Thread: What if the oline doesn't get any better this season?

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I totally agree & that is a good blueprint for improving the oline. And it is doable.

Other than LT, there are usually rock solid interior linemen in the 2nd, and even 3rd rounds. Any I totally agree regarding centers. You don't have to use a 1st round pick to get a very good center.

I don't expect us to have a great oline, but just a very good one.

Even the best offensive lines are going to give up some sacks/hurries/hits. That's just reality in the NFL today. But having a very good oline is absolutely attainable - and your "blueprint" is a good way to go about this. I'd also want to see them maintain that high quality by never letting the line drop in quality to the point we're in a full-blown crisis year (where your season is hurt due to the oline). That just shouldn't happen if you maintain the line year after year.

Oline personnel are a good value when you think about it. Good players typically have long careers where they play at a high level, well past age 30 and often to around 34 or 35 years of age. Building and maintaining a good oline simply takes commitment from the organization. It truly isn't rocket science.

Yeah, good interior OLs ("potential starter quality") are often draftable in the 2nd and 3rd rounds usually as you said. I was surprised this past year when Konz, as promising an OC prospect as you can see, didn't go until the mid-2nd I believe. Same with Wis the year before. Unless your name is "Pouncey" it appears that C's just don't get picked in the 1st hardly ever. OTs are another story. Virtually never do you see a "starting LT outta the box" fall past the single digits or maybe top-15 at worst. They're just too valuable and scarce to last to any team that didn't miss the playoffs badly the year before. Any OT you draft past say the mid-1st is likely either going to be an RT exclusively or a "project LT" for a year or two down the road.

You're right about "maintaining" the OL with constant refreshment of new talent. Once you get there, figure on drafting one promising OLman in the mid-draft every year to keep re-stocking and developing. We fell way behind the eight ball because JA either ignored or missed draft after draft. We actually got really lucky that long shot guys like Garza panned out and Louis looks like he's on that path too.

This is very preliminary obviously and very speculative, but I foresee Emery going into next year's FA focused like a laser beam on LT just like he was ready to pounce right out of the shoot on a WR this year. It will be costly and Stein is going have to work his magic to clear cap space (bye, bye Spencer and Spaeth). I'm hoping that someone will be available. Clady and Bushrod both play for teams that just spent a king's ransom on Manning and Brees. Maybe they could shake loose due to cap constraints. Long might just be sick of the clown school that is the Dolphins organization and want out. If this happens pounce, Phil, pounce like a mountain lion.

Webb can then compete in TC with Scott or whoever for the swing/backup job. Loser hits the street.

I see us looking hard in the 1st round for an Urlacher understudy and taking him if available. 2nd round can pick up an OC to replace Garza or an OG if EWill can handle the job. A million things could change between now and next spring but that's how I see Emery looking ahead at this point. Scout LBs and OLs like crazy this college season and be ready to open the purse if there's a FA LT on the market.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Aren't correct me if I am wrong, but aren't both Cutler and Marshall free agents after next year?

After NEXT YEAR. Cutler is signed through 2013 and Marshall through 2014 I believe. Urlacher, Louis, Spencer, and CWilliams are FAs after this year if memory serves.