(02-14-2018, 07:14 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(02-14-2018, 01:22 AM)JUNGLE CAT 2017 Wrote: The key to a successful offense is C-O-N-T-I-N-U-I-T-Y on the offensive line. In football terms, this means making sure everything stays the same. In time each player discovers the strengths and weaknesses of line mates and they gel as a highly productive unit. If you constantly insist on yanking a player out for another the entire process of maintaining continuity on the offensive line RESETS each time you do that.

Take a swing at who had the third lowest number of sacks yielded in the NFL this year?

Jacksonville. Although tied with a few other teams, the 24 sacks given up by the Jaguars' offensive line is really impressive. Consider this unit annually gave up 50 to 70 any given season. There is plenty of talent on our offensive line. Just six less sacks and the Jaguars' offensive line would have led the league in lowest number of sacks allowed. The ratio of sacks stacked up against passing attempts is something like 0.045. Doesn't that mean each time a Jaguars' quarterback drops back to pass there is a 4% chance the play will end in a sack? Compare that to about 12% in 2014 when the Jaguars' offensive line gave up 71 with 557 pass attempts.

Nothing wrong with drafting a OG in the upper levels of this year's picks. Just expect it to raise the level of competition within the offensive line unit to climb even higher. I have no problem drafting a highly talented OG tops provided there is no player at another position possessing greater talent out there.

This is how an NFL franchise gets better. Continuously providing the units within the team the best level of competition they can possibly face within the team structure. Before a team competes within the league it must compete internally. Superior athletes thrive on competition because it allows them to showcase their talent and skill. Team strength is achieved by providing existing players realistic competition in practice. Teams that draft lesser talented players specifically looking to fill back up roles will always have glaring needs because they do not fuel spirited challenges within the different units. 

So if you want to draft a guard first, go ahead. Just don't fuss or rant that he is unable to EARN the starter's role because you can rest assured the unit is as strong as it can possibly be. When injuries happen, there is a talented player to step up and not a waiver wire guy signed on the cheap to fill a roster spot.

I am not knocking Cann's ability in the pass blocking department. My concern is his ability in the running game. As far as your sack total. Take a swing at which team finished 20th in the NFL last year in average pass attempts per game. Also, consider Blake's ability to move around in the pocket. He's probably one of the top QB's right now as far as escaping the pocket and buying more time. How many times did he bail out a whiffed block or blown assignment? We can play this game all day and go back and forth like ping pong. Also, how many of those 24 sacks was A.J Cann personally responsible for? Because it seemed like the interior struggled more than the outside in 2017 in both areas.

Cann, like it or not. Was pretty damn weak along the line. And it's not like I am saying gut two positions in the trenches. Continuity is critical. No arguments from me there. But this team also played a few games with Robinson out of the line up and with Linder out of the line up and life goes on with or without them. We need depth at the very minimum if we're going to continue to improve. Again, something we both agree on. But I can say in full confidence that Quenton Nelson & Billy Price coming out of college would easily take Cann's place along the line. And that would hopefully regulate him to a decent back up role. Where he belongs. 

This team also wasn't built around the passing game last year. It was built around the ground game. Take a swing at who led the NFL in rushing last year. It was Jacksonville. With 140.0 YPG along (which can be skewed with a few big trick plays on special teams) with the most attempts at 527 with the most yards at 2,262. Tied for 7th with a 4.3 average (Again, also skewed with a few big trick plays on special teams) which can be improved upon with better run blocking along the interior. I don't see them changing this formula anytime soon either. And Tom's history of drafting lineman only makes sense here.

It's extremely rare that you'll find a top tier player at the premium skill positions that late in the draft. Especially at 29th overall. Once you get down to that 25th - 60th range it tends to be the sweet spot or hot bed for the upper tier rookies coming out of college from the interior positions. The unsung heroes of football.