- Feb 7, 2003
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The offensive line will not be great, but I don't think it'll be bad either. I thought Baas played well when healthy. Diehl is what he is that this point. Beatty is passable if he can stay on the field (sort of like Max Starks).
As far as the linebackers go, I think you need to give them credit. Keep in mind a lot of these guys were rookies last year without an offseason, especially Herzlich who was undrafted and was literally only with the team for a few weeks before the season started. I really feel Herzlich is going to be a great player, for reasons that have nothing to do with his overcoming cancer. He was a destructive force in college and has the capacity to be a very cerebral player. He had first round talent, honestly. And in the meantime, Chase Blackburn is better than he's gotten credit for. They were mistaken to cut him to begin with, but that's only because they brought in so many linebackers in the offseason. By the time the regular season rolls around, I think it'll end up looking like this:
Boley - Blackburn - Kiwanuka
Reserves: Herzlich exclusively as a middle, Greg Jones playing all roles, Jacquian Williams mostly outside, probably backing up Boley and probably getting some playing time on passing downs, and Keith Rivers mostly backing up Kiwi. Although I think he has the versatility to play inside if necessary, I think he's better suited outside in a 4-3.
I'm honestly not really worried about the linebackers this year, and that's coming from somebody that was clamoring for linebackers in the draft for the past 3 years and was baffled when they kept drafting defensive linemen in the top two rounds (JPP, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin). They were a liability for most of the past 3 years, but they began to find themselves as a unit late last year I thought, and they'll only be better this year. Remember, they had a LOT of inexperience in there last year with 3 rookies, Kiwi moving to a new position, and Blackburn being brought in mid-season and thrust into a starting role.
As far as the linebackers go, I think you need to give them credit. Keep in mind a lot of these guys were rookies last year without an offseason, especially Herzlich who was undrafted and was literally only with the team for a few weeks before the season started. I really feel Herzlich is going to be a great player, for reasons that have nothing to do with his overcoming cancer. He was a destructive force in college and has the capacity to be a very cerebral player. He had first round talent, honestly. And in the meantime, Chase Blackburn is better than he's gotten credit for. They were mistaken to cut him to begin with, but that's only because they brought in so many linebackers in the offseason. By the time the regular season rolls around, I think it'll end up looking like this:
Boley - Blackburn - Kiwanuka
Reserves: Herzlich exclusively as a middle, Greg Jones playing all roles, Jacquian Williams mostly outside, probably backing up Boley and probably getting some playing time on passing downs, and Keith Rivers mostly backing up Kiwi. Although I think he has the versatility to play inside if necessary, I think he's better suited outside in a 4-3.
I'm honestly not really worried about the linebackers this year, and that's coming from somebody that was clamoring for linebackers in the draft for the past 3 years and was baffled when they kept drafting defensive linemen in the top two rounds (JPP, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin). They were a liability for most of the past 3 years, but they began to find themselves as a unit late last year I thought, and they'll only be better this year. Remember, they had a LOT of inexperience in there last year with 3 rookies, Kiwi moving to a new position, and Blackburn being brought in mid-season and thrust into a starting role.
@ Rick's Peyton manlove.
