out to UFA's. It said that at the beginning of the non-tampering period the Giants expressed interest in over half of the 400+ UFA's - and it said that it was every UFA they had a positive grade on.
This means that they had a positive grade on Brown (and obviously all the other UFA's they signed).
Keep this in mind as you dog him...
It's probably a safe assumption every year the Giants (and every team really) are only signing free agents they have positive grades on. Doesn't mean it's a good move.
I love the Giants (obviously) and hope it works out and Brown is a star (if he even plays) and I like the majority of the free agent signings. Just not getting excited about this one.
Don't like this signing. It is called competition, this is a player with an OPPORTUNITY to make his career, or to turn it around, Sean Peyton thought enough about him that he started 3/4 of the season, protecting Drew Brees' blind side. I wanted to like this signing, then I saw that all the experts here know better then Reese and the Giants organization, so might as well cut him. Just because Beatty is a slow healer, and if he was not able to make it aback we would have no backup at tackle also means nothing compared to the insight that some of the BBI experts have.
why people are upset about this move... He is young with starting experience. Probably will come cheap and be a good backup. He is better than the other guys not starting IMO.
That is a fair statement. We needed to overhaul this OLine, and we have done that, we need starters, backups, and just good competition so we can get the best football out of these guys, when you add a player like this, a player that was a starter already in this league, it can not be all bad when that player is still under 30. It may not be a very good signing, but we need players that are going to compete.
guy and the other JAGS(per BBIers) a chance to prove, or disprove, themselves.
I'm with Pat T on this one, and others: a new home,a new scheme,a new ORGANIZATION--one that cares about giving you every opportunity to succeed, and a LOT OF COMPETITION, and let the strong survive(the others are ST or go home).
from Defenderdawg's articles this morning, the one describing how the Giants "stole" DRC from the Jets, described the process the Giants took in reaching out to UFA's. It said that at the beginning of the non-tampering period the Giants expressed interest in over half of the 400+ UFA's - and it said that it was every UFA they had a positive grade on.
This means that they had a positive grade on Brown (and obviously all the other UFA's they signed).
Keep this in mind as you dog him...
It's probably a safe assumption every year the Giants (and every team really) are only signing free agents they have positive grades on. Doesn't mean it's a good move.
I love the Giants (obviously) and hope it works out and Brown is a star (if he even plays) and I like the majority of the free agent signings. Just not getting excited about this one.
Not asking you to get excited - just reacting to your calling him a shitty starter.
Now he may turn out to be a shitty starter for us, and that would be bad. But in contrast to your evaluation (that he was a shitty starter), the Giants felt in their evaluation that he was NOT a shitty starter by virtue of their positive grade on him post evaluation.
And I think that's worth mentioning. Maybe we can slow down the hyperbole a bit - the Giants have a positive grade on him.
that Beatty is somehow not going to be ready by training camp is completely ridiculous, and is getting really annoying. He broke his leg, clean break. Why all of a sudden is it harder for Beatty to recover from a broken leg than anyone else on planet earth?
I could have sworn they said it was a spiral fracture....
In my mind the Giants are looking to create a lot of
good, solid and legitimate competition in training camp this year at as many positions as possible, an that's a good thing. Training camp will be the time to really sort things out and may the best man/player win. I don't think we had enough true competition for spots last year which caused some people to just go through the motions. This year if a player wants to make this team he's going to have to prove it in training camp or else. Let the fun begin!
The fact that Beatty needed surgery for the fracture
...and he [i]should[/] be ready for camp (i.e. July) for a break that happened in December seems to me that it was more than a simple break. But what the hell do I know.
What were you expecting considering our cap situation?
Based on the cap we seem to be limited to 1. inexperienced players, 2. talented vets who are either under a cloud like Jerry, or maybe not totally healthy like Watson, or totally healthy but maybe not-so-talented vets like Brown.
If the Giants picked him up they must think that he is better than what is already on the team. Even if they're wrong, at least they are getting rid of the deadwood.
with some experience, a pretty high draft grade and cheap. He costs you next to nothing to bring him in and see if he can improve.
Some of BBI will find anything to complain about.
This, although at this point, I wouldn't even pencil him in for a backup. He was pretty bad at times last year. Seven or eight sacks, and ten holding or illegal use of hands penalties.
Jerry is creating competition, which is fine, especially on the OL.
It looks like Beatty will be ready, but can he regain his form from 2012?
Some FAs will have warts. Unlike last year, where Jerry didn't have enough money to do much besides try and find bargains in the discard pile, we spent a lot this year on Thurmond, DRC, Demps, Walton, Holiday, Schwartz, Brown. and others.
But you still have to hit the discard pile, so he also went after Jerry (Martin scandal), Brown (some bad play), and Patterson (over 30). Let's just see if guys like Jerry and Brown take the opportunity to improve or resurrect their careers. If not, they won't be around in September.
put us in the same situation next year that we are in now?! I'm not saying we should sign him to a multi year deal, but we will be in the market for more of the same next year, unless we draft a tackle with little to develop.
I think it allows Reese to not reach for a player. If the top 3 OTs are off the board, he doesn't have to reach down and take #4 who might not be value at the 12th pick. If Lewin is there, Reese can still take him. Same thing for the CB and WR positions. Prior to the free agent signings, he may have felt the need to take a CB or WR with the 1st pick. It now looks like Ebron is going to the head of the class unless he's gone or Reese has a few in mind who might be there with the 2nd pick. Still think it'll be BPA at position of need and these signings have changed the definition of need here.
Of the roster, big big positive for a team that has been wracked with injuries. We are at our best with plenty of veteran depth, and we are certainly doing that. Nail down a starting or rotation ready DE, DT and a bona fide #1 WR, TE, backup center and we may be in business.
He added 50 lbs in four years at USC, which means a lot of it was not muscle.
Not surprisingly, he only did 21 reps at the combine and 20! at his pro day.
So, coming out of college, this was a guy who needed to get stronger. Definitely has the quickness, feet and long arms to play OT. He could definitely turn out to be a late bloomer. Was projected by some to go in the first round.
which undoubtedly impeded his development. Once he got the starting job, he was probably an average OT who had some really bad games. He's young and he still has the possibility of getting better and he will have a good OL coach. And, he's cheap. And, we still have the draft.
WTF else could Reese have done to address the OL in FA?
off the 'scrap pile' and they turned out pretty good. You never know with some of these lineman...
O'Hara was a UFA and starter on the Browns before the Giants signed him, he wasn't off any scrap heap. Seubert was a college UDFA and a starter by his second season.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with depth or that OL have to come from premium picks or high $$ free agents, but if some of these depth guys are starting or playing a lot, it's probably going to be a bad thing, since a few of them are as bad as the guy their supposed to be upgrading.
Or it's no big deal and these guys just need a change of scenery and suddenly play great.
I know Jerry didn't get much. I hope Brown got as little or less. I don't see both him and Jerry making the team. It'll be between the 2 of them for one spot. This guy is an average backup, at best. If we need him to start, we are in big trouble. I think we still need to go best OL available at 12. This line has improved but it's slightly above average at best. We need another blue chip guy on the line badly.
find it hard to believe that some of you have watched some of the o linemen that we signed enough to draw conclusions that they suck. i mean no matter who it is its either hes the best or the worst. i mean i consider myself a gigantic football fan and an even bigger giants fan and i dont pretend to know about other players before i see them with the giants.
I Googled Beatty & spiral fracture & came up w/ nada, except the BBI remark about it. Did read that his recovery ranges three to six months, as long as there was no other damage -- like to tendons or cartilage -- is found. Also read that no ligament damage was found. Beatty surgery - ( New Window )
He said that while Brown was benched mid-game by NO, and never got on the field again he does have talent and "Beatty should be nervous about his job with this signing."
Anyone that listens to Kirwan knows that he is no fan of Will Beatty as a starting OT (he has stated that he believes Beatty would be better off at Guard). So this could be a little more than back-up/insurance.
Where was it confirmed Beatty had a clean break and no soft tissue or shattering?
I'd like to know where it was reported that Beatty had some traumatic injury.
Giants LT Will Beatty underwent surgery Monday to repair his fractured right tibia.
Per beat writer Ralph Vacchiano, Beatty "should be ready" for the start of the 2014 season. His training camp availability may be more murky. At coach Tom Coughlin's year-ending presser, he spoke openly of potentially moving RT Justin Pugh to left tackle. Beatty is coming back to the G-Men, but may have to compete with an offseason acquisition to start on the right side. Jan 6 - 2:02 PM
He may become a decent LT. I dont think hes evwr going to be a probowler but as Kirwan said he has some talent. He should at minumum be better than 2013 Beatty and Diehl of the last few years anytime he played at LT (lol perhaps not saying much but point is he shiuldnt be hot garbage at rhe position If Flaherty gets the most out of him).
However remember that Jerry & Brown both came from teams that grew disenchanted with their o-lines. The Dolphins gave up the most sacks in league, with a mobile QB. The Saints allowed Brees to be pummeled in their big games. So let's keep things in perspective . This veteran depth was a necessity. Most of these guys are one-year rentals but something had to be done.
I won't be one of them. Reese is very good at what he does, despite flucking up at times. There has never been a doubt in my mind..This from a guy who went through 1964-1980, Handley, Reeves, an over the hill Young and Accorsi..
Way too early to say the Giants are 'going to surprise people next season'. The season is six months away. The draft is a month away. We haven't gone through mini camps, training camps, preseason games, etc.
I think we'll be markedly better, but how good remains to be seen.
true, but there are those who actually thought we were in a two year rebuild. If we had anyone other than Belichick or TC and Reese, I would have tended to agree. But fortunately, we don't. Reese has had his screw-ups, but name any other highly regarded GM who hasn't..
I knew TC and Reese would fix this rather quickly and there's more work that needs to be done..But, with Eli being allowed to finally step up into the pocket for the first time in nearly two years, there will be less forcing throws and fuck-ups that were totally on him at times..
Schwartz over Boothe and now Eli will be able to step up?
The center hasn't played in two years. Snee is back and wasn't great last he played.
I hope things are fixed, but I wouldn't look at the players signed and be confident things are fixed and the Giants are contenders in 2014.
I hate to seem pessimistic, because in general I'm not, but until I see the O-line together I'm not comfortable saying the offense is fixed. Plus, there is still no TE and no Nicks replacement.
On defense I like the secondary adjustments and I'm happy Beason was re-signed, but have the Giants replaced Linval and Tuck?
I realize the off-season isn't over and i'm hopeful, but what gives you so much confidence the team is fixed?
just being optimistic?
They've improved at whichever guard spot Schwartz will play
Boothe wasn't the problem really on the line, and his spot is the one where the best player was signed to replace him.
So, sure, LG is an upgrade.
Beatty or Charles Brown at LT? Don't see how anyone can say arguably the most important spot on the line is better than last year.
Pencil in Walton at C. Sure he was once a promising player, but he literally hasn't played in almost two years when he next takes the field in a real game (9/30/2012). No clue how anyone can confidently say that spot is improved enough to say it is fixed.
Snee is more than likely, if healthy, the starting RG, so no clue how anyone can claim any certainty around the RG spot being improved or even fixed.
Pugh hopefully is a rock at RT.
So, basically one spot on the line has a high likelihood of being improved.
Like I said, I'm hopeful and things can definitely turn out well, but I just don't share the confidence some people do at this time.
well, yeah of course I hope Reese, TC and Flaherty, etc. know more than me and you are right to trust them more than my opinion or any opinion you read on BBI.
doesn't stop me from having one though.
And I will say going into last year my (and many others on BBI) biggest concern was o-line.
there's too much overreaction to his awful season.
He's never played that badly before. I don't expect that to repeat, especially with a solid unit around him, which he did not have last season. There's really no reason to assume that because he had a horrific season like that, that he's incapable of being better.
If we believed that can only be as good as his worst season we'd have moved on from Eli years ago.
wouldn't be surprised if we choose two OL within the first 4 rounds. TE obviously needs to be fixed and Ebron or the lower round TEs might be on their to-do list. Still, if Donnell and Robinson can stay on the field, there's little reason to believe that Eli(with pocket protection) won't make them better as he did with Boss and Ballard, albeit Boss was pretty good in his own right..
there's too much overreaction to his awful season.
He's never played that badly before. I don't expect that to repeat, especially with a solid unit around him, which he did not have last season. There's really no reason to assume that because he had a horrific season like that, that he's incapable of being better.
If we believed that can only be as good as his worst season we'd have moved on from Eli years ago.
But taking such a reasonable approach doesn't make for dramatic attention gaining posts that many of the regulars crave.
The Giants have signed Offensive Lineman Charles Brown who last played for the Saints! Read more here: http://bit.ly/1pIFIFm
There's are swing tackle.
He's a clown!
"Brown's first season as the Saints' starting left tackle ended in ugly fashion. He was benched during the middle of a bad game against the St. Louis Rams and All-Pro pass-rusher Robert Quinn in Week 15.
Up until that point, Brown had been doing a decent job in the role -- some ups and downs, certainly, but nothing to the level of that Rams game. For the season, Brown was credited with either seven or eight sacks allowed (depending on the stat service). And he was flagged for a total of 10 holding or illegal use of hands penalties. "
A balanced view - ( New Window )
I 100% admit I have only seen him play in small samples and he didn't stick out to me as good or bad, but....
Beatty was rated 8 spots higher than Brown by PFF.
I don't think Beatty could have possibly been worse, and the Giants sign a guy worse than him.
At least with this guy as a backup people won't be clamoring for Beatty to be benched.
Also for as bad as it looks, 5.4 of his overall rating of -9.2 came in one game against Robert Quinn, who did that to a lot of tackles last year.
Though their contracts sure are.
@giantswfan @Patricia_Traina I like the Charles Brown signing. He's like a younger Sean Locklear & can resurrect his career w/ NYG
I have a feeling we won't be going OT at 12 either now.
WR or TE or DT or DE
Good point, Hades. And indeed they ARE better than what we had last year, considering that Brewer proved that he couldn't play worth a damn.
But more depth and a bit more freedom to go in any direction in the early part of the draft, I suppose. Of course, if they don't draft both an OL and DL in the 1st 3 picks I'll likely be rip-shit.
Beatty should be off his feet in a few weeks when he'll start a rehab process that will have him ready for the start of the 2014 season.
The encouraging news is that Beatty did not have any ligament damage following the hit in the team's season finale against the Redskins. He was originally ruled out of the game with a knee issue.
He will do a majority of his rehab at the team's facility in East Rutherford.
going from one shitty starter to another shitty starter because he has starting experience sounds like a good plan.
This means that they had a positive grade on Brown (and obviously all the other UFA's they signed).
Keep this in mind as you dog him...
Some of BBI will find anything to complain about.
And yet the 49ers who have a good line, just traded for Martin from Miami. End of the day, you're supposed to add guys like this to your roster for depth, competition, and the occasionally break-out surprise like Booth...
Lol
This means that they had a positive grade on Brown (and obviously all the other UFA's they signed).
Keep this in mind as you dog him...
It's probably a safe assumption every year the Giants (and every team really) are only signing free agents they have positive grades on. Doesn't mean it's a good move.
I love the Giants (obviously) and hope it works out and Brown is a star (if he even plays) and I like the majority of the free agent signings. Just not getting excited about this one.
Beatty was a starter. So was Diehl. Same with Baas. Cordle started a few games. Just because they were a starter doesn't mean they were any good.
I'm with Pat T on this one, and others: a new home,a new scheme,a new ORGANIZATION--one that cares about giving you every opportunity to succeed, and a LOT OF COMPETITION, and let the strong survive(the others are ST or go home).
Still think they draft an OL high, maybe even at 12.
Quote:
from Defenderdawg's articles this morning, the one describing how the Giants "stole" DRC from the Jets, described the process the Giants took in reaching out to UFA's. It said that at the beginning of the non-tampering period the Giants expressed interest in over half of the 400+ UFA's - and it said that it was every UFA they had a positive grade on.
This means that they had a positive grade on Brown (and obviously all the other UFA's they signed).
Keep this in mind as you dog him...
It's probably a safe assumption every year the Giants (and every team really) are only signing free agents they have positive grades on. Doesn't mean it's a good move.
I love the Giants (obviously) and hope it works out and Brown is a star (if he even plays) and I like the majority of the free agent signings. Just not getting excited about this one.
Not asking you to get excited - just reacting to your calling him a shitty starter.
Now he may turn out to be a shitty starter for us, and that would be bad. But in contrast to your evaluation (that he was a shitty starter), the Giants felt in their evaluation that he was NOT a shitty starter by virtue of their positive grade on him post evaluation.
And I think that's worth mentioning. Maybe we can slow down the hyperbole a bit - the Giants have a positive grade on him.
If the Giants picked him up they must think that he is better than what is already on the team. Even if they're wrong, at least they are getting rid of the deadwood.
Some of BBI will find anything to complain about.
This, although at this point, I wouldn't even pencil him in for a backup. He was pretty bad at times last year. Seven or eight sacks, and ten holding or illegal use of hands penalties.
Jerry is creating competition, which is fine, especially on the OL.
This signing has no impact on the draft.
It looks like Beatty will be ready, but can he regain his form from 2012?
Some FAs will have warts. Unlike last year, where Jerry didn't have enough money to do much besides try and find bargains in the discard pile, we spent a lot this year on Thurmond, DRC, Demps, Walton, Holiday, Schwartz, Brown. and others.
But you still have to hit the discard pile, so he also went after Jerry (Martin scandal), Brown (some bad play), and Patterson (over 30). Let's just see if guys like Jerry and Brown take the opportunity to improve or resurrect their careers. If not, they won't be around in September.
Not surprisingly, he only did 21 reps at the combine and 20! at his pro day.
So, coming out of college, this was a guy who needed to get stronger. Definitely has the quickness, feet and long arms to play OT. He could definitely turn out to be a late bloomer. Was projected by some to go in the first round.
WTF else could Reese have done to address the OL in FA?
O'Hara was a UFA and starter on the Browns before the Giants signed him, he wasn't off any scrap heap. Seubert was a college UDFA and a starter by his second season.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with depth or that OL have to come from premium picks or high $$ free agents, but if some of these depth guys are starting or playing a lot, it's probably going to be a bad thing, since a few of them are as bad as the guy their supposed to be upgrading.
Or it's no big deal and these guys just need a change of scenery and suddenly play great.
I like this signing.
(can't believe that wasn't taken yet)
Beatty surgery - ( New Window )
Anyone that listens to Kirwan knows that he is no fan of Will Beatty as a starting OT (he has stated that he believes Beatty would be better off at Guard). So this could be a little more than back-up/insurance.
I'd like to know where it was reported that Beatty had some traumatic injury.
Giants LT Will Beatty underwent surgery Monday to repair his fractured right tibia.
Per beat writer Ralph Vacchiano, Beatty "should be ready" for the start of the 2014 season. His training camp availability may be more murky. At coach Tom Coughlin's year-ending presser, he spoke openly of potentially moving RT Justin Pugh to left tackle. Beatty is coming back to the G-Men, but may have to compete with an offseason acquisition to start on the right side. Jan 6 - 2:02 PM
No it's just obvious they suxed
Yup.
Never a doubt
I think we'll be markedly better, but how good remains to be seen.
I knew TC and Reese would fix this rather quickly and there's more work that needs to be done..But, with Eli being allowed to finally step up into the pocket for the first time in nearly two years, there will be less forcing throws and fuck-ups that were totally on him at times..
Schwartz over Boothe and now Eli will be able to step up?
The center hasn't played in two years. Snee is back and wasn't great last he played.
I hope things are fixed, but I wouldn't look at the players signed and be confident things are fixed and the Giants are contenders in 2014.
I hate to seem pessimistic, because in general I'm not, but until I see the O-line together I'm not comfortable saying the offense is fixed. Plus, there is still no TE and no Nicks replacement.
On defense I like the secondary adjustments and I'm happy Beason was re-signed, but have the Giants replaced Linval and Tuck?
I realize the off-season isn't over and i'm hopeful, but what gives you so much confidence the team is fixed?
just being optimistic?
And I will be confident enough to declare they improved at C. Cordle was terrible. Yeah, valiant effort. He can't play in the NFL.
RG is a position battle between Mosley, Snee, and whatever they draft. Every team has position battles.
The Broncos entrusted Peyton Manning's surgery-fresh neck to Walton, so I'm fine with giving him a chance.
The bar was pretty low with Cordle and Diehl in general, and Beatty being as bad as he was.
So, improved it seems likely, fixed, I don't know.
But you can project improvement. They were starting practice squad level linemen last year with all the injuries. Now they're not. That's significant.
So, sure, LG is an upgrade.
Beatty or Charles Brown at LT? Don't see how anyone can say arguably the most important spot on the line is better than last year.
Pencil in Walton at C. Sure he was once a promising player, but he literally hasn't played in almost two years when he next takes the field in a real game (9/30/2012). No clue how anyone can confidently say that spot is improved enough to say it is fixed.
Snee is more than likely, if healthy, the starting RG, so no clue how anyone can claim any certainty around the RG spot being improved or even fixed.
Pugh hopefully is a rock at RT.
So, basically one spot on the line has a high likelihood of being improved.
Like I said, I'm hopeful and things can definitely turn out well, but I just don't share the confidence some people do at this time.
I'll trust the proven regime's process over BBi's opinions anyday..
As I've said, I had no such trust/confidence in the Accorsi/Fassel regime
doesn't stop me from having one though.
And I will say going into last year my (and many others on BBI) biggest concern was o-line.
He's never played that badly before. I don't expect that to repeat, especially with a solid unit around him, which he did not have last season. There's really no reason to assume that because he had a horrific season like that, that he's incapable of being better.
If we believed that can only be as good as his worst season we'd have moved on from Eli years ago.
He's never played that badly before. I don't expect that to repeat, especially with a solid unit around him, which he did not have last season. There's really no reason to assume that because he had a horrific season like that, that he's incapable of being better.
If we believed that can only be as good as his worst season we'd have moved on from Eli years ago.
But taking such a reasonable approach doesn't make for dramatic attention gaining posts that many of the regulars crave.