Backup center discussion

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Angry's 5 best lineman argument makes some sense. However, though Heyer has the makings of a solid RT prospect, I don't think we can consider him in the same class as the veteran starters. Therefore, if Rabach got hurt, we would obviously play the best four linemen, and a sub.

By moving Jansen off of RT, we are opening up a potential hole on the offensive line much greater than the Center position would be. Having a good RT is more important than having a good C, and as we saw, we could lose the ability to run to one side or the other if we don't have a battle-tested tackle.

I think Schneed might be over-exaggerating the problems that Jansen would have as a Center -- If he's healthy, he should do fine, height shouldn't be an issue. But with the relative fungibility of NFL Centers, it would make more sense to have a competition and find a guy who you feel most comfortable to back up Rabach, then to stretch your team thin at the tackle position in trying to back up your Center.

Not to mention, if no one is getting reps at Center in practice besides Jansen and Rabach, this creates a really bad situation if/when Jansen goes down. Now, you have Heyer in at RT, but no one besides Rabach would even be able to handle Center in a game, and that could be disastrous.

Didn't we have a game either last year or the prior year where our C went down and the othe teamd D just expoled right through the middle of our line? Buge said on the Riggo show that heyer is playing both RT & LT and has really improved over the past year. From the way he was talking Heyer will play a bigger role in the ine this year and has come into camp around 330 and is probably the strongest man on the team. I hope this is true because it will have been a great find for our team.