OL thoughts ?

Feb 23, 2020 7:22:22 GMT -6 bsbears said:

We can mostly agree we have an issue with the Oline and not much money to do much.  

Does anyone believe Massie or Leno could move to a new position on the Oline.  We are saddled with their Contracts for this year and a large cap hit if we move them.  

Daniels is still young and I hold hope he can settle in to either a Guard or Center position.  Same can be said about Whitehair as they seem to want him at Guard but he seems to end up at center resulting from issues.  I realize the Tackles are  average at best and could use an upgrade.  Would be nice if Massie could move inside to either Guard or Center and add a OT like Conklin potentially.  Just do not see it happening unless either Leno or Massie can move inside.   Still some risk as Daniels is somewhat an unknown but had a good rookie season at Guard and many still believe he is a Center.  Many college Tackles are moved to Guard in the NFL as they are to slow or poor feet.  Just wondering if anyone believes this may be viable.  Comments welcome

Last year during the season, I asked this board several times what the explanation was for the OL struggling like it did. (And it struggled everywhere--even Whitehair had a down year).

I pointed out that the OL didn't have obvious problems to explain the decline (big turnover, aging, major injuries, poor investment, etc). The OL returned 5 starters from 2018. 2 were pro-bowlers, 1 was a former pro-bowler, and 1 had been named to the all-rookie team. It included 2 2nd round picks, a 1st round pick, and a 3rd round pick who was a priority free agent signing.  Even with the Long injury/benching week 5, the OL's injury situation was no worse than league-average.  Lots of teams lose a starter on the OL -- it's not unusual at all.  Wasn't until late in the season when Massie got hurt that the unit's injury situation was more serious.  Even so, 3 of 5 starters played every game.

Bottom line was.....no one here had an answer to explain why an OL that wasn't old, wasn't talent-less, and wasn't hurt that bad was PLAYING so bad and why it was clearly so much worse than the season before.

The only thing I can come up with that was different was the Nagy 2.0 scheme/Helfrich.  So I am gonna ascribe the OL's struggles last year to coaching/scheme.  Sorry, but they may not be the best unit in the NFL but they simply aren't that bad.  I remember watching from the stands week 1 at Soldier Field and the OL was false starting, running into each other, and plain missing/not knowing their assignments play after play.

Simply put--it was a CF right from the top.

Having said all that, Leno and Massie aren't going anywhere because of their contracts.  The only starting position that's screaming for an upgrade is RG and there are FAs there who can help.  I hope Pace also drafts an OT Day2 cuz we need one in the pipeline.  Add in Alex Bars to the mix and se where it settles out in training camp.