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Last year Dallas Thomas was a starter along with Billy Turner. First guy off the bench was Jamil Douglas at guard and Jason Fox at tackle.
This year the first guy off the bench at tackle and guard is a former Pro Bowler, Jermond Bushrod unless he starts over Urbik.
There will be roster cuts coming and some decent vets as well as young PS players will break free as well. We are already twice as good as the past 2 years on the line. During those two years in games where Pouncey, James and Albert started and finished the game, we were 6-1. The RB's averaged 147.3 rushing yards and scored 6 rushing touchdowns in those 7 games.
That's not to say we were even good as a line in those games as Tannehill was sacked 2.43 times per game (compared to 2.86 in other games). The guards will still poor in pass pro. Our pass protection will be better with Tunsil, Bushrod or Urbik.
That's three guys we've added to bolster the line who are heads and shoulders above Douglas, Turner and Thomas.
I am much more comfortable going into the season compared to the last two or three years.
Urbik is a valuable backup no guarantee he is going to win a starting job. Last time he was a starter in BUFF was 2013. Bushrod starts before him. Im still open to all 3 Thomas, Turner and Douglas improving now that we have coaches who know what they are doing. Miller can thank these guys for his new contract. They were not bad in the running game and as I said before our center has a lot to do as to why our young guards stink in the passing game.
If Gase is going to improve Tanne's game so will the other position coaches help their squads. Our previous coaches did not know what the hell they were doing except TEs.
I don't see a big difference in o-line coaching quality from 2015 to 2016. Both were experienced guys who had prior success. The only difference will be the scheme that mixes in man concepts with zone concepts as opposed to strictly zone blocking...not to mention play calling.
You're right about one thing. There is no guarantee that Urbik will win the starting spot. That's why I said he may be the first guard off the bench if Bushrod wins the spot.
Urbik has been a mid tier guard in the past. All 3 of our young guys have been bottom of the barrel. He's not elite but he's an instant upgrade and better as a RG than LG.
You're saying our new coaches help make Thomas, Douglas or Turner improve but won't Pouncey benefit as well? If the guards can go from a 4 to a 6, Pouncey should go from a 8 to a 10. I don't blame Pouncey for the poor play of guards just as most people NFL people don't.
We will keep 8 or 9 linemen this year. We are likely able to keep less because of the versatility of the new guys to play guard or tackle.
Tunsil, Albert, Pouncey, James, Urbik, Bushrod, Young, McClendon should be the top 8.
LT Albert, Tunsil
LG Tunsil, Bushrod
C Pouncey, McClendon
RG Bushrod, Urbik
RT James, Young
That leaves Dallas Thomas, Jamil Douglas, Billy Turner, Ulrick John & Anthony Steen and a few UDFA's fighting with Sam Young for one or two spots.
Thomas, Douglas and Turner are "guards only" and the only players who cannot play more than one position so they are already behind the 8 ball.
That means at least two out of three of our drafted guards will be gone just like Jamar Taylor was sent packing.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2016 08:35AM by JoeFootball.
How's our center situation? Remember what happened after Pouncey went out and the back up center shifted the ball over the QB's head at a crucial point late in one of the games and it resulted in a safety?