BACH
Superbowl, Homeboy!
There are several threads evaluating the first pre season game and couldn't decide which one to post in, so I started this thread instead.
I was very worried about the state of the O-line going into this season and the first action got me to relax a bit more. Not saying that I don't still see the Oline as the biggest weakness on the team, but at least I can see this working out now.
Run-Blocking
I'm very impressed with the run-blocking in this game. The starters looked very good and the back-up looked good as well.
Pass-Blocking
Not as impressive. As in.. Not very good. The starters looked decent in very limited play, but gave up a free runner on the 3rd play of the game. Pretty sure that Iupati missed on that one. The back-ups had issues all day and especially the back-up tackles didn't look good at all.
Veldheer, Iupati and Mathis - Didn't see a lot of these guys and have little to comment on. These guys are going to be good!
DJ Humphries - Much better than the comments on this forum suggset IMO. He looked really good in run-blocking, but had some issues in pass blocking. Forget JJ Watt. Forget Von Miller. Khalil Mack is the best pass rusher in the NFL and naturally Humphries struggled against him like all other OT in the NFL would. It looked to me that Humpries settled down during the game and maybe nerves got to him in the beginning. Hopefully that is the case and he will improve over the pre season. It's still not a perfect situation, but at least I think it's a manageble situation, where Humphries can start with some help from time to time. Run blocking - passed. Pass blocking - Neither pass nor fail.
AQ Shipley - He looked okay. Nothing more. It's obvious that his short arms are an issue but I like his play. He can start, but he's probably never going to be more that an average starter.
Evan Boehm - First off. Really annoyed that no one seem to be able to pronounce his name. No. He's not a Batman villain! OE does not equal an A! I did like his play, however. Actually very positively surprised after the stories of his development in camp. BA doesn't like playing rookies at skill positions until late in the season and given his performance in this game, I wonder if this is the case here. If his level of play continues I expect him to be pushing Shipley by mid-season. I would love to see him against #1 at some point in the pre-season.
Back-up Gs - Solid showing from both Toner and McClain. Toner stood out among the back-ups. I expected him to land on the PS, but he could be pushing for a spot among the final 53. Not sure about McClain as I believe he used up all his eligibility to land on the PS.
Back-up Ts - Rob Crisp has been talked up for two years. Didn't show it. Wetzel was hot and cold. Good on some plays, bad on others. Not a good showing by any of these guys.
Summary:
Not as concerned about the starters as I was before the game. Humphries is still incomplete so we have to see if he can work out. I'm staying positive and think that with some help he can settled into a solid starter during the season. I think Shipley will do okay as the short term answer at C and think Boehm showed enough promise to fit the role of the long term answer.
Very positive over Toner. If he continue to play like this, he will make the final 53 IMO.
I'm still concerned about the depth at tackle. Watford showed last year that he can back-up RT, but I don't like him practicing at three different position. Can he hold his focus if he's needed at RT again after taking most snaps at C and G? Who's the back-up LT if Humphries doesn't improve his pass-blocking fast? With the showing of the back-up OTs I would take a long talk with Jake Long. Remember, he didn't fail his physical, he wanted a garanteed contract.
Roster predictions:
Roster - Veldheer, Iupati, Shipley, Mathis, Humphries, Boehm, Watford and Toner (8)
PS - Wetzel and McClain (if eligible).
Only 8 Olinemen on the final roster. And that's WITH Toner. I didn't see anything from anyone else to make me think that they are one of the top 53 on this roster. We desperately need a swing tackle! Only issue is that Beatty and Long are the only options right now.
EDIT: Brainfart on my part. Was writing this offline on a plane based on mental notes. I messed up Left and Right. Of Course Wetzel replaced Veldheer and Crisp Humphries. Edited it my post. Meant what I wrote about the performance, however.
I was very worried about the state of the O-line going into this season and the first action got me to relax a bit more. Not saying that I don't still see the Oline as the biggest weakness on the team, but at least I can see this working out now.
Run-Blocking
I'm very impressed with the run-blocking in this game. The starters looked very good and the back-up looked good as well.
Pass-Blocking
Not as impressive. As in.. Not very good. The starters looked decent in very limited play, but gave up a free runner on the 3rd play of the game. Pretty sure that Iupati missed on that one. The back-ups had issues all day and especially the back-up tackles didn't look good at all.
Veldheer, Iupati and Mathis - Didn't see a lot of these guys and have little to comment on. These guys are going to be good!
DJ Humphries - Much better than the comments on this forum suggset IMO. He looked really good in run-blocking, but had some issues in pass blocking. Forget JJ Watt. Forget Von Miller. Khalil Mack is the best pass rusher in the NFL and naturally Humphries struggled against him like all other OT in the NFL would. It looked to me that Humpries settled down during the game and maybe nerves got to him in the beginning. Hopefully that is the case and he will improve over the pre season. It's still not a perfect situation, but at least I think it's a manageble situation, where Humphries can start with some help from time to time. Run blocking - passed. Pass blocking - Neither pass nor fail.
AQ Shipley - He looked okay. Nothing more. It's obvious that his short arms are an issue but I like his play. He can start, but he's probably never going to be more that an average starter.
Evan Boehm - First off. Really annoyed that no one seem to be able to pronounce his name. No. He's not a Batman villain! OE does not equal an A! I did like his play, however. Actually very positively surprised after the stories of his development in camp. BA doesn't like playing rookies at skill positions until late in the season and given his performance in this game, I wonder if this is the case here. If his level of play continues I expect him to be pushing Shipley by mid-season. I would love to see him against #1 at some point in the pre-season.
Back-up Gs - Solid showing from both Toner and McClain. Toner stood out among the back-ups. I expected him to land on the PS, but he could be pushing for a spot among the final 53. Not sure about McClain as I believe he used up all his eligibility to land on the PS.
Back-up Ts - Rob Crisp has been talked up for two years. Didn't show it. Wetzel was hot and cold. Good on some plays, bad on others. Not a good showing by any of these guys.
Summary:
Not as concerned about the starters as I was before the game. Humphries is still incomplete so we have to see if he can work out. I'm staying positive and think that with some help he can settled into a solid starter during the season. I think Shipley will do okay as the short term answer at C and think Boehm showed enough promise to fit the role of the long term answer.
Very positive over Toner. If he continue to play like this, he will make the final 53 IMO.
I'm still concerned about the depth at tackle. Watford showed last year that he can back-up RT, but I don't like him practicing at three different position. Can he hold his focus if he's needed at RT again after taking most snaps at C and G? Who's the back-up LT if Humphries doesn't improve his pass-blocking fast? With the showing of the back-up OTs I would take a long talk with Jake Long. Remember, he didn't fail his physical, he wanted a garanteed contract.
Roster predictions:
Roster - Veldheer, Iupati, Shipley, Mathis, Humphries, Boehm, Watford and Toner (8)
PS - Wetzel and McClain (if eligible).
Only 8 Olinemen on the final roster. And that's WITH Toner. I didn't see anything from anyone else to make me think that they are one of the top 53 on this roster. We desperately need a swing tackle! Only issue is that Beatty and Long are the only options right now.
EDIT: Brainfart on my part. Was writing this offline on a plane based on mental notes. I messed up Left and Right. Of Course Wetzel replaced Veldheer and Crisp Humphries. Edited it my post. Meant what I wrote about the performance, however.
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