Power Run Game? Lichtensteiger to Center?

[DarthMonk]

Kory Lichtensteiger - G - Redskins

The Washington Post believes LG Kory Lichtensteiger "could have trouble" if the Redskins switch to a power-blocking scheme under new coach Jay Gruden.

Lichtensteiger is awfully undersized at 6-foot-2, 284 and would have to put on significant weight to make the switch from a zone-blocking scheme. The Post wonders if the Redskins may ask him to move to center. Lichtensteiger inked a five-year, $17.5 million deal with Washington last March. He graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 33 guard out of 81 qualifiers in 2013.

Source: Washington Post Jan 14 - 1:32 PM

[Kilmer72]

Will is listed at 304 pounds and he was getting pushed up in the pocket. I wonder how much of Korys contract is guaranteed?

[The Hogster]

Nobody but Trent Williams is irreplaceable on our line in my view.

[SKIN4LIFE]

Man, wish I was cool with Shanny. He could have pulled me off my couch and gave me a $3M/yr contract. Shanny took good care of his boys.

[RG3peat]

Ever hear the saying "why fix something that isnt broken" The run game is great, why mess with it? Maybe a guy or 2 isnt as good in pass protect so you try and upgrade those. Personally I think there was more to it....the offensive formations were crap with TEs and sometimes WRs in the backfield it didnt offer RG3 many options in the pass game. He held onto the ball too long, he wouldnt run to pick up easy 1st downs (there were quite a few short gainers and space to do so). RG3 used his one and only scapegoat card and got Shanny fired...He didnt want to run so he took a pounding in the pocket and threw people under the bus and pointed fingers.....The FO might have gotten dupped again. Should once again be interesting at Redskin Park this offseason. I hope they keep the run game as is....just like switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3, it takesa good 2 years to get players/chemistry down.

[Countertrey]

Ever hear the saying "why fix something that isnt broken" The run game is great, why mess with it? Maybe a guy or 2 isnt as good in pass protect so you try and upgrade those. Personally I think there was more to it....the offensive formations were crap with TEs and sometimes WRs in the backfield it didnt offer RG3 many options in the pass game. He held onto the ball too long, he wouldnt run to pick up easy 1st downs (there were quite a few short gainers and space to do so). RG3 used his one and only scapegoat card and got Shanny fired...He didnt want to run so he took a pounding in the pocket and threw people under the bus and pointed fingers.....The FO might have gotten dupped again. Should once again be interesting at Redskin Park this offseason. I hope they keep the run game as is....just like switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3, it takesa good 2 years to get players/chemistry down.

They can't pass protect. Period. That's a huge problem. 3 of 5 o-linemen are marginal for depth. One is an adequate starter. One is blue-chip.

3 need to be replaced immediately. If that means converting from a finesse run game, to a power run game, so be it. Alf can do either, with equal effectiveness.

Shanahan got Shanahan fired. Get over it.

... and, while you are throwing Bob under the bus, you might want to consider a new user name. I love irony...

[UK Skins Fan]

I'd rather we moved Lichtensteiger to Bosnia rather than anywhere on the offensive line.

[yupchagee]

I'd rather we moved Lichtensteiger to Bosnia rather than anywhere on the offensive line.

I don't know what you have against Bosnia, but Licht shouldn't start in a power running scheme

[UK Skins Fan]

I'd rather we moved Lichtensteiger to Bosnia rather than anywhere on the offensive line.

I don't know what you have against Bosnia, but Licht shouldn't start in a power running scheme

I don't he should start in a power shower.

[riggofan]

There is a pretty good piece today on Gruden's options on the o-line. Without getting into WHO should be kept, it points out that we're in good shape to make changes on the line if Gruden wants.

Williams isn’t going anywhere. But the futures of Chester, Montgomery, Lichtensteiger, and Polumbus, who have played virtually every snap the last two years, could well depend on how Jay Gruden and Sean McVay judge their performances on film and if they are going to make any major changes to their basic blocking scheme.

The good news for the Redskins is that they will be dealing from a position of strength here. None of the four 2013 starters has a salary cap number that is unreasonably high so they can afford to keep any of them they want to. At the same time, the cap hit for releasing any of them should the team want to do so is also very manageable.

Here are the 2013 dead money totals and net cap hits for releasing those players:
Name Dead Money Cap savings
Chris Chester $1,600,000 $2,700,000
Will Montgomery $1,500,000 $1,925,000
Kory Lichtensteiger $2,200,000 $1,100,000
Tyler Polumbus $100,000 $1,000,000

This shows that the Redskins have a great deal of flexibility. They probably don’t want to keep any of the four as a backup with the exception of Polumbus (considering strictly salary cap factors here). If they bring in a relatively high-dollar player, somebody is probably going to have to go. But if they want to bring in competition from the draft or to let the veterans battle for their jobs with players who are already on the roster such as Compton, Gettis, or LeRibeus, their $29 million in cap room allows them to do so. They could choose to hold on to any of them and then make a move whenever they decide the time is right.

If the Redskins decide to stand pat on the line, they will be in good shape there, too. Polumbus is a free agent at the end of this season while all of the other linemen on the roster are under team control through 2015.

So, what are the Redskins going to do on the offensive line this offseason? Whatever they want to.

http://realredskins.com/2014/01/20/sala ... sive-line/

[yupchagee]

There is a pretty good piece today on Gruden's options on the o-line. Without getting into WHO should be kept, it points out that we're in good shape to make changes on the line if Gruden wants.

Williams isn’t going anywhere. But the futures of Chester, Montgomery, Lichtensteiger, and Polumbus, who have played virtually every snap the last two years, could well depend on how Jay Gruden and Sean McVay judge their performances on film and if they are going to make any major changes to their basic blocking scheme.

The good news for the Redskins is that they will be dealing from a position of strength here. None of the four 2013 starters has a salary cap number that is unreasonably high so they can afford to keep any of them they want to. At the same time, the cap hit for releasing any of them should the team want to do so is also very manageable.

Here are the 2013 dead money totals and net cap hits for releasing those players:
Name Dead Money Cap savings
Chris Chester $1,600,000 $2,700,000
Will Montgomery $1,500,000 $1,925,000
Kory Lichtensteiger $2,200,000 $1,100,000
Tyler Polumbus $100,000 $1,000,000

This shows that the Redskins have a great deal of flexibility. They probably don’t want to keep any of the four as a backup with the exception of Polumbus (considering strictly salary cap factors here). If they bring in a relatively high-dollar player, somebody is probably going to have to go. But if they want to bring in competition from the draft or to let the veterans battle for their jobs with players who are already on the roster such as Compton, Gettis, or LeRibeus, their $29 million in cap room allows them to do so. They could choose to hold on to any of them and then make a move whenever they decide the time is right.

If the Redskins decide to stand pat on the line, they will be in good shape there, too. Polumbus is a free agent at the end of this season while all of the other linemen on the roster are under team control through 2015.

So, what are the Redskins going to do on the offensive line this offseason? Whatever they want to.

http://realredskins.com/2014/01/20/sala ... sive-line/

I don't think we keep Polumbus as a backup. It's starting RT or gone. He can't play LT at all

[Chris Luva Luva]

They can't pass protect. Period. That's a huge problem. 3 of 5 o-linemen are marginal for depth. One is an adequate starter. One is blue-chip.

I agree that I'd like to see a bulk of the line gone... However, they didn't commit a sack for the first two games that Kirk started. It does show that it wasn't/isn't all on them. Between RGIII being indecisive and the WR's not winning at the LOS, it was a recipe for disaster. That being said, we still need to upgrade.

[riggofan]

I don't think we keep Polumbus as a backup. It's starting RT or gone. He can't play LT at all

It would be a surprising move. I think the main reason it was suggested is because of his cap number.

I've kind of assumed all year that Polumbus would one of the obvious offensive line guys to try to replace/upgrade. Am I wrong about that?

[PulpExposure]

They can't pass protect. Period. That's a huge problem. 3 of 5 o-linemen are marginal for depth. One is an adequate starter. One is blue-chip.

I agree that I'd like to see a bulk of the line gone... However, they didn't commit a sack for the first two games that Kirk started. It does show that it wasn't/isn't all on them. Between RGIII being indecisive and the WR's not winning at the LOS, it was a recipe for disaster. That being said, we still need to upgrade.

Yep, though the Falcons were tied for 29th in sacks this year, and the Cowboys 25th. Not exactly ferocious pass rushing defenses...

[DarthMonk]

I don't think we keep Polumbus as a backup. It's starting RT or gone. He can't play LT at all

It would be a surprising move. I think the main reason it was suggested is because of his cap number.

I've kind of assumed all year that Polumbus would one of the obvious offensive line guys to try to replace/upgrade. Am I wrong about that?

Any chance he could become a big right guard?

[RG3peat]

Ever hear the saying "why fix something that isnt broken" The run game is great, why mess with it? Maybe a guy or 2 isnt as good in pass protect so you try and upgrade those. Personally I think there was more to it....the offensive formations were crap with TEs and sometimes WRs in the backfield it didnt offer RG3 many options in the pass game. He held onto the ball too long, he wouldnt run to pick up easy 1st downs (there were quite a few short gainers and space to do so). RG3 used his one and only scapegoat card and got Shanny fired...He didnt want to run so he took a pounding in the pocket and threw people under the bus and pointed fingers.....The FO might have gotten dupped again. Should once again be interesting at Redskin Park this offseason. I hope they keep the run game as is....just like switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3, it takesa good 2 years to get players/chemistry down.

They can't pass protect. Period. That's a huge problem. 3 of 5 o-linemen are marginal for depth. One is an adequate starter. One is blue-chip.

3 need to be replaced immediately. If that means converting from a finesse run game, to a power run game, so be it. Alf can do either, with equal effectiveness.

Shanahan got Shanahan fired. Get over it.

... and, while you are throwing Bob under the bus, you might want to consider a new user name. I love irony...

Sure....whatever.....Morris I believe came from zone blocking in college, not saying he cant run with different line/scheme....but the OL themselves have to have chemistry...What good is Morris if the holes aint there?? Hes not shifty IMO to change directions quickly to get to a different hole...Shanny didnt get himself fired and I am over it...I think he got the shaft...1st 2 year with Rex?? You aint winnin with that. Then playoffs with RG3 in year 1 and down the tubes this last year cause they had 1/2 the playbook...RG3 could/did not get any reps with his drops/timing for a "normal" offense and no run on the option (at least not like last year...as expected)....I should change user name as he wont be that good. I thought that he was ALL THAT and a bag of chips...but I think hes a little more egotistical then advertised....then has a meadling daddy....

[Countertrey]

Sure... whatever... John Riggins wasn't shifty... and was less capable of carrying tacklers than Alf is. Alf has excellent vision... he doesn't need much of a hole... and Bob needs a little more time than he has been getting in the pocket.

[RG3peat]

Sure... whatever... John Riggins wasn't shifty... and was less capable of carrying tacklers than Alf is. Alf has excellent vision... he doesn't need much of a hole... and Bob needs a little more time than he has been getting in the pocket.

I gues we will see if they change schemes....Y do say Riggins was less capable of carrying tacklers? Maybe, Riggo ran them over before they climbed on his back. Fred has excellent vision. Maybe, as the zone blocking is pretty much a ONE cut system, especially the stretch play when you get the whole defense to flow, get a cut on a DL and get through the 1 and only hole that opens up.....BOB needs to use his God given talent and take off when the pocket breaks down....Im not saying Im a Cousins guy but I wonder if BOB isnt all that....I hope he proves me wrong.

[Countertrey]

Y do say Riggins was less capable of carrying tacklers? Maybe, Riggo ran them over before they climbed on his back.

Yes... exactly... He had a higher center of gravity than Alf... so, once slowed down, he would go down. My point is, Alf is perfectly capable of being a dominant runner in a power run game... In fact, his one cut, excellent balance skills and great vision are perfect for it.

[Kilmer72]

I don't know. If my memory is serving me correctly I would say.... Riggo was a track star. He had speed even though he looked slow. He usually got a few yards even after getting hit early. Once he broke the line he could drag 2 or 3 people with him even past the time he should have gone down. Sometimes he would keep running with more on him. Maybe I am remembering things wrong but I grew up watching the diesel constantly dragging people for extra yards long after the hit. I love Morris and all but Riggo is and always will be the best of the best as far as Redskins running backs and that is saying something. Larry Brown was awesome and that is who Morris reminds me of. Two different styles here although they both do not go down easy.

[riggofan]

Riggo was fueled by bourbon.

[emoses14]

Riggo was fueled by bourbon.

Well he was an American. That's Americas alcohol.

[RG3peat]

I don't know. If my memory is serving me correctly I would say.... Riggo was a track star. He had speed even though he looked slow. He usually got a few yards even after getting hit early. Once he broke the line he could drag 2 or 3 people with him even past the time he should have gone down. Sometimes he would keep running with more on him. Maybe I am remembering things wrong but I grew up watching the diesel constantly dragging people for extra yards long after the hit. I love Morris and all but Riggo is and always will be the best of the best as far as Redskins running backs and that is saying something. Larry Brown was awesome and that is who Morris reminds me of. Two different styles here although they both do not go down easy.

Exactly....Im not sold Morris has great vision...The staple of the zone is the stretch and all you have to do is look for the opening in front of you, you wait for the hole to open up, hit it and your already at the 2nd level and the LBs hopefully have been engaged or scraped on...you get a lot of arm tackles that he breaks easily, we shall see, if he can see a gap 2 holes down from the design and get there....Just keep the same scheme, its not broken.

[riggofan]

Riggo was fueled by bourbon.

Well he was an American. That's Americas alcohol.

Its an underrated and lost art type of training regimen.

[SkinsJock]

we will have a really good run game - call it what you will ...

I doubt that we presently have many of our 2014 offensive linemen on the roster