CoachO & others on the OL

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  • September 9, 2015 at 10:39 pm #30153
    Avatar photozn
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    from off the net…ps, I happen to know for a fact that CoachO knows a little bit more about the Rams thinking on these things than the average joe…

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    CoachO

    CENTER

    The wait had nothing to do with them deciding. It’s typical Fisher MO trying to gain a competitive edge by forcing Seattle to gameplan for both options.

    They informed the players LAST WEEK. So it wasn’t in doubt. If you pay close attention, and read between the lines when either Jim Thomas or Wagoner “reported” on this since last week, they both said it without saying it.

    I’ve known since Friday that Barnes was told the job was “officially” his. And “unofficially” right after the Colts game.

    go back and watch the games again. Only this time, instead of focussing on the individual players at the center position, compare the overall performance of the UNIT when each is playing with the “ones”. It really is noticeable.

    And also, if you were to objectively watch the individuals, notice how often Rhaney is just flat physically overmatched. There are more times than not he ends up getting stood up and forced backwards. When he isn’t doing that he most likely is cut blocking someone. Ever think that might be because he isn’t physically strong enough to take on the guy straight up?

    Barnes isn’t perfect. I have never claimed that he is. But this has been his job to LOSE all along. And that didn’t happen.

    GUARD

    [In terms of switching Saffold & Brown] … there’s a lot of validity to it. And it’s not something that they “just decided” to do. Most of the issue had little to do with Brown and more to do with Robinson. More specifically keeping Saffold at LG thru the walk throughs as long as possible for Robinson’s benefit.

    I think they have realized for a while that Saffold was better on the right side. But someone (veteran) needed to hand hold their prize LT making sure he knew what he was supposed to do from one play to the next.

    MORE STUFF

    I can’t say as I expected Jones to be released. I do think they REALLY like Wichmann at G. Which ultimately ended up costing Jones his job.

    Had they felt comfortable with getting Wichmann to the PS I think they could have made a case for keeping all 3 centers with Barnes and Rhaney having the dual position flexibility. But they are committed to the young guys. And simply ran out of numbers.

    Williams was inserted as the #2 LT from the outset of training camp and never missed a beat. So him making it didn’t surprise me.

    And I give them credit for not caving and choosing to keep Battle over Williams.

    September 10, 2015 at 5:45 pm #30197
    Avatar photozn
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    from off the net.

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    GabesHorn

    It was Barnes’s job to lose for those who don’t know that inside info Coach let me in on many months ago. I KNOW he is gonna continue his film study and proper weight training all year round and eating right too. I’m excited for the guy. I think he has not reached his ceiling at 27 with only 4 games played and may be another late bloomer like Warner was.

    Tim is still a work in progress. Roger Saffolds comments on Tims hard work in the weightroom and elsewhere are to credit his improvement. I’m so glad to hear about how even last year when Tim had his neck,ribs and one other ailment he was still getting his legs ready for a future shot at leading this team. He is doing now what he was unable to do last season with 3 injuries and he is totally healthy and has busted his ass to everyones awareness ,so its paid off for him. HARD ASS WORK on lower body (something Jones & Rhaney still lack). A person watching at practice or at game is’nt gonna be able to see those gains with the eye except we will notice that Barnes will be able to hold his ground much better as one real big addition.

    I feel very good with Brown,Saffold,Reynolds and Wichmann on either side of Tim Barnes as he sets our OL and reads the “D” pre-snap . That communication is key.

    Tim’s came from very hard work and so glad he earned it. Now how much time it takes for this group to gel is another story. Staying healthy across the line is a rare occurance in the NFL. Its definately our year to escape the carnage after many,many years of insane injuries.

    Barnes was’nt getting steamrolled as both Jones and Rhaney were. Have no clue what some people were watching. I was an OL for 8 years and I saw some good from Jones when he played against 2-3’s . Love the guy but just hate it for his limitations from surgeries. Barnes lower body strength was KEY in this decision. Hope he even gets stronger and gets stronger upstairs too. He is bigger than Mebane and I’m not worried about the middle rush they will try with Wagner. Hope Saffold has one game he does’nt leave the field nicked. NO INJURIES!!!

    What kept B. Jones from putting in extra weightroom work? Probably pain limitation from back and previous serious foot injuries and surgeries (loved the guy) just too soft for the pro’s right now and yet the desperate steelers may still give him a shot to start. We did’nt sign Wisneiski when we had him in and he signed a 1 year prove it deal with Jags and is thier starter for game one recovering from double shoulder surgery. We cut Mr. Person who many thot less of than Barnes and he’s starting for Falcons game. Shegals had a center competition this offseason too. They had a rotation system too. Steelers lost their starter and brought in two UDFA centers Dismukes and Finney and cut them both in final cuts and picked up B. Jones after we let him go. Both the Steelers and Dolphins have a Pouncey brother starting as center. The steelers’ is on IR now with 13 other players.

    I’ll take Tim Barnes and his story and I know he is still on his way up. He studies film like a center should and reads pre=snap reads that only Coach Paul is privy to.

    I predict Brown and Wichmann as next years scary good starting OG’s unless G. Rob. proves he must be moved inside after a year trying OLT. I think he finally gets it and with more fire under his ass from coaches, fellow teammates and lots of film study he had’nt been doing. Plus Our UDFA is coming very fast behind his ass now. Thats not even considering what Battle can be if he gets his head right and starts to bust ass in weightroom. He has size but you can’t get away with counting on just that in the Pro’s. Who knows if Andrew Donnal with weightroom can challenge Havenstein. This shotgun drafting OL approach may actually pay off

    September 10, 2015 at 5:50 pm #30198
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    This thread is a goldmine of insight IMO.

    September 10, 2015 at 6:03 pm #30200
    Avatar photowv
    Participant

    Well lots of different views on the Oline in general.
    Those two guys sound fairly optimistic.
    Then ya got Laram who said he sees no real outstanding ‘strength’ anywhere
    on the Oline. (If i remember right)

    Its all purty Exciting.

    The Offense and Oline in particular
    is kindof a mystery wrapped in an eggroll
    inside a toaster oven.

    w
    v

    September 10, 2015 at 11:49 pm #30213
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    wv wrote:

    Well lots of different views on the Oline in general.
    Those two guys sound fairly optimistic.

    I like the optimism, but notice it’s not total. They don’t say the entire OL as put together now will excel anytime soon or anything like that. So for example they don’t comment on Havenstein or Robinson, or how well Barnes will do (though they think he will be at least okay). You get the sense they like the longterm prospects, but these posters are not promising early greatness, by any means.

    I posted them not because of their optimism, though, but because of their insight. There’s just stuff there no one else has said or noticed.

    1. the unit has a whole looked better with Barnes starting, which means at least a little something anyway.

    2. Saffold was always the ROG. He was at LOG through OTAs to be a kind of veteran resource on the field for Robinson.

    3. The coaches like Wichman so much they didn’t want to risk losing him, which means that in essence it is keeping Wichman that cost them Jones. They had to choose between those 2.

    4. Williams actually earned that spot and it was obvious (and I think it’s obvious that defies expectations). I want to add here (they didn’t say this I am) that that is such a coup. (Potentially) finding 2 left OT prospects in one year? Wow. Never seen it before. If both Battle and Wms come through next year, that’s just crazy depth. I promise you no one can name the last time the Rams were 3 deep at LOT (again that’s assuming all 3, including Robinson, come through, but that’s a real possibility).

    5. A lot of people are down on Barnes because they remember how Mebane played him tough in 2013. But here, we learn that Barnes dedicated himself to a lot of film study and weight work over the last couple of years, in spite of his various injuries in 2014. Saying that’s not the same as claiming he will be a top center, but it DOES say he worked on the one real key weakness Rams fans know about (stemming from the losing battle with Mebane in 2013). The poster (who played OL) claims that watching Barnes this summer, you could tell the difference that working on lower body strength made in his play. Again that’s not a guarantee of anything, but it is worth noting.

    6. Interestingly, the Rams CUT centers others noticed. There’s a web narrative out there that says Barnes was just the best of a bad lot. Well, the Rams didn’t re-sign a guy (Person) who is now the starting center in Atlanta. Jones was immediately picked up when he was cut. If as they say Barnes was the lead to start all along, then, he didn’t just measure up against Rhaney and Jones, they didn’t keep a guy who got signed away and then became a starter. That implies a lot of team confidence in Barnes. More than you would expect given the dominant narrative out there.

    7. If these reports are right (and there’s reason to think they are…CoachO hears reliable stuff and GH gets his “inside” stuff from CoachO) then the Rams really scored at guard. Rhaney has promise as an inside swingman, Brown we know has promise (and btw he’s the 5th rated guard according to PFF pre-season grades, tied interestingly enough with L’al Collins), but what we didn’t know is that they are really high on Wichman too.

    If true, and it’s at least plausible, that’s an amazing amount of positive OL scoring in one draft year. They got 2 LOT candidates and 2 guards they’re high on. You know, teams just don’t do that.

    .

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