If we were rock solid at both tackles and optimistic on JMS, I think I'd feel a lot better about 2024 and beyond.
If all you needed up front were two guards, I'd be OK with either DJ or a rookie back there next year.
That pick is really, really killing us.
Seriously needs to move to OG.
That's why needs to get healthy and get back on the field ASAP.
This is laughably false. He hasn't been the worst player on that line, not by a long shot.
His first three we were ugly, but even then it didn't matter when the Guards were allowing constant inside pressure. And people forget that Andrew Thomas has missed 7 games this year, and for most of that time, the replacement LT was getting worked over badly, while Neal was holding up fairly well (SF game excluded).
Neal will very likely be the RT next year, and that very likely is a good thing. There is a lot of positives to take away from his recent performances since his injury. You guys just only notice the bad reps. And I think he takes the heat too often for the poor OG play.
But we need to invest in that 3rd "swing" OT to a degree we have not thus far, preferably a veteran, and that player is not on the roster.
It's imperative he gets back on the field and puts a few good or average games together, IMV. We need to see some greenshoots of an NFL average lineman.
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They would be at least 4-6, maybe 5-5. So yeah, I'd feel better.
This is laughably false. He hasn't been the worst player on that line, not by a long shot.
His first three we were ugly, but even then it didn't matter when the Guards were allowing constant inside pressure. And people forget that Andrew Thomas has missed 7 games this year, and for most of that time, the replacement LT was getting worked over badly, while Neal was holding up fairly well (SF game excluded).
Neal will very likely be the RT next year, and that very likely is a good thing. There is a lot of positives to take away from his recent performances since his injury. You guys just only notice the bad reps. And I think he takes the heat too often for the poor OG play.
The inside pressure is what kills a quarterback. Combine that with the blindside pressure is no bueno. Neal hasn't been what we want him to be, but he ain't then worst either.
This, the team would be completely different.
Moving him to OG is intriguing. But, I don't know why so many think it is like Madden and not a significant move. It would present a huge unknown at that spot. I'd be just as inclined to get the best RG available to put next to him.
What we really need is a good rg. Having Ron stone in the 90s and snee in the 2000s made a huge difference.
You think if Neal was playing at an all pro level they would have two or three more wins. With the rest of the O line they have thrown out there most of he time? Wow.
The expectation of people on this board are ridiculous. Please, point out which games they would have won? Buffalo? If I recall, he played pretty well in that one. Does an all pro Neal make up the 40 point deficit against the Cowboys, the 15 points against the Dolphins (which was much worse than the score indicates), the 18 points against the Niners, the 21 points against Seattle, the 24 points against the Raiders? Please, which games do they win with a pro bowl performance at right tackle.
But we need to invest in that 3rd "swing" OT to a degree we have not thus far, preferably a veteran, and that player is not on the roster.
I think it would be irresponsible to put Neal back at RT without seeing any significant improvement this year. It just doesn't look like he has the feet for Tackle in this league. I think he has the potential to be an above average Guard. Great power and good speed. I think we should dedicate whatever chuck of cap space needed to sign a free agent RT and spend a 2nd rounder on a Guard. That could transform the O-Line.
That’s killing his growth as much as anything.
He was a top 10 pick for a reason. When those guys don’t pan out, it’s often work ethic, attitude and coach ability. He’s (reportedly) strong in all three.
He needs to stay on the field. As a rookie, he was coming along and then the knee injury. This year, he played on a bad ankle for a number of weeks (that eventually sidelined him. Comes back, has a decent game, hurts the other ankle. There’s still a top player in there (he and the team need to stay with it)
Neal is slow and has poor balance.
Counting on him to be the RT-JS and Daboll might as well count on a lottery ticket to pay for their retirements