Quote:I'm certainly not content with how the line has been addressed and I'm not sold on the ZBS - but I'm intrigued by the potential of Linder, Pasztor, Joeckel and perhaps even Bowanko as long term pieces. There's a chance that all they need do is replace the LG if he doesn't start to earn his paycheck. Yes - it's just a "chance" at this point - but I want to see it play out. 

 

BTW - I was outspoken through the offseason about Brewster NOT being the answer at center and was shocked they put so many eggs in that basket. I'd have gone after a center earlier in the draft. I kept saying Bodine was a mid to late round steal, but probably not a ZBS fit. (He looks pretty good in Cincy as their starting center - round 4 pick) 

 

I'm definitely intrigued with Linder, Pasztor, and Joeckel. I don't want to give off the impression that I don't like any of them or anything. I just don't want so many young, unproven, commodities starting at such premium positions at the same time. Give them time to learn the playbook, get up to NFL speed and strength, and ease them in while others can help them.

 

I don't know if Pasztor will ever be an elite RT, but I think he can definitely be an average tackle at the worst. Linder and Joeckel are the two I'm really excited about. Linder hasn't looked that bad this year, given that he's a rookie, the rest of the line sucks too, and the two guys he's been playing next to have been rotating every week seemingly. I like what Bowanko gives this team over Brewster and McClendon, but I am a bit more worried about him long term than the other 3. We'll see though. Hopefully he'll be a homerun steal.

 

I don't follow college football enough to be able to pick individual players as guys I'd like to see drafted past the first round, but I definitely thought we needed a guy before the 6th round. I don't know if I was quite as outspoken about not liking Brewster, mainly because I think I hibernated from the board in the off-season. But, I definitely was not sold on Brewster after he failed so badly at guard. I feel like a lot of people felt that way, except Dave and Gus. I don't know if its the ZBS or not, but I imagine there had to be someone floating around who knew how to fit the ZBS that was better than Brewster. Just by the simple law of averages. :confused:

 

But, nothing we can do now (except criticize and complain). Hopefully the line not only gels but also grows individually into top tier players and the line becomes a strength. I'm not sold on it, but, fingers crossed.

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