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Upgrading the Backup Offensive Line

Sometimes you can excuse the poor play of your backups because they are developmental guys.  You expect them to improve over time.  That is the case with Doug Free.  We aren't expecting him to set the world on fire at LT.  We are expecting him to hit the weightroom hard and eat his Wheaties for the next year.  On the other hand, does anybody honestly expect Proctor, Holland, or McQuistan to improve significantly at this point in their careers?  Given that they are not developmental players, we can look to the waiver wire and unsigned free agents as replacements.  Here is Scout.com's list of top free agent O-linemen.  I think we should go get the 3 guys who will be an improvement over our underachieving three. 

Offensive Tackle
Levi Jones (LT) - Talented, long-time starter for the Bengals, but has suffered through various injuries over the past few years which have limited his play.
Mark Tauscher (RT) - May not be ready to play until after the regular season starts.
Jon Runyan (RT) - He still wants to play one to two years and should be ready to go by some time in August.
Jonas Jennings (LT/RT) - Oft-injured since he signed a big free-agent contract with the 49ers and probably is better off at right tackle because of his short arms.
Charles Spencer (LT/RT/G) - Very talented and versatile, but hasn't been the same after suffering a horrific leg/knee injury during his rookie season with the Texans. Recently signed with the UFL.
Kwame Harris (LT) - Marginal starter, but could be a solid backup for a team in need of a LT.
Jason Fabini (RT/G) - Can play probably at least three spots on the offensive line. Serviceable backup at this point in his career.
Wayne Gandy (LT) - Last word we had was that he still wanted to play.
Junius Coston (RT) - Fits in as a fourth tackle.
Rob Petitti (RT) - He was recently selected in the UFL draft.
Fred Miller (RT) - 36-year old tackle who probably will retire.
Kevin Sampson (RT) - Started his career off with the Kansas City Chiefs and has bounced around of late.


Guard

Kendall Simmons - 30-year old interior lineman who started 80 games in seven years for the Steelers. Could find a starting job if a team loses a guard during training camp.
Pete Kendall - He turns 36 early next month, but probably still has two good years left in him.
Terrence Metcalf - Had started 25 games in seven years with the Chicago Bears.
Edwin Mulitalo - Oft-injured interior lineman who could be a pretty solid backup at this point of his career.
Chris Naeole - Turns 35 at the end of the regular season and probably will retire.
Scott Peters - Basically a fourth guard.
Barry Stokes (RT/LT) - The 35-year old journeyman lineman has spent time with 10 teams in his career, but could find a new home before the regular season starts because of his versatility.
Lennie Friedman (C) - Basically a fourth interior lineman.

Center

Jason Whittle (G) - The 33-year old lineman is capable of playing four positions on the offensive line.
Steve McKinney (G) - He's pretty much at the end of the line, but could have one more season left. His versatility could get him a job.
Matt Lehr (G) - Versatile veteran backup.

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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The good thing about these guys is they could probably be ready with a week or 2 of practice.

Are these guys better than Proctor and McQ at this stage of their career.
Proctor was last years whipping boy having taken over Roy Williams1 spot. They say he graded out well run blocking but lacked the ability to anchor on a bull rush.
McQ was my pet cat for years so Im protective of him, take what I say about him with a grain of salt. He has never had a chance to start. He played in the Philly game at guard last year and I thought he did well with what little I saw. I couldnt watch the whole game and absolutely couldnt go back and watch the rerun to grade him out. He was suppose to get an honest shot at guard this year but Brewster went down a week before camp.

I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson

by squidlo97 on Aug 16, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions  

I'm sorry but

Free is already the answer at left tackle. Just my opinion.

by Musiccitynorm on Aug 16, 2009 8:02 PM CDT reply actions  

There's a reason these guys don't have roster spots...

…and to panic and grab one off the scrap heap when you’re already a preseason game deep… not happening (unless your backups are really THAT bad).

Bye, Big Stew and JJ :(

by JimmyK on Aug 17, 2009 7:34 AM CDT reply actions  

While I agree that our backups are not very good

I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing in a OL in his mid to late 30’s. Then we’d be in the same position next year or the following year. We need youth at the OL, not more age. I wouldn’t be opposed to bringing in a older vet that can play any of the interior line spots or multiple spots, but getting rid of all of the youth for older, worn-down vets does not seem like the answer. I think we’re stuck until we can hopefully hit on a 1st round tackle in next years draft. I see them taking at least 2, maybe 3 or 4 OL in next years draft.

"So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?"- Marion "Barbarian" Barber

by DC_fan on Aug 17, 2009 9:03 AM CDT reply actions  

Holland, Proctor, and McQ do not represent Youth and Potential

They are not building blocks. They will be gone in the next year or 2 when/if we find competent guys. Since they’ve been around a while, we know what their “potential” is. I think they have reached the point where we need to see who can help up more this year.

Free is a different story. It sounds like he is doing well. But even if he were horrible, I could see the case for keeping him around because you don’t want to cut a potential starting LT. None of the other 3 have that sort of potential.

by JimmyJohnson on Aug 17, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions  

DC -fan is right

this team is on a youth movement, you have to devolope from within.

by Musiccitynorm on Aug 17, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions  

National Perception to Win the East is NYG or Philly

Barring injury to our O-line, omitting Dallas from the conversation completely is an absolute joke. However, if someone goes down, I’ll be the first to say they are right.

This perhaps goes toward depth. NYG O-line has played injury free for the past couple years, they have no proven backups. Philly has good depth, but it seems that their starters and backups are dinged in some capacity.

As far as I’m concerned, predicting a winner now, as the pundits are expected to do, requires that they are not much more than predictors of injury.

by grey9er on Aug 17, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

Phillies line? HaHa

Andrews is probalby going to have surgery again on his back, and the Eagles fans are sweating bullets now that they have seen Peters actually attempt to pass block. I stress “attempt”.

Even Matt Mossley who visited eagles camp wrote an article about how dissappointed he was with the Eagles line.

Do the Eagles remind you of the Cowboys last year? Vick=Owens in terms of distractions, the me first that is coming off that team and the overrated line with injuries. Plus the loss of key players and coaches. They look just like last years Cowboys to me.

by Musiccitynorm on Aug 18, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions  

Good point Norm. It seems to be shaping up that way.

I dont want to think those things because Reid does a good job of circling the wagons. I also dont want our team to lose their edge against them. They are a wounded animal.

I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson

by squidlo97 on Aug 18, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions  

Eagle window is closing fast

On offense, they are McInjury and Westbroke. Both of them are locks to miss time during the year.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Aug 18, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

Terry, you are better than Procter

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Aug 17, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

I agree,

but do you get the feeling the second Proctor is gone he becomes a starter?

by Musiccitynorm on Aug 18, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

Procter's value was also being backup center

After watching him, I no longer see that value.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Aug 18, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

hmmm

Was i the only one one who saw Procter get handle and mual playing the Raiders. Hey we need a back up thats all a solid back up. We cant let what happen last year come around this year.

 I saw the Raider game two times already the second team line really stunk it up. How many times did kitna get sack? I counted 2 on the Raiders 2nd defense..

Im okay with Holland but we need another Guard or Tackle who could come in and hold their own with the starters. One of these guys could do it and add depth to our line for this season. We can easily wrap one of these guys with a one year or a two year contract with hardly much to offer.

It was already obvious to me someone was about to go because they bought in Brewster. Who i dunno but we need production and security within our O-line right now.

by lostar2009 on Aug 18, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions  

Read my play by play on Free

I want to see him against Tennessee because that line is deep and talented. I look forward to watching Free against them.

by Musiccitynorm on Aug 19, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions  

To all that think about suggesting Kwame Harris...

he sucks.

The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys

by Aaron Novinger on Aug 17, 2009 10:21 PM CDT reply actions  

49er O-Line was awful and he was let go

That tells you all you need to know.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Aug 18, 2009 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

You have to find guys who come from a similar system

For instance, you wouldn’t take a guy who has been a successful zone blocker and insert him into Hud’s group. It just wouldn’t fit.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Aug 17, 2009 10:52 PM CDT reply actions  

well

 Holland came in from the Broncos, i thought they imploy some type of zone blocking system when Shanhan was there. He seem okay as a back up and if needed a starter.

I was under the impression there are centers, tackles, and guards that all there is to linemen. You can either block or u cant.

by lostar2009 on Aug 18, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions  

He was allowed to leave because he was a terrible fit in the zone blcking scheme

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Aug 18, 2009 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

There is a guy named Gibbons?

They said on the radio that he was practicing at center, said he might make the team and take Proctors spot.He also plays guard and tackle. If he learns the center position they think he will make the game day roster but it would force the cowboys to cut some one, probably Proctor.

by Musiccitynorm on Aug 19, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions  

Lehr Sucks

Wasn’t he a steroid user?

by Iowacowboy on Aug 18, 2009 9:25 PM CDT reply actions  

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