Barry from MS

I think (oh yes, I'm starting it with the "I Think") that we will see much better O-line play when we see BUF in the Dome and onward into the gauntlet of the season. There are plenty of reasons why I am excited about this group that has been lambasted the first part of the season.

1. Guards & Center playing better: Evans looked like the Evans we all know and love against the Pats, plus he gets an extra week to rest what is ailing him. A rested and healthy Evans automatically makes the whole line better. Grubbs seems to be getting it together after rating average to below-average the first 5 weeks (and getting ridiculously embarrassed in the MNF Game). DLP with our 2 guards coming back to life makes him look much better than he is, but as an overachiever he fits. Evans' injury(ies) through the first 6 weeks set back this group, but we'll see a much better front 3 the rest of the way if Evans maintains his health.
2. Tackles are too: Brown is beginning to play better. Nothing spectacular, as he gave up the only sack @ NE, but helped keep Drew relatively clean. Sounds kinda like a Bushrod type of game. 6 starts into the season, and I believe we'll see these types of performances from here on out: not spectacular, but solid. Interested to see him versus Super Mario next week. Harris' name was barely even mentioned in the NE game, which is always good for an OT. Possibly he and Zach mix and match starts down the stretch? They are both solid in the run game, and it looks like all 3 of the tackles are beginning to "get it" on the zone blocking schemes we employ now. Zach has been solid in pass protection so far this year, and with Drew the OT's don't necessarily need to dominate to be effective.
3. Bye Week "Jelling" Therapy - These cats get more reps together against Ryan's D, so it's like an extra week of training camp to get the communication and trust between them where it needs to be.
4. First game back in action at the Dome (Home Dome Therapy). Where is a better place on the face of this Earth to come together and play solid than in the Dome? Build that confidence in pass protection and run blocking against a good BUF D-line then get that Jets Monster Front 7 the next week.
5. The Evans Factor (Did I mention Evans' health?): His ability week in, week out is the difference between good-to-great versus below average-to-turrible. Period. All other factors and therapies are null and void if he ain't healthy.

Bye Week Blues. And too much time on my hands.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day" ~ Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it" ~ Ron Swanson

saintfan

I wanna see it, and when I do, that's when I'll believe it.

The Dude

Yea. I dont know about redemption. They have improved but they are still pretty ****ty.

Euphoria

I think we need to seriously upgrade our line this off-season.

Our run game stinks.

I did notice that teams seem to want to take away our run game in a couple of games so we take it to the air but come on we need to run at will.

hagan714

lets be honest they are getting better but still have a long way to go to get back to playing like the OL that won the super bowl

Barry from MS

Don't put that 2009 O-line Stank on this crew, 'cause that ain't close to fair. Only 1 of those 5 are still here, and that 1 (Evans) is dinged up a bit. Plus we ain't got the same O-line coach, so that 2009 comparison is unfair X 2.

All I was trying to claim (in my pain-killer euphoria last night) was that the best is still ahead for this group. It certainly could get worse than Weeks 1-4, and that would be simply awful to watch. But the line we witnessed in Weeks 5 & 6 showed obvious improvement. What's to say that trend continues? Of course the devil's advocate will say "what's to say it won't", which is fair...I get it. But I'll choose to let the perfumed rainbows fly out of my butt, thank you.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day" ~ Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it" ~ Ron Swanson

Danno

I think a healthy Evans, add a stud Center and a year of expected development from Armstead may be all we really need for 2014.

Euphoria

I am not sold on them... its about match ups week to week. To say someone did good one week and stunk 20 weeks before so they are getting better just doesn't hold water...

Not comparing them to 2009 but they aren't getting our run game going. I just don't see them getting the job done enough to warrant not upgrading them this off season. We need to get bigger and badder up front for the running game and better protecting Brees.

Rugby Saint II

What did ya'll think of Harris? He seemed a little weak to me.

Budsdrinker

Played against New England's second team. Let's see what they do the next couple of weeks.