hondo in seattle Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Chris Brown's article made me start to wonder if 2012 would be a break-through year for the O Line. I was not overly impressed with our O Line last year. I'm one of the guys who thinks that our gaudy sacks-allowed total had more to do with Gailey's quick-hitting offensive scheme and Fitz's fast decision-making than it did was pass protection. And that the impressive yards-per-carry average of our backs had more to do with play-calling and the talent of our backs than it did with rush blocking. Yet, I'm also starting to think that this line could be very good. IMHO, our biggest O Line problem last year was, obviously enough, injuries while our second-biggest problem, debatably, was LT. About the former: last year our players didn't have the advantage of working the full off-season with our good trainers and S&C coaches. I'm looking forward to fewer injuries this year. In regards to LT, when the QB is taking 3-step drops, there's less of a need for a good LT than in an offense with a mad-bomber QB. Nonetheless, it's easy to imagine the offense being more productive with a better LT than Bell and his 2011 post-injury replacements. Bell was still learning the position and maybe he'll be a superstar in Philly - but he wasn't for us. I'm really hoping Cordy Glenn proves to be an upgrade at LT. I'm trusting Nix/Gailey when they say he's a Tackle, not a Guard. I'm also intrigued by Zebrie Sanders who was runner up for the Jacobs Blocking Award for the most dominant offensive lineman in the ACC. Good for us he had a bad Senior Bowl. Another consideration is there have been lots of analyses that correlate O Line productivity with continuity. Our interior linemen have worked together now for a while. Altogether, I'm hopeful that this will be our best O Line in long, miserable time. Here's an excerpt from Chris's article: “It’s really big for our offensive line just having continuity bringing those guys back. We have a good solid group of interior guys that have been working together for a couple of years now with a lot of us starting a bunch of games,” said Eric Wood. “We all trust each other and all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and the numbers proved it last year.” Buffalo’s offensive line led the league in fewest sacks allowed (23) and ranked fifth in yards per carry average (4.9) all despite using three different players at left tackle and four different players at center in 2011. With Rinehart and Urbik, both restricted free agents, back with the club for 2012 valuable continuity can be maintained. “It definitely counts for something,” Urbik told Buffalobills.com. “Chad started 12 games and I started 13 and we’ve got Eric (Wood) and Andy (Levitre) back so we definitely have a lot of experience in the middle. It’s going to help us out a lot jelling together as an O-line whether it’s Chris (Hairston) or Cordy (Glenn) at left tackle starting this year.”.. Edited May 24, 2012 by hondo in seattle
Bruce Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) I would have to agree that this IS their time to shine. The only variable that I would say is again the injury bug. #1, that no more injuries occur of a significant nature, and #2 that those that were injured return to top form for the start of the season (namely: Wood). I'm actually pretty motivated that LT has been addressed, and our overall depth seems mucho better-o than any time in the past decade. I like that Brown guy. He impressed me last season. Just solid. He stepped in Center towards the end of the year after Wood and Urbik went down. I think that our Tackles are better. Guards. Centers. We should field a pretty competitive unit. And then there's this years crop of NFL camp fodder and FA's. We might pick up another gem that way. But we should be really taking off now. Edited May 22, 2012 by Bruce
3rdand12 Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 There is no reason we do not come out of camp with enough depth to keep us relevant when injuries occur, with the players we are working out and our veterans who have the exp as a unit. Joe D is a pretty underrated coach i guess because he has done a heck of a job with what all happened last year. Andy is the man and i love to watch him play what should be a boring position. Center is of some concern but the right side is fine imo. The drama is at left tackle already and should be great competition. When Bell was leaving i was nervous. Not any more. I cant wait wait for Hairston Glenn and Sanders get their groove on and show us what they got
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