Jonah settling in at RT

[SunsetBengal]

(08-08-2023, 01:29 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Agreed.  

I think the biggest questions on the OL are: 

1) What happens with Collins? Keep or cut or PUP?   
2) Do we keep 9 or 10? 
3) What is the pecking order behind the starters? 

Brown, Volson, Karras, Cappa, & Williams will start. 

Carman is a roster lock, IMHO, but not necessarily the #3 OT (a healthy Collins couod be ahead of him at RT). His showing in the POs last year buys him another year, min. And with Jonah likely gone, him taking over at RT next year is best case scenario for us. 

But if Ford, Adeniji, or Smith really shine at tackle in camp, things get interesting quickly. There is no earhly way we start with only 3 OTs on the roster. If Collins isn't ready to play yet & someone beats out Carman for swing tackle, a cut of Collins or Carman could happen to save $$. But I doubt it. 

I think Collins on PUP + 9 is the most likely scenario. The starters + Carman (#3 OT) + Scharping (#3 G) are virtual locks. We need a backup C. We value versatility in the backups. We have seen Hill at G, Ben Brown at G, and Scharping at C. But I still think Hill has the edge for #8 over Brown.  

The next spot has to be the #4 OT. If Collins is healthy, you have to assume it is his. Unless Ford, Adeniji, or Smith really wow at camp & make him expendable. If not, the best of them take the #4 OT tackle spot with La'el on PUP. Probably Ford. 

That will leave a decision on if we carry 10 OL or not (I could see a 7th WR or CB ir a 5th S instead). If we do keep 10, Adeniji, Smith, Brown, & Kirkland are your choices. 

I mean, I think one mediocre OL guy is as good as another. If one gets nabbed off our PS is that really gonna hurt if retain another instead? At least guys oike Morgan (special teams, blocking), Ivey, M. Thomas, and Anderson have demonstrated they can help or have upside. Not sure the OL guys have. 

To the bolded parts:

I think that everyone has seen what Hakeem Adeniji has to offer, while he's smart and can play 4 spots, he didn't take that physical jump in his second year like the coaches were probably hoping. I have to think that unless someone else doesn't impress or gets injured, he's on the outside looking in.  D'ante Smith is definitely last on my list of options at making the 53, other than KOR blocker, I really can't see much else in his future.  With Ford, they're looking at someone who at least has extended playing time. Who Know's, maybe a change in scenery will re-ignite his passion for the game?  He also has the ability to play 3 positions going for him.

To second bolded, I'll continue where I left off on Ford, I honestly think that the coaches had in mind for him to be the 4th tackle, at least until La'el Collins' future is ultimately determined.

As far as your pool of options for keeping 10?  I think that they would want to develop the rookie in this situation.  He's got tremendous length along with fair athleticism.  Perhaps he's the new long term development project?