(08-20-2024, 12:09 PM)NoShoes Wrote:

(08-20-2024, 08:06 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: Ummm, Cleveland was a top 10 guard before he got hurt last year and he was the 3rd best guard available in free agency this past season. A big if, but if he's healthy now then he's probably the best player on the line this season.

Making my point more. Why is a line that is solid individually sucking playing together.

• ZBS scheme laden w/ too many bells and whistles - looked like keystone cops last year trying to figure out assignments
  
• Emphasis on athletic ZBS linemen left us unable to run gap plays effectively to convert simple 3rd and shorts (i.e. not big and strong enough individually or collectively) 
  
• Constant rotating cast at LT and LG last year
  
• Scherff is still an above average pass protector but is weak in the run game unless he's pulling
  
• We aren't going to know what we're really getting from Morse+Ezra until the guard is healthy and they start a couple of Reg season games together to gel. Might be better than we think right now. Will likely take time to iron out. Unfortunately, we just have to wait and see on that. 
  
• Timing.  This is part of the first bullet point, but this current line has to play together enough to get their collective timing right to execute the run blocking being dialed up by our offensive braintrust. Hopefully it is somewhat simplified this season compared to last. Doug hinted it would be. 
  
• You're probably right to question Rauscher at this point. Maybe the F.O. have dealt him too many duds, but there has to be a way to get more out of the current unit than last year's debacle and he needs to be accountable. If this unit ranks near the bottom in run block win rate again this year, he better not be given the chance to print up cute t-shirts for his players to wear during camp. He needs to go.