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The Offensive Line Thread

Sledge Hammer said:
I like Branden Albert. RT is the only position that could really be the weakest link. I'm not sold on Howard being any good at RT. He got by with power aggression and barely adequate overachieving athleticism. He is on the wrong side of 30 now. And he really struggled last year. Raiders cut him because his play wasn't up to par. Then you add a year to that. Because 350lb lineman don't get better after 30. His best position could be guard. With his size and aggression he may be a devastating drive blocker.

Albert could really be motivated by returning home. I think he could be a really good RT to make one of the best tackle tandems in the league. Even if he lost a step he has all the tools to be a standout RT. He is big long really powerful athletic and in really great shape for an olineman. Similar to Osemele. OLine could look!!
LT Ronnie Stanley all pro
LG Howard and Eluemunor camp dual
C Jensen could be pro bowl caliber
RG Marshall Yanda. Ummm lol
RT Branden Albert pro bowl caliber RT

If Eluemunor wins the job from big strong and experienced Howard it's a real win the OLine and the offense. If his raw skills can carry him til he gains experience enough to take to job from a quality guard in Austin Howard?? Then the offensive line is going to be dominant. And one of the best in the league. Howard would be a very valuable backup and swing T/G to keep the OLine fresh. As well as Skura and Hurst.

Even if Stanley misses a couple games the OLine would be fine with Albert sliding over to LT. Then Hurst and Howard the best player would play RT. The Offensive line would be one of the best with quality depth. Only question would be if one of the tackles misses games can One of Howard and Hurst handle RT position. If needed Albert can play LT and play it very well. The OLine and DLine would have some epic showdowns in practice. Iron sharpens iron!! If Eluemunor can hold up in practice against likes of Urban, Pierce, Henry, Bowser, Tim Williams, Judon. Then he is ready to play anybody around the league. Albert should happen!!
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The problem with Albert, of course, is that the Jags have his rights.

And he ticked them off by holding out and then threatening retirement thinking it would force them into a corner and pay them more. They didnt budge... and he then un-retired. Jags didnt care again and placed him on their retired list...

So - even if they move him off that list, hes under their control. They could keep him and force him to sit, they could trade him, or they could cut him.

Not sure how it works now that theyve placed him on the retired list and hes said publicly hes unretired.... i imagine a team cant just force a player into retirement.... though the lack of public push back from Albert suggests that maybe hes not as determined to play as he originally made it seem.


While, at this point, I agree that Albert could be one of the best potential additions... that scenario is complicated and there may be too many unknown factors for Ozzie to wait around on. Unless he approaches the Jags w/ interest and a deal they like to trade him, they dont really have much motivation to find resolution in any hurry. They've already accepted the fact that Albert wont be a part of their team this year, and have come to terms that they wont be compensated for it (other than maybe a return of the $3m signing bonus or w/e he was due).

They may decide retirement is the better alternative bc getting that $3m back is more important than eating the $3m for a late round draft pick or w/e else they may recoup in a trade scenario.
 
Sledge Hammer said:
Would like to see Pierce and Eluemunor lock horns in practice. A tandem of athletic 340lb bulls. Iron sharpens iron.
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Pierce wins that matchup easily, Elumenor has some way to go before hes putting it all together while Pierce has elite functional power, Im pretty sure hes the strongest ever Raven.
 
BloodRaven said:
Pierce wins that matchup easily, Elumenor has some way to go before hes putting it all together while Pierce has elite functional power, Im pretty sure hes the strongest ever Raven.
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Not only that but Pierce is just such a tough block, not only because the power is outrageous but bc it comes in such a short package that he almost automatically wins the leverage battle from the jump.

Leverage can overcome power.... but when youve got the power advantage on top of having extreme leverage and a low center of gravity providing better balance and a base from which to work - forget about it. Almost an impossible assignment to block that guy 1on1.
 
Boldnpurpblack said:
The problem with Albert, of course, is that the Jags have his rights.

And he ticked them off by holding out and then threatening retirement thinking it would force them into a corner and pay them more. They didnt budge... and he then un-retired. Jags didnt care again and placed him on their retired list...

So - even if they move him off that list, hes under their control. They could keep him and force him to sit, they could trade him, or they could cut him.

Not sure how it works now that theyve placed him on the retired list and hes said publicly hes unretired.... i imagine a team cant just force a player into retirement.... though the lack of public push back from Albert suggests that maybe hes not as determined to play as he originally made it seem.


While, at this point, I agree that Albert could be one of the best potential additions... that scenario is complicated and there may be too many unknown factors for Ozzie to wait around on. Unless he approaches the Jags w/ interest and a deal they like to trade him, they dont really have much motivation to find resolution in any hurry. They've already accepted the fact that Albert wont be a part of their team this year, and have come to terms that they wont be compensated for it (other than maybe a return of the $3m signing bonus or w/e he was due).

They may decide retirement is the better alternative bc getting that $3m back is more important than eating the $3m for a late round draft pick or w/e else they may recoup in a trade scenario.
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Pretty sure the jags fully released him - I'm pretty sure they in the end just flat out cut him - they moved him to the reserve/retired list when he expressed an interest in coming back and then they released him so he kept his 3mill and they take that signing bonus hit

So it's pretty simple now lol - but I wouldn't want him because he's shown no legitimate interest in actually playing football and I'm pretty sure the only reason he unretired was so that he wouldn't have to forfeit or pay back any of that 3mill
 
rossihunter2 said:
Pretty sure the jags fully released him - I'm pretty sure they in the end just flat out cut him - they moved him to the reserve/retired list when he expressed an interest in coming back and then they released him so he kept his 3mill and they take that signing bonus hit

So it's pretty simple now lol - but I wouldn't want him because he's shown no legitimate interest in actually playing football and I'm pretty sure the only reason he unretired was so that he wouldn't have to forfeit or pay back any of that 3mill
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You're right, they did release him. Totally missed that.

Welp, get him in here then. Would make sense if they cleared that cap space to get him, and maybe are just working out some kinks on a deal... and maybe though they could work Zuttah in too, but then he wouldnt come down to a number that they could fit in w/ an Albert deal, so he went on to the Colts to see if he can get more there.
 
Boldnpurpblack said:
You're right, they did release him. Totally missed that.

Welp, get him in here then. Would make sense if they cleared that cap space to get him, and maybe are just working out some kinks on a deal... and maybe though they could work Zuttah in too, but then he wouldnt come down to a number that they could fit in w/ an Albert deal, so he went on to the Colts to see if he can get more there.
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I'm not sure he's a guy that's going to play any football tbh - if we can guarantee he's committed to playing and will take a fully unguaranteed contract with lots of incentives then fine but he feels like a player who just wants one more signing bonus and to sit on a bench somewhere
 
rossihunter2 said:
I'm not sure he's a guy that's going to play any football tbh - if we can guarantee he's committed to playing and will take a fully unguaranteed contract with lots of incentives then fine but he feels like a player who just wants one more signing bonus and to sit on a bench somewhere
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i dont see it that way.

I think the whole retirement thing was just him trying to generate leverage over the Jags to give him a raise, bc he felt that since they'd already traded a player and a pick to get him that they wouldnt just let him retire or cut him.... and he thought that was well and good until he realized it meant he had to give back $3.4m and that they were totally willing to move on and let him retire.

Soon as he realized those 2 things, he was right back ready to accept his contract and keep on playing. Jags were done with him at that point and cut him.

I could care less what his motivation is. So long as hes an upgrade over Hurst. Which i have almost no doubts he is and would be, especially as a RT.
 
Trade a 3rd and 6th for andrew norwell. he's young, a top 10 guard in this league and a perfect scheme fit.

Stanley, Norwell, Jensen, Yanda, Howard
 
I think its the opposite. Albert retired but didn't want to pay back 3m so he stayed retired until they had his replacement then unretired and gets to keep his money and can just not sign with anyone now.
 
BloodRaven said:
Pierce wins that matchup easily, Elumenor has some way to go before hes putting it all together while Pierce has elite functional power, Im pretty sure hes the strongest ever Raven.
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Slow down there cowboy lol. Eluemunor is no chump. If he picked wrestling over football many feel he was potential national heavyweight champ. So he knows something about leverage. Pierce is an awesome specimen but Eluemunor is as well. While rare weight room numbers Pierce isn't quite on that freakish level yet anyways. A 210lb safety Adam Archuletta did about the same power clean as Pierce. Don't forget Eluemunor did 6 more reps than Pierce. Piece is an awesome specimen by Eluemunor is as strong. Give Eluemunor a year in NFL weight program.
 
Sledge Hammer said:
Slow down there cowboy lol. Eluemunor is no chump. If he picked wrestling over football many feel he was potential national heavyweight champ. So he knows something about leverage. Pierce is an awesome specimen but Eluemunor is as well. While rare weight room numbers Pierce isn't quite on that freakish level yet anyways. A 210lb safety Adam Archuletta did about the same power clean as Pierce. Don't forget Eluemunor did 6 more reps than Pierce. Piece is an awesome specimen by Eluemunor is as strong. Give Eluemunor a year in NFL weight program.
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Never said Elumenor is a chump, youre arguing points I didnt make with conjecture. There is only one player in the league who can squat more than Pierce and thats not an opinion.
 
Eluemunor looks horrible vs the redskins, constantly pushed back and clueless at times. Weight room strength and field strength are two different things.

I see him as an obvious bust, not that a 5th rounder is expected to make it in the NFL anyway.
 
BloodRaven said:
Never said Elumenor is a chump, youre arguing points I didnt make with conjecture. There is only one player in the league who can squat more than Pierce and thats not an opinion.
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Squat is one lift. Eluemunor did 6 more reps at the combine that isn't opinion. What is his squat?? I'll do some comparisons
 
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