Barbre preparing to compete at new spot: RT

[falco]

It would be nice to see some combination of Spitz, Colledge and the young guys emerge as our starting five for the next several years.

[Guiness]

ND, if he's around, knows a lot about the OL.

What say you, ND? Tackle less mentally demanding?

My impression was always that LT and C required the quickest thinking.

Center because of the need to make line calls based on DL alignment. And I seem to remember seeing an article looking at Wonderlific scores, and LT was the second highest average after QB.

[rbaloha1]

The o-line is in good shape. Young and talented quality depth.

Barbre should be ready. Thru competition a solid rt shall emerge.

[bobblehead]

The thing that throws me about this, and I'm also no expert, but College is long and fluid like a tackle is supposed to be, and Babre is tight and nasty like a guard is supposed to be. There are two kinds of athletes, fast and powerful vs. fluid and intuitive. I consider Tackles to be the latter, and college fits that. I guess the staff is so high on colleges athletic ability that they really want to keep him at the position that requires everything.

But still, the length and fluidity college possesses screams OT to me. I still would have drafted Oher and groomed him for cliffy's replacement, moved College to RT and let the chips fall where they may otherwise. I really worry about LT in the future as I really think Cliffy is near the end of the line. I still have John Michaels nightmares and remember the search for an LT for so long.

For this year, I hope Cliffy is solid, college steps up again, spitz grabs hold of center, Sitton is a grader, and someone emerges as our new RT.

[Gunakor]

The thing that throws me about this, and I'm also no expert, but College is long and fluid like a tackle is supposed to be, and Babre is tight and nasty like a guard is supposed to be. There are two kinds of athletes, fast and powerful vs. fluid and intuitive. I consider Tackles to be the latter, and college fits that. I guess the staff is so high on colleges athletic ability that they really want to keep him at the position that requires everything.

But still, the length and fluidity college possesses screams OT to me. I still would have drafted Oher and groomed him for cliffy's replacement, moved College to RT and let the chips fall where they may otherwise. I really worry about LT in the future as I really think Cliffy is near the end of the line. I still have John Michaels nightmares and remember the search for an LT for so long.

For this year, I hope Cliffy is solid, college steps up again, spitz grabs hold of center, Sitton is a grader, and someone emerges as our new RT.

I guess my hope for this year is that Colledge can play RT and they can stick Lang in at LG. Lang is built similar to Sitton, and I feel both could be outstanding guards at this level. I know MM has stated he isn't considering moving Colledge to RT this year, but I think he should.

And I'm still hoping Wells can win the competition at center. I know he's small, and isn't as physically gifted as I'd want at center. But he's so fundamentally sound, and is top notch when it comes to making correct line calls. Don't get me wrong, I like Spitz and wouldn't be disappointed if he were the starting center either. I just think the OL as a unit would preform better with Wells.

[Waldo]

The thing that throws me about this, and I'm also no expert, but College is long and fluid like a tackle is supposed to be, and Babre is tight and nasty like a guard is supposed to be.

Colledge isn't very long, his reach is only 33", which is on the fringe of being adequate at LT. But he does have LT feet, being one of 3 guys (Clifton, Colledge, Meredith) on the team that do. Length isn't an absolute requirement for a LT, but it helps, whereas feet are a must. Clifton and Meredith both have longer arms than Colledge.

I doubt MM wants to move Sitton, I think he learned his lesson with Spitz and wants to keep him in the position he can be elite at, not simply adequate. Sitton could top out as slightly better than Tausher at RT, but he could be an elite RG. I think that it is the same way with Lang. Lang could be an adequate, or even better RT (his physical T tools are a hair better than Sitton's), but an elite G. Lang is mean as hell on the field and very wide for his size, much like Sitton.

If Lang comes to play I think that Colledge gets moved into the RT battle. Colledge could excel on the right side. He is by far our best lineman in space, whereas Sitton is our best in a phone booth, Clifton is still our best 1 on 1 pass blocker.

If any lineman on our team is going to own an elite end in pass pro, Clifton is that guy, but Meredith has it in him (I don't think Colledge would ever be elite at it, adequate however).

If any lineman is going to pancake a DT, Sitton is that guy, though Lang has it in him.

If any lineman is going to pancake a LB, Colledge is that guy, though Barbre has it in him.

It really depends on what skill set MM wants to emphasize at RT. If he wants a road grader than will plow open holes for the back, Breno is probably the best guy. If he wants a guy that will keep the rushers out, Meredith is probably the best fit. In between those opposite ends of the spectrum are Barbre, Colledge and Lang, with Lang being more road grader and Barbre being more pass protector, Colledge is kinda in the middle. Though if we want to do more outside running and screen type stuff, Colledge is the guy to play RT, I think he blends the skill sets the best of our group.

However for Colledge to move to RT, Lang would have to step up in a big way at LG.

[SnakeLH2006]

My confidence in Clifton has been shaken after last year. I hope I am wrong, but I have a feeling he won't be our starting tackle for the full year. Not sure where that leaves them as Colledge would be the best replacement there.

Snake agrees. I find it sad, but true that blue-chip LT's don't start for 12 years as draft guys like to say, but he's been dropping hard over the last 2 seasons. No longer a top-notch LT. Some clammor for Colledge, but again not a fan as an LT or even a starter.

Sounds like Barbre can be a player if he can do it mentally, but that is hopeful. Breno? C'mon, has that dude played a snap yet? For some to assume he's gonna compete to start at RT is futile. TJ Lang...some hope there as Tauch did it as a 7th rounder. Hopefully Lang is half the man/player.

Snake still sees plenty of weakness (our OL is poor) but hopefully MM quits throwing guys at 80 spots and just settles on an OL or this shit won't gell. Arod is agile enough and had a great first season, so I ain't worried about him, just that if that OL is shaky (turnover) again, that the running game will be poor again. We really need some stability there on OL.

[Fritz]

This is the year that, barring major injuries, we find out how well TT has drafted on the offensive line. No excuses for Colledge, Spitz, or Barbre, and even Sitton needs to live up to the hype and expectation.

This be the year.

[bobblehead]

This is the year that, barring major injuries, we find out how well TT has drafted on the offensive line. No excuses for Colledge, Spitz, or Barbre, and even Sitton needs to live up to the hype and expectation.

This be the year.

I still have some hope for Tony Moll even. I think he is underrated. He was actually maulling super mario in the run game before the make believe holding call.