DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Yeah, I think so. Healthier. Chesterier. Mathis would be a great add but even if we don't, I think we're in okay shape. Not "dominant OL" shape, but good enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfalc Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 That is my biggest concern with this regime. This team has underinvested in the OL for the last 20+ years and I would love to see us become a team that prioritises the trenches rather than over investing in the CB and WR positions.Some ZBS teams seems to have the view that they can get OL to fit their scheme in the middle and back end of the draft, and don't invest high picks in the OL. I am not at all convinced with that approach. We tried it with Alex Gibbs and built and OL that did a great job run blocking admittedly, but was very very poor at pass blocking. We did add a few OL pieces in free agency this year, but none were significant investments in guys that we can build around for 4-5 years and we didn't add any young talent via the draft. I am hoping that's not a sign of a regime that is going to undervalue the OL and underinvest in it - because I have reservations about our ability to succeed if that is the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugger8 Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 That is my biggest concern with this regime. This team has underinvested in the OL for the last 20+ years and I would love to see us become a team that prioritises the trenches rather than over investing in the CB and WR positions.Some ZBS teams seems to have the view that they can get OL to fit their scheme in the middle and back end of the draft, and don't invest high picks in the OL. I am not at all convinced with that approach. We tried it with Alex Gibbs and built and OL that did a great job run blocking admittedly, but was very very poor at pass blocking.We did add a few OL pieces in free agency this year, but none were significant investments in guys that we can build around for 4-5 years and we didn't add any young talent via the draft. I am hoping that's not a sign of a regime that is going to undervalue the OL and underinvest in it - because I have reservations about our ability to succeed if that is the case.I agree that I'd like to see us prioritize the lines over the CB/WR positions, but I think what we saw in this year's personnel moves is a reflection of how bad our defense was rather than ignoring the lines. Also, a lot of our existing guys are believed to be better fits for the ZBS, so they might just want to see what they actually have before going out to make big changes in that area.As long as improving the OL is on the radar (and I think is) I'm good with the see-what-we-have approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconfootballfan Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Has there been any more information available about what teams are contacting Evan Mathis and whether are not the Atlanta Falcons are interested in him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfalc Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 I agree that I'd like to see us prioritize the lines over the CB/WR positions, but I think what we saw in this year's personnel moves is a reflection of how bad our defense was rather than ignoring the lines. Also, a lot of our existing guys are believed to be better fits for the ZBS, so they might just want to see what they actually have before going out to make big changes in that area.As long as improving the OL is on the radar (and I think is) I'm good with the see-what-we-have approach.You make very good points, and I agree with what you say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 That is my biggest concern with this regime. This team has underinvested in the OL for the last 20+ years and I would love to see us become a team that prioritises the trenches rather than over investing in the CB and WR positions.Some ZBS teams seems to have the view that they can get OL to fit their scheme in the middle and back end of the draft, and don't invest high picks in the OL. I am not at all convinced with that approach. We tried it with Alex Gibbs and built and OL that did a great job run blocking admittedly, but was very very poor at pass blocking.We did add a few OL pieces in free agency this year, but none were significant investments in guys that we can build around for 4-5 years and we didn't add any young talent via the draft. I am hoping that's not a sign of a regime that is going to undervalue the OL and underinvest in it - because I have reservations about our ability to succeed if that is the case.IDK man....in the last 8 seasons we've put two first rounders, two second rounders, two third rounders, a few other misc picks, at least one decent FA contract and an assortment of veteran competitors. I think part of the problem is that people have unrealistic expectations of what you should be getting from your OL. It takes years of OL players developing together to form a good+ OL. And even then, it's relatively rare. Moving forward, I'd love to see us continue to invest there. But I think we should invest everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 That is my biggest concern with this regime. This team has underinvested in the OL for the last 20+ years and I would love to see us become a team that prioritises the trenches rather than over investing in the CB and WR positions.Some ZBS teams seems to have the view that they can get OL to fit their scheme in the middle and back end of the draft, and don't invest high picks in the OL. I am not at all convinced with that approach. We tried it with Alex Gibbs and built and OL that did a great job run blocking admittedly, but was very very poor at pass blocking. We did add a few OL pieces in free agency this year, but none were significant investments in guys that we can build around for 4-5 years and we didn't add any young talent via the draft. I am hoping that's not a sign of a regime that is going to undervalue the OL and underinvest in it - because I have reservations about our ability to succeed if that is the case.excellent post ukfalc.And you are 100% correct that the Alex Gibbs/Falcons O-Lines were atrocious in pass blocking although decent run blockers.ZBS or not, we need more young offensive line talent and they cannot all be 300lb featherweights - some but not all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfalc Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 IDK man....in the last 8 seasons we've put two first rounders, two second rounders, two third rounders, a few other misc picks, at least one decent FA contract and an assortment of veteran competitors. I think part of the problem is that people have unrealistic expectations of what you should be getting from your OL. It takes years of OL players developing together to form a good+ OL. And even then, it's relatively rare. Moving forward, I'd love to see us continue to invest there. But I think we should invest everywhere.The problem is, it took the huge trainwreck of 2013 before we finally relented and invested in Asamoah and Matthews. Prior to that we hadn't invested enough, and 2014's spending investment came at least 2 years too late. Prior to Asamoah, the last major FA OL we signed was Todd Weiner in 2002 IIRC, and our drafts investment wasn't much better. Look at the 1st-3rd round Picks spent on OL in rounds back to the 1995 draft:Hallen 1998 2nd rounderClaridge 2000 2ndBlalock 2007 - 2ndBaker - 2008 1stJohnson - 2010 3rdKonz - 2012 2ndHolmes - 2012 3rdMatthews - 2014 1st8 picks in 21 drafts. That is not much for 21 years worth of investment in a unit that makes up 45% of our starting offence. Compare it to WR, where we spends 5 first rounders (and multiple 2nd and 3rds) in the same time frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 The problem is, it took the huge trainwreck of 2013 before we finally relented and invested in Asamoah and Matthews. Prior to that we hadn't invested enough, and 2014's spending investment came at least 2 years too late.Prior to Asamoah, the last major FA OL we signed was Todd Weiner in 2002 IIRC, and our drafts investment wasn't much better.Look at the 1st-3rd round Picks spent on OL in rounds back to the 1995 draft:Hallen 1998 2nd rounderClaridge 2000 2ndBlalock 2007 - 2ndBaker - 2008 1stJohnson - 2010 3rdKonz - 2012 2ndHolmes - 2012 3rdMatthews - 2014 1st8 picks in 21 drafts. That is not much for 21 years worth of investment in a unit that makes up 45% of our starting offence.Compare it to WR, where we spends 5 first rounders (and multiple 2nd and 3rds) in the same time frame.exactly - not near enough investment in the offensive line over 21 drafts - 2009-2011 - one pick in the 3rd round - not enough in the Dimitroff regime - and it is not all on the Julio trade either - so don't start that garbage. Compounding the lack of attention paid to the offensive line, when Dimitroff dipped in the draft pool, he mostly rolled snake eyes. We have not gotten a return on Hawley yet even though TATF is in love with him. Lamar Holmes has largely been a bust. Mike Johnson was a complete bust as was 6th rounder Garrett Reynolds. Just lots and lots of FAIL. The Matthews pick should return a dividend (hopefully he will be better than Taylor Lewan) - but ignoring a problem won't make it go away and TD ignored the problem for his first 6 years and in this draft this year as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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