Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers

jeanpierre · 05-25-2021, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Perspective:

LSU LBer Patrick Queen was taken four picks later...

LSU WR Justin Jefferson was taken two picks earlier...

Oh, WR Brandon Aiyuk whom Payton leaked so highly was taken with the next pick...

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

What does that matter? I don't get where "when" a player was picked has any relevance moving forward.

jeanpierre · 05-25-2021, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

I never understood the Ruiz pick/logic by moving a high performing center. But then again Erik is athletic, extremely mobile and bigger so I think he'll become a solid guard.

At least I hope.

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I have heard this said before many times by legendary offensive line coach Paul Anderson, you try to put the five best players available on the offensive line and not dwell on position. Positions can be taught.

So put Peat at LT and Armstead at Center or LG...

AsylumGuido · 05-25-2021, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

So put Peat at LT and Armstead at Center or LG...

Now you are being ridiculous. Anderson never said every position is completely interchangeable. But, there is enough latitude between certain positions that putting the five best athletes out there on the offensive lines is perfectly doable.

K Major · 05-25-2021, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

So put Peat at LT and Armstead at Center or LG...

Hey I agree here. Moving a OT to OG or vice versa isn’t easy, and it’s rarely the solution. It's not as seamless as some may think.

Some of our former O lineman out there should chime in with their thoughts

.

AsylumGuido · 05-25-2021, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

That doesn't explain what relevance the slot at which a player was drafted has after the fact. It is what it is so who should care? Does it matter that Colston was picked in the 7th round? No. The only thing that matters is what he did on the field. Does it matter where Ryan Leaf was selected? No. It only matters that he sucked.

Rugby Saint II · 05-25-2021, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I have heard this said before many times by legendary offensive line coach Paul Anderson, you try to put the five best players available on the offensive line and not dwell on position. Positions can be taught.

I definitely agree with you about putting your best five out there Guido. As I understand it McCoy was having trouble with the line calls at center his rookie season. I believe that the Saints drafted Ruiz to be the center moving forward because that is what he excelled at in college. After his second year McCoy may may have been better making the calls at the line of scrimmage with more experience under his belt. The front office thought that McCoy would be moved to RG last year while Ruiz took over the center position but an abbreviated season shut that down.

The center is a position where an undersize guy with good technique and high intelligence can do well. That pretty much describes Ruiz' draft profile. He's had a year in an NFL weight training program and is stronger now. I expect to see Ruiz at center with McCoy at RG that can slide over if necessary.

AsylumGuido · 05-25-2021, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

Hey I agree here. Moving a OT to OG or vice versa isn’t easy, and it’s rarely the solution. It's not as seamless as some may think.

Some of our former O lineman out there should chime in with their thoughts .

Of course it's not easy, but when the athlete is talented enough it happens quite often, especially during the transition from college to the pros. I am sharing the opinion of one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the history of the game. The discussion was putting your five best OL players on the field as being the optimal plan. Not playing an elite LT at center. That would be asinine.

SmashMouth · 05-25-2021, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

I never understood the Ruiz pick/logic by moving a high performing center. But then again Erik is athletic, extremely mobile and bigger so I think he'll become a solid guard.

At least I hope.

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I have heard this said before many times by legendary offensive line coach Paul Anderson, you try to put the five best players available on the offensive line and not dwell on position. Positions can be taught.

Saints ask their players to be able to handle multiple positions. Ruiz will rotate from Center to Guard, probably. Can he play LT too? We do have Mr. Glass there, even if he's been less injury prone of late.

Boston Saint · 05-25-2021, 05:00 PM

I will say this. As hard as I (rightfully) say I am about them being unable to address the LB position, I will give them credit along the OLine development... and yes that includes Peate.

gosaints1 · 05-26-2021, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by Boston Saint

I will say this. As hard as I (rightfully) say I am about them being unable to address the LB position, I will give them credit along the OLine development... and yes that includes Peate.

Spot on... New Orleans develops offensive lineman like no other team. Armstead is aging, but is still a stud, Peat is injury prone which is a definite concern, but even inclusive of those concerns, I’ll take our five over any other five in the league,

No doubt about it.

05-25-2021, 01:47 PM	#11
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by jeanpierre Perspective: LSU LBer Patrick Queen was taken four picks later... LSU WR Justin Jefferson was taken two picks earlier... Oh, WR Brandon Aiyuk whom Payton leaked so highly was taken with the next pick... Originally Posted by AsylumGuido What does that matter? I don't get where "when" a player was picked has any relevance moving forward. SmashMouth likes this.

05-25-2021, 01:49 PM	#12
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by K Major I never understood the Ruiz pick/logic by moving a high performing center. But then again Erik is athletic, extremely mobile and bigger so I think he'll become a solid guard. At least I hope. Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I have heard this said before many times by legendary offensive line coach Paul Anderson, you try to put the five best players available on the offensive line and not dwell on position. Positions can be taught. So put Peat at LT and Armstead at Center or LG... K Major likes this.

05-25-2021, 01:52 PM	#13
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,850	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by jeanpierre So put Peat at LT and Armstead at Center or LG... Now you are being ridiculous. Anderson never said every position is completely interchangeable. But, there is enough latitude between certain positions that putting the five best athletes out there on the offensive lines is perfectly doable.

05-25-2021, 01:55 PM	#14
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,865 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by jeanpierre So put Peat at LT and Armstead at Center or LG... Hey I agree here. Moving a OT to OG or vice versa isn’t easy, and it’s rarely the solution. It's not as seamless as some may think. Some of our former O lineman out there should chime in with their thoughts .

05-25-2021, 01:56 PM	#15
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,850	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by jeanpierre That doesn't explain what relevance the slot at which a player was drafted has after the fact. It is what it is so who should care? Does it matter that Colston was picked in the 7th round? No. The only thing that matters is what he did on the field. Does it matter where Ryan Leaf was selected? No. It only matters that he sucked.

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05-25-2021, 01:57 PM	#16
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,200	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I have heard this said before many times by legendary offensive line coach Paul Anderson, you try to put the five best players available on the offensive line and not dwell on position. Positions can be taught. I definitely agree with you about putting your best five out there Guido. As I understand it McCoy was having trouble with the line calls at center his rookie season. I believe that the Saints drafted Ruiz to be the center moving forward because that is what he excelled at in college. After his second year McCoy may may have been better making the calls at the line of scrimmage with more experience under his belt. The front office thought that McCoy would be moved to RG last year while Ruiz took over the center position but an abbreviated season shut that down. The center is a position where an undersize guy with good technique and high intelligence can do well. That pretty much describes Ruiz' draft profile. He's had a year in an NFL weight training program and is stronger now. I expect to see Ruiz at center with McCoy at RG that can slide over if necessary. FinSaint and ChrisXVI like this.
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05-25-2021, 02:11 PM	#17
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,850	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by K Major Hey I agree here. Moving a OT to OG or vice versa isn’t easy, and it’s rarely the solution. It's not as seamless as some may think. Some of our former O lineman out there should chime in with their thoughts . Of course it's not easy, but when the athlete is talented enough it happens quite often, especially during the transition from college to the pros. I am sharing the opinion of one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the history of the game. The discussion was putting your five best OL players on the field as being the optimal plan. Not playing an elite LT at center. That would be asinine.

05-25-2021, 02:51 PM	#18
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 39,130 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by K Major I never understood the Ruiz pick/logic by moving a high performing center. But then again Erik is athletic, extremely mobile and bigger so I think he'll become a solid guard. At least I hope. Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I have heard this said before many times by legendary offensive line coach Paul Anderson, you try to put the five best players available on the offensive line and not dwell on position. Positions can be taught. Saints ask their players to be able to handle multiple positions. Ruiz will rotate from Center to Guard, probably. Can he play LT too? We do have Mr. Glass there, even if he's been less injury prone of late. AsylumGuido likes this.

05-25-2021, 05:00 PM	#19
Boston Saint 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5,137	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers I will say this. As hard as I (rightfully) say I am about them being unable to address the LB position, I will give them credit along the OLine development... and yes that includes Peate. AsylumGuido, SmashMouth and gosaints1 like this.

05-26-2021, 01:22 AM	#20
gosaints1 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 576	Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers Originally Posted by Boston Saint I will say this. As hard as I (rightfully) say I am about them being unable to address the LB position, I will give them credit along the OLine development... and yes that includes Peate. Spot on... New Orleans develops offensive lineman like no other team. Armstead is aging, but is still a stud, Peat is injury prone which is a definite concern, but even inclusive of those concerns, I’ll take our five over any other five in the league, No doubt about it. AsylumGuido, Rugby Saint II and Boston Saint like this.
gosaints1 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 576