vel Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Why is everybody pushing for Jared Gaither to be our LT?Sign or decline: Jared GaitherPROS: Gaither has the look of a prototypical left tackle, and he has the size and athleticism that teams covet at that position. He’s young (turned 25 in March). He’s experienced (33 starts including five in the playoffs). And he’s talented (he could develop into a Pro Bowl player).CONS: His work ethic and health is very questionable at this point. He lost his starting job at Maryland because he didn’t show a commitment to the game, and he’s garnering the same reputation in the NFL. Gaither reported a handful of times to the offseason conditioning program last season, and he often misses practice time. A Ravens official said the team can’t depend on Gaither to play every Sunday. A foot injury caused him to miss most of the offseason camps, and a back injury sidelined him for the entire 2010 season (although his agent said Gaither has fully recovered now).OUTLOOK: The Ravens offensive line is drastically better when Gaither is playing. There’s no argument in that. But his injuries and drastic weight drop before last year’s camp has worn out the team’s patience. The Ravens love his potential, not his work ethic. It would be very surprising to see the Ravens keep Gaither after last year’s drama. But some team will pay him in free agency because his talent is so alluring.The only Pros he has is that he has the size, athleticism, potential and experience. Yet, he has work ethic concerns, injury concerns, dependability issues. Seriously, is this something you guys want to inherit? We know Baker's struggles, but we also know he is going to work to get better, put his injury concerns to rest, and is dependable to show up and work hard. I will pass on Gaither but I just want to know why people are so adamant on wanting him to come. I know a few are just saying it because it is a popular idea, but this is to those pushing the charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM12 Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Why? Ignorance. Blind faith. A hatred for our T-Rex LT because he isn't top 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Let me say this... Dude was one of the best LT in the league in 08 and 09... He missed offseason programs because he wasngt happy about them moving him to RT... Ask Raven fans... They ask the same questions... As the outlook said... The are better with him as there LT (Oher struggled some at LT) .Unless TD can get a super deal for him... I dont think we should sign him... Even tho i dont think we should go after him in not going to take away from what he has done... He is a very good young LT... The guy just has had some injury issues the last season and a half... Whatever team sign him will get a good LT (as long as he stay healthy) ...No doubt... I just dont think thats the move for us to make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sarcomere Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 (edited) I've always felt like Gaither wasn't nearly as good as people thought he was. I mean, they drafted Oher to play LT even though they had Gaither already established as a starter. Edited July 17, 2011 by TheCaliforniaFALCON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 ^^^^^^^Agree with JBO here if he can prove he has work ethic and his durability issues are soughted I'd take a shot at him anything to help Ryan get to the next level has to be a +++++++++ and its thinking outside of the squre to make the team better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I just dont get why some think the guy is not good... He is very very good... Ask raven fans.Oher came in as a RT (played RT his rookie year) ... They probably felt like maybe Oher can grow into our future LT when Gaither contract is up... Similar to us drafting Lineman's in previous years to get ready for this FA.Oher struggled last year... He was better at RT ... Can he take that step foward at LT this year.... Yes... He has all the tools to do that.But Gaither is a very very good LT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Oher was crap last year. Part of that may be because he got so popular with his movie, and defenders targeted him a little harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I just dont get why some think the guy is not good... He is very very good... Ask raven fans.Oher came in as a RT (played RT his rookie year) ... They probably felt like maybe Oher can grow into our future LT when Gaither contract is up... Similar to us drafting Lineman's in previous years to get ready for this FA.Oher struggled last year... He was better at RT ... Can he take that step foward at LT this year.... Yes... He has all the tools to do that.But Gaither is a very very good LTI agree that Gaither is very good. If he has a reputation of being a slacker and it happens to be true, then I don't think our FO would go for him. But then again, if there is anybody who can motivate a player it might be Mike Smith... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I agree that Gaither is very good. If he has a reputation of being a slacker and it happens to be true, then I don't think our FO would go for him. But then again, if there is anybody who can motivate a player it might be Mike Smith...Dont get me wrong i dont want or i dont think we will go after Gaither... That injury concern is to big plus i dont think Baker is as bad as some make him out to be.I'm taking up for Gaither because he is a good player...I just dont get why some have to downgrade a guy just because they dont want him... Gaither is a good LT.. I just dont think we need to go after him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsupersport Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 (edited) Gaither is a good LT as long as he is healthy and really wants to be.The issues are health and want. Do those two issues equate to a downgrade in people's eyes. Some people yeah, some no. All in all I doubt we go after him for two different reasons. The negatives and the money to get him. I think the Falcons have way too many other areas to aggressively pursue what will be probably a fairly big contract at this time for a position that for the most part we have people to play. I may be wrong but DE, CBs, and most of our own FAs will probably take most of the time and money we have left. Edited July 17, 2011 by mcsupersport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butudontseeme™ Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Dont get me wrong i dont want or i dont think we will go after Gaither... That injury concern is to big plus i dont think Baker is as bad as some make him out to be.I'm taking up for Gaither because he is a good player...I just dont get why some have to downgrade a guy just because they dont want him... Gaither is a good LT.. I just dont think we need to go after himI agree with that also. I was only saying that if we happened to pick him up that I have faith that our FO is only trying to make the best team decision. I don't have that big of a problem with Baker either, he is not a perennial pro bowler for sure but for the most part he holds his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Gaither is a good LT as long as he is healthy and really wants to be.The issues are health and want. Do those two issues equate to a downgrade in people's eyes. Some people yeah, some no. All in all I doubt we go after him for two different reasons. The negatives and the money to get him. I think the Falcons have way too many other areas to aggressively pursue what will be probably a fairly big contract at this time for a position that for the most part we have people to play. I may be wrong but DE, CBs, and most of our own FAs will probably take most of the time and money we have left.Ive never seen the guy play lack luster on the field... You cant grade high as a LT in this league and not want it... Its like when some said Peppers is a hot and cold player or disappear in games... Show me one player that hasnt disappeared in a game... It happens... Doesnt mean they wasnt playing hard... It just mean they wasnt effective during that period.His injury history is a legit worry... Ive also heard he is kind of lazy during the offseaon... Not coming to camp out of shape... Just not coming to offseason programs and other things.I'm not there so idk... I just know the guy is a good LT... I dont think we will go after him... I dont think we should unless we get a mega deal.... I just think some one will get a good young player.I agree.. I think DE is our issue right now... How ESPN Pat heres it... We are happy with Franks and Owens battling for that NB position... We may sign a UDFA but Yasinskas thinks/has heard we feel like we are good at NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsupersport Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 We only have 4 Cbs on the roster right now, so the probability is high to try and sign another vet for depth. If you are going to sign a CB then you have to think about getting one good enough to start at NB otherwise what is the point really. It will definitely be interesting to see what we do in FA, and how we deal with the holes in our team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 We only have 4 Cbs on the roster right now, so the probability is high to try and sign another vet for depth. If you are going to sign a CB then you have to think about getting one good enough to start at NB otherwise what is the point really. It will definitely be interesting to see what we do in FA, and how we deal with the holes in our team.If anything this lockout helps Brian Williams... Rookie or Vet... Regardless they are not going to be able to know our scheme in 4 weeks (to be able to start).. We carry like 4 game day roster CB's.... 5 on the 53 man roster.We have 4 now and if you go by what Pat is hearing.... That 5th CB is not going to see a lot of PT anyway (like Franks did last year) ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddieman Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 LOL......No! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 Dont get me wrong i dont want or i dont think we will go after Gaither... That injury concern is to big plus i dont think Baker is as bad as some make him out to be.I'm taking up for Gaither because he is a good player...I just dont get why some have to downgrade a guy just because they dont want him... Gaither is a good LT.. I just dont think we need to go after himI'm not downgrading him but some make it seem like he doesn't have these issues. Yes he is good but a back injury and work ethic issues to go with his commitment questions make his talent questionable to deal with. Ask the Colts. Bob Sanders was great, yet couldn't stay healthy and they parted way. He can be the best LT ever but if he can't either a.) stay on the field b.) be counted on to maintain his playing size c.) depended on to show up for workouts to get better, then he is no better than Baker. He has issues that TD/Smitty never take risks on. He will never reach his potential if he doesn't have the work ethic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm not downgrading him but some make it seem like he doesn't have these issues. Yes he is good but a back injury and work ethic issues to go with his commitment questions make his talent questionable to deal with. Ask the Colts. Bob Sanders was great, yet couldn't stay healthy and they parted way. He can be the best LT ever but if he can't either a.) stay on the field b.) be counted on to maintain his playing size c.) depended on to show up for workouts to get better, then he is no better than Baker. He has issues that TD/Smitty never take risks on. He will never reach his potential if he doesn't have the work ethicI'm not comint at u like that... I'm just sayingbefore last year... I didnt hear about these work ethic issues in ravens land before last year... Heck dude came to camp in even better shape (around 310lbs) ... The problem is they wanted him to play RT but dudes like im a LT... He saw the writing on the wall... They wanted to move him to RT because he would be cheaper to resign as a RT... If he was so much trouble they wouldnt have tried to resign him Link .. That didnt work tho,... Dude wasnt moving...lol.. He knows where the money is... After his injured i dont think he will get a Huge contract but i do think he will play LT... Injuries would be my only main concern with him if i was a team... I dont think we need to go after him.... Baker is not as bad as most act like he is.One more thing i know TD didnt bring him in but Abe had "concerns" coming from the Jets... They said he sat out a playoff game because he was in a contract year and didnt want to get hurt... Abe always say he was hurt and never was going to play... Herm just threw him under the bus...I get what u are saying tho.... I'm just saying the guy never had a problem on the field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm not comint at u like that... I'm just sayingbefore last year... I didnt hear about these work ethic issues in ravens land before last year... Heck dude came to camp in even better shape (around 310lbs) ... The problem is they wanted him to play RT but dudes like im a LT... He saw the writing on the wall... They wanted to move him to RT because he would be cheaper to resign as a RT... If he was so much trouble they wouldnt have tried to resign him Link .. That didnt work tho,... Dude wasnt moving...lol.. He knows where the money is... After his injured i dont think he will get a Huge contract but i do think he will play LT... Injuries would be my only main concern with him if i was a team... I dont think we need to go after him.... Baker is not as bad as most act like he is.One more thing i know TD didnt bring him in but Abe had "concerns" coming from the Jets... They said he sat out a playoff game because he was in a contract year and didnt want to get hurt... Abe always say he was hurt and never was going to play... Herm just threw him under the bus...I get what u are saying tho.... I'm just saying the guy never had a problem on the fieldI know it wasn't directed at me just thought I would explain why I started the thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 How old is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falken Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Can somebody answer this?It's simple. We want everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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