Notes from Voluntary Practice

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(05-30-2025, 10:20 AM)samhain Wrote: I'm hoping that he's Clint Boling 2.0.  Doesn't have to be a superstar.  He just needs to be better than the guys out there last year.  That requires little a baseline level of NFL competency.  

Only difference here is that Boling was never meant to start in year one.  He was slotted in after Wharton went down in he preseason.  

Fairchild may or may not work out, but putting Burrow's health in the hands of a 3rd round rookie still seems pretty malpracticey.  9 is not built to take the number of hits he has over the course of his career.  The longer they go with crap interior line play, the shorter his time to win a title in Cincinnati will get.

Few things (and I know the point/premise behind your post, so I promise I'm not trying to start a fight or anything lol):

1. He isn't Boling: Boling was a finesse guy, who could (and did) play multiple positions on the line. Fairchild is pretty much an OG and a power/strength guy at that.
2. Boling started in year 1 to supplant Bobbie Williams, who (IIRC) was suspended for the first 3 games that year. Not only was Boling raw, but he was also not strong-enough (which isn't a problem with Fairchild). One year in the weight program and he was up to speed.
3. When Wharton went down, that was Boling's 2nd year, where he was up to speed in the weight program and a further year into the team and cohesiveness. He also played next to Whitworth, which was much better than playing next to 'dre (wasn't a bad thing playing next to 'dre, but not as good as Whitworth).

Fairchild will be awesome, I'm telling you, the gut instinct is strong with this one lol