Solution for run blocking problems

[Patler]

Just read an article with some interesting info on run blocking performance.

While Jenkins is grading out better than Meyers had at center, he is below his performance at guard. Banks is not only much worse than what Jenkins was at guard, he is significantly worse than what Meyers had been, making the switch from Jenkins/Meyers to Banks/Jenkins a significant loss in performance.

Rhyan has been decent at run blocking, and has graded out better than Banks, Jenkins and Morgan.

The highest graded run blocker has been Kinnard, with all his snaps at RT so far, but he has played RG in the past.

Soooo, the article suggested this "cure" for the run blocking issues.

Bench Banks.
Move Jenkins back to LG.
Play Rhan at center (where he has played in the past)
Start Kinnard at RG.

[Joemailman]

It would be tough to make such wholesale moves in the middle of the season. And while making these moves might improve the run blocking, moving Rhyan to C might result in more inside pressure on passing plays.

[Patler]

They've played musical chairs with the O-line all season anyway, and this really wouldn't be that drastic since all three have experience at the positions they would go to.

As for pass blocking, LaFleur seems to want to run first to set up the pass. He did it last year and is trying to this year. They are much more run oriented than they have been in the past, and more so than most other teams. If you want to base your offense on running the ball to set-up the pass, you have to run it well. Right now, they aren't.

[texaspackerbacker]

Benching the $17 million dollar man would be admitting that somebody really fucked up. I doubt they do that.

If the grading system shows that Jenkins is grading better at Center than Meyers, that shows one thing: that the grading system is bullshit. I have said consistently and I stand by it, Meyers did a damn good job both run blocking and pass blocking - evidence being that the Packers ran extremely good up the middle with him at Center and we had a whole lot less pressure on the QB on pass plays up the middle also. Hell yeah, Jenkins indeed did play better at Guard than he does at Center. Maybe Meyers wasn't worth the money he got (what, $6 million or whatever?), but that's a whole lot less than the $17 million Banks is getting.

As for that "solution" Patler is peddling, I guess it's better than what we've been doing. Has Kinnard ever played Guard? He might be better than Morgan at RG. This was a classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". But they did stupidly mess with it the way it was, and surprise surprise, we can't run the ball now. Maybe, make that ideally, Banks has been playing hurt and he will snap out of it and play like whatever possessed them to pay him the big money. If not, well, we are 5-1-1, so maybe that just proves the other thing I always say, O Line quality doesn't make a helluva lot of difference anyway.

[Joemailman]

There has been some improvement since they hit rock bottom at Cleveland. I think they should figure on Banks continuing to improve now that he's healthy. In the off-season they'll have to figure out what to do at C with Jenkins having a $28 million cap hit next year. That's probably too much, but you don't want to be switching Centers every year.

[pbmax]

You would also likely lose pass blocking ability with that lineup. Rhyan is not great at pass blocking and that skill is part of the reason Myers was left. The two of them combined to let a lot of interior pressure head directly to Love. Rhyan and Kinnard would be a bit unknown for pass blocking at new positions.

What did the article want to do with Morgan?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

What did the article want to do with Morgan?

Trade Morgan for CB Riley Moss or CB Cooper Dejean.

[bobblehead]

The solution is to build a great OL during offseasons and not "slot in" guys at positions they aren't used to playing. Banks was an awful signing. I expected him to be better, but even if he were better we overpaid. Maybe drafting Creed Humphry when he was there instead of being cute might have helped. Or drafting other top OL instead of reaching for off ball LBs would have helped. Or if you drafted a talent like Morgan to play his body type instead of his skillset then just fucking leave him there for back to back games.

Our OL next season should look something like Walker/Jenkins/newguy/Morgan/Tom. And stop moving guys out of their positions constantly. They clearly drafted Morgan to play RG. I look at their actions, not their words. Leave him there. Cut your losses on Banks and go get a new center. Myers was a blight who they trotted out each week and to fix the problem we disrupted the interior. Just draft or sign a real center if center is the problem. Of course by next season Jenkins will probably settle in. Maybe Banks as well and the problems are fixed. The line will probably be settled as they are healthy and stay put. Its decent. We can win as it is, but more tinkering is likely to harm not help. And ffs re sign Walker before you create new holes.

[texaspackerbacker]

So much ignorant hate for Meyers hahahaha. We clearly had BETTER run blocking and BETTER pass blocking up the middle with him at Center.

The team was at its best with both Jenkins and Tom at Guard. Tom has been pretty mediocre at Tackle. Maybe it's the injury or maybe he's just not as good there. Maybe move both Jenkins and Tom back to Guard and put Kinnard at RT or better yet Belton (although I don't ever expect this to happen).

Whatever they do, this is not too big a deal, as quality of O Line isn't that big a factor in winning and losing games, not like quality at the skilled positions.

[sharpe1027]

The run game will get better once Jacobs is fully healthy. He's clearly not 100%.

[Joemailman]

The run game will get better once Jacobs is fully healthy. He's clearly not 100%.

I agree. Emanuel Wilson averaged over 5 yards per carry last week while Jacobs averaged less than 3. Running behind the same line, of course. If they get a lead Sunday, would like to see them let Wilson be the workhorse and give Jacobs some rest.

[Patler]

What did the article want to do with Morgan?

Compete for starting job at LT.

[George Cumby]

The run game will get better once Jacobs is fully healthy. He's clearly not 100%.

I strained a calf muscle a few years back. It took a long time for that to get right.

They need to rest him.

[sharpe1027]

I agree. Emanuel Wilson averaged over 5 yards per carry last week while Jacobs averaged less than 3. Running behind the same line, of course. If they get a lead Sunday, would like to see them let Wilson be the workhorse and give Jacobs some rest.

Makes a lot of sense, but my fantasy team disagrees.

[sharpe1027]

I strained a calf muscle a few years back. It took a long time for that to get right.

They need to rest him.

If he's using your calf muscle, that's a problem.