Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition

06-29-2017, 02:18 PM

Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition

Max Unger expects to return during the preseason, and Terron Armstead will be back eventually. But the Saints will be fine in the meantime.

by John Sigler Jun 29, 2017, 1:01pm CDT

LENDALE, AZ - New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat (75) buries an Arizona Cardinals defender as Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries the ball at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been the worst June in memory for many New Orleans Saints fans: linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was held out of minicamp practices with a foot injury, center Max Unger was sidelined after undergoing surgery, left tackle Terron Armstead tore a labrum in his shoulder during a freak accident in practice, and defensive tackle Nick Fairley is taking a year off from football after a lifelong heart condition worsened.

The issues with Unger and Armstead have drawn most fans’ ire. Two starters on the offensive line being out for at least the rest of the summer is a huge concern, but it’s almost a familiar situation for the Saints. Per the Advocate’s Nick Underhill, Armstead played just 34.5-percent of snaps last year. His lack of availability goes back throughout his career: Armstead has seen 85-percent or more of snaps in 34 of 52 possible games since entering the starting lineup.

That’s the flip side to being an elite athlete. Armstead effectively topped out at 17.4-miles-per-hour at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. That’s insane athleticism for a 304-pound person, and it’s helped him play like a top-five left tackle. But that has a cost: the body is not built to move 300-plus pounds at 17-plus miles-per-hour. The sheer kinetic energy that expends does damage to the muscles, tendons, and bones that hold us together.

If Armstead is going to continue playing at that weight, he’ll probably continue to have sporadic injuries throughout his career. But he is just 26-years old, and the Saints would carry $16.8-million against the 2018 salary cap if they cut him. Waiting to let him recover from this and maybe develop a unique training program for his body would be worth it.

But that’s enough about Armstead. The Saints have built their offensive line to withstand a couple of injuries.

More here ...

hagan714 and dam1953 like this.

AsylumGuido · 06-29-2017, 02:20 PM

Another good read here.

Cruize · 06-29-2017, 06:03 PM

A couple of injuries? You can't lose your highly paid LT and C and not miss a beat. Yes, Ramczyk can step in and play well. But, he's a rookie coming off an injury in college. Yes, Peat can slide out and Turner can step up at G. Yes, one of the long list of career backups and journeymen guys can step up at C. But, for all of that to go right, for the Saints, lol, with no one else getting injured, would truly be magical for sure.

The Dude · 06-29-2017, 06:23 PM

This happens every year. The most important position to have consistency is along the offensive line. It can take some guys years of playing side by side before they start to really gel. Most teams get into big trouble when a couple starters go down. When is the last time we had the same guys on the line consistently? Charmicael days?
We have had at least one or two new guys,different guys, come in at the last minute to fill a void and we have been fine.
It's really quite amazing.

AsylumGuido · 06-29-2017, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cruize

A couple of injuries? You can't lose your highly paid LT and C and not miss a beat. Yes, Ramczyk can step in and play well. But, he's a rookie coming off an injury in college. Yes, Peat can slide out and Turner can step up at G. Yes, one of the long list of career backups and journeymen guys can step up at C. But, for all of that to go right, for the Saints, lol, with no one else getting injured, would truly be magical for sure.

Unger isn't going to miss time. The only offensive lineman out is Armstead who missed six games last year and was playing hurt in the rest. We'll be better off not having to shift Peat back and forth from LG to LT with a filler at LG.

AsylumGuido · 06-29-2017, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by The Dude

This happens every year. The most important position to have consistency is along the offensive line. It can take some guys years of playing side by side before they start to really gel. Most teams get into big trouble when a couple starters go down. When is the last time we had the same guys on the line consistently? Charmicael days?
We have had at least one or two new guys,different guys, come in at the last minute to fill a void and we have been fine.
It's really quite amazing.

Exactly. With Armstead out we'll have a stable line. It isn't an issue at all. There was a big fuss about it last preseason. Doom and gloom with the O-line. But, what happened? One of the very top rated units in the league once again.

Chill with the doomsday scenario without having a clue.

06-29-2017, 02:18 PM	#1
Threaded by AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,220 Rating: (0 votes - average) Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition Max Unger expects to return during the preseason, and Terron Armstead will be back eventually. But the Saints will be fine in the meantime. by John Sigler Jun 29, 2017, 1:01pm CDT LENDALE, AZ - New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat (75) buries an Arizona Cardinals defender as Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries the ball at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports It’s been the worst June in memory for many New Orleans Saints fans: linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was held out of minicamp practices with a foot injury, center Max Unger was sidelined after undergoing surgery, left tackle Terron Armstead tore a labrum in his shoulder during a freak accident in practice, and defensive tackle Nick Fairley is taking a year off from football after a lifelong heart condition worsened. The issues with Unger and Armstead have drawn most fans’ ire. Two starters on the offensive line being out for at least the rest of the summer is a huge concern, but it’s almost a familiar situation for the Saints. Per the Advocate’s Nick Underhill, Armstead played just 34.5-percent of snaps last year. His lack of availability goes back throughout his career: Armstead has seen 85-percent or more of snaps in 34 of 52 possible games since entering the starting lineup. Twitter That’s the flip side to being an elite athlete. Armstead effectively topped out at 17.4-miles-per-hour at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. That’s insane athleticism for a 304-pound person, and it’s helped him play like a top-five left tackle. But that has a cost: the body is not built to move 300-plus pounds at 17-plus miles-per-hour. The sheer kinetic energy that expends does damage to the muscles, tendons, and bones that hold us together. If Armstead is going to continue playing at that weight, he’ll probably continue to have sporadic injuries throughout his career. But he is just 26-years old, and the Saints would carry $16.8-million against the 2018 salary cap if they cut him. Waiting to let him recover from this and maybe develop a unique training program for his body would be worth it. But that’s enough about Armstead. The Saints have built their offensive line to withstand a couple of injuries. More here ... hagan714 and dam1953 like this.
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06-29-2017, 02:20 PM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,220	Re: Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition Another good read here.

06-29-2017, 06:03 PM	#3
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition A couple of injuries? You can't lose your highly paid LT and C and not miss a beat. Yes, Ramczyk can step in and play well. But, he's a rookie coming off an injury in college. Yes, Peat can slide out and Turner can step up at G. Yes, one of the long list of career backups and journeymen guys can step up at C. But, for all of that to go right, for the Saints, lol, with no one else getting injured, would truly be magical for sure.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

06-29-2017, 06:23 PM	#4
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,048	Re: Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition This happens every year. The most important position to have consistency is along the offensive line. It can take some guys years of playing side by side before they start to really gel. Most teams get into big trouble when a couple starters go down. When is the last time we had the same guys on the line consistently? Charmicael days? We have had at least one or two new guys,different guys, come in at the last minute to fill a void and we have been fine. It's really quite amazing. AsylumGuido and Seer1 like this.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,048

06-29-2017, 06:33 PM	#5
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,220	Re: Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition Originally Posted by Cruize A couple of injuries? You can't lose your highly paid LT and C and not miss a beat. Yes, Ramczyk can step in and play well. But, he's a rookie coming off an injury in college. Yes, Peat can slide out and Turner can step up at G. Yes, one of the long list of career backups and journeymen guys can step up at C. But, for all of that to go right, for the Saints, lol, with no one else getting injured, would truly be magical for sure. Unger isn't going to miss time. The only offensive lineman out is Armstead who missed six games last year and was playing hurt in the rest. We'll be better off not having to shift Peat back and forth from LG to LT with a filler at LG.

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06-29-2017, 06:36 PM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,220	Re: Despite injuries, Saints offensive line built to run over competition Originally Posted by The Dude This happens every year. The most important position to have consistency is along the offensive line. It can take some guys years of playing side by side before they start to really gel. Most teams get into big trouble when a couple starters go down. When is the last time we had the same guys on the line consistently? Charmicael days? We have had at least one or two new guys,different guys, come in at the last minute to fill a void and we have been fine. It's really quite amazing. Exactly. With Armstead out we'll have a stable line. It isn't an issue at all. There was a big fuss about it last preseason. Doom and gloom with the O-line. But, what happened? One of the very top rated units in the league once again. Chill with the doomsday scenario without having a clue.

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