(12-06-2017, 10:19 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Are we comfortable with Ogbuehi and Smith as our starting tackles next year?

At first, my thinking was we needed to basically scrap the entire offensive line and start over during the off season. Ogbuehi was getting destroyed, Fisher was being embarrassed on a weekly basis and Smith is older and may not be a future player for us, depending on what happens in the off season.

But, I must say, they don't appear to be as awful as they were in the beginning of the season. Has Ogbuehi finally settled in? Or is it just a streak of 3 good games?

Keep in mind, I'm only judging with my eyes. I don't have PFF data to back this feeling up. I just know that, in the last few games, our Oline has held up relatively well in pass protection. And they've improved in run blocking as well!

Giving up 6 sacks in 4 games vs Tennessee, Denver, Cleveland and Pittsburgh is not bad at all.

And eclipsing 100 yards rushing and 5 ypc in each of the last 2 games against good run defense teams (No. 6 and No. 8 total rushing defense for Cleveland and Pittsburgh) is nothing to scoff at either.

I think we definitely need to upgrade the interior of our line, but I'm actually not AS worried about the tackles as I was early on in the season.

Am I crazy? Or are they improving?

(12-06-2017, 01:15 PM)corpjet Wrote: No we need to draft the "road grader" Orlando from Oklahoma....

(12-06-2017, 10:19 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Are we comfortable with Ogbuehi and Smith as our starting tackles next year?

At first, my thinking was we needed to basically scrap the entire offensive line and start over during the off season. Ogbuehi was getting destroyed, Fisher was being embarrassed on a weekly basis and Smith is older and may not be a future player for us, depending on what happens in the off season.

(12-07-2017, 03:32 AM)kevin Wrote: THIS.....Get the tackle from Oklahoma with out First Pick and if he is gone the tackle from UCLA.  Both are starting Left Tackles and rated by CBS Sports to be in the Top 15 of this draft.  The Oklahoma Left Tackle is rated in the Top 5.  I think some Ohio State fans are rating their center a little high. I'm not saying he isn't good, but I guarantee you he isn't rated in the Top 15.  ......You take a Top 15 Left Tackle and you have Ogbuehi and Fisher at right tackle if they are both signed for 2018. If Smith is not signed for 2018, and wants big money, he may be gone again.  His free agency stock and price has fallen and he no longer deserves the big bucks his agent demanded a couple years ago. 

Drafting Munoz or Levi Jones at Left Tackle is how you work the draft.  If you have a draft pick in the Top 15, as Bengals will, and you are weak at Left Tackle, You Draft Left Tackle in One.  You do that because Left Tackle is an early First Round pick and the Left Tackles after Round One are not Anthony Munoz types.  Often there are few Left Tackles worth drafting after One....Ogbuehi and Fisher have proved the draft experts right who said both would be Right Tackle types in the NFL but not talented enough for Left Tackle. ...By drafting the Oklahoma Left Tackle or if he is gone, the UCLA Left Tackle, we get a Top 15 Left Tackle and Ogbuehi probably becomes are Right Tackle with Fisher as much needed back-up in case of injuries.  Smith and Winston might be good veteran back-ups if they sign cheap, because their big buck days are over. 

Round 2 and 3 is a good place to man up at Guard and Center. Do NOT be surprised if the Ohio State center is still there in 2 because Centers don't go Round One that often.  If we get the Oklahoma or UCLA Left Tackle if ONE, and one of the drafts top Guards and also one of the drafts top Centers in 2 and 3, THAT is what we need.   If we get a One or a Two for AJ McCarron as a restricted free agent tender, Then we can get Left Tackle, Guard and Center in the First Two Rounds. 

Bodine is not our biggest weakness, Left Tackle is.  Get the Left Tackle in One, and there will be a Top Guard and a Top Center with our next 2 picks....and DO NOT say we can't go O Line with the first 3 picks.  We can and MUST because we drafted running backs, wide receivers and defense heavy in the 2017 draft plus lost Whitworth and Zeitler.  We loaded up on all the other positions last year except for O Line, and it shows. We have the worst blocking in the NFL, and we will get worse and worse until we address it, so bite the bullet and draft Left Tackle first and next 2 picks on Guard and Center or vice versa and by get 3 new O Linemen early we are at least getting in blocking talent.  The AFC North is SMASH MOUTH Football, not Touch Football, and if you want to beat Ravens and Steelers and even the Browns, you better be able to FIRE off the O Line and BLOCK.  Otherwise it's back to 4 win seasons like 1990's.  WE CAN draft Left Tackle, Center and Guard with our first 3 picks because we have so many young WR's, RB's, D Line, CB's we have been loading up on in drafts.   ...Now I hope we get the Comp Pick for McCarron and get LT, C and G in Rounds One and Two so team can draft other positions on Round 3 and on.  MY HOPE is to get a 1 or 2 for McCarron,  Take The Oklahoma Left Tackle who DOMINATES, Maybe get this Ohio State Center or someone as good in 2 and get a DeCastro or Zeitler type guard in 2 also.  Try to draft Munoz, Montoya and Rimington in the first 2 rounds and have a 1980's type O Line.

One more reason you don't draft guard or center in One....In just a couple years he will be on another team because Mike Brown refuses to pay interior linemen. This is why when we do get good guards or centers they end up on other teams.  Now Mike Brown has paid Left Tackles before.  There is a chance a top left tackle plays 10 years for us and that is well worth the top pick. ..If we get Oklahomas Left Tackle and Ogbuehi at Right Tackle, that could be Play-Off Wins, especially if we add guard and center in round 2 with help of McCarron Comp Pick.

(12-06-2017, 11:24 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: I don't see us signing any free agent tackles...so it would be drafting McGlinchey who struggles with speed rushers or some other OT.

I've identified a Center in free agency and a Guard that I'd target. IF we could atleast upgrade 2 positions that goes a long way towards stabilizing the line.

Honestly, I don't see us bringing in 4 new starters.

(12-06-2017, 02:00 PM)bfine32 Wrote: My view on OT has been made known in the past. I think it has gotten to the point that we don't have to reach for an OT and folks saying we must draft one early, even before we know who all declares and how they test out most likely have no future as an NFL GM.

Ced has improved IMO over the last few weeks and I'm willing to give him until the end of the year to determine if I scrap him. Andre, when health is a good RT and it has shown ever since they moved him permanently to RT.

Now as to Center; that is a must.

(12-06-2017, 10:16 PM)Storer50 Wrote: What are everyone's thoughts on Quentin Nelson, the guard out of notre dame?

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(12-06-2017, 10:16 PM)Storer50 Wrote: What are everyone's thoughts on Quentin Nelson, the guard out of notre dame?

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(12-07-2017, 01:20 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Agreed.    The fact we are running the ball says these guys are trending the right way.    We may only need interior lineman.    Plus we don’t know how they feel about fisher.

(12-09-2017, 04:42 PM)Jakeypoo Wrote: According to PFF Hopkins and Boiling have had there best games of the season these past two games.  We might be better because running the ball because of those two.

(12-07-2017, 01:47 PM)Hammerstripes Wrote: The best OG prospect that I've seen since following the draft (1992)

He is a better prospect than DeCastro was.  He's got size (6'5" 325) and he's athletic.  He would be my first round pick hands down if we don't go QB.