Hoppy™ Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 (edited) Mike Johnson? Joe Hawley? Jose Valdez?I saw plenty of Mike Johnson at Bama, but I am pretty unfamiliar with Hawley, Valdez, Murphy, Jackson, etc...One thing that the Pats did extremely well while Dimitroff was in New England was spot extremely talented and raw O linemen and cultivate them into absolute BREASTS in the trenches.... I am pretty excited to see who will be the next O lineman of the TD Era to make it.... While I was a huge fan of Dahl and I LOVED the intimidation he brought to opposing defenses, I am equally excited to see one of these young TD-picked linemen turn into a quality starter....Anyone see a good bit of these other guards while they were in college? It seems like Mike Johnson would have the inside track for the job since he was the #2 guard on the depth chart last season (for both guard positions), but I'm wondering if anyone expects Valdez (he is a pretty large dude) or Hawley (a former center who I know TD was high on) to give Johnson a serious run for the starting job....Either way, I love the competition we are going to have for this spot... Should be one of the more interesting spots to watch once camp gets shakin..... Edited July 30, 2011 by Hoppy™ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 (edited) RG not RTDon't rule out Reynolds,, in 2009 when Dahl got hurt they inserted Ojinnaka but replaced him with Reynolds, or rotated them a lot. I think Mike Johnson has the inside track.Valdez (and Bruggeman) can't go back to the PS again so they have to make the 53 man roster or they are gone.Drafting Jackson makes that a bit harder.A lot of poster don't think much of Johnson or Reynolds because they were game day inactives nearly every week last season. Hawley was active because he could sub for guard and center, and Svitek was backup tackle for both sides.These 2 (Johnson and Reynolds) will surprise many people, they will be very good. Edited July 30, 2011 by delaigle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy™ Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 And obviously we are gonna have to get Blalock signed on to anchor the other guard spot since Dahl is now a Lamb....Nonetheless, assuming we get Blalock inked this week, I am very happy that we will only need to replace one spot on the O Line.... I think continuity is arguably more important on the offensive line than it is anywhere else on the football field... The more snaps these guys play together, and the more they know one another's strengths/weaknesses and tendencies, obviously the better they will play as a unit..... I think anytime you want to make wholesale changes on the offensive line, you are always better doing it one player at a time...In this case, once we get a quality starter settled in at RG, with Blalock and Baker anchoring the left side and having their best years ahead of them, and with Clabo signing a 5-year deal, I think we will have a line put together that will only get better and better the longer they play together....Just look forward to seeing who the starting RT will be.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy™ Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 Don't rule out Reynolds,, in 2009 when Dahl got hurt they inserted Ojinnaka but replaced him with Reynolds, or rotated them a lot. I think Mike Johnson has the inside track.Very true....But while I think Reynolds can be a good stop-gap guard for us in a pinch, at 6'7" 315, I think he is definitely more suited for tackle.... but he has looked pretty good the few times I've seen him in there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peyton Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Out new starting RT is the same as our old starting RT unless something changed while I was asleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy™ Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 (edited) Out new starting RT is the same as our old starting RT unless something changed while I was asleep.DOH! My bad... Typo.... I meant to say RG Edited July 30, 2011 by Hoppy™ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peyton Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 DOH! My bad... Typo.... I meant to say RGOH. I think it will be Mike Johnson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM12 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Johnson, but i'm not sleeping on Valdez whatsoever...A lot of time spent being coached up by a fantastic line coach in Paul B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quizztorris Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I'd say it's about time we threw Johnson into the water and see if he sinks or swims. He was a 1st rounder along with Matty Ice. Matty is now a proven pro bowler and this guys not even a starter yet. Time to see what he can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peyton Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I'd say it's about time we threw Johnson into the water and see if he sinks or swims. He was a 1st rounder along with Matty Ice. Matty is now a proven pro bowler and this guys not even a starter yet. Time to see what he can do.Uh...no.Johnson is a 3rd rounder who was drafted last year. I think you are confusing him with Baker, who has been a starter since he was drafted at LT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDash Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Reynolds is the biggest dude on our team/ hard worker, so hopefully he gets it!Our right side would be huge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy™ Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 I've read some concerns about Mike Johnson's pass-blocking abilities, but he was an absolute force in the running game, opening up lanes for Ingram at Alabama.... It also couldn't have hurt that he had to line up against Terrence Cody (6'5" 360) at practice every day for two years....He also seems like a really smart guy, so with him moving inside permanently, and with Paul Boudreau's tutelage, I am pretty confident that the coaching staff can whip Mike Johnson into a very good guard....Either way, between Johnson, Hawley and Valdez, I am confident that Boudreau can turn AT LEAST one of these guys into a really strong guard...And as we all know, most of the best O linemen in the NFL are all in their late 20's - 30's, so just having another year under their belts, I think that Sam Baker and Justin Blalock will only continue to get better and better, and will anchor the left side of the line for many years to come...It's good to see that our O-Line is finally becoming a STRENGTH rather than the liability it had been for so many years during the Rankin Smith era.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Fantom Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Camp battle and the nastiest guys wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autigerfan Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 RG not RTDon't rule out Reynolds,, in 2009 when Dahl got hurt they inserted Ojinnaka but replaced him with Reynolds, or rotated them a lot. I think Mike Johnson has the inside track.Valdez (and Bruggeman) can't go back to the PS again so they have to make the 53 man roster or they are gone.Drafting Jackson makes that a bit harder.A lot of poster don't think much of Johnson or Reynolds because they were game day inactives nearly every week last season. Hawley was active because he could sub for guard and center, and Svitek was backup tackle for both sides.These 2 (Johnson and Reynolds) will surprise many people, they will be very good.The whole gameday inactive thing is definitely overblown I believe. Teams typically only have 7 maybe 8 OL active on gameday anyway. That is 5 starters, 1 G/C and a swing tackle. I think Reynolds is ready to step in at either guard or RT if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDirtyBird Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I had a chance to see valdaz.. He is a big guy.. He is about 6'6 and he somewhat stood out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlfanstckndenver Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Clabo. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlfanstckndenver Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Uh...no.Johnson is a 3rd rounder who was drafted last year. I think you are confusing him with Baker, who has been a starter since he was drafted at LT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD: Objective Elite Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 (edited) I know Valdez has been working hard on his footwork, I would really like to see him at RG. Dude, is a freakin' monster.If he's not ready yet, then Johnson all the way.I do believe Valdez will eventually take over LT and we kick Baker to LG, with Hawley taking over for aging McClure.Could look like thisValdez | Baker | Hawley | Johnson | Clabo 335 | 310 | 300 | 315 | 331 6'5 | 6'5 | 6'3 | 6'5 | 6'6THAT'S A LOT OF BEEF!!! Edited July 30, 2011 by dirtydealin5858 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I MUS WRITE Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 If Blaylock leaves I see this as our OLBaker-LT Johnson LG McClure-C ValdezRG Clabo-RTif he resigns the Ol stays the same just swap Blaylock for Johnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 It is just funny how everybody complained about how "subpar" our is but now don't want to see Blalock go, thus only the RG changing. I told people on here plenty of times that our OL is good they just faced 8 men in the box all game every game. The FO is showing that that was the reason for their struggles. Not lack of talent. I think Blalock comes back cheap as nobody is pressing hard to sign him. Therefore, we have the same OL as last year minus a RG which was the weak link anyway. Give me either Reynolds or Valdez at that RG spot. I think Reynolds is ready to just play and Valdez is a load to try and move and would help against 3-4 fronts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I know Valdez has been working hard on his footwork, I would really like to see him at RG. Dude, is a freakin' monster.If he's not ready yet, then Johnson all the way.I do believe Valdez will eventually take over LT and we kick Baker to LG, with Hawley taking over for aging McClure.Could look like thisValdez | Baker | Hawley | Johnson | Clabo 335 | 310 | 300 | 315 | 331 6'5 | 6'5 | 6'3 | 6'5 | 6'6THAT'S A LOT OF BEEF!!!The Falcon's roster list Valdez at 324 not 335If the Falcons resign Blalock there is a good chance Valdez is gone, unless they decide to keep 10 O-linemen instead of the usual 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
since68andcounting Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I thought we kept 10 last year?Baker, Blalock, McClure, Dahl, Clabo, Svitek, Reynolds, Valdez, Johnson, HawleyDahl is gone, so that leaves 9? Who else am I missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynyrd04 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 I think it will be Johnson but he and Reynolds will probably have a camp battle over it. I just see them wanting Reynolds to be a swing tackle type and Johnson ending up getting the RG gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 It is just funny how everybody complained about how "subpar" our is but now don't want to see Blalock go, thus only the RG changing. I told people on here plenty of times that our OL is good they just faced 8 men in the box all game every game. The FO is showing that that was the reason for their struggles. Not lack of talent. I think Blalock comes back cheap as nobody is pressing hard to sign him. Therefore, we have the same OL as last year minus a RG which was the weak link anyway. Give me either Reynolds or Valdez at that RG spot. I think Reynolds is ready to just play and Valdez is a load to try and move and would help against 3-4 fronts.Man I agree. You can put Johnson, Reynolds, Valdez, or Hawley out there and we will have just as much going as last year and if not more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfalconsp Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Man I agree. You can put Johnson, Reynolds, Valdez, or Hawley out there and we will have just as much going as last year and if not more.This. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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