Offensive line shakeup

[GusFrerotte]

Yeah, Dock is our best linemen minus Trent and maybe Jamaal. To say he doesn't fit the scheme very well bodes ill for him next offseason. Other than that, not much new news to me. Our line is substandard in terms of depth. This overhauling of the team is going to take longer than what most folks want to admit.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Yeah, Dock is our best linemen minus Trent and maybe Jamaal. To say he doesn't fit the scheme very well bodes ill for him next offseason. Other than that, not much new news to me. Our line is substandard in terms of depth. This overhauling of the team is going to take longer than what most folks want to admit.

The deficiencies that currently beset the o/line will be corrected once the right combination of players are inserted, assignments are correctly carried out and players win their individual battles.

Both the system and players are new, the scheme requires consistent repetition and quite frankly, this unit hasn't had that and needs more time to perfect what it is they're trying to accomplish.

We continue to witness oscillation between optimism and pessimism as it relates to production in the running game. My judgement will remain reserved until enough games have been played to determine whether or not the problems we've seen thus far become a consistent pattern, or if we see them gradually corrected. I'm optimistic, but optimism will only take me so far, eventually comes that collision course with reality.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

The deficiencies that currently beset the o/line will be corrected once the right combination of players are inserted, assignments are correctly carried out and players win their individual battles.

Both the system and players are new, the scheme requires consistent repetition and quite frankly, this unit hasn't had that and needs more time to perfect what it is they're trying to accomplish.

We continue to witness oscillation between optimism and pessimism as it relates to production in the running game. My judgement will remain reserved until enough games have been played to determine whether or not the problems we've seen thus far become a consistent pattern, or if we see them gradually corrected. I'm optimistic, but optimism will only take me so far, eventually comes that collision course with reality.

I agree, 2 games is not enough to properly gauge where we're at. I'll wait until we're at least 4 games in before I start to draw any hard conclusions about where the running game is headed.

[skinsnut]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I agree, 2 games is not enough to properly gauge where we're at. I'll wait until we're at least 4 games in before I start to draw any hard conclusions about where the running game is headed.

I agree...it sometimes takes up to half a season for a new offensive line to finally get it...especially with a new blocking scheme....too bad there was so much shuffling going on in the preseason, which could have sped up the process.

The thing about Dock suprises me...why do you "rotate" the oline during a game to begin with...I don't recall ever seeing that before....it is arguably a dangerous move because the oline needs to be in synch with each other and they need to know the nuances and the set up rushes of the defenders during the game, blitzing tendancies etc.

Yeah, they may be fresher, but changing pieces during the game on a supposed cohesive front 5 sounds a little strange to me.

The best thing to do is this...if you dont think you have the best player....bench him and play the same 5 all game....hell....all 16 games for about 5 years like most successful running teams do.

I do have issues with how the Skins see Dock...I agree that he is a power Guard..so use him that way....Is he one of the top 5 Olinemen? Yes...so find a way to play to his strengths...why not run some power plays to his side, or pull him and slam Sellers and him over the right side and give Portis the ball....remember, this guy did this before with a high degree of success and massive running yardage with Portis...to ignore that ability is stupid....Why is it zone or nothing?

A coach can do one of 2 things....
Run a scheme and select the players that match it
OR
Adjust a scheme to maximize the talents already on the team

I feel that this new coaching staff is doing the first.
Unfortunately, we are and will be missing the pieces for years to just "force the scheme" regardless of our personnel.

Take a look at the 3-4....take a look at the o-line.
Yes, they tried to acquire scheme players since they got here, such as drafting TW instead of that other guy. But think of talent on the team that is not scheme perfect that isn't being maxized....such as Dockery....considering benching him is stupid...he is not bad at all...he is just a masher, like most Guards...I am sure he would love to smash someone in the face...just call the damn play.

Other examples....Haynesworth not even playing, Philip Daniels....probably way better as a run stopping DE in a 4 man front than others. Devin Thomas isn't even playing WR...although he should be in the top 3 WR's. Trying to turn Sellers into a pass catcher...ok...that worked 1 week...but against Dallas, he sucked....he is a guard/FB for power rushing. Not to mention our stud backup TE who never seems to get on the field.

And if this team was so concerned about only picking up Scheme matchers, why did they pick up Larry "up the gut" Johnson? This team seems to be competely walking away from any ability to run a power game...which will kill you in short yardage, goal line situations.

What we need is this...
Use a hybrid power rushing game AND zone blocking.
Gibbs figured it out and used it well...why can't Shanny?
Lets maximize the talent on the team and stop trying to force a square peg through a round hole.