So what's yer O Line look like now?

[jb]

Most of the debate will be about when to play BQ, but the OL is actually more interesting to me.

Does Thomas play OLT from day one? Or like Ogden, do you bring him along slowly?

Does Shaffer play ORT? I heard someone mention guard. Does Tucker have anything left?

My preeference would be to see Fred Matua step up with a huge off season. I have a big bias for smashmouth ORT's.

If Bentley plays ever aagin in 08, can you even imagine where this thing will be?

Does it look like this this season?

OLT - Joe
ORG - Steinbach
C - Fraley
RG - Seth McKinney
RT - Kevin Shaffer

[swerb]

No brainer, Joe Thomas is your first team LT from day one. Kevin Shaffer goes to RT, where he is better suited.

Taking Thomas allows you to keep Steinbach at LG. Fraley is your center.

And the way I see it, you've got six guys fighting for the final line spot at RG ...

Mother Tucker
Seth McKinney
Isaac Sowells
Joe Andruzzi
Lenny Friedman
Fred Matua

Andruzzi may become a casualty.

Nat Dorsey and Kelly Butler are your tackle depth. Sowells and Mother Tucker also are possibilities.

[BruceK]

Yes, the only spot really open is right guard.

Take the best of McKinney/Tucker/Sowells

McKinney if his neck heals, Tucker if his head heals, Sowells if he steps up with a full training camp.

Plus some real flexibility when the inevitable injuries occur.

And if/when Bentley comes back -- we are looking at a top-flight offensive line.

[Dozen]

There are rumors that LCB will be back for the June mini-camp. If that can happen, oh boy will things can turn around in a hurry

[FUDU]

One thing that could start to ruin the work we did Saturday would be to start experimenting where Joe T. will be playing.

We have waited too long and will have too much invested in him to play games with his position, put the guy at LT (where he belongs) and leave him there and make somebody else play out of position if need be.

[swerb]

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Cate ... tegoryID=0

The 1996 Ravens, whose draft team included Savage, played Ogden at guard for a year before installing him at left tackle for a decade. The Browns could do the same thing. They could use incumbent Kevin Shaffer at left tackle, free agency pickup Eric Steinbach at left guard, veteran Hank Fraley at center and veteran Ryan Tucker at right tackle. Thomas could fill the opening at right guard for a year.

“I’m waiting to see what the coaches decide, whether I play right tackle, left tackle or guard,” Thomas said. “I’ve been preparing the whole offseason to make a position change if I have to.”

[FUDU]

And if/when Bentley comes back -- we are looking at a top-flight offensive line.

Not to start a water cooler type debate but let's not get hopes up for LCB. Odds are low that he will return period and if he were to return what are the odds it will be at even 90% of what we expected him to be when he was healthy?

IMO the best thing to do is erase LCB from our memory banks and if he returns to play at some level then great, at least it would add depth if nothing else.

To think about or expect his return is only setting yourself up for disappointment.

[Dozen]

Meanwhile, Scout.com reported last night the Giants are in talks with the Browns regarding a possible trade for tackle Kevin Shaffer. The Browns, who traded Reuben Droughns to the Giants last month in exchange for Tim Carter, took Wisconsin's Joe Thomas on Saturday with the third pick in the draft.

The 27-year-old Shaffer, a six-year veteran who began his career with the Falcons, has started 47 of a possible 48 games over the last three seasons with Cleveland and Atlanta.

"There are some things that we can do to see if there's a left tackle available," Reese said. "We'll keep looking for a left tackle.

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.s ... thispage=2

[consigliere]

What does Shaffer net? Picks for next year's draft? Or, a player for this year? Where, at RB or on defense?

[Dozen]

none clue, but does this mean LCB is better than we thought? Or they realize the over-paid for him?

[swerb]

What does Shaffer net? Picks for next year's draft? Or, a player for this year? Where, at RB or on defense?

Maybe we can get Reuben back.

[pup]

So we finally have the offensive line in the "plus" column and we are going to trade one of them away? No way. Giants are starting a story, hoping for someone to bite, since they somehow passed on Joe Staley.

[jb]

So we finally have the offensive line in the "plus" column and we are going to trade one of them away? No way. Giants are starting a story, hoping for someone to bite, since they somehow passed on Joe Staley.

Pup I hope you are correct. OTOH, we have mad coin tied up in the OL. Still, I wish that as long as we're not over the cap that we just ride it out and renegotiate later when we need to do so. Just as I'd wished we'd kept Droughns for a 1 / 2 punch.

Tucker can't be counted on.

[yogi]

If true, then it is necessitated because in 2 years we will have too much money tied up in the OL.

Hard choices will have to be made then. But since we have the cap we can do it now.

To me it may mean the folllowing:

1) admitting paying LT money to Shaffer was a mistake.

2) Tucker will be ready to go in 07.

3) Bently has been progressing so any cap relief we may have gotten by cutting LeC is not gonna happen.

I think this is possibly another brilliant move, acting ahead of the curve, by our young genious.

Now, what can we get form the Gints?

Maybe they're not as high on Brandon Jacobs as you believe? I'll keep my ears open here in Jersey.

Is Shaffer worth a 2nd rounder? Especcialy if we eat the signing bonus, the $$$ to the giants won't be bad for a starting RT.

[pup]

1) admitting paying LT money to Shaffer was a mistake.

Check.

2) Tucker will be ready to go in 07.

He better be if this happens.

3) Bently has been progressing so any cap relief we may have gotten by cutting LeC is not gonna happen

And he swithces to RG?

Is Shaffer worth a 2nd rounder? Especcialy if we eat the signing bonus, the $$$ to the giants won't be bad for a starting RT.

I don't really like this option. Hopefully it would at least be for a player that will do some good in 2007.

Again, the amount of cap room tied up in the offensive line is not that big of a deal, IMO. You have most of your offensive skill players locked up for a few more years. Then as they fall off, they are replaced by quality depth we can begin to acquire, which should come at a lower price.

Major pieces needed to be added to the Browns are hopefully limited to the defensive line and running backs. Both are reasonable to expect can be taken care of in the 2nd round or later of most drafts.