Romeo Crennel's interesting comments on Big Ben
I thought Browns coach Romeo Crennel's had some very interesting comments (from the owners meeting in Fla.) about this past seasons series with the Steelers, a series btw that has seen our Steelers win 9 in a row (6 consecutive losses under Crennel) and an amazing 15 of the last 16 meetings (sorry bereadawg...just the facts man)...
"The second game against Pittsburgh the last two years, we've been ahead in those games with a good chance to win. We just didn't get it done. Their quarterback made plays for them and he won the game for them basically. So, hopefully we can neutralize him a little bit with some of the guys we added to the team and be able to get over the hump."
Of course, "some of the guys...", is a direct reference to the two DT's they signed as free agents.
This is why I believe we must come away with not one but TWO good, young, talented offensive lineman in this draft...we need more talent, more youth, more beef, and more depth. We need to have good young O-lineman ready to step in when injuries hit, when players leave via FA, to push veterans for playing time, and most importantly have very little drop, if any, of the quality of play along O-line when this stuff happens.
Any thoughts guys...do you still think we have the luxury of taking a WR or RB if someone we like is available, or waiting until the 2nd or even 3rd round to take an O-lineman. Again, I think we need two O-lineman ( round 1 and round 3 or 4 maybe)...
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Well
However, I am not so inflexible to not recognize that some situations require fidelity to the first option. But quite frankly, Steelers fans have a tendency to panic at rather minor provocations. You'd think we had lost nine times in a row to someone. Don't get me wrong, O-line needs improvement. I don't know of anyone, least of all Tomlin, who doesn't think so. The more intriguing question with, perhaps, not so much of pat answer is how do we do that? The correct answer, I think, is that you attack the problem at a number of different levels.
So, yes, you try to draft some college hotshot lineman. But remember, this is the silly season of player evaluation. In very few instances can we say with absolute certainty that someone will make it big in the NFL. For instance, I drafted Adrian Peterson for my fantasy football team fairly deep in the draft because no one was convinced he would amount to much. He'll be a first rounder this year don't you think? We had a good draft last year imo but none of them were difference makers in their first season. So you make a smart free agent addition that compensates for some the experience we lost and shores up what I thought was the weak link last year. Some people get healthy (Smith), others have an additude adjustment (Starks). You remind your quarterback and your OC that six seconds is not a reasonable time frame to expect quality line protection. You do a number of things to improve the line play. But again, in answer to your question, a rb who is a quality blocker and good receiver or a wr who stresses the defense to the point that they can't effectively cover. Yeah that helps get the job done too.
by RickVa on Apr 5, 2008 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I understand RickVa
1. IMO, the OL is the most important foundation of a team (followed by DL). No team wins a championship or wins consistently with an average O-line.
2. If everything went our way on the OL for 2008, no major injuries, everybody plays well, they develop as a unit etc, I actually think we have enough players and versatility to be a good line, maybe a very good line. But in the real world stuff happens(injuries, FA leaving) and you'd better be prepared for it with good, young talent.
3. There is no panic here...no over reaction to what other teams are doing...just objectivity...look at our schedule: Pats, Jags, Giants, Chargers, Titans, Ravens all teams with big, tough, d-lines...we better be able to match them or forget it.
4. In 2006, we grabed 2 WR's(Holmes 1st, Reid 3rd). In 2007, we grabbed 2 LB's (Timmons 1st, Woodley 2nd)...I feel 2008 is the year to use 2 high draft picks on the O-line. If we only draft 1 and we swing and miss or he gets hurt etc, 2009 draft we'll be in the same OL situation.
5. I love the skill positions RB's (I played RB in college many moons ago) and WR's...and of course all pieces of an offense (and defense)have to work together cohesively to function well and all share a portion of the blame when things breakdown (ie Ben holding onto the ball too long)...but I just place a higher priority on the O-lineman.
6. Football is won in the trenches, Mano v. Mano..that is a truism that will never change...if you lose that battle and lose consistently, it doesn't matter how good your RB's or WR's are.
thats why we need 2 good, young O-lineman in the 2008 draft...of course this is all just my opinion and we will what the Steelers are thinking...after all they are the ones who actually get paid for this stuff...
by SteelerMike on Apr 5, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think I disagree
by RickVa on Apr 5, 2008 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Some great points Rick
A) A simple domino can have farther-reaching affect than just itself. If Hartwig is a big improvement at center, the whole line gets better from the inside out.
B) Guys step up. No player remains static. You are either getting better or getting worse. If the guys we have are working harder than ever before with Tomlin-instigated motivation, this could be a huge difference.
C) Players get out of funk. Perhaps Max Starks will be this year's Ike Taylor of 2006. Get back JoJo. Get back to where you once belong.
D) Players get coached up. These coaches work all year long on their one position. They insert new strategies and techniques based upon their personnel. They huddle with Tomlin. They make adjustments.
There's a saying that things are never as bad as you think or as good as you think. Maybe our offensive line, with a little of each above, can be much better this year.
If Tomlin gets that feel, we may see a wide receiver or defensive lineman. If not, an O-lineman will not make any of us perplexed.
by maryrose on Apr 5, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It will be interesting
Once the draft unfolds, they will see exactly who is available in each round and compare players, and their relative worth.
Yes, RickVa, I agree some of our backups maybe ready for a break out year...from what I read LT-Capizzi is someone they really like...that would be great to have a young, talented LT in case M. Smith's back gives out in week seven of the season. I also really like Kemo...I think he is going to be just fine in his first year as a starter (assuming he wins the job) and then really blossom into a special O-lineman.
And I do believe, as Maryrose points out, that our O-line (as is, with no draft picks) has some good players that can be "coached up"...with no major setbacks and everybody playing up to their potential I like the possibilites on our OL.
Specifically, I would love for us to get G/T Brandon Albert-Virginia but he will be gone by #23. I think we then go with T-G.Cherilus-BC with #23...now if he is gone and all the other top rated OL are gone, then we will be forced to pick top rated DL/CB/WR or trade down (which would be fine with me if we got a good deal).
Also RickVa, yes the goal is to win now, this year, and it would be great if draft picks (especially high ones)could all come in immediately and contribute...but that doesn't happen all that often. For instance, last year Timmons and Woodley, our #1 and #2 picks, contributed very little (I know Woodley was productive toward the end ) during their rookie season...but this year, year two, both seemed primed and ready to start and have big years (which I think they will). So, I understand the thinking is who can we pick that will get us over the hump now but due to FO patching up holes I don't think we have that huge hole to fill.
Hopefully, our OL will play so well and solidy and lead us to a championship that our 2008 O-lineman picks (hopefully 2 high picks) can watch and learn...and be ready for a big year two, like Timmons and Woodley are going to do.
We shall see...it's fun to talk about it...all I know is we are two OL injuries away from having a starting left side of the OL be: LT-Essex, LG-Mahan...Yikes!!
BTW, can you tell I'm not tired...
by SteelerMike on Apr 6, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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