(08-08-2017, 11:22 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(08-08-2017, 09:25 AM)FBT Wrote: Bingo.

They've brought in plenty of players through the draft and free agency to help fortify the offensive line.  They also pursued one of the top restricted free agents and came up short a couple of years ago.  What they haven't done is overspend for aging talent with name recognition, which is all Debbie Downer really cares about.

The line is improved from last year to this season.  They didn't put enough of an emphasis on really upgrading the line previously, but with Coughlin her, I would expect the focus to change, and the fact that we drafted Robinson as high as we did in the draft this year is a good indication that's going to happen.  Certain people act as if the offensive line was the only real hole that needed attention, but anyone who watches this team understands just how many areas required attention.  It will get better, and we could actually have the talent on the roster already to put together a serviceable line.  Let's see how things progress during camp.  If an upgrade pops up on the wire before the start of the season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team snap them up.

 The O-Line wasn't the only area that needed help, but from what I saw last year, it was certainly the biggest need and drafting a high profile RB before fully addressing the major needs on the O-Line is like putting the cart before the horse.

(Emphasis added)

I don't understand the insistence that the OL be built flawlessly before acquiring any skill players, irrespective of where the players rank in their particular draft classes or how hard it is to find particular positions.

There are people who think it pointless to draft a QB without having a perfect offensive line.  Under this rationale, if you are in a position to draft a franchise QB, but you have a hole at RT and LG, you wait to take the G and T first, then come back and get the QB, as if elite skill players grow on trees.

The fact is, history has proven time and time again that the very best teams in NFL history have emphasized skill players in early rounds and offensive linemen in the mid to late rounds in building their teams.

The only way what you describe above is putting the cart before the horse is if you are taking inferior players over superior ones.

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