Young O-Line

Austin is the same or better than last year unless he gets injuries. We should be able to sustain the same play at left guard compared to Slaw. There might be a drop off at RG from Moore.

That covers my opinion for this year. Over the next 5 years I expect a huge improvement as the youth movement takes hold. I just hope we keep MM and his (or a) zone blocking scheme because that is the type of personnel we have and have drafted. We would need to draft 5 players to be a m2m Oline team - part of the problem with Sparano's Oline .

 

it was certainly time to start drafting Olinemen.

that being said, i don't think our starting unit will be very young.
i'm figuring Colon to win a starting Guard slot.
that leaves Howard as a 2nd year starter at RT, and hopefully Winters the rookie at the other guard slot. Rest of line are very experienced vets.

Peterman has a good chance to make team as vet depth, and Oday as rookie depth (hopefully at T). Its a decent mix, and i hope they draft another G or T next year to continue strengthening the unit as a whole.

 

Right now, I would think Brick and Mangold to be surrounded by Winters, Colon and Howard. Hopefully, Mangold is healthy this year and Brick doesn't regress. There are so many possibilities at guard that I would think we'd be able to find two useful ones out of the group and hopefully be able to withstand the inevitable Colon injury.

If Winters isn't good, Peterman is still around to win the job. Or maybe Aboushi is good right away.

I'm cautiously optimistic for the OL.

 

Winters, Howard, and Oday are definitely 3 guys i'm going to follow.
What is their position versatility....do they project as serviceable or potential future studs?

Even if we do hit with those guys, i still suggest an Oline pick within first 3 rounds next year.
In 2015/2016, its possible we are thinking LT and C again. Really it depends on health of Mangold and Dbrick. they are still playing at a high level for now, and i think that will continue for a few more years if healthy.

 

Nick and Brick are going to be 30 next year. They are top performers and should easily be that way for 5 or 6 more years. Most top guys on OLine can play till 35 or 36 as long as they stay mostly healthy. Plus playing OLine (and offense in general) is playing with positive energy as they say. If Ray Lewis can play this long, they can and still be among the top 10 in the league.

C & LT are positions I am least worried about. Wake me up as we head into the 2017 draft.

 

Although to be fair Brick will most likely move to RT by the time he's 33 or 34 and has lost some of the quickness.

 

It is their salaries that may hurt Ferguson and nick. Look what happened to long in Miami and freeney. I believe they moved on because their teams wanted to lower their number for the cap. just a thought

 

i.m.o. best case scenario would be an oline of
brick ducasse mangold colon howard
that keeps some continuity from last year and lets the rookies watch a little bit. winters can come in when colon gets hurt and let oday backup both tackles. it also gives us cap relief in case one of the f.a.'s to be play well enough to price us out of a bidding war.

 

Ducasse and Colon both can easily be gone after this season. Best case scenario has to involve Winters stepping up and taking the job. Not like we're gonna trade one for value like we potentially could for Sanchez.

 

Chances are Mangold and Brick will get be a little better mostly because we are placing young talent around them and not aging and degrading talent.