Flowers is a lock to be a better guard then Jerry.
Look at the highlights from the failed goal line run last week. He had a TE to his left, just had to fire out drive block a DE, and flailed completely. Feet were wrong, butt too high, back hunched, weight back, tries to arm grab the DE....just wrong across the board.
same recipe as last year, very similar to 2016s suggestion as well Â
I would say they're a lock for at least one, but I don't think they'll swing for both. I'd bet that one gets an extension in-season, and the other walks.
Reese or his replacement if this thing falls off the tracks?
If it’s Reese, he’ll likely overpay for one of the soft as tissue paper Pugh or Richburg, but not both. There would be cause for concern again if Reese and staff are responsible for determining which way to go regarding the rest of the OL based on recent track record.
If it’s a new guy, he might actually be astute enough to realize neither player is particularly good and you let average players walk for mega deals elsewhere. Let him and his new staff evaluate where to go along the OL.
Needless to say, I’d rather embrace the unknown instead of the known.
Here's the challenge. In combo, both OV and JPP will be a 34 million dollar cap hit. Thats 20% of the cap.
According to over the cap website, cutting JPP would actually create a 5.25 million deficit. Cutting OV creates 5 million in additional cap space. Cutting him and having to sign his replacement would cost a lot of cap space.
What do you do? I doubt either voluntary takes a pay cut. That fact that so much is invested in these players who aren't backing it up on the field will be huge handcuffs when it comes to fixing the o-line.
LT - Pugh + High Draft Pick
LG - Best C/G FA + Pugh
C - Jones + Best C/G FA
RG - Flowers/Hart competition
RT - Wheeler/Flowers/Hart competition; break the glass with the High Draft Pick
Additional Depth: Midround interior player
Let Richburg walk and bring in a comparable interior player that can handle Guard duties better. Resigning Pugh is a must, he can be a stopgap at the tackle spot if we're forced to develop a LT, which I think we will. Bite the bullet and take a LT high, don't move him around the line, give him reps at LT behind Pugh in the hopes that he could potentially start by midseason. Who knows, maybe they get lucky with a Lewan-type that can plug in immediately. Don't completely give up on Flowers/Hart, let them duke it out for a starting guard spot. I see Wheeler most likely sliding into our swing tackle spot, so let him battle Flowers/Hart for RT as he'll need the reps. Hedge further by taking an interior player in the midrounds, if Flowers/Hart/Wheeler fall flat you at least have a backup plan.
Super depressing because I really don't see a quick fix out there, we really dropped the ball by passing on Whitworth. If the staff sees Duane Brown as 3-4 year solution they should pull the trigger on a trade. With the line above, you'll see an improvement next year and maybe a real line by '19.
That Reese is gone and the GM will have no problem cutting Flowers,not resigning any of our mediocre lineman and start from scratch. I doubt any of that is going to happen and we will continue to suck.
It's only one high round draft pick. I should have been clearer.
One more year together and the continuity will be enough to overcome all of their flaws!
LG - Erik Flowers
C - Brett Jones
RG - Justin Pugh
RT - Mike McGlinchey
I wouldn't be suprised with 5 new starts (Flowers being reshuffled) next season
Unless Fluker shows something different during the year I doubt they'll sign him. He's not even 1st off the bench.
My guess is Jones and Pugh. If Jones is a starting center (?), then a G is needed. Try Flowers, but what if he fails? Jerry again I guess?
Then hope Wheeler pans out and you have 1 potential tackle.
They can't afford to miss in FA and the draft. Will need 1 starting T, a competing T for Wheeler on the other side, and a starting G.
I don't have high hopes.
Flowers/Pugh/Richburg/Jerry/Hart
With all those skill position weapons, we'll be unstoppable!
:D
Look at the highlights from the failed goal line run last week. He had a TE to his left, just had to fire out drive block a DE, and flailed completely. Feet were wrong, butt too high, back hunched, weight back, tries to arm grab the DE....just wrong across the board.
Left Guard - Best Free Agent Guard Available $$$ #1
Center - Second or Third Round Draft Pick should be 320lbs+
Right Guard - First Round Draft Pick ditto heavy Lamp type
Right Tackle - Wheeler or Flowers
In addition, need to run more 12P two tight ends one each side, more outside zone runs, more play action
I would say they're a lock for at least one, but I don't think they'll swing for both. I'd bet that one gets an extension in-season, and the other walks.
LG - Flowers
C - RB or Jones
RG - Fluker or Jerry
RT - Pugh
The NFL's best T and Wheeler can be our backups, as can the loser of Jerry/Fluker
If it’s Reese, he’ll likely overpay for one of the soft as tissue paper Pugh or Richburg, but not both. There would be cause for concern again if Reese and staff are responsible for determining which way to go regarding the rest of the OL based on recent track record.
If it’s a new guy, he might actually be astute enough to realize neither player is particularly good and you let average players walk for mega deals elsewhere. Let him and his new staff evaluate where to go along the OL.
Needless to say, I’d rather embrace the unknown instead of the known.
LG - Quenton Nelson
OC - Brett Jones
RG - Ereck Flowers
RT - Justin Pugh
Start over
D.Brown-Vet. UFA-Jones-Fluker-Flowers
Draft an OT, OC & OG with 3 of top 5 picks
According to over the cap website, cutting JPP would actually create a 5.25 million deficit. Cutting OV creates 5 million in additional cap space. Cutting him and having to sign his replacement would cost a lot of cap space.
What do you do? I doubt either voluntary takes a pay cut. That fact that so much is invested in these players who aren't backing it up on the field will be huge handcuffs when it comes to fixing the o-line.
LG-Justin Pugh
C- Travis Swanson
RG- Flowers
RT-Another draft pick
Richburg can walk - draft / sign a "road grader" RT
I'd consider getting Pugh resigned this season, versus waiting to the offseason. I believe there could be some salary cap savings there.
I'd go Pugh at LT, Flowers somewhere on the right side.....and depending on how Jones goes at center the next few weeks, pencil him in.
We need to get a premium guard in the draft, someone who can start Day 1.
That leaves one other position........either a guard or tackle. Free agency or trade would be the way to go.
LG - Best C/G FA + Pugh
C - Jones + Best C/G FA
RG - Flowers/Hart competition
RT - Wheeler/Flowers/Hart competition; break the glass with the High Draft Pick
Additional Depth: Midround interior player
Let Richburg walk and bring in a comparable interior player that can handle Guard duties better. Resigning Pugh is a must, he can be a stopgap at the tackle spot if we're forced to develop a LT, which I think we will. Bite the bullet and take a LT high, don't move him around the line, give him reps at LT behind Pugh in the hopes that he could potentially start by midseason. Who knows, maybe they get lucky with a Lewan-type that can plug in immediately. Don't completely give up on Flowers/Hart, let them duke it out for a starting guard spot. I see Wheeler most likely sliding into our swing tackle spot, so let him battle Flowers/Hart for RT as he'll need the reps. Hedge further by taking an interior player in the midrounds, if Flowers/Hart/Wheeler fall flat you at least have a backup plan.
Super depressing because I really don't see a quick fix out there, we really dropped the ball by passing on Whitworth. If the staff sees Duane Brown as 3-4 year solution they should pull the trigger on a trade. With the line above, you'll see an improvement next year and maybe a real line by '19.