12 Comments
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Randall Murray's avatar

Yes and then in the actual Bowl game, all of the “practice highlight” OLine players got destroyed by the different Dlines. I said it before, OLine, except pure studs, take time to develop. Lack of hitting in practice. College OC video game offenses. Haynes gets knocked and yet only 3 of the top 10 ranked IOL got playing time last year. Olu basically same size as this FCS kid.

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Bryant's avatar

If the Hawks don’t fix the line then I expect Kubiak to bring a less dynamic offense than Grubb managed last year. Given similar situations last season Grubb’s offense was 8-10 ranks higher than Kubiak’s. That doesn’t mean I think it was a huge mistake to change coaches, but I think it’s a futile move without huge O line improvement.

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Fabian B.'s avatar

My best case scenario for the iO-Line would probably be a proven veteran G (does not have to be the most expensive, but proven), a T/G in the First two rounds and a C in the middle/late rounds. I think if we do this, we have a really good chance to turn this sinking ship around that is our iOL

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Glassmonkey's avatar

If be happy with 2 OL (G/C or T to G convert) and a 3-4 end or NT in rounds 1 to 3.

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Chris H's avatar

Membou I would be happy with, but likely won’t be there at 18 with all the hype still to come. We’ll see.

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Rusty's avatar

If the Hawks get Armand Membou in the first and Jackson Slater in the third, I’ll be delirious with joy. I’ll also wonder how I ended up in an alternate universe.

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Grant Alden's avatar

If Grey Zabel is as good as people were saying in Mobile, I'd be surprised if the Seahawks didn't take him if he's even still available at 18. He's a T with T measurables, apparently worked out at all five positions without missing a step. Draft him to back up Lucas, play him at G (or even C, if necessary), slide him out to T if needed or when he's ready. Not opposed to the guy from Sac State, but I still think Coach K's offense may require a veteran C.

One other name which I've heard a bit: Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo, from UCLA. Probably you West Coasters have a better sense of him than I do, but apparently he was a mike IL moved to Edge this year, but he can still cover an RB out of the backfield. Sounds like the kind of versatile player MM likes to move around a torture offenses with. He's currently 136 on the PFF big board, but I doubt he'll last quite that long.

Not that I actually know squat.

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PhilippRttr's avatar

The more I read and watch I really think this will be the year. There are so many Trench Players on both sides who stand out for me. We should be able to get 2 Quality OLiners in the Draft.

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Danno's avatar

I’m a little concerned about Sac State after Haynes and UCon last year. Haynes also killed it at the Senior Bowl. However, I would love a T/G in round 1 or 2 and a center like this kid in round 3. It’s 50/50 hitting a quality started in round 3 so maybe this is our hit year. Also a lot cheaper than picking up the Atlanta Falcon’s center in free agency who will cost north of $10 million a year. I’m not saying he isn’t a great pick up. He’s proven, but you will have to pay for it. Same as Trey Smith at G.

I have no doubt that whoever is QB for us next year will be better if we invest in a better line. The pressure rate on the Hawks QB was near the bottom of the league in terms of keeping the QB pressure free. Also time to pressure was faster than all but one team. It’s a lot to ask of a QB to perform well under that quick and constant duress.

The shotgun, the lack of a running threat, the lack of play action also played into this by allowing defenses to tee off in a pass rush at the snap vs delaying to defend a possible run. I’m sure Kubiak will fix this part of the problem, but it certainly won’t hurt to upgrade the performance of the O-line as well.

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Stephen Pitell's avatar

Nice write up on an interesting prospect. Whoever we get, I hope they work out, and are clear upgrades to our OL. The wisdom of the crowd tells us that the Hawks will make a splash with OL talent out of this draft. It's hard to imagine John Schneider doing anything else. Hopefully, Jones gets resigned so LB is not a priority. Then somewhere another WR, and CB.

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Bobric's avatar

I am a bit leery of some school line prospects. I would much prefer a division 1 major conference player. However let’s see how he does in the game

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Ray's avatar

How about a kid named Olu Oluwatimi from Michigan?

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