I was a little concerned regarding Ereck Flowers rookie season and, even considering he was playing hurt in some games, I was starting to wonder if the Giants were right in sticking with him as the left tackle of the future. Then I saw an article about Luke Joeckel which made me remember the 2013 draft in which 3 left tackles were taken in the first 4 picks. So I decided to do some quick research on those three players.
Eric Fisher, the first pick in that draft, has finally got his team's confidence as an established starter after his 3rd year in the league. He's improved his play each year. Luke Joeckel, is being moved over to guard. His team is not going to pick up his option. Lane Johnson is the Eagles right tackle and fits well there.
So, I'm now more inclined to be patient and trust the team's judgment on Flowers' fit in the position. I'm hoping to see some improvement in his play this season.
I spoke to Ali Marpet (Bucs 2nd round pick in 2015) & he had the same injury. He said it is tough to walk on it & basically impossible to play in an NFL game. He missed a month with the same injury.
I spoke to Ali Marpet (Bucs 2nd round pick in 2015) & he had the same injury. He said it is tough to walk on it & basically impossible to play in an NFL game. He missed a month with the same injury.
the immediate right? He had Pugh and Richburg, the two best players on the line.
Pugh was a 3rd year player and Richburg 2nd last year. It might be true it was Pugh's first year at guard, but not sure I'd list Pugh and Richburg as reasons for Flowers struggles.
I'd stick with being a rookie and being injured.
Pugh & Richburg had no NFL game experience at LG & Center.
Pugh & Richburg had no NFL game experience at LG & Center.
Fair point but I still think I'd put it lower on the list of reasons why Flowers struggled.
Flowers reminds me a lot more of Jumbo Elliot, then William Beatty. I expect big things from a back like Perkins, behind Flowers and Pugh this year.
He's tough as fucking nails and will just get better and better. Anybody telling you different, just eye gouge them.
He's tough as fucking nails and will just get better and better. Anybody telling you different, just eye gouge them.
Agreed - He showed me that he has guts, passion & fortitude by playing through a significant injury. You CAN'T TEACH THAT. My take is that eventually, EF will be in the discussions as a top LT in the NFL.
We know that now three years later
At the time, that draft and those players were hailed as franchise cornerstone picks. As are every top offensive linemen in any draft, it seems.
The "best" tackles in any draft year are always considered to be "safe" picks, when they're now.
but when you dig deeper you can see why. OL are given far more rope and latitude than other spots.
You draft an OL first round you're going to trot him out there week in week out almost regardless of how bad they are.
No one, by measurement standards is calling Luke Joeckel a bust, but would you really draft a guard #2 overall?
Most "sites" measure draft success by measurable things like starts, where he's started 35 games in three years, every game he wasn't injured.
Lane Johnson even, if the Eagles knew he'd be a RT do they still take him?
If the Giants knew Pugh would be a guard is he still the pick at 19?
None of them lived up to their draft status, but they'll all be measured as good picks.
where if you have a CB get routinely toasted he's not playing, a RB who fumbles hits the bench, a DL who is out of position doesn't see the field, etc. OL seem to have a much longer leash giving them a much higher floor.
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Worst draft in decades. I would not judge those group of tackles with Flowers group of tackles that is soing Flowers a disservice.
We know that now three years later
At the time, that draft and those players were hailed as franchise cornerstone picks. As are every top offensive linemen in any draft, it seems.
The "best" tackles in any draft year are always considered to be "safe" picks, when they're now.
You sir are crazy. The draft talent was considered terrible in 2013. Here is an article that came out right around the time the draft happened. Eric Fisher was never considered a safe pick, and most thought he wasn't going to be picked first to begin with.
Worst Class in Decades - ( New Window )
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In comment 12972342 BigBlueDownTheShore said:
Quote:
Worst draft in decades. I would not judge those group of tackles with Flowers group of tackles that is soing Flowers a disservice.
We know that now three years later
At the time, that draft and those players were hailed as franchise cornerstone picks. As are every top offensive linemen in any draft, it seems.
The "best" tackles in any draft year are always considered to be "safe" picks, when they're now.
You sir are crazy. The draft talent was considered terrible in 2013. Here is an article that came out right around the time the draft happened. Eric Fisher was never considered a safe pick, and most thought he wasn't going to be picked first to begin with.
Worst Class in Decades - ( New Window )
You are right that the overall talent in the draft was lousy at the time and is remembered as bad, but it was considered a strong OL draft.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:ol