Bridges VS Gandy

[AsUdUdE]

Here is an interesting question....

Given the way Bridges played last night against arguablely the top DE in the NFL, and how Gandy has been in all reality the weak link of Oline, Do the Cards keep Bridges at LT even after Gandy is Healthy?

I say hell yeah, ride him as long as he plays well, if he can play that well for the rest of the season, The Cards will have another run to the Superbowl, Bank on it...

Thoughts?

 

[Carddan]

I think Gandy remains the starter when he is healthy. It seemed that Bridges received a lot more help from the RBs and TEs than we're used to and it might be a good thing to continue no matter who is lined up there. I would say the Bridges has earned more playing time and I could imagine them splitting time for a while. Bottom line, it is the Coaches who have chosen the starters. They have their reasons, I trust them.

 

[Catfish]

They are two different type players. Gandy is a better run-blocker than Bridges. Bridges has better mobility and quicks as a pass blocker. This is considering both are healthy, and right now Gandy is not. The neat thing is that when healthy, there will now be a real competition for the playing time. Whiz has proven that this is the secret to developing great depth, and lively, active, and spirited play by whomever is in the game at the time. Much good will come of this I believe.

 

[trueherotillman]

Props to Bridges for keeping Allen in check. There were times where he handled him one-on-one. That being said, it's ONE game. If Gandy is healthy, he starts until Bridges starts outshining him on the other 6 days of the week, aka practice. Can Bridges be a LT in the league? Who knows. Job stays with Gandy until Bridges shows consistently that he's the better option.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Mike Gandy.

It is not even close. Bridges had a good game yesterday. But consistancy is something you cannot ignore. Gandy has been consistant.

 

[conraddobler]

I certainly trust the coaches but even they will tell you they can't be absolutely certain who's the best until they play in games and several at that.

It's tempting to annoint Bridges based on his play but scheme and help all play factors into the equation.

When coaches evaluate a player they simply know all the backstory we don't and that's why their decisions can seem odd even based on performance because they know the whole story behind it.

Over time if he plays that well Bridges could take over from Gandy on his own, that's why you never want to let your backup play in this league but as fans we simply don't know the whole story and that's why coaches can take longer to make a change than we'd like.

 

[AsUdUdE]

If anything hopefully it breads competition....

Gandy in the past has been solid...and our Olinr has improved, but Gandy it seems especially lately has been getting burned play after play.. is it becuase he was hurt?

I don't know, but what I do know is though he had help, Bridges more than held his own agsinst elite competition, and Warner wasn't even touched very much let alone sacked..

Hopefully Gandy plays better knowing Bridges isn't some scrub who can't play.. but I hope Whiz pays close attention to the play when Gandy returns, knowing NOW he may have options...

Thats all...

 

[AsUdUdE]

And for the record... Gandy has not exactly been as good as many try to annoint him.. (not saying Bridges is-- for the record--)

According to Nfl.fanhouse Gandy is the 4th most sacks of any lineman in the NFL this year...

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/12/04/between-the-lines-whos-given-up-the-most-sacks-through-week-12/

And I read an article (can't find it now, but I will keep looking) that called Gandy through 8-9 games the most penalized offensive tackle in NFC...

Again, I realize it was only one game and it doesn't mean that much... but it is not like Gandy has been a world beater so far THIS year either...

just sayin..

 

[SuperSpck]

We don't know how Bridges would respond in the island Gandy's spent the last two years stranded on.
Probably not well. Few would.

 

[PoolBoy]

Levi Brown helped Bridges because he dominated the right side and allowed the help to stay with Bridges. Gandy with that help would be just as dominant. That being said I say rest Gandy regardless this week vs SF. let him get completely healthy.

 

[TJ]

My decision to choose Bridges is for a couple of reasons:

1. Gandy has a lingering pelvis injury. I can only imagine how that feels crouching down and taking shots all day long. Probably wears him out.

2. His performance has seemed to decline somewhat. He is a lame duck out there as he will probably not be re-signed. Bridges to me is one of the guys who has a chip on his shoulders. And judging by some of the comments he made yesterday, he's not afraid to take the bull by the horns. He refused to let Allen get into his head. Have you ever listened or read an interview from Gandy? It's like he only has 150 words in his vocabulary. Lots of one word or short sentence responses.

 

[187]

If anything I hope the effectiveness of using our backs and tight ends to chip block dominant pass rushers opens up Whisenhunt's eyes some. Gandy played 100x better last season (even though he still gave up 7.5 sacks or something like that), so if he can get healthy and get some help from our backs/TE's against good rushers he would be fine. Whiz just blindly sticks him on an island because he held his own against Julius Peppers, John Abraham, and a few others LAST season. I say start Bridges and see what he can do until Gandy is back at 100%, because he has been dismal at best this year.