What Do ya'll think of our O Line this year?

[tvo14]

I think with the return of Jansen and the pick up of Casey Rabach will give us a solid line. Now if we can just get some consistent play from what has so far been a disappointing pick up in Randy Thomas. They may live up to the name of Dirtbags that Bugle has given them.
Ramsey's health and Portis's salary are depending on these guys. Lets hope they step it up!

[Skeletor]

Randy Thomas has not been a disappointment. I don't believe he's missed a game yet and he's been the most stable lineman over the past couple of years.

Dockery is much more of a liability. I think if he doesn't put it together this year, we may see a lot of Ray Brown at guard.

[Gibbs' Hog]

For some reason, I get the feeling that Ray Brown is gonna get injured this year. He's still a fairly solid player, but his age has got to catch up with him sooner or later. I hope Dockery finds his game...he has had some good games in the past.

[JansenFan]

One thing people seem to dismiss to easily is the impact of an injury to the offensive line as a whole.

Jansen goes down and Ray Brown steps in. He played well, however he required more help than Jansen, so Thomas has to watch his guy and help Ray Brown a bit. That means that Cory Raymer (whome I think got a bum deal last year, but still feel Rabach is an upgrade) has a bigger area to cover in addition to making sure the snap is good. Dockery is an up-an-comer, but he is young and faced with helping the center and taking care of his assignments, which in turn leaves Samuels on an island.

There is a reason they are referred to collectivly as the offensive line as opposed to the tackles, the guards and the center.

[Chris Luva Luva]

One thing people seem to dismiss to easily is the impact of an injury to the offensive line as a whole.

Jansen goes down and Ray Brown steps in. He played well, however he required more help than Jansen, so Thomas has to watch his guy and help Ray Brown a bit. That means that Cory Raymer (whome I think got a bum deal last year, but still feel Rabach is an upgrade) has a bigger area to cover in addition to making sure the snap is good. Dockery is an up-an-comer, but he is young and faced with helping the center and taking care of his assignments, which in turn leaves Samuels on an island.

There is a reason they are referred to collectivly as the offensive line as opposed to the tackles, the guards and the center.

This man justed ended this thread, theres nothing left to discuss.

[Gibbs' Hog]

Agreed; nice post JF.

[SKINZ_DOMIN8]

Jansen and Brown are huge question marks. They are both going to have to prove their worth.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Jansen and Brown are huge question marks. They are both going to have to prove their worth.

Jansen has nothing to prove, what rock have you been under? He's 100% healed. He's a monster, he's been missing the team and even though he's been injured he's been in the playbook and with the team through EVERYTHING. There wont be an issue with him.

[JansenFan]

Yeah, ask the single-season sack king who the most underrated tackle in football is, as well as the guy he likes playing against the most, and see what he says.

I'll give you a hint - the answer isn't SKINZ_DOMIN8.

[EA7649]

if jansen plays very few plays in the pre season and samuels doesn't get injured say by by to the ground patrick!

[BossHog]

Here's what I thought 2 months ago...

http://www.the-hogs.net/content/story.php?id=443

Nothing has changed in my opinion.

[washington53]

I think our O-line will dominate. With Casey Raback and Jansen, and the rest of the line, there wont be many sacks this year.

[Tom C]

I think our O-line will dominate.

I think the o-line will be better. I’m worried that we have to sign a 40+ year old who might even be able to compete for a starting position. I’m worried and disappointed that we don’t have guys stacked up for the o-line like we have safeties and linebackers.

These guys have been better individually then the sum of the parts. Every year I expect the line to be really good but it hasn’t lived up to my expectations. Individually each of the starters is good. They should be a really good pass blocking line, but I don’t see a smash-mouth blocker in the bunch. There’s no Tre Johnson or Route 66 in the bunch. If there was, we wouldn’t need to be going to a finesse blocking scheme.

I want to see pancakes!

[ii7-V7]

How can you possibly think that Thomas is a poor player?!?!?!?

I just don't get it. He is probably the best RG in Football!

Chad

[1niksder]

I think the o-line will be better. I’m worried that we have to sign a 40+ year old who might even be able to compete for a starting position. I’m worried and disappointed that we don’t have guys stacked up for the o-line like we have safeties and linebackers.

Ray Brown the 40+ year old isn't who we should worry about. He is moving back to his natural position after holding up for the whole year at a spot he hadn't played in a decade.

Jon Jansen is back at Tackle and Brown is penciled in as a back up behind Dockery. I'm worried about Double D and he should be the one worried about Ray.


BTW: including our long snapper as a O-lineman, we have 12 offensive lineman and 11 LB

If we could find someone cheap after June 1st I would be mad at all

[crazyhorse1]

OL in brief

Samuels-- often injured, frequent comebacks, inconsistent, poor run blocker, great pass blocker if not injured ??????

Dockery-- about to lose his position...missed assignments, goes to sleep, great potential, penalties ?????????

Brown-- too old ????????

Rabach-- not a good athlete but solid journeyman OK

Thomas-- proficient in all phases, near pro-bowl quality, outstanding

Jansen-- coming back from poor season, then season lost to injury, potentially outstanding ????

Royal-- unclear, signs of talent as pass receiver and blocker, still a project ?????

Conclusion: Depending on attitude, injury, and further development of Royal and Dockery, which is unpredictable, the line could be anywhere from one of the worse in the NFL to very good. I would settle for adequate and hope that going to zone block and stretch plays will compensate for some OL weaknesses, thus allowing Portis to run. If Samuels has a resurgence and Dockery gets his head together, Ramsey will have time to throw.
If neither the stretch works or the pass blocking holds, a possibility, I think Gibbs should use a full back and H Back and RB at the same time.

[batman2k5]

i just hope the o line can stay healthy if they can we wil have an above average o line, i still dont liek dockery in pass blocking, i dont know how raback wil play we, wil have to wait and see,

[JPM36]

Whoa...lets not jump the gun on Jansen. I think he is a very good player but saying he has "nothing to prove" is just not true. He absolutely does have to prove that he is fully recovered from his injury. People saying that he is 100% recovered is one thing, it's another thing to show it on the field. Hopefully he will be back to his old self because we definitely need him, especially in the ground game.

As for the rest of the group..Samuels is a good left tackle, good but not great. Dockery has great potential but he hasn't lived up to it yet. Maybe this year he will turn the corner and become a dominator. Rabach was good for the Ravens and he should prove to be an upgrade over Raymer. Randy Thomas is one of the three best right guards in the NFL. I think he is our best overall offensive linemen. All in all it's a solid group, but another injury like the one we had with Jansen in the preseason can affect the whole line. We just have to keep our fingers crossed.

[batman2k5]

sameuls=he a pro bowler

dockery=he stil needs to work on soemthings

raback=great in run blocking, passing is ok


thomas=his very good in run and pass blocking

jansen=coming back from a injury but i think his our best run blocker, and his very good in pass blocking too

[Manchester_Redskin]

I'm looking forward to seeing Jansen return, we certainly missed him last season. He's definately an 'RA' (Right Attitude) kind of guy

[JansenFan]

OL in brief

Samuels-- often injured, frequent comebacks, inconsistent, poor run blocker, great pass blocker if not injured ??????

Dockery-- about to lose his position...missed assignments, goes to sleep, great potential, penalties ?????????

Brown-- too old ????????

Rabach-- not a good athlete but solid journeyman OK

Thomas-- proficient in all phases, near pro-bowl quality, outstanding

Jansen-- coming back from poor season, then season lost to injury, potentially outstanding ????

Royal-- unclear, signs of talent as pass receiver and blocker, still a project ?????

Conclusion: Depending on attitude, injury, and further development of Royal and Dockery, which is unpredictable, the line could be anywhere from one of the worse in the NFL to very good. I would settle for adequate and hope that going to zone block and stretch plays will compensate for some OL weaknesses, thus allowing Portis to run. If Samuels has a resurgence and Dockery gets his head together, Ramsey will have time to throw.
If neither the stretch works or the pass blocking holds, a possibility, I think Gibbs should use a full back and H Back and RB at the same time.

Did you just say that something about the redskins could possibly be good?

[NikiH]

I'm just shocked. I mean Randy Thomas is good but I would NEVER rank him above Jansen. And why are we covering Ray Brown and Jon Jansen? Wouldn't it be one or the other playing at once. If you're going to go that much into detail might as well rank Raymer, Molinaro, and Friedman. Geesh you people just cannot let it be the off season can you? Picking apart the team before the first freaking snap of the season.

[Redskin in Canada]

I will not pay -any- attention to the worthless posts by Crazyhorse1, batman2k5 and skinz_domin8 in this and other threads except the Smack forum.

But in relation to the topic of the thread, the last sentence in BH article says it all for me:

The name 'Dirtbags' should be buried along with last season's play. It's time to try and live up to the name Hogs.

[SkinsJock]

I also agree with both BH and RiC about the nickname 'dirtbags' - the connotation is all wrong and IMO this group needs to "step up" and accept that we as fans and they as players will want this O line to play in a manner that reminds us of those fantastic lines of the past.

The bar has been set and the Hogs is the name for our offensive line players. These guys have the opportunity and I believe the talent to be a very good line. I also think that Joe B will be even more forceful in what he "gets" from these guys this year and Joe Gibbs play calling will show why he is still considered an offensive genius by those who know one.

I think that Jansen Fan also was correct in pointing out that no group needs to work as well together to ensure success as the O line. The depth is important but having players like Brown, Raymer and Lenny together with the younger guys learning to play different positions in conjunction with each other is also critical.

[Redskin in Canada]

I also agree with both BH and RiC about the nickname 'dirtbags' - the connotation is all wrong and IMO this group needs to "step up" and accept that we as fans and they as players will want this O line to play in a manner that reminds us of those fantastic lines of the past.

The bar has been set and the Hogs is the name for our offensive line players. These guys have the opportunity and I believe the talent to be a very good line. I also think that Joe B will be even more forceful in what he "gets" from these guys this year and Joe Gibbs play calling will show why he is still considered an offensive genius by those who know one.

I think that Jansen Fan also was correct in pointing out that no group needs to work as well together to ensure success as the O line. The depth is important but having players like Brown, Raymer and Lenny together with the younger guys learning to play different positions in conjunction with each other is also critical.

Man, I knew there was hope that the barrel was fine in spite of a few rotten apples.