01-23-2016, 12:55 PM
(01-22-2016, 02:40 PM)RoyleRedlegs Wrote: It's not that simple. It never has been.
The narrative that a guy can just switch sides and it's no big deal because they're an athlete or whatever is false.
There's a lot more to it than that. It's about comfort and a lot of it is muscle memory.
What makes Joe Thomas, Andrew Whitworth and Tyron Smith so good is that every set they take in pass pro looks exactly the same.
They hit their sets in their sleep. They are technically sound from the snap.
Being comfortable with that from both sides isn't that easy.
It's entirely possible he's just not comfortable at LT.
It is a complicate issue. In the last couple of years I know the Pats and Broncos have switched guys around from position to position in mid season, and I am surwe that if I took the time to look I could find more. So it is not as impossible as Royal claims. But he does have a point. Just because some O-linemen have the physical ability to move around that does not mean they all do. And experience has a lot to do with it. It would be easier for a guy who has been in the league for a few years to switch around than a second year guy who's head is still busy learning how to deal with complex NFL defensive schemes and the speed and techniques of NFL d-linemen.
Working together as a unit is more important to the O-line than anywhere else on the team. So you want guys getting used to not only their own roles, but the strengths and weaknesses of the guys on each side of him. If a switch is made it needs to be in the offseason to give the whole line time to adjust.
So I think the first couple of years a guy should just play one position. I know our O-line coach disagrees, but I think making a first year player learn multiple positions could slow down his ability to just learn how to play on the NFL level.
