Jacksonville Jaguars Fan Forums

Quote:I thought Linder was pretty good at center. Maybe not great, but good. 

 

Regardless  -- if we're talking candidates at Center  -- we may as well include AJ Cann as a possibility as well. 

 

Remember Mayock's draft profile on him?

hmmm...

 

LT-Albert

LG-Robinson

C-Cann

RG Linder

RT Parnell

 

I could grow to like this line, especially if Cann can get more movement in the running game.

Quote:I guess my question is at this point, why wouldn't Marrone know who the best five are, considering he was the OL coach the past two seasons and we've had few OL added this offseason?

 

Is Marrone accounting for player development/decline?

 

Is he accounting for performance in a brand new scheme/new philosophies?

 

Was he somehow precluded from experimenting/making changes along the OL by Bradley?

 

Is he trying to cultivate a less comfortable/more competitive environment among the OL?

 

As it pertains to Linder specifically, did Marrone have a firm conviction that he was better at G? 

 

Does Marrone have a lesser opinion of someone like Cann, or perhaps a higher opinion of Bowanko?

 

Lots of questions, indeed.

 

I think the Linder at guard reps are about being ready for what curveballs may come via injury or Albert's status in September. More that than really trying to find a new center IMO. 

 

As far as Marrone knowing the best five, he doesn't have any real evaluation of Robinson or Albert at this point, PLUS there is a new O-Line coach in the mix. 

 

I have a feeling that Marrone and Flaherty have agreed on a process of evaluating these guys at  as many different spots as possible and attempting to be more prepared should we have another situation arise like the LG thing last season.  Trying different guys at center during non-contact work is good way to gauge how well they are absorbing the classroom stuff also. 

 

I'm still thinking our starting lineup in September is:

Albert / Robinson / Linder / Cann / Parnell

 

And folks are reading too much into Linder's reps in OTAs.  Just my gut feeling on it - nothing more. 

Quote:...

C-Cann

RG Linder

RT Parnell

 

I could grow to like this line, especially if Cann can get more movement in the running game.

 

It's not a crazy idea. Cann is around 315 right now and has more of that bottom-heavy anchor than Shatley or Bowanko. Could be an asset (pun intended) in the run game if he picks the playbook up well. 

I think Shatley 

Quote: 

“We can’t pigeon hole ourselves,” Marrone said early in OTAs. “It is not like we can sit here and say, ‘We know we are good enough to do this. Let’s just do it and go.’ We are not there yet, nor does anyone feel comfortable – whether it is coaches or players – being able to say, ‘This is our best five.’

 

“We want to make sure we are in position to put the best guys out there and just let them compete and let’s see who wins it. People come back and will say, ‘What about chemistry and continuity?’ Listen, would you rather have good chemistry and stink or would you rather have less chemistry and be better? We are just trying to be better and see what we can do there.”

 
 

 
 
Marrone on the topic:  ^

Quote:Linder has potential to be pro-bowl caliber at guard. At center he was average at best. Put him back where he belongs and find a different solution for center.


My 2 cents.

Does an "average" center garner All Pro votes?

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/01/07/full-2016-nfl-all-pro-voting/'>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/01/07/full-2016-nfl-all-pro-voting/</a>

Quote:hmmm...


LT-Albert

LG-Robinson

C-Cann

RG Linder

RT Parnell


I could grow to like this line, especially if Cann can get more movement in the running game.

I remember when we drafted Cann. My buddy, who is a FL fan, was surprised we got him in the 3rd. He kept saying how he stood out quite a bit in the Fla vs. SC game.


I always pulled for the guy. Hope he can find his grove in the NFL.

Quote:I would welcome having Linder back at Guard - he was very very good there.


But, if we were going to do that we should have brought in a veteran center through free agency or drafted one, because Bowanko or Shatley aren't the answer. We didn't do that.

 

 

Bowanko wasn't exactly horribad as a rookie. It wouldn't shock me learn he's taken back over. As for Shatley, I just don't see him starting. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up on the practice squad this season.

Linder is going to be a BEAST this season in any position! BOOK IT!

Quote:I think the Linder at guard reps are about being ready for what curveballs may come via injury or Albert's status in September. More that than really trying to find a new center IMO. 

 

As far as Marrone knowing the best five, he doesn't have any real evaluation of Robinson or Albert at this point, PLUS there is a new O-Line coach in the mix. 

 

I have a feeling that Marrone and Flaherty have agreed on a process of evaluating these guys at  as many different spots as possible and attempting to be more prepared should we have another situation arise like the LG thing last season.  Trying different guys at center during non-contact work is good way to gauge how well they are absorbing the classroom stuff also. 

 

I'm still thinking our starting lineup in September is:

Albert / Robinson / Linder / Cann / Parnell

 

And folks are reading too much into Linder's reps in OTAs.  Just my gut feeling on it - nothing more. 

Naturally he wouldn't have any real evaluation of Albert and Robinson.  He won't until Albert shows up and the pads are on.

 

But those two and the UDFA rookies notwithstanding, Marrone should already have a decent idea what these guys can do.

Quote:It's not a crazy idea. Cann is around 315 right now and has more of that bottom-heavy anchor than Shatley or Bowanko. Could be an asset (pun intended) in the run game if he picks the playbook up well. 

But to me, Cann's size has not translated into movement at the point of attack.

 

My first impressions of Cann as a Jaguar was that he was extremely stout at the point of attack in pass protection, but got little to no movement in run/drive blocking.

 

Those impressions haven't changed, and may be magnified going up against stud NTs.

Quote:I remember when we drafted Cann. My buddy, who is a FL fan, was surprised we got him in the 3rd. He kept saying how he stood out quite a bit in the Fla vs. SC game.


I always pulled for the guy. Hope he can find his grove in the NFL.

I hope so too.

 

Maybe C is his niche.  He's certainly smart enough to do it.

Quote:Does an "average" center garner All Pro votes?

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/01/07/full-2016-nfl-all-pro-voting/'>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/01/07/full-2016-nfl-all-pro-voting/</a>

Duly noted, but my point remains.  He was a better guard than center.

Quote:Duly noted, but my point remains.  He was a better guard than center.

 

Agree.  Some act as if the world will end if he moves from center.

 

Again... he only moved there because of need, not because it was where he was best on the interior.

 

Bowanko was not bad when healthy.

 

I don't understand the flawed judgement sometimes.  For years many wanted to oust Meester, and now that he's gone most should realize just how valuable he was to this team, and how good a player he truly was.

Presuming Bowanko is getting reps at Center, the OL probably looks something like this right now...


 

LT Cam Robinson


LG  AJ Cann


C Luke Bowanko


RG Brandon Linder


RT Jermey Parnell


 

Keeping in mind that Omameh and Watford are itching and ready to play inside, what happens when we add Albert to this mix?

Quote: 

I don't understand the flawed judgement sometimes.  For years many wanted to oust Meester, and now that he's gone most should realize just how valuable he was to this team, and how good a player he truly was.

I was not a huge Meester fan when he was a rookie.

 

As you may recall, he was a G as a rookie.  I don't think he performed well at all there.

 

But when he was finally moved to C, he flourished and wound up being the best C in Jaguars history.

Quote:Presuming Bowanko is getting reps at Center, the OL probably looks something like this right now...


 

LT Cam Robinson


LG  AJ Cann


C Luke Bowanko


RG Brandon Linder


RT Jermey Parnell


 

Keeping in mind that Omameh and Watford are itching and ready to play inside, what happens when we add Albert to this mix?

You are probably right in regards to the current starting lineup.

 

But there are miles to go before Sept 10.

Quote:I was not a huge Meester fan when he was a rookie.

 

As you may recall, he was a G as a rookie.  I don't think he performed well at all there.

 

But when he was finally moved to C, he flourished and wound up being the best C in Jaguars history.

 

 

Precisely. Meester was routinely stood up and pushed back as a rookie much like I've seen with Tyler Shatley. His sophomore year he moved to Center, and Coughlin was able to keep him in double teams for the most part until he eventually was good enough to not only stand his own ground, but much more. Meester played a long, long time constantly refining his game.

Quote:I was not a huge Meester fan when he was a rookie.

 

As you may recall, he was a G as a rookie.  I don't think he performed well at all there.

 

But when he was finally moved to C, he flourished and wound up being the best C in Jaguars history.

 

Agree.  That's why I believe Linder could reach even greater heights at G.

 

I've always looked at the Linder to C move as temporary as placing Meester at G.

Something to bear in mind during all of this speculation is that Bowanko is a different body type than many centers and was drafted to be an athletic ZBS guy. 

 

He may not really fit well in the supposed power run game being cooked up right now at Everbank.