10-10-2016, 10:10 AM
(10-10-2016, 04:43 AM)Thundercloud Wrote: I think it's a legitimate question. And it will be answered as the season goes on.
But just on the practical side, I think we miss the following:
1. Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert. We should be getting Eifert back soon, but we've got to get Boyd more involved. Even he is not a deep threat, which Jones was. Core is probably our best prospect to stretch the field other than Green and we need to get him in there. We may even miss Sanu a little. I'm ok with Lafell, but we've got to get other receivers going.
2. Reggie Nelson. One of the best non-drafted players we've ever had, and we let him go. We're hurting at safety. Williams is not as good as Reggie, and it seems to me that Iloka is suffering from Nelson's loss, too.
3. Our offensive line is not performing, and I think Cedric O is really struggling. Andre Smith had his flaws, but was a good right tackle. Cedric will improve. He was extremely highly rated by everyone coming out of college, and he will come around. But right now he's having some rough snaps. But this is essentially his rookie year, and he didn't really get a good summer camp at all, either year he's been on the team. Bodine is Bodine and I think Zeitler is having problems coping with struggling players, now on both sides of him.
4. I think we're seeing a little rust with Burfict, but he'll get over that. Michael Johnson seems to be in decline, and Geno doesn't seem to be the force we all expect him to be lately. He's had some good games, but he was certainly neutralized Sunday.
So yes, we did seem a little lifeless Sunday, but I think there are also some practical personnel issues at work, too.
Regarding Ogbuehi, I'm not sure he's all he's been cracked up to be. If I recall correctly, his better years at A&M were spent as an interior lineman since they had both Matthews and Joeckel on the outside. He didn't move to tackle until those two left for the draft. When he did make the switch, he pretty much sucked, then he got hurt, missed the rest of the year and got drafted on measurables and footwork, not football ability.
IMO there was a lot more risk in selecting him than we want to admit. Everyone thinks we stole some top 5 lock of a talent because he was hurt. In reality he was a player that needed a fair amount of work in addition to having the injury. He doesn't look like a guy that carries the kind of bulk that we've traditionally had at the RT spot. Lots of bust potential in him, I'm afraid.
