Jonah settling in at RT

[*ochocincos*]

(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. 

I think right now it's Carman vs Smith for swing tackle because Ford, Collins, and Adeniji aren't really in consideration anymore for backing up LT.
All 3 of those guys could back up OG though.
Scharping can back up both OG spots, but if he can also be a depth center, that's even more valuable.

Right now, I see it as this:
OT - Brown, Williams, Carman or Smith, Ford or Adeniji (Collins)
OG - Cappa, Volson, Scharping
C - Karras, Hill or Brown

I don't think they'd go 10 to start the season, but they might once Collins comes back.

If I was more of a betting man, I'd have Carman, Ford, and Hill making it. Adeniji and Smith cut and to the PS (if eligible), Brown to the PS.
Once Collins is ready to return, evaluate the health of the OL (and rest of offense) to see if it's better have Collins just as 10th OL, or have Collins take the spot of Ford if sticking with 9.