SmashMouth

BakoSaint

Just a thought, but maybe if there is such a shortage of offensive line talent across the league, a smart team would defy the dogma of only keeping 9-10 oline and keep like 12, so they could spend more mid round picks etc on the position without having their spare talent poached by other teams. This could also help attract top UDFA who have a better chance of making the team. A team doing this would have to give up 2-3 total spots from positions like RB, WR, TE, or various spots on defense. But how much do those 3rd stringers really play? And if the difference is primarily who the inactives are each week, why not have more of your inactives at a position where its more critical to stockpile depth?

At this point wouldn't we better off if instead of Bub Means, Jaylan Ford, and Khristian Boyd we had an extra tackle, guard, and center with enough potential to be drafted in the mid rounds?

The new kickoff rule, making special teams speed less critical, could support this. Various trends in the league with oline becoming more scarce could support it. Eventually teams have to stop doing the same thing just because thats how its always been done.

I feel like there is more talent on the streets at other positions.

Another version of this, if too many athletes are choosing dline over oline early, could be to draft dline in the mid to late rounds with the understanding that if they want to make the team, they have to practice at oline also. Teams do this all the time forcing players to learn special teams, but for some reason in this league there is the understanding that its ok to ask a rugby player, tight end, 160lb receiver, etc, to pick up blocking, but its not ok to ask a 5th round defensive tackle. Trying to get dline to play oline may not always work, but when it does it could be an absolute home run if a 4th round dline pick could have the athleticism of a 1st round oline.

A team with more oline depth and talent could potentially also have an advantage of short yardage situations, with more big bodies to deploy.

I am starting to feel like in this league excellent scheme with competent talent can beat excellent talent with competent scheme. But if oline is incompetent or allows the competent qb to be hurt or play scared, all that goes out the window.

AsylumGuido

AsylumGuido

AsylumGuido

BakoSaint

How has CMC's usage in 2023 affected his production in 2024, and how will Kamara's usage in 2024 affect his production in 2025? We have to be one step ahead. Would we rather be the 90's Cowboys or the 90's Vikings? Decisions decisions.