Ted Thompson's scalp

[pbmax]

How many teams in the league don't play their backup LT elsewhere on the line? I would wager zero .

I accept your wager, and will even spot your 10 teams. (This is a safe bet, since it is impossible to verify. )

I bet more than half the teams have a backup LT.

Vikes backup LT is Hicks and he is also backup at RT and RG. He does not start anywhere.

I think you and Harlan may be missing the point, but let me know if I'm wrong. Hicks is the listed backup on the depth chart but that doesn't guarantee that he will be the guy who will go in at LT if McKinnie goes down - Someone else like Hutch, from along the line could take that spot. Being listed as backup on the depth chart doesn't mean you will come in at that spot. Colledge is not listed on the LT depth chart. (I think that's how depth charts work - you don't list the same guy twice)

They used to. But then coaches got the bright idea that being misleading was a strategic advantage. So the league forces them to keep an updated depth chart.

What they eventually learned was that by not putting reality into writing, they may never need to defend it. Thus inactive Breno Giacomini is the depth chart backup at LT, but in reality everyone knew it was Clifton.

[mngolf19]

How many teams in the league don't play their backup LT elsewhere on the line? I would wager zero .

I accept your wager, and will even spot your 10 teams. (This is a safe bet, since it is impossible to verify. )

I bet more than half the teams have a backup LT.

Vikes backup LT is Hicks and he is also backup at RT and RG. He does not start anywhere.

I think you and Harlan may be missing the point, but let me know if I'm wrong. Hicks is the listed backup on the depth chart but that doesn't guarantee that he will be the guy who will go in at LT if McKinnie goes down - Someone else like Hutch, from along the line could take that spot. Being listed as backup on the depth chart doesn't mean you will come in at that spot. Colledge is not listed on the LT depth chart. (I think that's how depth charts work - you don't list the same guy twice)

They used to. But then coaches got the bright idea that being misleading was a strategic advantage. So the league forces them to keep an updated depth chart.

What they eventually learned was that by not putting reality into writing, they may never need to defend it. Thus inactive Breno Giacomini is the depth chart backup at LT, but in reality everyone knew it was Clifton.

I'm not sure who is listed where but Hicks always comes in first to replace McKinnie when he needs it. And if RT also needs filling then it goes to Cook if Hicks is already filling in for McKinnie. Otherwise Hicks is the first backup at all 3 positions. Hutch only plays LG, they have other guys they would put there or C if they needed replacing. Cooper/Cook at C or Cook at G.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Jason Smith, the Rams starting RT, is out this week with an injury. Fortunately for them, they have a decent player in Adam Goldberg who backs up both tackle positons.

Must be nice.

[Waldo]

Jason Smith, the Rams starting RT, is out this week with an injury. Fortunately for them, they have a decent player in Adam Goldberg who backs up both tackle positons.

Must be nice.

Too bad he's not going to be on Matthews side, so Matthews can pad his stats.

Unfortunately Kamp seems to have hit the 30=useless wall that non-legendary pass rushers hit.

The Rams don't even have decent starting T's. If he was decent he'd be starting.

[mraynrand]

Jason Smith, the Rams starting RT, is out this week with an injury. Fortunately for them, they have a decent player in Adam Goldberg who backs up both tackle positons.

Must be nice.

Too bad he's not going to be on Matthews side, so Matthews can pad his stats.

Unfortunately Kamp seems to have hit the 30=useless wall that non-legendary pass rushers hit.

The Rams don't even have decent starting T's. If he was decent he'd be starting.

The Rams center also got knocked out of the game against the Redskins. He came back but didn't look so good.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Jason Smith, the Rams starting RT, is out this week with an injury. Fortunately for them, they have a decent player in Adam Goldberg who backs up both tackle positons.

Must be nice.

Too bad he's not going to be on Matthews side, so Matthews can pad his stats.

Unfortunately Kamp seems to have hit the 30=useless wall that non-legendary pass rushers hit.

The Rams don't even have decent starting T's. If he was decent he'd be starting.

Smith was the second pick in the draft, I doubt he is a fish. Goldberg and Smith competed for the starting the job and Smith edged him out.

http://www.kansascity.com/491/story/1460533.html

Adam Goldberg replaced Smith during Sunday's game and is likely to get the start against the Packers.

"The one thing about Adam you're going to know is no matter where he's going to have to plug-in; he's going to know what to do," said Spagnuolo. "That's the kind of guy he is. That's what you need to be a back up in the NFL. I thought he did a real nice job."

Now that's what the Packers are missing. Bad on Ted.

[Waldo]

Smith also came from a spread offense and was raw as hell. He by far was the most physically talented OT in the draft. He also wasn't nearly as good of an actual player as most OT's taken on the first day. He has the potential to be great, but right now, that is all it is. He struggled in PS.

Moll knew what he was doing too. Doesn't mean that he was any good at doing it.