Notes from Voluntary Practice

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 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.

Yep all we are asking for is solid performance from everyone on the OL, we aren't asking for top-tier.
Solid would be a huge step up from previous years.

But for anyone to basically bet on a mid-round pick being solid-or-better starter Year 1, more often than not they'll lose that bet.
It's (very) rare for mid-round picks to do great out of the gate.
Much more often they either serve as a rotational/depth piece in first 1-2 years or at least have some struggles early on in their first 1-2 years as they acclimate to the NFL.

I personally would have rather seen one more OG veteran added on a 1-year or 2-year deal to not have to bank so much on Fairchild being good out of the gate, but it is what it is at this point.

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(Yesterday, 11:24 AM)Sled21 Wrote: They're not handing him the starting job. He has to be out Cody Ford and several others, who I'm sure people will chime in about how horrible they are, but Ford played decent last year and is getting better.

He's been running with the ones since the very first practice.

It's his to lose.

[sandwedge]

(Yesterday, 09:55 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think he will become a fine Guard, but he did only start two years in college, and I thought (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that he didn't play much football growing up.
I know he was a really damn good wrestler in high school though, and those skills obviously help.
All I'm saying is he may not be great right out of the gate and there might be some growing pains as he gets comfortable with the offense and just adapts to NFL players in general.

Fairchild was an AP All American. 

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 09:55 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think he will become a fine Guard, but he did only start two years in college, and I thought (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that he didn't play much football growing up.
I know he was a really damn good wrestler in high school though, and those skills obviously help.
All I'm saying is he may not be great right out of the gate and there might be some growing pains as he gets comfortable with the offense and just adapts to NFL players in general.

Dylan Fairchild was a 2-way player in high-school playing both LT and DT. He was a 4-star football recruit and was one spot above Brock Bowers in Georgia's 2023 recruiting class.


Edit: I'm with you though. Fairchild is a rookie and the team will likely see rookie inconsistencies.

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 11:52 PM)sandwedge Wrote: Fairchild was an AP All American. 

No. Dylan Fairchild was Second Team All-SEC in 2024. 

[Sled21]

(Yesterday, 11:08 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: He's been running with the ones since the very first practice.

It's his to lose.

So, as I said, he's not the guaranteed starter. He has to earn the position. Thank you.

[Sled21]

(Today, 06:13 AM)Synric Wrote: No. Dylan Fairchild was Second Team All-SEC in 2024. 

He was also considered one of the top returning Guards that year.

[3wt]

Interesting take by Greg Cosell in an interview with Dan Hoard. Cowell had concerns about his balance and lack of body control. Also saw him as very inconsistent. He really liked Rivers and thought he'd make a great guard. Somewhat disconcerting. But Cosell is just a film guy after all. Both situations make me uneasy. I. My mind guard was o e of the top 2goals in the off-season and I'm not satisfied that they got the job done.

[sandwedge]

(Today, 06:13 AM)Synric Wrote: No. Dylan Fairchild was Second Team All-SEC in 2024. 

He was 2nd team All American and 2nd team All SEC in 2024. 

[*bfine32*]

(Yesterday, 11:52 PM)sandwedge Wrote: Fairchild was an AP All American. 

(Today, 06:13 AM)Synric Wrote: No. Dylan Fairchild was Second Team All-SEC in 2024. 

Well, to be fair,  outside of tOSU, that's the same thing.

[samhain]

(Yesterday, 11:24 AM)Sled21 Wrote: They're not handing him the starting job. He has to be out Cody Ford and several others, who I'm sure people will chime in about how horrible they are, but Ford played decent last year and is getting better.

So he has to beat a bunch of backups to win a starting job?  Sounds about as close to being handed a starting job without literally being handed one that a player could hope for.

Cody Ford has been in the NFL since like 2019.  That's an entire career for most guys that get drafted.  He's as far from a developmental prospect as you could think of.  Dude is what he is at this point and has been for awhile.  Not likely to be a lot of magic there.  

[Sled21]

(8 hours ago)3wt Wrote: Interesting take by Greg  Cosell in an interview with Dan Hoard.  Cowell had concerns about his balance and lack of body control.  Also saw him as very inconsistent.   He really liked Rivers and thought he'd make  a great guard.   Somewhat disconcerting.   But Cosell is just a film guy after all.  Both situations make me uneasy.  I. My mind guard was o e of the top 2goals in the off-season and I'm not satisfied that they got the job done.

Yeah, that's what I think of when talking about State Champion wrestlers... they don't have good balance of body control.....

[*Synric*]

(8 hours ago)sandwedge Wrote: He was 2nd team All American and 2nd team All SEC in 2024. 

I thought First Team Guards were Addison West & Willie Lampkin, Second Team was Tyler Booker & Donovan Jackson, Third Team was Tate Ratledge & the kid from Army.

[*bfine32*]

(6 hours ago)Synric Wrote: I thought First Team Guards were Addison West & Willie Lampkin, Second Team was Tyler Booker & Donovan Jackson, Third Team was Tate Ratledge & the kid from Army.

WTF. I'm glad we don't have a 1st Team All American

[*Synric*]

(7 hours ago)Sled21 Wrote: Yeah, that's what I think of when talking about State Champion wrestlers... they don't have good balance of body control.....

To be fair Dylan Fairchild ends up on the ground alot. 

[*Synric*]

(6 hours ago)bfine32 Wrote: WTF. I'm glad we don't have a 1st Team All American

Awards voted on by the Press are always questionable. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 11:05 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: 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

Yeah, Fairchild is more of a bruiser/power Guard unlike Boling who was an athletic pulling Guard. Fairchild just needs to learn to keep his feet
under him when blocking and he could be special though, he is already a good pass protector from the Georgia tape similar to his old buddy Mims.

[*bfine32*]

(6 hours ago)Synric Wrote: To be fair Dylan Fairchild ends up on the ground alot. 

I've never heard of either and just found the Lampkin is 5'11", 275. If he does make it, he'll earn the nickname Lamkin the Muchkin

[3wt]

(7 hours ago)Sled21 Wrote: Yeah, that's what I think of when talking about State Champion wrestlers... they don't have good balance of body control.....

LOL, good point Sled.  Thanks for giving me hope

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(5 hours ago)bfine32 Wrote: I've never heard of either and just found the Lampkin is 5'11", 275. If he does make it, he'll earn the nickname Lamkin the Muchkin

I remember seeing Lamkin last season, he was the midget dude on the OL I think on Ole Miss. He looked good from what I saw. Was just 
kind of funny seeing the rest of the OL towering over him, but he was good lol