Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Saints' Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles, plus more First-and-10 tidbits

Zach Strief detractors, you're not going to like this.

The New Orleans Saints right tackle is, once again, having one of the better seasons of his career through the first five games of his 11th season. He might not be the fleetest of foot, and he knows it. But he more than gets the job done.

Strief ranks as the seventh-best tackle in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Not seventh-best right tackle, but seventh-best overall tackle. The Browns' Joe Thomas and the Cowboys' Tyron Smith rank directly behind him.


http://blackandgold.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=7

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Credit where it's due. I don't think I've been that outspoken against him, but every year seems I'm waiting on the years and miles to show. Dude is a pro.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I always see things like this and it catches me off guard, because I tend to complain about Strief a bunch. I feel like every time I see Brees get lit up, its from the guy Strief was suppose to block.

Maybe its just that Brees always expects Strief has his guy blocked, so whenever the rusher gets by, Brees isn't expecting it as much.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

thought strief played well until last season. last season he didnt look good, but this season he seems to be doing a good job.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I've always been a fan, Congrats Zach!!!!

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I will continue to laugh at PFF. The most absurd rating system known to man. They have zero credibility.

For the record, I have no "hatred" for Strief. He is what he is. I think he would be valuable as a backup, and he does his best. But he isn't close to being the seventh best tackle in the league. Every year one of these articles comes out, despite the fact that every year Drew is running for his life, largely from that side of the field.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Which rating sites do think are better?

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I've been waiting on this post since the offseason.
All of the gnashing of teeth, and predictions that Drew would be on IR by the 2nd qtr of the opening game because we didn't cut Streif and set his house on fire seems to have been just a little over the top.

To quote the great Jesus Quintana: "Laughable, Man."

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Exactly! The negative crew all had Brees crippled by the worst offensive line in NFL history by the fourth game. Shows you how full of crap they really are, right?

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

7th seems awfully high. Credit where its due, but I think Drew's pocket mobility really makes the O-line look better than it is. Stiref may not give up a lot of sacks/pressure according to PFF but it seems when Drew gets those punishing hits its from Striefs side.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

well first of all I think every single fan had a right to be concerned about the offensive line heading into this season, they were abysmal in preseason and weren't too great last year either. Had it not been for resigning Jhari, not something we wanted to do, and Peat moving to the left and looking very good, I have no doubt the oline would have been a disaster this season. We got fortunate those two things have paid off the way they did. That and brees doesn't hold the ball long.

Let's be careful throwing stones.

Nice to see your back Asylum, seems like you went MIA as soon as the team dropped their third loss. Us real fans were still here.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

No, spkb, you are WAY off base there. I stopped posting regularly because of the idiots that took over every thread with their doomsday candor. I was here every day just as I have been for years and years.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I haven't had many complaints of him this year. I'm definitely a detractor of Strief. I still don't trust him at RT. Idk how PFF does these rankings, but like I said, I haven't had much to say about him this year. No news is good news I suppose.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I don't pay attention to any of them. PFF is constantly posted on here. Perhaps there are others just as dumb, but I haven't heard of any. I have watched this guy with my own eyes for years just like everyone else. The play on the field never matches what PFF says.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

First thing I noticed from Game One was the improvement on the O-Line.
Brees spends much of the game upright, and no, its not just quick patterns.
Brandon Cooks would tell you otherwise.

Count me as one of the Doomsayers... I thought the Line looked horrific in
preseason, and I didnt expect Brees to be among the living at this point.
Im happy to be wrong.

Im a fan of Strief.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Strief gets exposed against 3-4 defenses with good OLBers (e.g. Ahmad Brooks, Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Nate Orchard) or against rare 4-3 DE (e.g. J.J. Watt); then again, most OTs struggle against those guys anyways...

Big Country is also very limited in space, slow/late on screen blocks; and it's ugly - like Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) bunting, running to 1st base in Major League bad...

But the guy keeps Brees clean, is solid in the power run game (yeah, when that's used); so for a seventh rounder, minimal cap compensation - Strief gets a thumbs way up...

As for his detractors, it's real simple, until someone can win the job away from him...

http://49.media.tumblr.com/201b9702e...g1hdo1_250.gif

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I am a huge Zach fan but speed does kill.

My number one concern about Zach is what will or better yet who will replace him. There is no one in the wings to back him up.

I push for a youth movement on the right side but in no way do I think Zach should be let go. He is a lunch and pail role model for any young pup. Plus having his swing skill set on a back up role for a few more years

peat needs to step up or we look else where

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

You stopped posting because we started 0-3. The rest of us stayed around and kept talking about saints ball.

Needless to say I'm not shocked that your back, and talking **** after we won 2 in a row...

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Sorry, but you are wrong. The Saints winning or losing has ZERO affect on my activity here. The negativity that was ruining every thread on the forum from a handful of members made me bite my tongue. I even PM'd Halo explaining my upcoming lack of posting. What is more telling is that once the Saints started winning that crap suddenly slowed WAY down. Some members seems to thrive on Saints losing, but have little to add when they are winning. I have been here reading the forum every day, just as I have for many years. I simply refused to address the loser attitude.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

I actually hope they keep Peat at LG and don't shuffle him no more. Then that side should be set for a while. Draft another young RT instead.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Not many OT in the draft will transition to the pro level as LT IMO. I see a lot of them moving to OG really.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Turner reminds me of him. Big guy. Not athletic. But, gets the jobs done. If he got a start at guard, Lelito or Kelemente would not see the field again.

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Peat has played very well at Left Tackle...probably part of his problem adjusting to the NFL is not only the complexities of the NFL game but having to adjust to the game at what has been different positions every few weeks for him...

If Armstead continues to have health issues, Peat may very well have to stay at Left Tackle and let Armstead move to the Right Tackle - if he can win the position from Zach Strief who's been stubborn about giving up his position...

Re: Zach Strief ranks among league's best tackles
 

Last season was bad, but this season has been better.

Still, the Saints have to get better and younger at that position as well.