Quote:I've been 'on board' with the idea of gutting the team and going forward with as much youth as possible; in the hope that in time we'll have the foundation players to build on. However, given that the decision was made (right or wrong) to start our rookie 'franchise' quarterback after initially vowing not to do so... I have to be thinking that Dave's hand is going to be forced into more or less having to invest in more veteran offensive line help... or else his rookie quarterback is going to not develop as hoped. 

Seriously, we can't ignore the 'elephant in the room' any longer; our offensive line is a joke! Defenders run through it at will too often and that leads to Bortles either making bad ball decisions or getting sacked... a lot. We've been observing way too much of both of those bad things this season. The lions share of responsibility for it is a poor offensive line. It doesn't matter if they are playing to their full potential... the bottom line is that they aren't getting the job done. Too many of these guys just aren't good enough to even give Bortles a chance. I'm becoming a bit skeptical about joeckel too. I'm just not seeing much consistent 'reasonable' performance. I'm starting to think that Joeckel is too small and weak to be a starting NFL tackle.

 

I remember when Mark Brunell would get hit and sacked, the guys on the offensive line would get angry! I just don't see that kind of emotion from our guys now; it's almost like they just accept getting beat as inevitable.

 

Where is the heart???

The team should look to hiring Jim Lachey as the Oline coach if not as an asst Oline coach.  He was a Chargers, Raiders & Redskins ProBowl offensive tackle and he coached the Columbus Destroyers during their run to the XXI Arena Bowl in 2007.  Its a step in the right direction but talent has to come either in Free Agency or thru the draft.  This oline has to be the leagues worst.  Glimer of hope with Luke Bowanko Center and Linder Guard... Zane Beadles & Luke Joekel had good moments and bad this year... RT has been relvoing due to injuries...  Sam Young tried his hardest but from the false start penalty to missing assignments in the 2nd half it showed that he was thrown into the fire.

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