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

The Saints drafted Cesar Ruiz in the first round in 2020 and seemed intent on playing him at center. But without a real offseason because of the pandemic, combined with training camp injuries, Erik McCoy remained at center and Ruiz started 13 games at right guard.

It now appears McCoy is entrenched at center.

“It’s going to be hard to beat him out,” assistant offensive line coach Zach Strief said, via Katherine Terrell of TheAthletic.com. “I think he played fantastic last year. He had a huge jump. You’ve got to wait and see. Just like every year, the goal is always to get the best five that you can on the field, and figuring out where those guys best go is kind of on us as coaches. But he was outstanding, and we’ll just kind of see how it works itself out.”

McCoy has started all 32 possible games at center since the Saints selected him in the second round. He received an All-Pro vote in 2020 and is moving closer to earning his first Pro Bowl honor.

With three-time Pro Bowler Terron Armstead at left tackle, one-time All-Pro Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle, McCoy at center, Ruiz at right guard and three-time Pro Bowler Andrus Peat at left guard, the Saints have one of the best lines in football. The only changes are on the coaching staff, with Dan Roushar moving to coach tight ends, Brendan Nugent taking over as offensive line coach and Strief – a former Saints player – joining the team as an assistant offensive line coach.

“I think we have the best tackle tandem in football,” Strief said. “I think Erik McCoy, I think by the end of the year, he’s going to be considered one of, if not the top centers in football. I think there’s a great core there. You take a guy like Cesar, who has gobs of talent, not having an offseason his first year, all those things. He missed a bunch of camp time. I think that’s going to help all those guys, having that extra time in the offseason.”

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

Last year at this time many thought that Ruiz was drafted to replace McCoy because McCoy didn't look awesome in his first year. If Ruiz can make a similar jump his sophomore season like McCoy did this line will be terrific with one weak link...

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

That "weak link" could start on 80% of the teams in the league, if not more. Let's just say "our" weakest link.

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

Just come out and say it.... Popeyes Fried Chicken Sammich Andrus Peat! :bng:

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

Erik was a Day 1 starter as a rookie & many considered him top shelf at his position last season. Don't have his stats but I think he allowed 2 sacks in 2020. I'd say that was a damn good draft pick ;).

That game vs GB where he hustled downfield @ 20 mph to block for Kamara (he scored) will always stick out for me.

Erik is a dawg.

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

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

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.

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

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

:confused:

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 :p.

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

:confused:

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

I'm sorry but I fail to see any serious question marks concerning the offensive line. I agree completely with the others that say we have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. I'm not sure where your expectations lie.

:confused:

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

Might want to take these glasses off, your vision will improve vastly...

https://media.giphy.com/media/TppeLsqt8Jz20/giphy.gif

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

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

It's been a little testy on the boards recently. The season can't get here fast enough.

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

We are in OTA time. Helmets but no pads.

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

Weak? No. Inconsistent? An argument could be made that it is true. But a lot of shuffling was done and the results were elite, iyam.

6th rated rushing attack with 141.6 ypg average.
6th best pass protection unit allowing only a very meager 17.2% QB pressure.

Hiccups along the way? Sure, shuffling the line bc of injuries will do that. But those linemen, including “depth” players, over the long haul of a season, played at an extremely high level, once again iyam, elite level.

There is a reason as to why DB#9 is 1 or 2 in most passing records, but not even in the top 10 as far as sacks goes. Not even close, he’s 13th on that list, after 19 seasons, 15 with New Orleans. The OL has protected Mr. Brees like no other team, for a very significant period of time. That’s not an accident. That’s elite development and targeting, through the draft or FA, of linemen. Guards, Centers, and tackles, they’re fungible at the pos’n level in this scheme, and even at any quantitative analysis regardless of team or scheme. Not the eye test though, despite stats, we can see a bad player on an otherwise elite offensive line. I just haven’t found a “weak link” though, even with the eye test and completely ignoring metrics analyses. If the entire OL statistical play was bad, over the years, I would agree with you, but it hasn’t been, so I just can’t make that argument.

A fair debate could be had on whether the Saints needed to draft a LB, maybe your LSU LBer (PQueen) instead of another offensive lineman, but the value in Ruiz is clearly there. Also, keep in mind that the overriding mindset from year to year was ‘protect Mr. Brees, at all cost’.

I’ll take our two guards, even knowing Senor Sammich might get injured.

Bottom line, sometimes drives stall simply because the opposing team has superstar players trying to stop our momentum. You can’t win every play, every drive will not always end up in points. It’s an elite line, with one aging tackle, and one semi-brittle guard. But when they’re in, the entire line is one of, if not THE best in the entire league.

You very well could be right wrt the guards, but that would require an expert analysis from each snap that those guards were playing in and assigning a score to it. And, that would require trust in that expert being unbiased. I’m not prepared to do that deep dive my friend, lol. Heck, I’ve already spent ten minutes on this post, which I could have used more efficiently elsewhere. lol

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

I guess I'm not the only one wearing those glasses, then. But, I'll agree that the guard positions are the two weakest parts of the best all round offensive line in the NFL. Even the strongest chain in the world has one or more links weaker than the rest. That doesn't mean they are as horrible as you seem to imply.

"I'd say we're very weak, inconsistent at the guards"

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

Yes. And they’ve done the exact opposite at LBs. 😬

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

Saints front office is probably tired of waiting to tell Peat "You are the weakest link. Goodbye."

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

Be careful or you'll be required to get new eyewear.

:D

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

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

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

Agreed. Makes me want to check in less and less...

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

Ooorrrr ... the offensive line (including the guards) have been doing a better job doing their job at an elite level than you are willing to admit.

And you need to get that neck pain checked out there, JP.

;)

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

Surely didn't look good when Brees throwing int's. I thought they could have did a better job at protecting him. Looked shaky in crunch time.

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

It’s a fair point, and one I understand, but see differently..., and ‘Pass opening up the run’? I doubt that. 31 other NFL teams knew that all they had to do was squat inside 20 yards bc as even the future first ballot Hall of Fame QB recently stated when going through his progressions:

1) “I can’t make that throw”

2) “I can’t make that throw”

3) “I can’t make that throw”

4) “I KNOW I can’t make that throw”

As our greatest QB aged, he no longer was able to make the throws needed, either bc of year long injuries or simply aging. The last few years, the pass most definitely did not open up the run. The running game was good for three reasons.

1) Alvin Kamara

2) Latavius Murray

3) An effective run blocking Offensive Line.

Brees getting the ball out quickly almost always meant a dump out in the flat to Kamara, or an out route inside ten yards..., and the entire league knew it. Sometimes it amazes me at the amount of success the Saints have had, in spite of Mr. Brees recently. Not meaning to disparage him, truly I’m not, but he was done. We saw it clearly the last year. But it’s my belief it’s been snowballing for several years now.

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

Brees was protected well, his throws were off, and have been for a while, culminating in the three int’s to TB in the playoffs. He just didn’t have the arm anymore to effectively make good throws, an admission he himself made public. Injuries/Aging argument is unimportant, as we age, we get injured more often for longer periods of time. Father Time has never been beaten, even for those who push the age envelope as Mr Brees did.

“...Because it's like, 'Well I know I can't make that throw, I can't make that throw, I can't make that throw. So, what's now in my toolbox?' And it's harder to play the game that way. And yet, you've got to find a way still to get it done. And I felt like we did that, but it was difficult."

- Drew Brees

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/d...d-in-one-game/

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

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