Backup center discussion

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

So long as it's recognized that this opinion basically says "I don't have any good reasons why this will work, but I'm putting my faith in a very qualified O Line coach." then I've got no beef.

I can't fault you for thinking Bugel is a good coach and good evaluator of talent.

But you have to ask yourself, are we going with Jansen at backup center because Bugel thinks it will work, are are we doing it because the front office didn't get Bugel any better backup C options in FA or the draft?

Bugel believes in his guys, and he believes he can make the best out of any situation. The question isn't Joe Bugel. The question is the situation: was he given what he needs at backup C to succeed?

I say no. Hopefully Rabach stays healthy all 16 so we don't have to find out.

""I don't have any good reasons why this will work, but I'm putting my faith in a very qualified O Line coach.""

[mooby]

I really don't think Jansen should be the backup center lol. I'd rather have someone we've never heard of taking the backup reps, we need Jansen at tackle and as someone mentioned earlier I think it would be like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

[Defensewins]

It is not an ideal situation if have to move your starter at RT to center if your center goes down. That displaces two starter, not just one. However given our quality depth at RT (Wade & Heyer) it probably makes sense. You can have Wade or Heyer start at RT with out much of a drop off in ability from Jansen. If Jansen is our second best center on the team than it is the right move. What good is putting in a 6' 3" center to replace Rabach if that 6' 3" replacement is going to give up sacks and cause the rest of the line play worse. The height thing is a non-factor.

[Kope65]

This might not be about Rabach at all. Mebbie Heyer has become the RT, and that is why JJ is now backing up at center.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Kope65

This might not be about Rabach at all. Mebbie Heyer has become the RT, and that is why JJ is now backing up at center.

Doubtful, although Heyer did a serviceable job he's no Jon Jansen. Our oline got killed much of the year last year.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Kope65

This might not be about Rabach at all. Mebbie Heyer has become the RT, and that is why JJ is now backing up at center.

Right.

So now Heyer has secretly beaten out Jansen before training camp even starts and Jansen has been bumped over to center.

Please.

[Miller101]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Right.

So now Heyer has secretly beaten out Jansen before training camp even starts and Jansen has been bumped over to center.

Please.

I don't know about all that now. Heyer did a great job last year as a rookie. If something happened to Rabach then move Jansen over there and let Heyer step in at Right Tackle for a little bit. I don't think Heyer has taken the job from Jansen, but he's more than capable of playing it if something happened.

Heck, if this did happen I could see Buges running 50 gut a few more times a game.

[RIGGO/NYC]

None of you guys mentioned the fact that Pete Kendall can play center and is most likely will be the top back-up, provided that Rhinehart works out. Right now it is Jansen because we do not know if we have a back-up guard, but the team is more comfortable with Kendall there (Buges and Cerratto said as much). Therefore, people need to stop panicking, since we will most likely sign another vet back-up as well. I wanted to sign Newberry, who was excellent with the Raiders last year, but he got picked up last week for vet min.

[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.

[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.

[SouperMeister]

I'd much prefer to see Crummey or Rinehart get those 2nd team reps. I really feel that both will have a significant place as O-line starters eventually. Crummey was a great FA signing out of Maryland. He might have been drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round had he not broken his leg last season.

[freddyg12]

someone earlier mentioned L. bentley. He's back in camp w/the browns:

ESPN - Bentley passes physical, conditioning test on road to rejoining Browns - NFL

[SeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

someone earlier mentioned L. bentley. He's back in camp w/the browns:

ESPN - Bentley passes physical, conditioning test on road to rejoining Browns - NFL

Good to hear, he was a great player before he got hurt.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

someone earlier mentioned L. bentley. He's back in camp w/the browns:

ESPN - Bentley passes physical, conditioning test on road to rejoining Browns - NFL

The Browns granted Bentley's request and released him today. We should try to sign him for the vet minimum and let him compete against Rabach.

[SeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

The Browns granted Bentley's request and released him today. We should try to sign him for the vet minimum and let him compete against Rabach.

Agent says veteran Bentley released by Browns

There's a link. It would be a great idea to sign him for a vet minimum, he is coming off an injury but he passed a physical.