08-03-2015, 03:54 PM
(08-03-2015, 02:34 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: It's easy for people to puff their chests out about Paulie G after a year where the team finished 12th in average per rush and gave up only 23 sacks. I'm not so quick to forget about the previous 8 seasons though. During those 8 seasons, they had an average rank of 27th in average per rush, with an average of 33 sacks allowed per season.
That's nearly a decade of terrible run production and average at best pass protection. Especially considering we've had a pair of QB's who get rid of the ball quickly. That's not even getting into the 90's.
Last year was easily the best year of Paul's tenure, as far as production is concerned. And again, who has he developed? I get that every team uses some top picks on o-linemen, but after 20 years, you'd think there'd be a pretty decent list of late round guys that Paul developed. Or busts that he turned around.
You completely ignore what happened in the that 8th season.
Levi Jones, franchise LT got hurt.
Eric Steinbach, all pro LG got hurt.
Willie Anderson, all pro RT got old.
Bobbie Williams, top 10 RG got old.
Then you factor the Palmer injury, Palmer was a statue for awhile after the knee. He couldn't avoid anything.
He had to completely rebuild the OL.
Great OL don't grow on trees. The OL from 2004-2006 was good. Then injuries and age happened.
They stopped giving him draft picks to work with.
Between 2004 and 2008 (5 drafts) we spent 1 draft pick on OL above the 4th round (Andrew Whitworth, 2nd round 2006)
Then we didn't do it again until 2009 with Andre in the first.
2012 with Zeitler.
