The Too Soon 2021 NFL Draft Thread

[Ohioskins]

Yes, we should let Scherff walk. After all, All Pro Guards are so easy to replace ??????

[SkinzWin]

Originally Posted by Ohioskins

Yes, we should let Scherff walk. After all, All Pro Guards are so easy to replace ??????

Maybe not, but covering up a weak guard is easier to do than other position groups. I would argue it would be better to have a mid tier guard on a low cost salary and put that money into a different position group than it would be to pay $18 mil + per year for a guard and suffer with your talent level at other position groups.

[MissouriSkin]

Originally Posted by SkinzWin

Maybe not, but covering up a weak guard is easier to do than other position groups. I would argue it would be better to have a mid tier guard on a low cost salary and put that money into a different position group than it would be to pay $18 mil + per year for a guard and suffer with your talent level at other position groups.

Rewatch the Ram game with Martin vs Donald and get back to us.

[SkinzWin]

Originally Posted by MissouriSkin

Rewatch the Ram game with Martin vs Donald and get back to us.

Yeah, that’s a fair comparison I guess to bring up the most dominant D lineman in the entire league who makes even all-pro offensive linemen look like turnstiles. Nope...

[MissouriSkin]

Originally Posted by SkinzWin

Yeah, that’s a fair comparison I guess to bring up the most dominant D lineman in the entire league who makes even all-pro offensive linemen look like turnstiles. Nope...

Actually it is. Since some think “guards aren’t important” then just anyone can be plugged in there. Hell someone else said guards don’t matter, just take our backup tackles and just plug them in there because anyone can do it. People have some funny ideas about football.

[SkinzWin]

Originally Posted by MissouriSkin

Actually it is. Since some think “guards aren’t important” then just anyone can be plugged in there. Hell someone else said guards don’t matter, just take our backup tackles and just plug them in there because anyone can do it. People have some funny ideas about football.

I’m not saying guards aren’t important. They are. But the cap gives you finite resources and I’m just trying to weight the cost/benefit ratio of top pay for a guard vs top pay for another position group. It sounds like we both agree that games are won in the trenches, and good line play leads to everything else being successful, so I’m. It upset about Scherff, just trying to look at it from both ways.

[Scalper]

Originally Posted by SkinzWin

I’m not saying guards aren’t important. They are. But the cap gives you finite resources and I’m just trying to weight the cost/benefit ratio of top pay for a guard vs top pay for another position group. It sounds like we both agree that games are won in the trenches, and good line play leads to everything else being successful, so I’m. It upset about Scherff, just trying to look at it from both ways.

Precisely. When we played better teams we got torched on the edge. Moses has always been a liability there, and Lucas was average maybe slightly above. Certainly not a disaster and serviceable, but certainly not the guy you trust long term to keep your franchise QB's limbs from being broken like wishbones.

Guards ARE less important than most other positions on O. You can find a Lucas-like G anywhere. Guards work in confined spaces mostly, which is a WAY easier skill set than guarding the edges, or snapping the bull and then fending off a bull rusher (center).

I agree you build the trenches first. Starting with LT, then C, then RT, then Gs.

[Scalper]

Originally Posted by Ohioskins

Yes, we should let Scherff walk. After all, All Pro Guards are so easy to replace ??????

Scherff is 10% of our cap this year. The best guard I ever saw was Larry Allen, he was worlds better than Scherff. A guy like Allen maybe worth 10% of salary cap, no way Scherff, especially given injury history.

All Pro players are not easy to replace, but that is not the point. Guard is not a decisive position, not a high leverage position. No one ever added a RG and said, man, we're a contender now. You can find a player with a steep drop off from Scherff who is still serviceable for $14M a year minimum less, and a solid 3rd round pick for $17M a year less. The question is not, is Brandon Scherff a great player. Of course he is. The question is, is a RG on a team with holes everywhere, with a major injury history, a smart signing given where this team is at?

The answer is no. Scherff was perpetually injured in prime of his career, it isn't going to magically get better on the wrong side of 30.

The guys you want making $18M a year on your offense are a QB, a stud WR, a LT. The guys you want making $10M on your offense are maybe an elite TE, a RT, a C, perhaps a #2 WR. It doesn't matter if Scherff is the best guard to ever play the game, having a RG worlds better than the alternative option does not transform your O the way other more important positions do.
Having a WR, QB, or LT that is worlds better than alternative does transform your O. It is that simple. We should not invest so much in such a low leverage position when we have long term needs at both Ts, QB, etc. EVERY starter on OL is on non-rookie deal. Not sustainable financially.

I honestly believe we tagged Scherff hoping to work out long term deal. I suspect sticking point much more than annual money, but rather length, injury guarantees, etc. We could be on the hook for a PILE of money long term for a player who has historically played about a third of snaps, is hurt one third of time, and not ridiculous to think that will be half the time as he ages. Even if he stays healthy and dominates, he is at the absolute least important position on the entire offense. We are building O bass ackwards.