Team who might trade for a center.....

[Lurker64]

I thought MM didn't want the "shuffling" of the line anymore in an attempt to get stronger? So if a guard would get hurt, they would be replaced with a back-up, not moving Spitz over.....or did I miss understand what the "shuffling" was?

I think the Shuffling was more in reference to "trying to teach all the young guy to play three positions at once is inhibiting their development, we'll do better if we just let guys focus on one thing." However, that being said, there's some starting offensive linemen on this roster who have already shown themselves to be capable at playing a position other than the one they're starting at. Spitz has certainly shown himself to be a capable guard, and Colledge has certainly shown himself to be a capable tackle. So if a G or a T goes down, you move Spitz to the G's spot or College to the T's spot and fill in the vacancy with the respective backup who only plays one position.

I think we're going to see "no shuffling" much more apparent with the backups. Giacomini only has to focus on RT, Lang only has to focus on G, Meredith and Moll only have to focus on LT, Wells only has to focus on C, etc. Ultimately you want to get your best five available on the field, but you help yourself in case of an injury by having your backups keyed on the position they will be playing, rather than trying to teach them four positions at once.

[Freak Out]

What the hell ever happened to the FA we signed...Preston? I thought he was a center? Is the guy even around?

[Harlan Huckleby]

How do you shuffle to get Wells in if Barbre gets hurt? Neither Spitz nor Sitton have played out there. If you aren't going to move one of them out there, you don't need Wells to come in .

Ya, that is the one position where they are most vulnerable, and it's not easy to see how they would deal with it.

I doubt they would do any shuffling during a game. I think they would try to start their five best players the following week if somebody went down with a serious injury. Their veteran utility guy, Moll, has not impressed.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think we're going to see "no shuffling" much more apparent with the backups. Giacomini only has to focus on RT, Lang only has to focus on G, Meredith and Moll only have to focus on LT, Wells only has to focus on C, etc. Ultimately you want to get your best five available on the field, but you help yourself in case of an injury by having your backups keyed on the position they will be playing, rather than trying to teach them four positions at once.

Of course it would be great to avoid shuffling. In depends if they have confidence in the backups besides Wells, I'm not sure.

[Lurker64]

I think we're going to see "no shuffling" much more apparent with the backups. Giacomini only has to focus on RT, Lang only has to focus on G, Meredith and Moll only have to focus on LT, Wells only has to focus on C, etc. Ultimately you want to get your best five available on the field, but you help yourself in case of an injury by having your backups keyed on the position they will be playing, rather than trying to teach them four positions at once.

Of course it would be great to avoid shuffling. In depends if they have confidence in the backups besides Wells, I'm not sure.

In terms of the backups I think they have confidence in:
1) Wells is a more than adequate center.
2) Lang can play either guard spot, but will be better in pass pro than the running game.
3) Giacomini is not much of a downgrade from Barbre.

And I think that pretty much covers us.

[Harlan Huckleby]

2) Lang can play either guard spot, but will be better in pass pro than the running game.
3) Giacomini is not much of a downgrade from Barbre.

I doubt Lang is ready to play.

Not sure about Barbre vrs Giacomini. I think Barbre is a lot better, but that is just from a few plays I noticed. A JSO writer says Barbre is a much better athlete.

I think the answer at backup is Moll at all positions except center. And then probably some shuffling if injury looks prolonged.